Gather around and READ God’s story of compassion one FAMILY ADVENT day at a time. Then go and DO the suggested activities 2015 and write your own story of compassion as a family. CALENDAR

A YOUNG COUPLE, MARY AND ONE DAY, GOD SENDS THE ANGEL MARY IS GREATLY TROUBLED GABRIEL RESPONDS TO MARY: GABRIEL TELLS MARY THE SPECIAL JOSEPH, GET ENGAGED. GABRIEL TO MARY. HE HAS SOME WHEN SHE HEARS THE “DON’T BE AFRAID; GOD IS NEWS: SHE WILL HAVE A BABY VERY SPECIAL NEWS! ANGEL’S GREETING. VERY HAPPY WITH YOU!” BOY, AND HE WILL BE Give up your spot in line. (They’ll be NAMED JESUS. so thankful!) Donate money to a non-profit. Pay for someone else’s coffee. Send cards to service men and (Christmas caffeine!) women who are serving overseas by Tell a joke to make someone smile. visiting AMillionThanks.org. (Long (Or tell several to spread even distance Christmas cheer!) more joy!)

GABRIEL SHARES MORE DETAILS MARY DOESN’T UNDERSTAND “I SERVE GOD WITH MY LIFE AND MARY VISITS HER COUSIN CAESAR AUGUSTUS WANTS TO OF GOD’S PLAN WITH MARY: HOW SHE CAN HAVE A BABY WANT ALL THAT YOU HAVE SAID ELIZABETH AND IS SO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE “JESUS WILL BE GREAT AND WITHOUT BEING MARRIED, BUT TO HAPPEN,” MARY TELLS THE OVERWHELMED WITH GOD’S ARE IN HIS EMPIRE, SO HE TELLS WILL BE CALLED GOD’S VERY THE ANGEL GABRIEL ASSURES HER ANGEL, AND HE LEAVES. GOODNESS THAT SHE SINGS ALL THE PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO OWN SON! OF A GREAT TRUTH: NOTHING A SONG OF PRAISE. THEIR HOMETOWN TO BE IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. Help someone do a chore or other job. REGISTERED AND COUNTED. Donate scrumptious food to (And sing Christmas carols while Tell your family members something OneGenAway. (You can put it in the Donate pet supplies to an animal you work!) you love about them. (Or lots of Donate books you no longer need. marked bins in KidCity on Sunday.) shelter. (You’ll make a puppy’s day!) somethings!) (You’ll be giving the stories a second life!)

JOSEPH TAKES MARY, WHO IS WHILE JOSEPH AND MARY ARE MARY GIVES BIRTH TO JESUS, AT NIGHT IN A NEARBY FIELD, THE SKY LIGHTS UP––GOD HAS PREGNANT, TO HIS HOMETOWN IN BETHLEHEM, THE TIME COMES WRAPS HIM IN SWADDLING SHEPHERDS ARE WATCHING SENT AN ANGEL TO THE OF BETHLEHEM TO BE COUNTED. FOR THE BABY TO BE BORN. CLOTHS AND LAYS HIM IN THEIR FLOCKS. SHEPHERDS TO TELL THEM THE A MANGER BECAUSE THERE GOOD NEWS. Pick up litter. (It’ll help the reindeer Donate new toys to the GraceWorks IS NO ROOM FOR THEM Make holiday decorations for others. have a safer journey!) manger at COTC. (You can drop them ANYWHERE ELSE. (Spread that Christmas cheer!) Offer free babysitting for a family off at KidCity checkin tomorrow.) so they can do some Christmas Leave a popcorn surprise for shopping. neighbors to find.

WHEN THE SHEPHERDS SEE THE THE ANGEL TRIES TO CALM THE “A SAVIOR––THE RESCUER YOU THE ANGEL EXPLAINS THAT THE MORE ANGELS COME TO ANGEL, THEY’RE AFRAID! SHEPHERDS: “DON’T BE AFRAID–– HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR IS SHEPHERDS WILL FIND THE BABY CELEBRATE THE GOOD NEWS–– I BRING WONDERFUL NEWS THAT BORN TODAY!” THE ANGEL WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHS THEY ARRIVE AT THE SHEPHERD’S Donate old toys you no longer play WILL BRING JOY TO ALL OF PROCLAIMS TO THE SHEPHERDS. AND LYING IN A MANGER. FIELD AND BEGIN PRAISING GOD! with to Goodwill. THE WORLD!” Bring coffee to your teachers. (More Help others stay warm by donating socks, Deliver cookies anonymously to Make get well cards for someone who Christmas caffeine!) gloves and hats to Room in the Inn. someone’s doorstep. needs them. (You can place items in the bin in the courtyard at COTC tomorrow.)

THE SHEPHERDS LEAVE THEIR AFTER THEY SEE THE BABY, THE THE SHEPHERDS RETURN TO MARY NAMES THE BABY JESUS GOD HAS SENT HIS SON TO FLOCKS AND HURRY TO FIND SHEPHERDS EXCITEDLY GO AND THEIR FLOCKS, PRAISING GOD JUST AS THE ANGEL HAD TOLD RESCUE US BECAUSE HE MARY, JOSEPH AND THE BABY TELL EVERYONE THEY RUN INTO FOR ALL THEY HAD SEEN HER TO DO. LOVES US! WHO IS LYING IN A MANGER. THE GOOD NEWS! AND HEARD. Candy cane bomb the cars in the Go back to Day 1 and read God’s story Make ornaments for your friends. Put money in the Salvation Army Feed the birds. (A tweet treat!) parking lot. of compassion from beginning to end. (Help them deck their halls!) bucket at a local store. Merry Christmas! God loves you!

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