6 Advent 2012 Family Activity Book 7 Westbury United Methodist Church WestburyUMC.org 5200 Willowbend Blvd. Houston, TX 77096 713-723-0175
Welcome to Family ADVENTure Night! All the days of December mark the season of Advent, a time of anticipation and waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ. This season gives us an opportunity to take a deep breath, to remember why we celebrate Christmas, and to make those reasons clear and meaningful to our children and youth. We hope you ll find this booklet helpful as you return home after our evening together. We ve included ideas and information to guide you through the season in new and thoughtful ways. p. 3 25 Family Ideas for Advent p. 5 Cookie Recipes p. 6 An Advent Hymn p. 9 Our Family Traditions p. 10 The Advent Calendar p. 11 The Advent Wreath p. 12 Advent Scripture Readings You can also encourage your child to look for the symbol on the left to locate pictures that are ready to color. This booklet doubles as a coloring book! It is our prayer that the shared activities and devotional times illustrated on the following pages will draw your family closer, helping you to establish or embellish some traditions that keep Christ at the center of our celebrations. Many blessings to you and your whole family, Rev. Romonica Malone-Wardley and the ADVENTure Night Team 2
25 Family Ideas for Advent Make Christmas cards for people at a nursing home or hospital. Visit or help out an elderly neighbor. Let your children choose a favorite dinner and have them help prepare it. Play board games as a family. Handwrite letters to out-of-town friends and place them in the mail. Make a gingerbread house. Go ice skating as a family. Drive around to see Christmas lights. Prepare Manna Bags filled with granola bars, bottled water and other hearty snack items to give out to homeless or hungry people you come across. Adopt a family in need (Westbury UMC s Community Ministries team has a Giving Tree for Anderson Elementary families; choose a family and get instructions at the Good Gifts Market in Room 102.) Go for a family walk to see the stars. Have family movie night. Write something nice about each family member on a slip of paper and place it under their pillow. 3
Read Advent scriptures together (see back page). Assemble thoughtful, homemade gifts for grandparents, teachers, coaches and friends. Bake cookies for friends and neighbors... need recipes? Read on! 4
Sugar Cookies 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 1 ½ cups sugar, plus more for covering 1 large egg 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract ¼ cup sour cream Try out these yummy recipes submitted by Mary Ann Riggs! 1. Preheat oven to 350. Whisk to combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in bowl. 2. In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy, 3 4 minutes. Add egg and vanilla; beat well to combine. Reduce speed to low, and beat in half of the flour mixture followed by sour cream, then the remaining flour mixture; mix just until smooth. 3. Gently make small balls of dough (about 1 rounded tablespoon each). Place on parchment lined cooked sheet 2 inches apart. Press each mound with a glass dipped in sugar. Cookies will flatten slightly into small circles. Sprinkle more colored sugar if desired. 4. Bake 8 10 minutes or until edges are just beginning to brown. Chocolate Chip Cookies 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar ¾ cup packed light brown sugar 2 large eggs 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 12 ounces chocolate chips 1. Preheat oven to 375. Whisk to combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. 2. In a separate bowl, beat butter and both sugars at high speed until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each; mix in vanilla. Add flour mixture at low speed and mix until just incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips. 3. Drop by spoonful on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake 9 12 minutes or until edges are just brown. 5
Get a small group together and go caroling for close neighbors or family. Attend a Christmas concert or play (Westbury UMC is hosting the Ebony Opera Guild Chorus for What Sweeter Music carols from around the world on Sunday, December 9, at 4:00 pm; it s free of charge!) Can't get enough of those carols? Go caroling at nursing homes on Christmas morning with Volunteer Houston. (Find out more: www.volunteerhouston.org) Sing Advent songs at home like Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus. (Words are below.) Come, Thou long expected Jesus Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee. Israel s Strength and Consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King, Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne. 6
Help pass out snacks at Star of Hope Family Center (30 45 minute commitment) or other local organizations (Find out more: www.sohmission.org) Donate gently used toys, books and clothes to a shelter or other charitable organization. Purchase some fair-trade gifts and teach/learn about the people who made them. (For starters, check out Westbury UMC s Good Gifts Market in Room 102.) 7
Attend Christmas Eve worship. (Westbury UMC will be offering candlelight services with carols and communion at 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm.) Read the first Christmas story (Luke 2:1 20) together while enjoying hot chocolate and goodies. 8
Our Family Traditions Write down a few of your favorite family traditions. What makes them meaningful to your family? How can your family focus on celebrating Jesusʼbirthday this year? 9
The Advent Calendar What is an Advent calendar? An Advent calendar is a visible way of counting and celebrating the days in anticipation of Christmas. There are many types of Advent calendars, which range from opening a chocolate each day to doing activities together. Many take the form of a large rectangular card, fabric square, or box with 24 windows or slots one for each day of December leading up to Christmas Day. One is opened every day to reveal an image, activity, story, or small gift. Some of the best Advent calendars incorporate activities that teach giving, encourage us to learn about and grow in our faith and those that create fun for the entire family. Find a special place in your home to display your calendar and to pull a card that gives you instructions for the day. On pages 3 8, there are 25 ideas for activities and of course you can create your own based on your family preferences and ability. See some examples of calendar designs from Pinterest below. You can get creative, keep it simple and remember to not make it stressful but just have fun! pinterest.com pin/ 159244536794625103 pinterest.com/pin/ 159244536793694065 pinterest.com/pin/ 216454325810046038 10
The Advent Wreath Many churches and families have been introduced to the Advent wreath custom with Bible reading, singing, and prayer. On each successive Sunday in Advent, a candle is lit. The four blue candles mark the four weeks or Sundays in Advent. Each week a new candle is lit until all are burning the last week. This symbolizes the increasing crescendo of light as we approach the celebration of Jesus birth. The white candle in the center of the wreath is the Christ candle. It is white to represent purity, and it is lit with the other four candles on Christmas Day to remind us that Christ has come as the light of the world. For families, this ritual can be daily. When an activity is daily, it becomes part of the fabric of life. It makes a statement about what we value and will make time to do. Repeated, it helps us to know and remember who we are. It s a concrete activity which involves the senses. The wreath may be at the center of the family table and the candles are lit and snuffed. It can be a reminder to do what has been planned. It s a great time to take a break and spend time together, growing as a family and growing in your faith. Family members can take turns lighting the candles. They sing an Advent song, read from the Bible, and pray. Perhaps this could be your family s tradition starting this year! (See Advent scripture readings on the back page.) 11
Advent Scripture Readings 1 st Sunday of Advent December 2, 2012 Jeremiah 33:14 16 Psalm 25:1 10 1 Thessalonians 3:9 13 Luke 21:25 36 2 nd Sunday of Advent December 9, 2012 Malachi 3:1 4 Luke 1:68 79 Philippians 1:3 11 Luke 3:1 6 3 rd Sunday of Advent December 16, 2012 Zephaniah 3:14 20 Isaiah 12:2 6 Philippians 4:4 7 Luke 3:7 18 4 th Sunday of Advent December 23, 2012 Micah 5:2 5 Luke 1:47 55 Hebrews 10:5 10 Luke 1:39 45 Christmas Eve December 24, 2012 Isaiah 9:2 7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11 14 Luke 2:1 20 Christmas Day December 25, 2012 Isaiah 52:7 10 Psalm 98 Hebrews 1:1 4 John 1:1 14