WHAT IS IT?
Advent for Families is a 4-week guide to help families prepare for Christmas. Each week covers:
- DISCUSS – Questions to help you explore the week’s theme.
- EXPERIENCE – Ideas to help you discover ways that hope, joy, peace, and love are manifested in everyday life.
- REFLECT – Relevant Scripture and questions to help you ponder applications for your family.
- PRAY – Encouragement to help you hear from God and walk in obedience.
- GIVE – Ideas to consider how you might serve, love, and give to those around you each week.
HOW TO USE IT
This resource is designed to help you guide the families you serve as they celebrate the season of Advent together. Whether your church observes Advent regularly or it’s the first time you’ve introduced it, we hope the readings and ideas included are a valuable tool as you partner with parents to focus on His coming this Christmas.
Non-Event
- Provide the resource to your small group leaders for use in a small group Bible study this Christmas. Print and distribute the discussion questions and activity ideas to students for families to share.
- At the start of each theme/week, send parents a brief text or email to help them prepare. If you prefer to divide the resource into four sections, simply provide families with one theme at a time and send the attachments for each of the four weeks of Advent.
- Print the entire packet and distribute it to the families in your church a few weeks before the start of Advent.
Event
Advent Kickoff – Invite parents/grandparents and kids to an event before Advent.
- Introduce them to the history and purpose of Advent using the “What is Advent?” page.
- Incorporate songs like “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” to help illustrate the idea of watching and waiting with longing and anticipation.
- Read a book about Advent, such as “The Littlest Watchman” by Scott James.
- Provide the supplies and time for families to make an Advent wreath for use at home. It can be a traditional evergreen wreath or one of the many Advent candle projects available online.
- Tell families about this resource, explain how they can use it, and then distribute printed copies as they leave.
- Include snacks and some games and prizes. That’s always a fun addition to any event.
- Create an Advent activity bag to give to families at church. Include any or all of the following:
- A copy of this resource.
- Supplies for the suggested activities (other than the basics they would already have at home).
- Handouts that highlight a special church or community holiday event.
- A list of charities that your church supports
Author’s Bio
Amy Diller began her career as an elementary teacher before moving into her current role of Co-Director of Children’s Ministry at Colonial Woods Missionary Church in Port Huron, MI. She is a life-long Michigander, wife to Jason, and mom to two college-aged daughters. Amy loves the smell of a new box of crayons, the feel of a book in her hands, and experiencing God’s Word through the eyes of kids. You can contact Amy Diller at amy@cwmc.church.
To download the PDF “Advent for Families”, click HERE.
To download an editable Word version, click HERE.
