Welcome to Advent Family Nights! Included are four devotionals for the Wednesdays between now and Christmas. These devotions also tie into the following Sunday’s text and sermons. You can either join others on Zoom on Wednesdays at 6:30pm, or gather as a family as a time that works for you.
Advent Wreath – If your family has an advent wreath, bring it out. Find out if there’s a story that goes along with it. If you don’t have an advent wreath, no worries. A gathering of four candles of whatever type or color will work fine. If you would like four battery tea lights that are decorated as poinsettias, contact Pastor Meredith (c: 612-729-9909).
December 16
Light your advent wreath and share in the prayer:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
Elizabeth’s son calls all people to prepare the Lord’s way
for the kingdom of heaven is near.
Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath.
Baptize us with the fire of your Spirit,
that we may be a light shining in the darkness
welcoming others as Christ has welcomed us,
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever. Amen.
Or shorter kid-friendlier version:
O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
Elizabeth’s son calls us prepare the Lord’s way.
Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath.
May we be a light shining in the darkness
welcoming others as Christ has welcomed us,
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever. Amen.
Bible text: Luke 1:5-13
Theme verse: But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.” Luke 1:13
Conversation starters for the text:
How would you react if an angel showed up unexpectedly?
What things make you afraid?
What do you do to feel less afraid?
The angel announced that they would name their son John. What do you know about your name? This site has the origins for many names.
December 9
Light two candles on your advent wreath and share in the prayer:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
Your prophets spoke of a day when the desert would blossom
and waters would break forth in the wilderness.
Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath.
Strengthen our hearts as we prepare for the coming of the Lord.
May he give water to all who thirst,
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever. Amen.
Or shorter kid-friendlier version:
O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
Your prophets spoke of a day when the desert would blossom.
Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath.
May our Lord give water to all who thirst,
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever. Amen.
Bible Text: 1 Samuel 1:1-30 or p. 118 in the Spark Bible
Theme verse: I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:15b
Conversation starters for the text:
What is the longest you have waited for something? What if you are still waiting?
God responds to our prayers, but maybe not as we hope. Sometimes the response is ‘yes’, sometimes it is ‘no’, sometimes it is ‘wait’. Which of those three do you thing is the hardest?
Hannah pours out herself in prayer to God. What might it look like to pour yourself out to overflowing? Try making a water pyramid. (Like a champagne pyramid, but with water.) You will need five glasses/cups, four of which need to be the same height. I’d recommend setting them up inside a tray or some other water proof container with a lip, because there will be a bit of overflow. See this video for how to set up the glasses. Then take a pitcher of water and slowly fill the glass. Keep filling past full and watch how the other glasses are fill as well.
December 2:
Light one candle on your advent wreath and share in the prayer:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
You call all nations to walk in your light
and to seek your ways of justice and peace,
for the night is past, and the dawn of your coming is near.
Bless us as we light the first candle of this wreath.
Rouse us from sleep,
that we may be ready to greet our Lord when he comes
and welcome him into our hearts and homes,
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever.
Amen.
Or shorter kid-friendlier version:
O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
You call us to walk in your light.
Bless us as we light the first candle of this wreath.
May we be ready to greet our Lord when he comes
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever.
Amen.
Bible Text: Genesis 18:1-15 or p. 34 in the Spark Bible
Theme verse: “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?” Genesis 18:13b-14a
Conversation starters for the text:
What makes you laugh?
What is something weird that made you laugh?
Have you ever laughed because you were embarrassed?
Click here and share some Dad Jokes.
Advent Wreath – If your family has an advent wreath, bring it out. Find out if there’s a story that goes along with it. If you don’t have an advent wreath, no worries. A gathering of four candles of whatever type or color will work fine. If you would like four battery tea lights that are decorated as poinsettias, contact Pastor Meredith (c: 612-729-9909).
December 16
Light your advent wreath and share in the prayer:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
Elizabeth’s son calls all people to prepare the Lord’s way
for the kingdom of heaven is near.
Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath.
Baptize us with the fire of your Spirit,
that we may be a light shining in the darkness
welcoming others as Christ has welcomed us,
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever. Amen.
Or shorter kid-friendlier version:
O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
Elizabeth’s son calls us prepare the Lord’s way.
Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath.
May we be a light shining in the darkness
welcoming others as Christ has welcomed us,
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever. Amen.
Bible text: Luke 1:5-13
Theme verse: But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.” Luke 1:13
Conversation starters for the text:
How would you react if an angel showed up unexpectedly?
What things make you afraid?
What do you do to feel less afraid?
The angel announced that they would name their son John. What do you know about your name? This site has the origins for many names.
December 9
Light two candles on your advent wreath and share in the prayer:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
Your prophets spoke of a day when the desert would blossom
and waters would break forth in the wilderness.
Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath.
Strengthen our hearts as we prepare for the coming of the Lord.
May he give water to all who thirst,
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever. Amen.
Or shorter kid-friendlier version:
O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
Your prophets spoke of a day when the desert would blossom.
Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath.
May our Lord give water to all who thirst,
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever. Amen.
Bible Text: 1 Samuel 1:1-30 or p. 118 in the Spark Bible
Theme verse: I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:15b
Conversation starters for the text:
What is the longest you have waited for something? What if you are still waiting?
God responds to our prayers, but maybe not as we hope. Sometimes the response is ‘yes’, sometimes it is ‘no’, sometimes it is ‘wait’. Which of those three do you thing is the hardest?
Hannah pours out herself in prayer to God. What might it look like to pour yourself out to overflowing? Try making a water pyramid. (Like a champagne pyramid, but with water.) You will need five glasses/cups, four of which need to be the same height. I’d recommend setting them up inside a tray or some other water proof container with a lip, because there will be a bit of overflow. See this video for how to set up the glasses. Then take a pitcher of water and slowly fill the glass. Keep filling past full and watch how the other glasses are fill as well.
December 2:
Light one candle on your advent wreath and share in the prayer:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
You call all nations to walk in your light
and to seek your ways of justice and peace,
for the night is past, and the dawn of your coming is near.
Bless us as we light the first candle of this wreath.
Rouse us from sleep,
that we may be ready to greet our Lord when he comes
and welcome him into our hearts and homes,
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever.
Amen.
Or shorter kid-friendlier version:
O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
You call us to walk in your light.
Bless us as we light the first candle of this wreath.
May we be ready to greet our Lord when he comes
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever.
Amen.
Bible Text: Genesis 18:1-15 or p. 34 in the Spark Bible
Theme verse: “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?” Genesis 18:13b-14a
Conversation starters for the text:
What makes you laugh?
What is something weird that made you laugh?
Have you ever laughed because you were embarrassed?
Click here and share some Dad Jokes.