What you need:
Children – gather your friends kids, your grandkids, the neighborhood kids
Advent wreath, candles & lighter
Candy (to pass out at end, for encouragement to listen)
Optional: Manger scene, you can have it displayed or hand the pieces out to the children to hold during the lesson.
Meet every Advent Sunday or just once each week before Christmas.
Teachers Overview-
The word advent means coming.
The wreath symbolizes the passing of time.
Candles represent:
1st Sunday – Hope, purple
2nd Sunday – Peace, purple
3rd Sunday – Joy, pink
4th Sunday – Love, purple
Christmas Eve/Day – Light, Jesus is the light of the world giving the gift of eternal life, white (center candle sometimes not included in the wreath)
Lesson 3:
We have been talking about what Advent means. Does anyone remember what the word Advent means? (Allow time to answer) Yes, that’s right, the word Advent means coming. At Christmas we are excited about a lot of things that are coming up. What are some things you are excited about coming up? And who’s birthday do we celebrate at Christmas? Jesus, that is right. Before Jesus was born they were waiting for him to come and now we are waiting on him to come again.
The wreath and the candles are all symbols; a symbol is often something you can see that helps you think of or remember something that you cannot see. The wreath is a symbol for the passing of time. Like the passing of time for those in the Bible who waited for Jesus and how we wait for Jesus to come again. Who can remember the words we talked about the last two weeks when we lit the first two candles? Hope, that’s right. Some think of hope as a feeling but hope is more of a way of thinking. In the Bible hope is a confidence (a sure thing) that God keeps his promises. And Peace. Peace in the Bible is having a right relationship. We talked about how Jesus came to give us peace with God. And how while there is not peace on earth now, that Jesus will one day come again and bring peace on earth for those who believe and follow Him.
Remember I will need good listeners to help me light the candles today. I will be needing three helpers to light Hope, Peace and this week we talk about the Joy candle.
I want everyone to stand up. Stand at arms length apart. The rules are to stay in your place and not to hurt yourself or others. Now I want you to show me in your body and face what you think it means to NOT have JOY. Allow kids a moment. Good so good, now show me what you think JOY looks like in your body. Remember the rules. Okay everyone come back and sit in front of me.
When we get a good present, something we have wanted or waited for a long time, it makes us really happy doesn’t it? Yes, me too! But eventually, we grow out of that toy, or it breaks or we just get tired of it. The joy that Jesus brought at his birth and still to this day never breaks, or gets old and it’s not just for us but for all people who believe and worship him. The bible says that Jesus is Emmanuel which means God is with us. Jesus is a gift and he brings the best gifts like, hope, peace, and joy.
In Luke 2 the Bible tells us about some shepherds watching their sheep at night. Now being a shepherd sounds like a lot of fun to me, but back in the bible days people did not like shepherds, they thought of it as a dirty job. Maybe something like a garbage truck guys in today’s time. But we know that God loves and cares for everyone and he chose to tell these shepherds first that Jesus was born. An angel appeared before them and the glory of the Lord was shining all around them. The angel told them to not be afraid that he was bringing the best news of great joy for all the people (emphasize) especially shepherds.
The angel told them that very day Christ the Lord was born. The angel told the shepherds to look for a baby in a manger and then suddenly a whole bunch of angels appeared praising God.
Can you imagine that? What do you think the shepherds did after that?
That’s right they went and found Jesus. They found Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus lying in a manger in Bethlehem, just as the angel had said. And Mary, Joseph and the shepherds had so much joy in their hearts.
Do you remember our bible verse from last week? I will read the whole thing again and then I want you to repeat just the end back to me.
Open your bible and read John 1:1-5
(This will be the emphasis reading each week, with a focus to memorize vs 5)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (have them repeat the last verse after you)
John 1:1-5 (Read again with the new Jesus emphasis)
1 In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. 2 Jesus was with God in the beginning. 3 Through Jesus all things were made; without Jesus nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (have them repeat the last verse after you)
Jesus is good news of great joy for all people. And that means us too. Ask if there are any questions. Say a short prayer. Have three helpers light the Hope, Peace and Joy (pink) candle.
**The third candle is pink because rose is a liturgical color for joy. The third Sunday of Advent is considered the “Shepherd’s candle” and is meant to remind us of the joy that the world experienced at the birth of Jesus, as well as the joy of the midpoint of Advent. We light the 3rd candle and rejoice like the shepherds did.
