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Check out all of our Resources for Christmas/Advent Posts Here.
Advent has been a new experience for us the last few years. We love it and the focus it brings in our home on the true meaning of Christmas. There are so many Advent ideas around and it isn’t too late to start if you haven’t already. I am going to share some of my favorite ways to celebrate Advent and give you some other resources as well. Just don’t get overwhelmed. If you want, pick one or two things that your family might enjoy. Try not to get too caught up in all the “good” things your family can do that you lose the true meaning and the memory making. I have this habit of wanting to incorporate so much good stuff, that I fall short on things. {Sigh} What we do for Advent changes year to year, depending on how busy our lives are and our circumstances. Last year at this time {2011} I was deathly sick with kidney stones and infections and sat in a chair for about 2 months. I had lots of plans last year but was too sick to do any of it.
What is Advent?
Advent means “coming” and is a time of spiritual preparation before Christmas. It is a celebration of the birth of Christ in the First Advent and the anticipation of His Second Advent. Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas
Eve. Advent challenges us to celebrate God’s gift of love through Jesus in the midst of the commercialism. We celebrate Advent using a wreath, devotional, and story.
The candles are lit on Sundays, after we have a special meal or snack. We read from the book, A Family Advent: Keeping the Savior in the Season. It has a short devotional, fun facts, and family activities. Advent Wreath– We enjoy the tradition of the weekly devotional and gathering on Sunday evenings to light the candles. You can make your own or purchase an advent wreath.
We started using the Cradle to the Cross at A Holy Experience last year. This one can be used for Advent, Easter and Ascension.
Advent Stories–. We started this series last year and love it! These three Advent devotionals will take you and your family from Advent to Christmas with day-by-day readings and advice for making Christmas a meaningful season of worship. Read one book each Advent. Includes Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent, Bartholomew’s Passage: A Family Story for Advent, and Tabitha’s Travels (Recommended for older children).
The ADVENTure of Christmas: Finding Jesus in our Holiday Traditions
The ADVENTure of Christmas is a guide for moms concerned that their children are losing sight of Jesus in the midst of the distractions the holiday season brings. Lisa Whelchel was such a mom, but instead of abandoning the traditions of Christmas she rediscovered their original meanings, which were intended to remind people of God’s unfathomable gift. Hanging lights on the house, wrapping gifts, and decorating the tree have become opportunities to teach her children about how they relate to Jesus’ birth. With The ADVENTure of Christmas, mothers can redeem what’s been lost from the very symbols that are gentle reminders of the true meaning of Christmas.
The Jesse Tree This is a wonderful approach to get your kids to get involved in Advent. The Jesse Tree is based on the verse Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” It begins at Creation, goes through the Old Testament stories that point to the birth of Christ and ends with His birth. Some devotionals begin when Advent starts or on December 1st and ends at Christmas.
Just get a branch, small tree, or draw a tree on some brown paper. Anything will work!
Choose your devotional and ornaments. Make them, print them…whatever based on the ones you choose. Put them in a basket or special place with your devotional and you are ready to go! Truth in the Tinsel~ a fun, crafty Advent/Jesse Tree experience that will be very meaningful to your children. Make the ornaments yourself together or use the new printable ornaments. Available in Spanish and as a church curriculum.
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas
Based on the overwhelming success of The Greatest Gift, Ann Voskamp has expanded her presentation of the timeless Advent tradition of the Jesse Tree so families can celebrate together. Each day, families can read the provided Scripture passage (in connection with the original book), engage with a specially written devotion to help children of all ages understand the Advent theme for the day, and participate in suggested activities to apply the theme.
This special edition is beautifully illustrated. It can serve as a precious guide to help recapture the sacredness of the Advent season and to help the entire family understand and celebrate the epic pageantry of humankind from Adam to the Messiah.
Jesse Tree Ornaments from Christmas Your Way
Redeemed Christmas – The Heart of Jesus – Advent Tabletop Devotional
Do you celebrate Advent?
What resources do you use to keep Christ in Christmas?
Hi Mary 😉 Thanks for sharing my Jesse Tree Calendar Cards and eBook! 😉
I SO agree with you, wanting to do so many great ideas, often makes me fall short and just give up entirely. I am praying I can stick with what I have chosen for this year!
I loved meeting you and being in your class at Allume! I LOVE your blog and resources and could spend hours there. The Calendar Connections are great and look forward to implementing them in January.
Hi Mary!
Love this very informative post. I tried Truth in the Tinsel last Christmas and my kids enjoyed it. So I added it in to my Untangling Christmas planner this year, but have been so busy with our move and everything else that I’m feeling a little bit guilty for not starting on it yet this season. I’m determined though. 🙂
Thanks for posting this. Was looking for this info all over the web.