So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.” Matthew 1:22-23 (CEV)
SAY, PRAY AND BLESS:
A Prayer for the Week:
God, make us strong again! Smile on us and save us. Amen. (Psalm 80:3)
Mealtime Prayer:
Lord God, you have promised to take care of us. Thank you for feeding us good food, and for saving us through Jesus. Amen.
A Blessing to Give:
May God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ fulfill their promise to you and bless you with peace. Amen. (Romans 1:7)
CARING CONVERSATIONS
Discuss in your household or small group:
• Share about a time when someone kept a promise to you.
• Why is it important to keep our promises?
• Long before Jesus was born, God promised to send him as our
Savior. God always keeps promises! What does that mean to you?
DEVOTIONS
On December 22-23, light all four blue or purple candles on your Advent wreath.
Say: This is the fourth and last week of Advent. We light the fourth candle
on our Advent wreath to celebrate God’s promise to send Jesus as our
Savior. (The candles are lit.)
Read: Read Matthew 1:20-22.
Pray: Let us pray: Lord God, thank you for always keeping your promises.
Most of all, thank you for sending us Jesus to be our Savior, and for
promising that he will one day come again. Amen.
SERVICE
Simple acts of kindness can be as good a gift as those bought and wrapped. Make up “kindness vouchers” to give to one another as gifts this Christmas. Each voucher should list a kind deed that is redeemable during the year (e.g. a night off from doing the dishes, making a bed, cleaning a room). Have fun thinking of voucher ideas and preparing them for one another!
RITUALS AND TRADITIONS
Many homes and communities prepare special light displays at Christmas time. Take a household “Christmas lights tour” of your community this week. As you travel, sing Christmas carols or listen to Christmas music. You may also wish to set up a home Christmas lights display in your front yard or window. Offer thanks to Jesus, who is the true light of the world.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
These readings are related to the Lectionary readings for this Sunday.
We invite you to take time each day to read the assigned
Bible passages.
Sunday Matthew 1:18-25 Immanuel – God with us
Monday Luke 1:26-33 An angel appears to Mary
Tuesday Luke 1:39-45 Mary visits Elizabeth
Wednesday Luke 2:1-7 The birth of Jesus
Thursday Luke 2:8-20 Shepherds and angels
Friday Isaiah 52:7-10 Burst into songs of joy
Saturday Psalm 98 Shout for joy to the Lord
Sunday Matthew 2:13-23 The escape to Egypt
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Advent is a season for waiting and watching.
“So always be ready, because you don’t know the day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:42 (NCV)
SAY, PRAY AND BLESS:
A Prayer for the Week:
Lord Jesus, keep us awake in our faith, always ready for you to return. Amen. (Matthew 24:42)
Mealtime Prayer:
Lord Jesus, please bless our Advent eating and our Advent waiting. Give us hearts that are ready and faith that is steady. Amen.
A Blessing to Give:
May you wait and watch for Jesus. May your faith burn bright each and every day. Amen.
CARING CONVERSATIONS
Discuss in your household or small group:
• Share about a time when you were waiting for something or someone
to come.
• Jesus asks his followers to be ready, as he could return at any time
(Matthew 24:42). How do we stay ready for Jesus?
• How would you describe yourself as a Christian right now – tired,
sleepy, awake or alert?
DEVOTIONS
Set up an Advent wreath to use in your home in the weeks leading up to Christmas. An Advent wreath contains five candles: four in a circle and one in the center. The circle represents the eternity of God, and the four candles are usually blue or purple. The center candle is usually white. It represents Christ and is lit on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In the first week of Advent, light the first candle.
Say: This is the first week of Advent. Advent means “coming.” We are waiting
and watching for the coming of Christ. Let us light the first Advent
candle, the candle of waiting. (The candle is lit.)
Read: Read one of the following verses: Matthew 24:42, Matthew 24:44,
Romans 13:12, Luke 12:35, Colossians 4:2, Psalm 130:5, Psalm 130:6,
Matthew 3:3.
Pray: Lord God, thank you for Advent. In this season of waiting,
make us ready for Jesus to return. Amen.
SERVICE
December 1st is World AIDS Day. Did you know that there are more than twenty million children and youth across the world that have lost both of their parents to this disease? Over half of these live in sub-Saharan Africa. Talk about how you can raise awareness about this sad situation. Plan to make a Christmas donation through www.aidsorphans.org or organize a fundraiser to support those who are caring for AIDS orphans.
RITUALS AND TRADITIONS
Make a paper chain with a link for each day of December up to Christmas Day. Write one of the instructions listed below on each link. Remove a link each day and do what it says:
1. Share: “What gives you peace?”
2. Share: “What gives you joy?”
3. Share: “What gives you hope?”
4. Share compliments with each other.
5. Read Jeremiah 33:14-16.
6. Share hugs with one another.
7. Share good Christmas memories.
8. Read Isaiah 11:1-3.
9. Play a game together.
10. Sing a Christmas carol.
11. Share: “What do you like about Christmas?”
12. Read Micah 5:2-4.
13. Tell the nativity story to each other.
14. Prepare Christmas cards to give out.
15. Read Isaiah 7:14.
16. Sing another Christmas carol.
17. Do deeds of service for each other.
18. Share a Christmas food.
19. Read Isaiah 9:6-7.
20. Go for a walk together.
21. Draw a Christmas picture together.
22. Read Luke 1:26-38.
23. Read Matthew 1:18-24.
24. Read Luke 2:1-7
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
These readings are related to the Lectionary readings for this Sunday.
We invite you to take time each day to read the assigned
Bible passages.
Sunday Matthew 24:36-44 The sudden coming of salvation
Monday Matthew 24:3-14 Persevere to the end
Tuesday Matthew 24:23-28 Don’t be deceived
Wednesday Matthew 24:45-51 The faithful servant
Thursday Luke 17:22-37 The coming of the Son of Man
Friday Joel 3:14-21 The day of the Lord
Saturday Psalm 124 We have escaped like a bird
Sunday Matthew 3:1-12 Prepare the way of the Lord
SAY, PRAY AND BLESS:
A Prayer for the Week:
Lord Jesus, keep us awake in our faith, always ready for you to return. Amen. (Matthew 24:42)
Mealtime Prayer:
Lord Jesus, please bless our Advent eating and our Advent waiting. Give us hearts that are ready and faith that is steady. Amen.
A Blessing to Give:
May you wait and watch for Jesus. May your faith burn bright each and every day. Amen.
CARING CONVERSATIONS
Discuss in your household or small group:
• Share about a time when you were waiting for something or someone
to come.
• Jesus asks his followers to be ready, as he could return at any time
(Matthew 24:42). How do we stay ready for Jesus?
• How would you describe yourself as a Christian right now – tired,
sleepy, awake or alert?
DEVOTIONS
Set up an Advent wreath to use in your home in the weeks leading up to Christmas. An Advent wreath contains five candles: four in a circle and one in the center. The circle represents the eternity of God, and the four candles are usually blue or purple. The center candle is usually white. It represents Christ and is lit on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In the first week of Advent, light the first candle.
Say: This is the first week of Advent. Advent means “coming.” We are waiting
and watching for the coming of Christ. Let us light the first Advent
candle, the candle of waiting. (The candle is lit.)
Read: Read one of the following verses: Matthew 24:42, Matthew 24:44,
Romans 13:12, Luke 12:35, Colossians 4:2, Psalm 130:5, Psalm 130:6,
Matthew 3:3.
Pray: Lord God, thank you for Advent. In this season of waiting,
make us ready for Jesus to return. Amen.
SERVICE
December 1st is World AIDS Day. Did you know that there are more than twenty million children and youth across the world that have lost both of their parents to this disease? Over half of these live in sub-Saharan Africa. Talk about how you can raise awareness about this sad situation. Plan to make a Christmas donation through www.aidsorphans.org or organize a fundraiser to support those who are caring for AIDS orphans.
RITUALS AND TRADITIONS
Make a paper chain with a link for each day of December up to Christmas Day. Write one of the instructions listed below on each link. Remove a link each day and do what it says:
1. Share: “What gives you peace?”
2. Share: “What gives you joy?”
3. Share: “What gives you hope?”
4. Share compliments with each other.
5. Read Jeremiah 33:14-16.
6. Share hugs with one another.
7. Share good Christmas memories.
8. Read Isaiah 11:1-3.
9. Play a game together.
10. Sing a Christmas carol.
11. Share: “What do you like about Christmas?”
12. Read Micah 5:2-4.
13. Tell the nativity story to each other.
14. Prepare Christmas cards to give out.
15. Read Isaiah 7:14.
16. Sing another Christmas carol.
17. Do deeds of service for each other.
18. Share a Christmas food.
19. Read Isaiah 9:6-7.
20. Go for a walk together.
21. Draw a Christmas picture together.
22. Read Luke 1:26-38.
23. Read Matthew 1:18-24.
24. Read Luke 2:1-7
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
These readings are related to the Lectionary readings for this Sunday.
We invite you to take time each day to read the assigned
Bible passages.
Sunday Matthew 24:36-44 The sudden coming of salvation
Monday Matthew 24:3-14 Persevere to the end
Tuesday Matthew 24:23-28 Don’t be deceived
Wednesday Matthew 24:45-51 The faithful servant
Thursday Luke 17:22-37 The coming of the Son of Man
Friday Joel 3:14-21 The day of the Lord
Saturday Psalm 124 We have escaped like a bird
Sunday Matthew 3:1-12 Prepare the way of the Lord
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