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list for names of Jesus. Here are a few ... (i.e. buy a stranger's meal, secretly leave a treat for a neighbor, etc.) RE
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NOVEMBER 27

READ: “A messenger is calling

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READ:

– Isaiah 40:3 & Mark 1:3 –

DO:

Advent means “the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event” and is the time of the year that Christians prepare to celebrate the arrival of Jesus at Christmas. Talk about and decide as a family how you will prepare for Christmas. Plan ways you will prepare physically (decorations, cookies, etc.) and ways that you will prepare your hearts (following the Advent devotional, praying as a family, etc.). Is there something new that you could add or take away this year to help you prepare?

God’s people had to wait a very long time for the words of the prophet Isaiah to come true! Give each person a sweet treat, but tell them that they have to hold that treat and not eat it until each family member shares their 3 favorite things about Christmas. After each person has shared, eat your sweet treats as a family. Was it hard to wait?

5 “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her.” –Luke 1:45 –

– Luke 1:38 –

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Discuss as a family what it means to make a promise. Throughout the Bible we learn how God always keeps his promises, and just like Mary, we can trust God, too! Make a list of some of God’s promises to his people.

DO:

Think of someone in your neighborhood who you could serve in a simple way.

11 READ: “And there were shepherds

living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.” – Luke 2:8 –

Have some fun today with a game of hide and seek! Pick one person in your family to be the shepherd first. When the shepherd catches the sheep, say “Jesus is the good shepherd!”

READ: “Come, let us bow down in

READ: “An angel of the Lord

appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.”

Attend worship together as a family. Discuss afterwards what elements of the service were most meaningful to each family member (i.e. Music, prayer, sermon, communion, etc.)

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As a family, before other gifts are unwrapped, unwrap the baby Jesus (parents have pre-wrapped from a nativity and put it under the tree). Talk about how Jesus is the BEST gift that we receive at Christmas. Say a prayer together, thanking God for his “indescribable gift.”

DO:

Research online what questions are asked on a census. How would you answer those questions for your family?

Discuss as a family what makes you afraid - parents, too! What do you do when you are afraid? Say a prayer together to ask God to help you when you are afraid.

19 “’Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’”

Reading scripture helps us to be wise. Choose a family scripture for focus and memory this year.

Gather up some blankets and head outside this evening to gaze under the stars. Imagine what it must have been like for the wise men to know in their hearts what the star meant.

– Luke 1:31 –

– Luke 2:11 –

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.”

DO:

The wise men came to see the newborn king. Work as a family to create a special crown fit for a king.

– Luke 2:6-7 –

– Luke 2:7 –

Share photos and stories about your child’s earliest days and months. Parents, locate a baby picture of yourself to share as well.

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” – Luke 2:12 –

– Luke 2:14 –

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Go on a treasure hunt throughout the house and have each family member find one thing that they would offer Jesus. Have each person explain the significance of each item during a time of show and tell!

Make a list of items that a newborn would need. Take a shopping trip as a family and buy some of those items to be donated to a local agency.

17 READ: “So they hurried off and

found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger” – Luke 2:16 –

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Sing “Silent Night” as a family. Think of ways that your family can have “heavenly peace” this Advent season.

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– Matthew 2:11b –

DO:

16 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

READ: “She wrapped him in cloths

and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

READ:

READ: “Then they opened their

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time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.”

DO:

READ: “This will be a sign to you:

– Matthew 2:11a –

Brainstorm as a family to develop a top ten list for names of Jesus. Here are a few places you might look for ideas: Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:11; John 1:14; John 1:29; John 6:35; John 10:11.

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READ: “While they were there, the

Help a neighbor in need by donating a warm coat or a blanket to a community organization.

READ:

– Luke 1:32 –

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Share with your child how you felt about their arrival into the world and how you chose to communicate your joy with others. (email, phone call, birth announcement, etc.)

called the Son of the Most High.”

Do some research online to discover what each family member’s name means.

Get out an atlas or a map and plan a pretend trip! Dream big, and enjoy hearing each other’s ideas about where to go and what to do.

Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

READ: “He will be great and will be

DO:

DO:

READ: “Today in the town of David a

– Matthew 2:2 –

DO:

– Luke 1:30 –

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20 READ:

birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”

– Luke 2:4-5 –

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Make a Christmas card for someone to share the Good News of Christmas!

READ: “You will conceive and give

DO:

3

2

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary: you have found favor with God.’”

from the town of Nazareth . . . to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”

Do you know where your family is from? Talk with relatives about your family heritage.

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DO:

READ:

READ: “So Joseph also went up

DO:

SAT

DECEMBER 1

7

– Luke 2:10 –

DO:

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Create a card for someone who needs a special message or encouragement. Pray over this special message and drop it in the mail!

– Luke 2:3 –

– Luke 2:1 –

– Matthew 2:1 –

DO:

DO:

own town to register.”

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’”

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.”

– Psalm 95:6-7 –

– 2 Corinthians 9:15 –

Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.”

FRI

Show unexpected favor to someone. (i.e. buy a stranger’s meal, secretly leave a treat for a neighbor, etc.)

READ: “And everyone went to their

READ:

READ:

worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God...”

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.”

READ: “In those days Caesar

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“God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”

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– Luke 2:9 –

DO:

READ:

– Luke 1:26-27 –

Create and decorate a special poster or banner with this verse on it to hang in your home during advent. Memorize the verse as a family. How does knowing this verse help you to prepare for Christmas?

DO:

READ:

“’I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.”

READ:

– John 3:16 –

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DO:

4 READ:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

– Isaiah 9:6 –

THURS

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READ:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.’”

WED

DO:

Reenact the Christmas story using a nativity set or act it out as a family!

23 READ:

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and see, which were just as they had been told.”

24 READ:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12 –

– Luke 2:20 –

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Celebrate the birth of Jesus like the shepherds did by having a birthday party for Jesus!

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Turn the lights out and light a candle. Talk about how the candle helps us to see in the darkness (but we can only see what’s near the candle) and how it helps to make things visible so that we can find our way. Jesus came into the world as a baby to be our light!