Advent - Love

Advent is the time before Christmas when we think about God coming to be with us. 

Each week during Advent we light candles.  On the first Sunday of Advent, we lit the candle of Hope. 

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We call the first candle the candle of hope, to remind us of the true light that’s coming into the world - the true light that gives light to all people.

On the second Sunday, we added another candle - the candle of Peace.

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When the true light came into the world, God’s angels appeared to the shepherds to tell them about baby Jesus and sang, “Praise God and Peace to God’s people on earth!”

On the third Sunday of Advent, we lit the candle of Joy.

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When Jesus was born, he brought joy to the whole world.  God was so happy and put a special star in the sky to mark the spot where Jesus was born.  

The Joy we celebrate during Advent comes from knowing that:

God is always with us; God loves us all the time;  God is always good; and God works to bring goodness to every situation. 

The Candle of Love

Today we also light our fourth candle - the candle of Love.

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During Advent, we remember that God is love, and that God wants us to know about God’s love for each of us all the time, in every place.  God sent Jesus to tell us about this big love, and this is what we celebrate on Christmas.

Story: Song Of The Stars

Christmas is almost here! We have been waiting, hoping, and thinking about God coming to be with us. We know who was there the night Jesus was born, and we know some of the events that happened that night. But can you imagine what it might have felt like to actually be there? I’d like to read you a book, and maybe it can help us wonder what it could have felt like to be a witness on that miraculous night.

Wondering Questions

  • I wonder what the world sounded like the night Jesus was born?  

  • I wonder if we can hear noises of the world getting ready for Christmas today?

  • I wonder what noise you would make if you were in this story?

Activity

Here is an empty stable. If you were going to tell the story of Jesus’ birth, what people and animals would you need to add to this picture? Would you add any words? What else would you add to tell the story? Ask a grownup to help you print this image, and you can draw, color, and create your own Nativity picture.

Nativity Stable Background

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Prayer

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May your hearts and your homes be full of love this week and always. Merry Christmas!