As a family we’ve tried a couple of things to make it mean that bit more.
We tried having one calendar and taking turns to promote sharing. We tried being Jesus-centred with a chocolate advent calendar that had a nativity image and Christmas story booklet.
These went some way to countering the consumer culture of Christmas. But if I’m honest, they hardly made a mark. This year, we’re being even more intentional about advent. Here are some of the ideas I’ve found:
Preparing
Instead of small gifts/chocolates in the advent calendar, have tasks to help prepare for Christmas. Talk about how Mary prepared for the arrival of Jesus. This gets the whole family involved in the preparation together and helps with the list that you’d have to work through anyway. Write your own or choose 24 from this list.
Giving / Serving
Instead of a traditional calendar, commit to a random act of kindness each day, making advent about others rather than self. Talk about our Biblical command to show God’s love to others. Here are some excellent suggestions for brightening someone’s day.
Learning
Get to grips with the big meaning of Christmas by putting it in context of the whole Bible. Each day, read together a part of the bible leading up to the birth of Christ. Use a story bible, or use a list of readings like this.
Jesus
Focus on Jesus by discovering the names attributed to Him in the Bible. Make a paper chain by adding a name each day, reading and talking about the verse together.
Play
Play
Build up a nativity scene, 1 figure at a time throughout advent, you can be creative with this. Set up the entire nativity scene except for Jesus and add him on Christmas day. Each day move a glow star closer to your nativity scene and allow the children to help the wise men follow.
I hope that these activities help you to enjoy this season as we get ready to celebrate the amazing arrival of Immanuel.
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| Hannah MacFarlane |
