We want to celebrate the Advent season together with your family as we prepare to remember the birth of Jesus. Many of you have picked up your Christmas magnet, but if you haven’t, be sure to ask our Adventureland staff. For this third week, we want to think together about the Christmas story as found in Luke 2.
The verse on our magnet comes from verse 11 – “Unto to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior.”
- We’re Waiting! – Ask your kids to describe a time when they had to wait for something. Maybe it’s waiting for the doctor to come. Maybe it’s waiting in traffic to get across the bridge inKelowna! Maybe it’s waiting for a special family trip toDisneyland. How did it feel when the waiting was over? God’s people waited a long time for a Savior to come. Have your older children look up these promises that talk about waiting and how God kept His promises: Isaiah 9:6/Luke 2:11-12; Isaiah 11:1-2/Matthew 3:16-17; Micah 5:2/Matthew 2:1; Zechariah 9:9/John 12:12-16.
- What’s It Worth? – There will be times throughout the next couple of weeks where kids are coming along while you do your Christmas shopping. While you’re shopping, pick up an item and ask the kids what they think it’s worth – and have them guess the price tag on the item. Have them decide if the item is really worth what the store is asking for it. Repeat this a few times. Then, end by finding a very expensive item and repeat the process. Ask the kids, “If our family purchased this item, how would we treat it in our home?” Then, ask them, how much do you think Jesus is worth? There is no price tag that could describe the value of the gift God gave to us in His Son, Jesus. This Christmas, we want to recognize the worth of Jesus and worship Him.
- He is Closer Than You Think! – If you have a nativity set, take the small figure of baby Jesus to use for this activity. Gather everyone together and choose a “hider” and a “finder”. The “finder” leaves the room while the “hider” hides baby Jesus somewhere in the room. Then, choose a favorite Christmas carol to sing while the “finder” looks for baby Jesus. Sing softly when the “finder” is far away and sing LOUDLY as they get closer to the spot. When baby Jesus is found, everyone celebrates. Continue until everyone has had a chance to be both the “hider” and the “finder”. Ask your kids if Jesus is close to us, or far away from us? Then read Isaiah 7:14 together as family, and thank God together that the child Jesus is God’s sign that “God is with us”!
Because Children Matter,
Carol A. Wiebe
