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Advent Lesson PlansMany thanks again to Lorna Webb for providing us with these Advent lesson plans. Before embarking on these lessons teachers need to download the following zip file which contains all the templates and material required for the lessons.
Advent
lessons: Summary Gold is
for giving – a celebration of God’s gift of his son Red is
for loving – a celebration of God’s love for us Green is
for living – a celebration of life everlasting Blue is
for the night sky – a celebration of the first signs (star and angels)
announcing the birth of Jesus Purple
is for royalty – a celebration of the king born in a stable not a palace White is
for purity – a celebration of being washed “as white as snow” by the
sacrifice Jesus was to make See also: "Colours of Christmas" poem" (see files in zip file) This
poem can be printed on small pieces of card and given out to students or even
the whole congregation. They can
also be laminated with a small strip of magnet attached to the back so they can
be used as fridge magnets. Advent
1: Purple or Blue Introduction
(Note: you may choose to only consider the colour
used in YOUR church) For many
years, purple has been the colour of Advent in the Western church.
Purple is not only a Royal colour but it signifies preparation for a
major event. It is also the
colour used in Lent, the time of preparation and reflection before Easter.
As Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas, the colour purple is
very appropriate. In
recent years many churches have adopted a new colour for Advent – blue.
Blue is the colour of heaven and of the night sky.
It is a reminder of the angels announcing the birth of Jesus to the
shepherds and of the star foretelling the birth which the wise men followed. Blue is also the colour many artists choose for
Mary’s robes in portrayals of the Nativity.
Using blue, therefore, signifies expectation of the birth of Jesus. Bible reading: Luke
1: 5 – 16 (The birth of John the Baptist) Discussion ·
Did you know
that the birth of John the Baptist was foretold many years before he was born?
Even before his parents were born?
(Matthew 3:3, Isaiah 40:3) God began preparing for the birth of Jesus a
very long time before it actually happened.
That means it was always in God’s mind to send us a saviour who would
be our King and save us from our sins.
He didn’t just decide one day and it happened! ·
Purple is the
colour of Royalty & preparation / Blue is the colour of expectation.
What can we do to prepare ourselves for the Christmas season? ·
How do people
generally prepare for Christmas? Eg
decorate Christmas tree, make gift lists, shopping lists, food lists … Activities ·
Use templates
to make miniature Christmas trees: see section on making the tree.
Children will colour one tree template per week, culminating in the
making of the 3D model tree. If using purple, choose the crowns template,
symbolizing Christ the King. If
blue is chosen, use the stars template. The star was the first sign in the night
sky that told the wise men that something important was about to happen. As children colour the rest of the tree in green,
remind them that green is the colour of life and that God gives us new life
through Jesus. ·
Make purple /
blue ornaments to place on a real Christmas tree, leaving room for other colours
(the remaining lessons). ·
Draw a tree on
a large sheet of card. Children
create decorations in blue / purple to glue to tree. Write a description of the colour meaning to put under the
tree when displayed. ·
Make a list of
ways we can prepare ourselves spiritually for Christmas and / or share what
Christmas really means with others, perhaps inviting them to church for
Christmas celebrations, etc. ·
Memorise a
Bible verse. Decorate the
verse card in purple / blue. Advent
2: Red Introduction
Although
red is not a liturgical colour for Christmas it is certainly used a lot in other
ways during the Advent season. Red
is the colour of loving. Red
is also the colour of fire – reminding us of the coming of the Holy Spirit,
the Comforter, at Pentecost. Discussion What is
usually coloured red at Christmas? Suggestions:
Santa’s red suit (Note: although many believe Christians should not encourage
their children to believe in Santa, Sunday School lesson time is not the time
for debunking the belief … simply acknowledge that his suit is red and move on
- or some parents may be very unhappy!), red and white candy canes,
(visit this link to find out about the candy cane legend) red
baubles and tinsel (refer to previous lesson on decorations and preparation for
Christmas). Red is
also a hint of what was to come for Jesus – his suffering and death on the
cross – the ultimate sacrifice of love. Bible reading: Luke
1: 26 – 33 Activities ·
Complete the
second tree (see Advent 1). ·
Make red
ornaments in the shape of hearts, symbolizing God’s love for us, to decorate a
Christmas tree. These ornaments could contain the ultimate Bible verse about
love, John 3:16. ·
Make a
Christmas card for someone to tell them how much they are loved. ·
Memorise a
Bible verse. Decorate the
verse card in red. Advent
3: Gold Introduction
Gold –
the word conjures up images of treasure, kings, wealth etc.
For many, items made of gold are their most precious possessions. Discussion At
Christmas time we make lists of gifts we would like or would like to give to
others. What might be on God’s
Christmas wish list? (Love,
caring for others, people taking the time to talk to God …) What
gifts does God give to us? (Love, joy, peace etc, creation, life…)
What is the greatest gift He ever gave us? (Jesus). What is
our greatest treasure? God
gave us all these wonderful things to treasure but what if there was no God to
create them (and us)? So God is the
greatest treasure of all. Bible reading: John
3:16 Activities ·
Complete the
third tree (see Advent 1) ·
Wrap small
items in gold paper to decorate the tree, thus symbolising God’s gifts to us. ·
Write a list of
what we can give others that don’t cost money (love, time, a helping hand …) Advent
4: White Introduction
Jesus
was born at Christmas to be a Saviour for all the world. The Bible tells us that though our sins are like
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow
(Isaiah 1:18). So white is a
symbol of why Jesus came to earth as a baby and lived here as a man. Bible
reading: Isaiah 1:18 or 1 Corinthians 6:11. Discussion (Before
the lesson, prepare 2 pieces of identical white cloth. Keep one clean whilst making the other very dirty).
Hold up the two pieces of cloth and ask the children for their opinions.
Which do they prefer? Why is
one dirty? How could it be
made clean again, etc. What
other things are white? Why
are they white? Does it have
something to do with purity or innocence? Read the
Bible verse. What does it
mean? It was written many
years before Jesus was born but we know now that Isaiah was writing about Jesus.
In 1 Corinthians 6:11, the Bible says, “you
were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God”. Activities ·
Complete the
fourth tree (see Advent 1) ·
Fold and cut
paper snowflakes to decorate a large tree. ·
Give children a
piece of white cloth (open weave) . Keep one piece separate as a comparison on clean versus
dirty. Have them dirty their cloth
(eg they can use it to clean their shoes or dust the Sunday School room!)
Then prepare bowls of soapy water and ask them to wash their cloth so it
is as clean as if it had never been dirtied.
Help them to realise how wonderful it is that God is able to wash all our
sins away so thoroughly that we are like new. ·
If there is to
be no further lesson before Christmas (or on Christmas day) the children should
also complete the miniature tree by gluing all completed trees together. Making the miniature
Christmas tree If using
the blank template: copy template on green paper. Cut out. Decorate
with ornaments in the week’s colour.
Write name, in pencil, on back of tree.
Teacher collects trees and keeps them all until the final week’s
lesson. If using
the templates with ornaments: Copy the week’s template on white paper.
Children colour the tree using appropriate colours (eg green tree, red
hearts). Cut out.
Write name in pencil on back. Teacher
collects trees and keeps them all until the final week’s lesson.
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Collect (Prayer) for 11th May 2008WhitsundayGod, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all thingsand evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. This site is dedicated to Hilary Doreen Davies who departed this life 26 November 2003 aged 71 after 23 years of chronic illness with strokes, cancer and arthritis. St Hilary's Church is our tribute to a brave lady who was mother to Sarah, Catherine, the late Rachel, the late John and wife to the late Owen Williams Davies. [Guest
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