Advent »

Family Christmas 2012

5th Grade, Advent, Christmas, Devotional, Event, Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Treasuring God in Our Traditions No Responses »

Dec 102012

Last Wednesday evening, hundreds of Crossing Kids and their families gathered to worship our coming King during Family Christmas Celebration 2012: Heaven and Nature Sing. Our evening started in the auditorium with a collection of different animals singing “Joy to the World” in their native tongues.

The best solution payday loans

This was followed by a dramatic reading of Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones. Each family in attendance was able to take a copy of this great book home at the end of the night.

Candace then lead us in a time of worship. We took a closer look at the lyrics of “Joy to the World” and learned that this Christmas favorite is really about all of creation worshiping and longing for the day when Jesus returns and all things will be made new.

Families then left to participate in games that helped us understand what it means to wait in eager anticipation. They also created paper chains to count down the days until Christmas and use with this year’s Family Advent Devotional. If you weren’t able to make it, you can download a free downloadable version and order your own copy of Song of the Stars to use alongside it.

Found Advent Poetry: Waiting and Hope

Advent, Christmas, Devotional, Family, Parents, Reflection, Treasuring God in Our Traditions, Volunteers No Responses »

Dec 062012

A found poem based on Keith Simon’s sermon from Advent past. You can listen to the entire thing here.

We are Christmas people,
not Advent.

Waiting feels
unnatural,
countercultural,
uncomfortable.

Yet waiting
is just as much a part
of our reality
as it was theirs.

We no longer wait
for his birth,
but His coming.

Eternity amnesia
blinds us to the reality
that this world isn’t all
there is.

Just like kids
tearing open presents
we ask,
“Is this it?”

Unrealistic expectations
that life
can’t deliver.
We ask too much
of other people.
We misplace priorities.
We misunderstand suffering.
Robbed of meaning
and purpose.

We are wired by God
for more.
Eternity set inside
of every human heart.

There is surely
a future hope
that will not be cut off.
A hope
on the other side
of the grave.
This world is
preparation,
not a destination.

A life of wisdom is dependent
on knowing this
isn’t all there is.
Don’t set your hope here
set your hope on the grace
to be brought to you.

We wait as they waited.
We long as they longed.
Come Lord Jesus, come redeem us
we will wait for You.

Come Lord Jesus: Advent Ideas

Advent, Christmas, Devotional, Elementary, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Treasuring God in Our Traditions, Volunteers No Responses »

Nov 292012

Growing up, Advent and Lent were seasons that not just my church but my family observed. Both were times of anticipation and waiting. Both were times of drawing closer to the manger and to the cross. Both were opportunities my parents used to start intentional conversations about the Gospel.

Advent comes from a Latin word that means “coming.” It’s a time of preparation and expectant waiting that I’ve participated in for as long as I can remember. Colored candles glowed, manger scenes were played with, small calendar doors opened, the Christmas story was read, and the countdown for Christmas day grew in anticipation with each passing day. I found this video to be a helpful explanation of why seasons like Advent are important.

Q&A – The Advent Season from The Village Church on Vimeo.

Here are a few things I’m doing this year to prepare my heart along with a few additional resources and ideas from others your family might enjoy.

1. Advent Candles
For many years, people have been lighting Advent candles as a way to remember Christ being the light of the world (Matthew 4:16; John 1:4-9, 8:12). I’ve recreated this with 5 simple candles–four for the weeks leading up to Christmas and one for Christmas day. Traditionally these candles have represented different things–hope, peace, joy, love, and ultimately how all of these are found and fulfilled in Christ.

I’ve also chosen to spend sometime contemplating each word throughout that particular week (see chalkboard.) An easy way to do this is a simple keyword search using something like Bible Gateway. Here are a few thoughts on hope.

2. Advent Devotional Guides for Grown-Ups
Last year I used Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus to prepare. It features Advent excerpts from Spurgeon, Martin Luther, Tim Keller, etc…

This year, I’m using The Village Church’s free advent guide.

3. Advent Devotional Guides for Families
Over the years, Crossing Kids has developed several Advent Guides for families.

Last year, we took a closer look at how cultural icons of Christmas are really just sign posts that can point our families to a greater spiritual reality. “Every Good and Perfect Gift” is available for free download. You can also read more about how the Tiemeyer family used it together. Rachel Johnson also shared a list of her favorite Christmas picture books while Rachel Tiemeyer shared another great post with practical ideas for pre-schoolers. We will also have a new Advent devotional guide for you to take home and try at our Family Christmas Celebration next Wednesday, December 5.

Several families at The Crossing have also used Ann Voskamp’s version of The Jesse Tree that you can also download for free.

4. Advent Playlist
While I like some Christmas music and will enjoy it throughout the holiday season, I’m sure. The purpose of this is different, though. These are songs that create a since of angst and anticipation in me. There are songs that have a more Advent/Christmas feel to them like Red Mountain Church’s “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus and JJ Heller’s “My Savior’s Love Endures/Magnificat” but there are also quite a few other “anytime” hymns and songs that give clear reminders of where my Treasure really does lie.

Case in point, Page CXVI’s version of “Abide with Me.”

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

5. Treasuring God in Our Traditions
This incredible book by Noel Piper is filled with both vision and practical ideas on how to shepherd your child’s heart both every day and during special holiday seasons.

Good News of Great Joy

Advent, Christmas, Family, Videos Comments Off

Dec 222011

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:10-11

This week I have been reading through the Christmas story in Luke and contemplating the beauty of God sending this good news “for all the people.” God sent the world a Savior, his only Son, in the form of a helpless baby. The good news is the coming Light to a dark world and Hope in the midst of great hopelessness. The good news is the Messiah sent to save the world from the stain of sin. Christ is the good news. And He is for all the people. Christ came for the rich, the poor, the lowly, the oppressed, the proud, the fearful, the humble, the elderly, and the young. He came for all of us.

When God sent the angel to the shepherds saying, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people,” it struck me God was saying the good news of great joy will be for me and my family. In His infinite wisdom, God sent the good news for all His children in every century, in every country, in every life status in the world. This verse became personal this week because I realized over 2,000 years ago, God had me and my family in mind as those who should receive and hear the good news of His son, Jesus. This is great joy!

Scott shared the following video with me this week. I love watching the children reenact God’s story because this is their story too. The good news of great joy is for all people, including children. Christ came to earth for even the youngest among us. Not only that, He humbled himself to come to earth as the youngest of all – as a newborn baby. This video brought a smile to my face and reminded me that even young children find great joy in the beauty of Christ’s coming. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Found Poetry: The Incarnation of Wisdom

Advent, Devotional No Responses »

Dec 212011

Found poetry from Dave Cover’s December 4 sermon on Proverbs 8. You can (and should) listen to the entire podcast here.

An irritatingly
constant alarm
or
a very real warning
from a very real
and present voice.

Just a metaphor
or something more?

Wisdom Incarnate:
In the beginning was this Word.
This Word became flesh
and dwelt among us.

A voice calling
guding us out
of the fog
and into
the light.

The Light shines in the darkness,
the darkness has not overcome it.

Wisdom is proved right
by actions.
The Image of the Invisible
became this
for us.

Wisdom is not
just a roadmap,
not just a list
of habits
for successful living.

Wisdom is a person.

To follow this voice
is shalom–
peace,
rest,
life.
To follow this voice
is to be
satisfied.

Obedience is hard
but disobedience is impossible.*

Will you listen?

The only way
you’ll follow
is if you believe
it’s true.

Narrow is the gate
for conflicted creatures
in need of a touchpoint.
Faith is not
religious observance
but trust.

How do I know?

Even more
than living poetry:
His body given.
His blood shed.

An endless supply
with no limitation
on what it can cover.
An overflowing fountain.

Wisdom is a person.

*From Tim Keller.

Advent Devotional: December 19-24

5th Grade, Advent, Devotional, Elementary, Family, Parents, Preschool, Treasuring God in Our Traditions No Responses »

Dec 192011

Every Monday of Advent, we are posting a brief devotional that your family can do together to prepare your hearts for Christmas this year. Each week, we will discuss how many common, cultural icons are really just sign posts that point to a far greater spiritual reality. You can also check out a printable version of the entire Advent Devotional or view past editions below:

Advent Devotional Week 1: Intro

Advent Devotional Week 2: Christmas Trees

Advent Devotional Week 3: Christmas Lights

Advent Devotional Week 4: Gifts

Advent Devotional Week 5: Christmas Music

If you haven’t started yet, don’t worry! Try using previous pages on a daily rather than weekly basis.

*Consider showing the video below in place of the second Bible reading. It’s a video version of “A Dream from Heaven” from The Jesus Storybook Bible.

Advent Bread

Advent, Family, Treasuring God in Our Traditions No Responses »

Dec 152011

For many of us, favorite family memories are traditions are often centered around a special meal with special food. My mom is an excellent cook who could contribute just about anything to a holiday table. Yet she’s continually called upon to make one item more than anything else–homemade yeast rolls.

Now, I’m far from Joy the Baker or Rachel Tiemeyer when it comes to food blogs. Even so, I thought I’d share this simple recipe along with a few thoughts on what baking homemade bread often points to in my own mind and life.

1. Bread baking is more like Advent than Christmas.
My mom and I recently talked about why people “Ohhh” and “Ahhh” over such a simple dish. It doesn’t have anything to do with exotic ingredients. Homemade bread baking is sort of a dying art but not necessarily because there is a high level of difficulty involved. People shy away from it not because it’s complex, but because it requires something counter-cultural–waiting.

The initial act of combining ingredients and kneading them together isn’t hard. Immediately afterwards, though, you have to let your work rest and rise. You have to wait. Shaping the risen dough into uniform balls isn’t all that difficult. Yet, even after the last piece of dough is placed in the pan the process must be repeated. You must wait yet again before placing them into a warm oven where you will once again, you guessed it, wait.

There are many gratifying things that happen when you follow the recipe below. If you’re looking for something that involves instant gratification, however, you’re probably better off checking out what our friends at Pillsbury have in your grocer’s freezer.

In many ways, homemade bread baking is more like Advent than Christmas. Waiting involves a tension between a past promise and a future reality. It involves patience. It involves angst.

2. Homemade bread baking is messy.
Not only do you have to wait, but you have to clean up flour from your countertops. There is a type of labor involved that is different than unrolling something from a can (not that there is anything wrong with that.) The idea of something not only being more time intensive, but more labor intensive could easily be viewed as “strike two” in the world we live in. Yet, the process can actually be just as beautiful and valuable as the final product if we allow it. It reminds me a lot of what Wendell Berry said in Hannah Coulter:

“It is hard to say what it means to be at work and thinking of a person you loved and love still who did that same work before you and who taught you to do it. It is a comfort ever and always, like hearing the rhyme come when you are singing a song…And as our work shaped our workplaces, our work and our workplaces shaped our days.”

For me, the process of this recipe is greater than the final product. It makes me think of my mom–a person you loved and love still who did that same work before you and who taught you to do it.

Valuing the process frees us up to take a risk without everything riding on a perfect end result. It’s alright if we make a mess and end up with something less than ideal. Valuing the process means that even a bad batch of bread isn’t a waste.

If you want to give it a try, here is what you’ll need:

6 to 6 1/2 Cups of All Purpose Flour (I usually do 3 cups of White and 3 Cups of Wheat Flour)
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Teaspoons Salt
2 Packages of Active Dry Yeast
1/2 Cup Butter Softened
2 Cups Hot Water (120-130 Degrees)
1 Egg and 1 Egg Yolk
Vegetable Oil (To Grease the Bowl the Dough Rises In)

Start the process about 4 hours before you’d like to serve the rolls. If you have an electric mixer with a bread hook, use it. If not, get ready to give your arms a good work out.

In a large bowl, combine 2 1/4 cups flour with the sugar, salt, and yeast. Add butter or margarine. With mixer at low speed, gradually pour in 2 cups of water between 120-130 degrees. (Exact temperature is important since you’ll want to activate the yeast without killing it.) Add eggs increasing the speed to medium for 2 minutes.

Add 3/4 cup flour at a time mixing for 2 minutes in between. Continue this process until you’ve used the rest of the flour or you’ve created a soft ball of dough.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic.

Shape dough into a ball and place in a large, greased bowl, turning over so that the top of the dough is greased as well. Cover with a towel and place in a warm area until doubled (about 1 1/2 hours.)

Before

After

Cut dough into 30 equal pieces. Shape into balls and place in a greased pan. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 1 1/2 hours.

Before

After

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Brush rolls with melted butter, enjoy, and share.

Using the Advent Devotional Without Kids of My Own

Advent, Devotional, Elementary No Responses »

Dec 132011

For a little over a year now, on Monday afternoons I head to Granny’s House as Columbia Public Schools let out to pick up my friend, Christina. Christina is a sassy 8 year-old who loves reading books, coloring, shopping, going out to eat, and Justin Beiber.

We spend about two hours together, so we usually find plenty to do. Between the McDonald’s play place, parks, my house, my office, and the mall, we can keep ourselves pretty busy. Here is Christina when we went to see the Justin Beiber movie in 3D:

But as this winter hit this year, I found myself running out of creative and new things to do each week. One afternoon, at a loss, Christina and I headed to the office for a snack, some candy from the candy jar, and to finish setting up a family mailing that needed to go out the next day. Part of the mailing was this year’s Family Advent Devotional. As Christina saw the stack of papers at my desk she asked, “Do I get to do one of these?” What a great idea, and I’m a little embarrassed that I didn’t think of it on my own. Acting like I had planned it all along I quickly responded, “Of course! Why don’t we do it together each Monday?” I was impressed with my ability to think on my feet/steal ideas from a 3^rd grader.

With that, Christina and I began bringing our afternoon snack to my office and going through the Family Advent Devotional. Christina reads the passage from the Bible or the Jesus Storybook Bible and then we discuss the story and the questions together. So far, we have both loved it. The first week we made Christina a memory verse card so she could work on the verse at home. The second week we even make up hand motions (per the Tiemeyer family’s suggestion) to the verse to help us both remember it at home.

Since I only get to see Christina one day a week, we review the previous week’s lesson before we get started each Monday. We also try to look for examples of what we learned on our drive home (Christmas trees, lights, etc.) It isn’t surprising that this process of learning about and reflecting upon Advent each week is teaching me as Christina and I discuss the “Making it Stick” section. The discussion questions are simple and straightforward, but I have so enjoyed the time to reflect on the birth of our Savior. If you haven’t had time to do this with your kids, go for it! It’s not too late! If you’re like me and don’t have any kids, go for it, too! Do it with a friend, a roommate, your spouse, or just on your own. Sometime it is the simple reminders of the hope of Christ’s birth and our salvation that have the biggest impact on my heart.

Advent Devotional: December 11-17

5th Grade, Advent, Devotional, Elementary, Family, Preschool, Treasuring God in Our Traditions Comments Off

Dec 122011

Advent Devotional Week 1: Intro

Advent Devotional Week 2: Christmas Trees

Advent Devotional Week 3: Christmas Lights

Advent Devotional Week 4: Gifts

If you haven’t started yet, don’t worry! There is still plenty of time left to catch up.

Preparing Your Preschooler for Christmas

Advent, Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Treasuring God in Our Traditions, Uncategorized No Responses »

Dec 102011

This month of December, we’re trying to prepare our young children’s hearts for Christmas through stories and activities a few days a week. This year we’ve mainly done the Crossing Kids Family Advent Devotional (the PDF is at the top of this page), although we’ve had to adapt it for our younger kids. The past few years, though, we’ve done our own short, preschool-friendly devotions at home. It was nothing too fancy, but the kids have loved it. Here’s what we have done:

Week One: The Birth of Jesus

Read the story to your child. Here are a few good ways to communicate the story:

- Read “The Birth of Jesus” (p 28) from A Little Child’s First Bible
- Read “The Special Baby” (p 222) from The Rhyme Storybook Bible
- Read “He’s Here” (p 176) from The Jesus Storybook Bible (this Bible is best for older preschoolers)
- If you don’t have one of these books, read Luke 2:1-7 yourself and share it with your child or children in your own words.

2. Reinforcement and Application Activities: Choose one or more of these activities to help your child understand and apply the story to his/her life.

- Play with a nativity set or whatever toys work around your house to make your own. (We pulled out the Little People horse stable and some pieces from our Little People house set to creative our own nativity scene. We don’t emphasize the fact that our Joseph has a cell phone!) Act out the story with the nativity pieces.

- Wrap a baby doll in cloths and lay him in a “manger” (i.e. a box). You might even want to pull some grass (i.e. hay) and put in the manger. Talk about how Jesus—God’s son–was born as a baby on Christmas Day and placed in a manger. A manger was a feeding trough for barn animals.

- Dress up as different characters from the story using sheets over your head and robes and acting out the story together. Ideas for characters: donkey, Mary, Joseph, inn keeper, animals from the stable. Your child will love being Joseph as he pulls the “donkey” or Mary as she rides on the “donkey”.

- Pull out all your stuffed or toy animals around the house. Ask kids the animals’ names, what sound they make, and if they may have been at the stable when Jesus, God’s Son, was born. Kids (and parents) may even want to pretend to be the different animals in the stable.

- Color or watercolor paint a picture or Christmas ornament of the nativity scene as you talk about the story together.

Week 2: The Shepherds

Read the story to your child:

- Luke 2:8-20 (paraphrase in your own words)
- “Shepherds” in The Rhyme Storybook Bible (p. 238)
- “The Light of the Whole World” in The Jesus Storybook Bible (p. 184) (best for older preschoolers)

Reinforcement and Application Activities: Choose one or more of these activities to help your child understand and apply the story to his/her life.

- Place “baby Jesus” (or other nativity figures) somewhere in your house. Then, read Luke 2:10 (what the angels said to the shepherds). Have your child pretend to be a shepherd and run as fast as he can to find Jesus. Ask: What do you think the shepherds did or said when they saw baby Jesus? Who do you think they told about this good news? Have them act it out.

- Dress up as shepherds (i.e. a robe and sheet over head). Hide a plush sheep (if you have one) in the house and have your child try to find it. Talk about how shepherds walked around over fields, protecting their sheep, day and night.

- Sing and/or dance to a favorite Christmas song (one that praises God and/or speaks of Jesus, of course). Some song ideas: Joy to the World, Angels We Have Heard On High, Go Tell It on the Mountain, Away in a Manger. Talk about how the angels and shepherds sang to and praised God the night of Jesus’ birth.

- Color a picture of the shepherds and/or angels who came on Christmas. Here are a few coloring Sheet links:
http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/christmas-shepherds-coloring-page/
http://www.itmimg.org/images/youth/Shepherds.gif
http://www.teacherhelp.org/pdf/luke2-11niv.pdf

- Talk about how the shepherds shared the good news of Jesus’ birth with others. Ask: Who can you tell about Jesus’ birth this week? Perhaps your child can send or give one of their Christmas coloring sheets to a neighbor or family member. Or, have your child help you send out Christmas cards that “tell the good news”.

Week 3: The Wise Men

Read the story of the Wise Men to your child:

- Matthew 2:1-12 (paraphrase in your own words)
- “The Wise Men” in The Rhyme Storybook Bible (p. 250)
- “The King of all kings” in The Jesus Storybook Bible (p. 192) (best for older preschoolers)

Reinforcement and Application Activities: Choose one or more of these activities to help your child understand and apply the story to his/her life.

- Hide baby Jesus somewhere in your house. Take a shiny star or ball ornament off of your Christmas tree to be the “star” that the Wise Men followed to find Jesus. Have your preschooler carry the Wise Men and have them follow the star (that you will carry to baby Jesus) until they find Jesus. Switch roles and let your preschooler guide the Wise Men with the star.

- Color or water color paint a coloring sheet of the Wise Men while discussing the story.
o http://dailycoloringpages.com/images/three-wise-men-christmas-coloring-pages-01.png
o http://dailycoloringpages.com/images/three-wise-men-christmas-coloring-pages-04.png
o http://dailycoloringpages.com/images/three-wise-men-christmas-coloring-pages-06.png

- Find three different gifts around your house that the Wise Men can give to King Jesus. (We used a Little People treasure chest, a coin, and a scented candle to represent the different gifts.) Reenact this part of the story. Talk about how the Wise Men wanted to worship and show their love for King Jesus by giving him wonderful gifts.

- Explain that when we give gifts to others (like the Wise Men did to Jesus), we are worshiping and showing our love for Jesus. Think of a way to help your child learn to give to those in need this Christmas. Some ideas:

o Pick out an animal from the World Vision catalogue to purchase and give to someone in a impoverished country.
o Have him/her give some money to Salvation Army at the grocery store.
o Make food or cookies for an elderly neighbor.

Week 4: Review

For the final week before Christmas, we just reviewed each of the previous three stories and chose their favorite activities to do again. Young kids love and learn best from repetition, so it’s a great way to drive home the Christmas story.

This post was originally a series of posts in December 2009 on www.everysquareinch.net and www.healthyrefuge.com.

Older Entries