Advent 2020: Week Four

Advent 2020: Week Four

The fourth week of Advent is all about peace.

When we read about the prophesies of Jesus’s birth, we hear him called many names – Prince of Peace is one. Jesus came to bring peace to the world and to our hearts. Peace is not the absence of conflict or of trouble, but it is a calm understanding – a deep knowledge inside that regardless of our feelings, whatever the circumstances around us, we know that it is God who is in control no matter what.

It is easy to look at the world around us and feel worried, anxious, and fearful. But the Bible tells us not to worry and to turn in prayer to God in all things. Jesus came to earth with His peace. He left us the Holy Spirit. We do not have to live with fear or anxiety alone, instead we can ask the Holy Spirit to minister to us with His peace.

· What is peace?

· How do you know if you are feeling peaceful?

· What are the things that take away your peace?

· What can we do when we feel our peace is slipping away?

· Is there anything you’d like to share with your family that is troubling you at the moment?

Respond:

In a season where every heart should be happy and light, many of us are struggling with the heaviness of life. We need His peace. We confess that our hearts are often full of stresses and anxiety. Jesus came to bring His peace. “Do not be afraid!” the angels told the shepherds. As we respond to this week’s devotional, we’d like to create space for you to pray as a family to welcome the Holy Spirit into your houses and bring His peace.

Listen to this song as you soak in His presence and pray a blessing of peace over one another.

Chat and Catch

Go and make the cosiest space that you can. You may want to go to your bedrooms, you may find a cupboard or a corner. You can use pillows or blankets.

Find a space that is just yours. But remember – God goes with you wherever you are. So, this space is yours and God’s. Spend some time chatting to God. Remember God loves you talking to Him about anything. You may want to tell Him about your day, you may want to invite Him into your journaling time. You may want to read your Bible with Him or listen to some worship music. This is your quiet time with Him. Ask Him if there is anything He’d like you to catch from Him today.

Advent 2020: Week Three

The third week of Advent is all about joy!

Let’s take time to remember that the amazing news of Jesus’ birth brought great joy to those who visited Him in the stable; it was the answer to the many Old Testament prophecies for the people of Israel, but it also has the power to bring us great joy this year and every year. The Bible tells us to rejoice in the Lord always!  It shows us that our joy isn’t dependent on what is going on in our life; in our world or in the lives of people around us. It is more than fleeting happiness. Christmas can easily be a time of happiness – and we want that!  But nothing on earth, nothing we do, can give us complete joy. Our joy comes from God. 

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What is the difference between joy and happiness?

 · What makes you happy?

· Are you always happy?

 Often happiness depends on how we feel or what happens to us. It is often based on our circumstances. Having joy is different. Joy comes from knowing the truth about God and his promises for us:

· Is it possible to be joyful when things are not going well?

· What things bring you joy at Christmas?

· How do we keep joy not just at Christmas but always?

 Advent reminds us that our joy is found in Christ

· How does Jesus bring joy to your life?

· How can you share that joy with others?

Chat and Catch:

Find yourself a comfortable place. You may want to close your eyes to help you concentrate.

Tell God the last time you really laughed!

Share with God someone who brings you joy

Thank God for that person

Ask God to remind you of one of His promises that you can hold onto when you don’t feel His joy.

Woodies Kids Advent: Week Two

Advent 2020: Week Two

This week’s candle focuses on love.

The whole meaning of Christmas can be explained in that one little 4 letter word – LOVE. The birth of Jesus was God’s gift of pure, undeserved, unconditional love for us. Love that came down from heaven, love that was born in a manger, love that would ultimately die on a cross. This week we can focus on that magnificent gift of love given to us in the form of God’s own son.

At Christmas we enjoy showing those around us how much we love them. We buy them gifts; we gather together; we share food. We laugh and sing and eat! Let’s remember that love and remind ourselves that the ultimate show of perfect love was born in a manger.

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Discuss!

• How do you know if someone loves you? 

• ·Why do you think that Jesus was born?

• · Do you think God loves everyone?

• · Is it easy to love everyone?

• · Can you find a story in the bible where Jesus showed love to someone?

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Respond!

When someone loves you, they might do things for you, make sure you are safe and treat you kindly. Sometimes there are ways we can show love without it looking like something big. A great way you can show love is to pray for someone.

Can you think of anyone who needs to feel God's love right now? They might feel sad or lonely. Is there a way you can show God's love to them?

As a family think of something you can do each day for someone else. This could be for a member of your family or one of your neighbours. It could be as simple as a card saying you are thinking about them or it could be collecting shopping for them or baking them a cake. 

Chat and Catch:

Make yourselves comfortable – close your eyes if you wish:

· Show God in your mind someone you really love.

· Thank God for that person.

· Ask God what He loves most about you

Advent 2020: Week One

This first Sunday of Advent is all about Hope.

The candle is also called the prophecy candle because of all the prophesises in the Old Testament that told of the Messiah’s coming.  The people of Israel waited with hope because God had promised a saviour.  As Christians we know that God fulfilled that promise through the birth of Jesus Christ.  

So, as we start to get ready to celebrate Jesus’ birth, let us remind ourselves of the bigger plan that He is part of and how much the world was anticipating Him even before Mary was pregnant!  

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Discuss!

Read two of the prophesies about Jesus:

· What does it mean to anticipate something?

· What kind of things do we look forward to?

· What were some of the things Jesus would be called?

· What does your name mean?

· How can we get to know God better through His son?

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Respond!

Light a candle and ponder the wonder of Christ’s birth and rejoice in God’s gift of Jesus being born. Consider how Deity transcended time and space and entered into humanity.  Consider how Jesus, the Lord of Glory, humbled himself and came to earth; how the Royal One, the King of kings, entered into poverty.  And consider how, on that dark night centuries ago, True Light entered our world in the form of a lowly infant.  Give thanks for the Light of Jesus in your life and, just as John the Baptist testified of the True Light, be ready to be a witness to the Light of Christmas—the Lord Jesus Christ.      

Chat and catch!

Make yourself comfortable, to help you concentrate close your eyes.  You could also write or draw these things if you would like to on a piece of paper or in a journal.     

· Tell Jesus what you love about the Christmas story.

· Tell Jesus what you are hoping for.

· Ask God to highlight one of the names of Jesus from Isaiah 6:9 to you.