It’s that time of the year again.
The time of the year for lists, shopping lists, present lists, todo lists, and Advent idea lists.
So here is mine for 2021
I like my ideas to be free, preferably; downloadable if possible; and often child centred (well it is that season after all – we are awaiting a birth). No matter where you are in the world, I hope you and your community or family will benefit from preparing your hearts and home for Christmas.
Advent starts next Sunday.
ADVENT MUSIC
Listen to this Advent album by Liturgical Folk
Downloadable from Word and Wonder The Songs of Christmas; Advent Worship Guide, and you can also download the Colouring in book to match
ADVENT LEGO
The Episcopal Church of Arkansas have produced this Lego Advent prayer countdown using this years Lego city Advent calendar. Even if you can’t buy or afford the lego kit you could make or find the type of person/vehicle etc mentioned in the prayer and use the prayers each day.
(I will be doing this as my personal Advent practice so follow the Facebook page and see what insights come out of it for me, I would love to hear yours)
Family Project (actually if meeting together you might build one week by week during the sermon, or as a joint community project) If Zoom meeting, everyone can build one and then all show and tell in a special service or on Christmas Morning.
You might like to build a nativity set from Lego such as this one from Frugal Fun for Boys
or this one I found on someone else’s Advent list (when I remember I’ll let you know who it was)
COLOURING-IN
Always love the Praying in Color templates, these can be a visual journey of your own Advent prayers or you can use a more guided Advent study and use these templates as your visual prayer response to it. Suitable for all ages. She has some suggestions on how to use these on the linked pages.
Sunhats and Wellie boots have a dfferent take on an Advent Colouring-in calendar.
Advent Studies
This is one for all the family from the Presbyterian Church of Canada
Either for home or church use from INTERGEN there is a colouring in downloadable too
ADVENT FAITH TRAIL
Love this trail idea from Sun Hat and Wellie Boots
This one has lots of choice for families of different aged children by the Uniting Church In Australia South Australia Synod
This is one for the Community and is a Northern Hemisphere idea but could easily be adapted to the Southern Hemishpere using coloured plants(new growth/new birth) could be used instead of coloured lights and would suit a situation where social distancing and outside worship is required.
Especially for Families at home
Here is a downloadable one from CandlePress
Mainly Ministries have produced this one
Try this I wonder series from Muddy Church
ADVENT STUDIES BASED ON BOOKS
I look forward to this each year though it does require a copy of the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones with illustrations by Jago. Downloadable
I’m going to sneak this one in, you need the book “Twas the Season of Advent by Glenys Nellist and there is a lovely activity pack download available that expands on the book.
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE IDEAS
Either at home or in Community instead of using the eternal circle to place your Advent Candles each week you could place them on the Southern Cross,(note the links do do work on this page, but the Biblical connects are worth reading). (I have a liturgy I’m working on at the moment when it is finished I will add a link to that here.) Any liturgy could be used with this idea though.
A watery Advent from Engage Together 2020(sorry it’s an old one but you get the idea) from p.13
There are many more wonderful resources out there. I hope I have not added to your confusion. Pick one and use it for the whole of Advent and if that isn’t working for your family change to something else. The important thing is that you find a practice that brings your family closer to God and helps them wait.
May you have a blessed Advent
Wendy L.
Please check local guidlines before using items that are not mine especially if you are using this page for congregational use. Please acknowedge this page if you find it useful. Thank you.
I am writing this on Wurundjeri land and wish to pay respect to all Elders, past, present and emerging.
The Cross in My Backyard 