A Great Light will Shine

Reading: Isaiah 9:2-6

Already people have been scurrying about at the malls shopping for the big day... CHRISTMAS! Thoughts whirling through our minds of Christmas music, yummy food, a Christmas tree, lights, families gathering together to celebrate the big event... the coming of Santa Claus. What? The Coming of Santa Claus? Is Santa what Christmas was originally all about? Some people don't realize that before Christmas was celebrated with Santa, people celebrated Christmas, honoring Jesus Christ by celebrating Advent: which means the coming or the arrival of Jesus.

What is Advent? Advent is a 4 week season just before Christmas to prepare our hearts for the Coming of Christ. Followers of Jesus from all over the world have celebrated Advent for hundreds of years. During Advent we celebrate His first coming as a baby long ago. I love the story of the Coming of Christ as it is written in the Bible through the ages, from beginning to the end. It is my hope to share this joy from the best of my understanding, as an act of worship to Him. It is in His Story that we find the true meaning of Christmas, The Promise of the King.

Tonight is the first Sunday, the first day of the first week of Advent. Many people celebrate Advent by lighting Advent Candles, one for each week of Advent.  For more info on the candles, the advent wreath and other resources visit Advent for Kids, a blog I started for my grandkids.

Light your first candle in your Advent wreath: The first candle is the candle of Expectation or Hope ( Prophecy). For thousands of years God spoke to His people through prophets. (The people who hear God speak) They spoke of a Chosen One, the promise of a King, who would come and deliver His people from darkness and the misery caused by sin. Their prophecies are recorded in the Bible and gave the people of God hope. Their anticipation and sense of longing for the coming of a Chosen One weaves its way through Bible history like a golden thread in the great tapestry of time.  A prophet named Isaiah wrote about the darkness and discouragement of the people and most importantly about a very special child who would come and be a righteous and just King. Look at how Isaiah describes Him.

"The people who walk in darkness 

will see a great light. 

For those who live in a land of deep darkness, 

a light will shine... 

 

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. 

The government will rest on his shoulders. 

And he will be called: 

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 

Isaiah 9:2-6 NLT

Immanuel by Michelle Struss

Talk about: What is a prophet? What is prophecy? How does this give people hope?
Who is this child spoken of? Does His names give us a clue? Why did He come? 

Sing to Jesus: Away in a manger
Family activity: Light of the World

Pray to Him and thank Him for being our light, our Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

Kids and parents write your thoughts about the child born unto us and post a comment. We want to hear from you. Tell us about your Advent Worship together as a family.

How do we make an advent wreath? Make Wreath
How do we celebrate Advent? What is Advent

For Tomorrow.... The Story of the Creation of the Heavens and Earth, plants, animals and people.