We invited Katie Sawade Hall and Barb Bushart from Community of the Savior in Rochester, NY to share how they’ve compiled an Advent Family Resource.
Finding ways to acknowledge and celebrate the seasons of the liturgical calendar has been especially challenging during 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with virtual rather than in-person worship for much of the year. But Advent is right around the corner and that marks the beginning of a new Church year. And how we long for a fresh start! With escalating numbers of COVID cases in our area, we knew this could not be an ordinary Advent. Our children’s ministry team decided to resource the families of children in our congregation with an “Advent Kit” that includes everything needed to celebrate this holy season. These were delivered directly to their homes in a safe and contact-free manner.
The traditional Advent themes of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace seemed especially fitting this year and the devotional includes a family discussion section to help children process their feelings and name their own hearts’ yearnings. Advent is a season to celebrate what God has done for us in sending Jesus, but also to watch expectantly for the culmination of the story when ALL will be made beautiful and perfect again as God originally intended.
Maybe Advent is just what we all need to keep hope alive and well! Happy New Liturgical Year!
Advent Kit Contents:
- Advent wreath frame
- Advent candles (3 purple tapers and 1 pink)
- A Christ candle (1 large white candle for center of wreath)
- Purple ribbon and silver garland (decorations to get started)
- Directions for making an Advent wreath
- An Advent Devotional for each Sunday of the season and Christmas
- Weekly Advent coloring sheets for the various ages www.illustratedministry.com/advent
- Foam angels, sticker gems, and markers to decorate an angel and remember the wonderful message: “Good news for all people”
- Nativity sticker sets with backdrops to create how they imagine the scene
- Materials to make a Mason jar shadow Nativity scene illumined with a votive candle
- The Song of the Stars by by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Advent Devotional Booklet by Community of the Savior Rochester, NY
