Advent Resources

ADVENT RESOURCES

There are SO MANY wonderful Advent resources to share. In fact, there are so many that it can be overwhelming to decide which to use.

The following “short list” is divided into five teaching-tool categories to help keep things simple.

Limited preparation is necessary, directions are brief and supplies are minimal.

Click on any link to find directions.

Games Video Clips Lessons Crafts Service Project Ideas

Tangled Advent in 2 Advent Waiting Christmas Cards/Cookies Christmas Lights Minutes Candles

God’s Light in The Weeks of Advent Bingo Paint Ornament Mitten Tree Your Life Advent

Paper Plate The True Advent St. Nicholas Day Random Acts of Kindness Challenge Meaning of Calendar Christmas

Within this table are, hopefully, more than enough easy-to-use activities for use during the short four- week season of Advent.

If you have ANY questions, please ask!

Tangled Christmas Lights Game

In advance, prepare a string (or several strings) of Christmas lights all tangled together in a bundle. Challenge your youth to untangle the bunch in one minute or less (while at the same time taking care not to damage the lights!) *Increase the challenge by having them work together with each person keeping one arm behind their back.

Afterwards, invite the group to think about how this activity might represent how some people see their lives this time of the year. While so many people are celebrating, and with movies and songs reminding us that this is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year,” for some, this is a season of brokenness, anxiety, frustration, busyness, doubt, stress, pressure, and hopelessness. Open the discussion by asking where this brokenness might manifest in their schools, family, community, and the world. Advent Bingo:

Have fun recalling experiences of Advent and deepen their understanding of the season.

Download Overview / Instructions / Resource Guide To print: 1 copy for leader. Document: 8 pages

Download Advent Bingo Cards To print: 1 - 2 cards per attendee Document: 15 pgs/30 cards.

Paper Plate Challenge

Supplies: Sturdy paper plates and markers, enough for each youth to have one.

Have everyone get a paper plate and place it on their head. Using a marker, each person is to draw what they are instructed to without looking. *NO peeking!* Once everything has been drawn, reveal your masterpieces to each other! Add up your points based on the rubric below to determine the winner. You may want to give the winner some kind of prize too! Here is what to draw: 1. Draw a line for a floor. 2. Draw a Christmas tree. Add decorations if you feel so inclined. 3. Draw a star on top of your tree. 4. Draw a fireplace with a mantel next to the tree. 5. Draw a stocking hanging from the mantel of your fireplace. 6. Draw a present below the tree. Rubric for the Plate Game: 1. 2 points if the tree touches the floor. 2. 2 points if your stocking is touching your mantel. 3. 1 point if your star touches your tree. 4. 1 point if your star is above your tree. 5. 1 point for every Christmas ornament ball that is ON your tree

6. 1 point if your fireplace doesn’t touch the tree (it’s a fire hazard!). 7. 1 point if you actually drew something decorative on your stocking (or something cute, like a tiny kitten peeking out). 8. 2 points if your present is under your tree. Advent in 2 Minutes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S02KOlw7dlA

Discussion questions to consider:

Why is it so easy to focus solely on Christmas and totally forget about Advent?

What are the themes of Advent and how can we bring those into our lives?

God’s light in Your Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w49_1a9X0Q

“Spiritual light rarely comes to those who merely sit in darkness, waiting for someone to flip a switch. It takes an act of faith to open our eyes to the light of Christ.” How is this true in our own lives?

“God’s light in the world” is a big theme in Advent. How do you see people showing God’s light at school, in your community, at church? What would it be like if that light wasn’t there? How can you/we keep the light burning?

True Meaning of Christmas – (ties in well with St. Nicholas Day) https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=BeVDOu2_Fuc

If someone asked, “Can you tell me what Christmas is all about?” how do you think people would answer? Do you feel that way personally?

Why is Christmas important to you? Waiting (estimated time: 20 minutes)

Supplies: small manger from a nativity scene, note cards, pens Have youth take turns reading the following: Advent is a season of waiting, a season of preparation, a season of nearly but not yet. We prepare the manger, but the babe isn’t here yet. The season of Advent is the four weeks prior to Christmas and is a time to get our hearts and minds ready for the coming of Jesus Christ into the world…..but we don’t wait for December to start thinking about Christmas, do we? In some places, the Christmas music starts playing and the trees go up in stores even before Halloween. By the time we get to December, we are burned out and so busy in the season that we miss the entire point of Christmas. Questions for discussion: Why is it that we don’t wait for December to start to think about Christmas? How can Advent help change that? Activity: Set up an empty manger or stable from a nativity scene (or create one with paper). Hand out several note cards or pieces of paper and pens and have your youth answer the following questions: What hopes, dreams, plans are you waiting, praying, or longing for today? Are you willing to wait for these things? Are your willing to wait for God?

When done, ask youth to place each of their cards in the manger. Say the following prayer together: God, we don’t wait very well. We are impatient. We struggle sometimes to wait for our food at the drive-thru. We don’t like to wait for our computers to download files or buffer videos. We want things done in our time. Help us to slow down in this season of Advent. Help us to be more aware of the waiting that needs to happen in our lives, and the knowledge that if its meant to be, it will be on your time. Let us look forward expectantly to the coming of your Son into our world and to let that be the primary focus of the season. Amen. St. Nicholas Day – December 6th (estimated time: 20 minutes)

Have a youth read the following: The true story of Santa Claus begins with St. Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships. Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. St. Nicholas is loved in many countries—people brought the stories of him to the United States. He is the real, true Santa Claus. • St. Nicholas helped people secretly—have you, or have you ever seen someone else, help someone in secret? • St. Nicholas didn't want credit for what he did—how does it feel to help that way? What are the advantages and disadvantages? • St. Nicholas helped people who needed help-children, sailors, hungry people and those who were the victims of injustice—really people who are the most vulnerable. Talk about who really needs help today and how we, like Nicholas, could help.

How do the stories of St. Nicholas and Santa Claus differ? How can you be a St. Nicholas? By doing good deeds in secret. Encourage each other to think of one way to be a St. Nicholas for someone this year. Consider closing with the following prayer God, let us learn the true meaning of Christmas through our studies of St. Nicholas. May it help us to refocus our attention on what’s truly important – not worrying what’s under the tree but worrying about those who don’t have a tree. Let us be more aware of those around us and help us to help them. Help us to keep our hearts and minds on you, Lord, through this season. In your name we pray. Amen. The Weeks of Advent (estimated time: 35-40 minutes)

Supplies: 4 large pieces of paper, makers (purple and pink if possible)

This can be used as an overview of Advent. Hang 4 large pieces of paper on a wall and label them “Week 1” “Week 2” “Week 3” and “Week 4” in big letters. Each Sunday in Advent has a theme that is seen in the readings for the week as well as often reflected in the Eucharist Prayer, sermon, and other parts of the service.

Week 1–Sunday of Hope https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c6qfU_QCXc

Read aloud Romans 15: 12-13

Write “HOPE” on the paper for Week 1

What do you have to be hopeful for? (Invite your youth to put what they are hopeful for on the paper)

Week 2 –Sunday of Peace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbV9rB9UDIE

Read aloud Luke 3: 4-6

Write “PEACE” on the paper for Week 2

What is peace? The biblical concept of peace does not focus on the absence of trouble. Biblical peace is unrelated to circumstances; it is a goodness of life that is not touched by what happens on the outside. How can you use this season of Advent be at peace with yourself; with others? (invite youth to write their responses on the paper)

Week 3–Sunday of Joy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3UNus0pPqo#t=12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KPaMAMCKtg

Read Luke 2: 8-15

Write “JOY” on the paper for week 3

What is joy? What are you joyful for? (invite youth to write results)

Week 4 – Sunday of Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0MHBRWiywk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-ldx8ufe64&feature=youtu.be

Read John 3: 16-17 Write “LOVE” on the paper for Week 4 What is love?

What kinds of forms does love take in your life?

Invite youth to write loved ones on the papers, saying a prayer for each as they write it.

After you go through the weeks, look at the papers and the responses as a group.

Consider using this closing prayer at the end of the reflection. God, it is so easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of this season. We stress about so many things in our lives and lose focus on what this season is truly about. We worry about presents, parties, food, and finals, rather than love, hope, joy, peace, and preparing our hearts for the coming of Jesus into the world. Help us to refocus our lives this season and remember what is truly important. Amen. Advent Candles

Supplies per youth (costs about $5 per youth)

Small glass votive

Granulated wax (purple and pink to be Advent themed, but comes in many colors)

Candlewicks

Clean the glass votive. Set the candlewick so that it stands up in the center. Pour granulated wax around creating layers/patterns as desired.

Paint Ornaments

Supplies per youth (depending on paint, cost 3-5 dollars)

Clear glass ornaments

Various acrylic paint options

Styrofoam cups

Carefully remove hanging top from glass ornament. Holding it in your hand, slowly squirt paint into ball and swirl. Add various colors for cool designs. (WARNING! Consider color mixing when choosing color combinations. Colors opposite on the color wheel (aka red/green, orange/blue, yellow/purple) can mix and make brown.) Place ball mouth up in Styrofoam cup to dry. Once dry, reinsert hanging top.

Advent Calendar

Supplies (Less than a dollar)

Paper, scissors, pens, stapler/stables

Cut 1 inch strips of paper, about 25 per youth

Each youth needs to grab 25 strips and number them (December) 1 through 24. Then give yourself a challenge for each day. Some examples include “do a random act of kindness today” or “do 20 minutes of extra studying” or “watch an hour less tv.” Consider challenges in your life and set goals for yourself.

Once you have a challenge or task on each strip, put them in order by date and create a chain by stapling the strips into interlocking rings.

As youth start each day, tear that day off the chain and set whatever you put on the strip as your challenge for the day. Christmas Cards/Cookies

This is a great holiday idea to have fun as a youth group and maybe participate in a service project as well. The first thing you have to decide is if you want it to be a service project or not – because it doesn’t have to be! You can have just as much fun as a youth group making cards or cookies for your own personal families and friends, homebound members or other people in the church.

If you want to make it into a service project, consider sending to one of the following: (Before making a final decision, make sure you contact the company or organization to receive instructions and regulations i.e. rules of donations/content, drop off instructions) - Nursing homes (for the workers), Hospitals (for nurses and doctors) or your church (or a church in your area) that organizes a necessity pantry program.

Some great Christmas card ideas can be found on Pinterest or buy a variety of craft supplies and let your youth go wild.

This website has tons of great holiday cookie recipes and ideas! Mitten Tree

This is a long-term activity (involving the entire church or just your youth group) of collecting winter items (mittens, scarves, hats, etc.) on and around a Christmas tree.

1. Begin by talking to your priest. Make sure that they are on board and establish where in the church they think would be the best place to set up a Christmas tree.

2. Find an artificial tree (or let youth make one) that can be set up at the church through Advent (If you don’t already have one, ask around – you would be surprised how many people have an extra tree that they don’t use for one reason or another!)

3. Set up the tree as a group; pray for the program.

4. Ask youth to make announcements during services to talk up the program in church encouraging people to donate and to fill the tree by Christmas!

5. Take the donations to your area organization that collects such items Random Acts of Kindness

This website has a lot of great ideas for random acts of kindness – keep in mind that this is written for adults, so not all of these are applicable to your youth, but a lot of great ideas still! Use it to help youth make a list…along with adding their own suggestions!

You could make it an Advent-long friendly competition – challenge your entire youth group to reach 100 total, with each person completing 1 or 2 random acts of kindness every week during Advent, then you will have an ice cream party! Keep the tally going throughout Advent; consider adding time for what they have done into a sharing time during youth group or a place they can post (maybe a bulletin board or on a Facebook page) all of their random acts of kindness.