Family Faith Seeds: Third Sunday of Advent Week of December 13th, 2020

I hope you find this to be a great faith activity for the whole family of all ages. This week’s theme, and the next few weeks themes during Advent will be based on the Lukan Advent stories.

Scripture-- Luke 1: 39-55, Mary Visits Elizabeth

Questions and Family Wonderings Based on Above Readings

• Why did Mary go to visit Elizabeth?
• Mary talks a lot about feeling blessed. Can you think of a time you could feel God's blessings in your life?
• How does this story pertain to your life? In other words, can you think of ways that perhaps God uses you in the world, or could use you in the world?

Home Participation in the Manger/Creche Scene

Since we can’t all be in the sanctuary together each week to see the different creche figures up close, you are invited to have your own manger/creche with the figures at home.  Each week, we’ll ask I wonder questions, and place figures in the creche/manger.  You are invited to do this at home, too.

This Sunday, only the manger is in the creche.  We will be adding the animals and the shepherd and wonder, “I wonder if the merchants could feel in the air around the stable, how special that place was."

Home Participation in Lighting Advent Candles

First, if you don’t have an Advent wreath, that’s OK.  Just candles will do.  And, if you would like to make an Advent Wreath, here are the instructions to make the one we usually make during Advent Now.

You may wish to light these, with the ritual, every evening of Advent and let them stay lit a spell…

• You are invited to start by singing this song.  We’ll sing it in worship too.

• Next, the candle lighting liturgy.  The words are from I Will Light Candles this 
• Week 1, Nov. 29 and through the week: I will Light Candles this Christmas, “Candles of joy despite all the sadness, candles that will burn all year long.”   
• Adding on for Week 2, Dec. 6 and through the week: “Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”   
• Adding on for Week 3, Dec. 13 and through the week: “Candles of courage for fears ever present,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”     
• Adding on for Week 4, Dec. 20: “Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”     
• Also adding on for Week 4, Dec. 21 and through the week: “Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”   
• Also adding on for Week 4, Dec. 24: “Candles of love to inspire all my living,” ending with, “ candles that will burn all year long.”  
• And, end your candle lighting ritual with singing Holy Darkness again.

A Family Manger Creation Activity

You may already have a nativity scene that is set up for all to view at the beginning of Advent.  And that is wonderful!  Nativity sets are so beautiful and make a lovely addition to setting the holiday ambience in many homes.  You are invited to create a different nativity set, if you would like, to participate in the weekly Time with Children, that is accompanied by the I wonder question of the week.

This one is a printable nativity scene that you can put on your refrigerator.  The cool thing about this nativity scene is that you can color it yourself however you would like.  I plan on changing the words a bit that are inside the angel. You could even add your own pieces to it. You can have a place on the fridge for the characters to be until it is their turn to be part of the manger scene each week!  I plan on printing this one out and doing this at home.  If this one doesn’t suit you and your family, there are several others from this great website that you might like better.