As we celebrate Advent both together and apart as a church this year, Emily Greener and I have complied some resources for families and individuals.

The Bible Project, makers of wonderful videos to study the Bible, have created a great resource of videos and devotional content around the four themes of Advent.

Every year we also share The Common Rule project as a spiritual disciple around Advent. The Daily Readings can be found here and a basic overview here.

One resource we hand out often at Defiance is the Jesus Story book. Here’s an Advent resource that goes along with that book.

Here’s a family activity from Emily. It creates an Advent chain for names of Jesus and is wonderful way to share as a family a countdown to Christmas with kids and others.

Emily also has written an Advent Wreath Liturgy for lighting the candles together. MCC has one as well around O Come, O Come, Emmanuel that focuses on refugees.

Jesus’ Ascension

• Get ready: 

  • Sing: Jesus Loves Me

• Pray: Jesus, we praise you that you are with us, even when we can’t see you.

  • Teach your children this simple responsive prayer of thanksgiving:

    • Alleluia! Christ is risen! 

    • Response: The Lord is risen indeed! Allelula!

• Story:  "Going Home” from The Jesus Storybook Bible (If you don’t have that at home you can watch the read-aloud version here.) You could also watch my friend Steph from Chicago tell The Ascension story here.

• Read: Acts 1:6-14

• Do: Blow bubbles with your child and watch them rise into the air. See how far/high you can watch the bubbles before the disappear or burst! Ask your child, “How do you think the disciples felt as they watched Jesus go up into the clouds?” Remind your child that Jesus is with us, even when we can’t see him! You could also try this coloring page or some of the activities on these sheets.

No “lesson” today - just a very full scripture to read with your family! See coloring pages below the scripture.

John 14:1-14

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. Believe in me also. 2 There are many rooms in my Father’s house. If this were not true, would I have told you that I am going there? Would I have told you that I would prepare a place for you there? 3 If I go and do that, I will come back. And I will take you to be with me. Then you will also be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus Is the Way to the Father

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. So how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father also. From now on, you do know him. And you have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father. That will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered, “Don’t you know me, Philip? I have been among you such a long time! Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father? Don’t you believe that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. The Father lives in me. He is the one who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say I am in the Father. Also believe that the Father is in me. Or at least believe what the works I have been doing say about me. 12 What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who believes in me will do the works I have been doing. In fact, they will do even greater things. That’s because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do anything you ask in my name. Then the Father will receive glory from the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name. I will do it.

Or try this coloring page!

We can trust our Good Shepherd

Jesus is Our Good Shepherd

• Get ready: 

  • Sing: Jesus Loves Me

• Pray: We praise you, Jesus, that you are alive, today and forever! Thank you for being our Good Shepherd. Help us to trust you.

  • Teach your children this simple responsive prayer of thanksgiving:

    • Alleluia! Christ is risen! 

    • Response: The Lord is risen indeed! Allelula!

• Story: Read "Found” by Sally Lloyd Jones if you have it. If you don't have that book at home, you can watch the audiobook version here.

• Read: John 10:1-10. Memory verse - Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need.”

• Do: If you are in the mood for a sweet treat, make these cheerio sheep. Make a simple sheep pen like the one pictured below. Or, choose one of the crafts or games from the options on this page.

Jesus is Risen! Road to Emmaus

• Get ready. Sing: My God is so big, so strong and so mighty

• Pray. We praise you, Jesus, that you are alive, today and forever! Open our eyes to see you.

  • Teach your children this simple responsive prayer of thanksgiving:

    • Alleluia! Christ is risen! 

    • Response: The Lord is risen indeed! Allelula!

• Story. For today’s story you will need these supplies: Plain piece of paper with an empty “road” drawn diagonally from one end to the other, small piece of sandpaper (or sand to sprinkle if you are ok with a little mess), small piece of green construction paper, cotton balls, crayons, glue stick

Today we will tell the story together!Today’s story is from Luke 24:13-35. It’s about two friends who meet an amazing traveler along the road. You can help me tell the story by adding things to our paper to make the story. 

Cleopas and his friend were walking from Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus. Let’s draw two friends on the road. (Let children draw friends.) The road to Emmaus was dusty and sandy. Let’s add sandpaper to the road. (Add sandpaper or sand.) The sad friends talked about what had happened to Jesus. Jesus had been killed on a cross and put in a tomb. Cleopas and his friend didn’t understand why Jesus had to die. They missed him a lot as they walked on the road. Let’s color the road to Emmaus. (Have children color the road brown.)

A man appeared on the road beside them. Guess who it was? (Pause while children tell their ideas.) It was Jesus! But Jesus didn’t want the men to recognize him yet. 

As Jesus walked with the men, he asked, “What are you talking about?” “Haven’t you heard?” said the friends. “Three days ago our leaders had Jesus put to death. We hoped Jesus would set our country free, but then today some of the women saw angels at Jesus’ empty tomb. The angels said, “Jesus is alive!” The two friends looked very sad and confused. They didn’t know what to do. 

So Jesus explained everything to them. He told them about God’s promises and how Jesus was the Savior God promised. He told them that Jesus had to suffer before he went to live in heaven. Let’s add some clouds to show Jesus’ heavenly home. (Pause while children glue stretched-out cotton balls to the sky.)

The three men walked to Emmaus. Let’s make trees and leaves and buildings. (Have children tear green construction paper leaves and make trees. Invite children to draw simple buildings.) It was getting late and the friends asked the man, who was really... (pause for children to say “Jesus”), to stay for dinner. When the guest blessed and broke the bread, Cleopas and his friend realized it was Jesus! Think of their surprise! Then Jesus disappeared. Quickly, Cleopas and his friend ran back to Jerusalem to tell the good news to the disciples. (Hop up and jog around the table or wherever you were sitting. When you get back to your place, shout “Jesus is alive!” and sit down.)

·     Read. Luke 24:32 - “They said to each other, “He talked with us on the road. He opened the Scriptures to us. Weren’t our hearts burning inside us during that time?”

·     Do

·      Take a walk as a family, and ask your child, "What do you think it means to walk with Jesus? Where might we see Jesus in unexpected places?" 

·      If you have a printer, try this craft. It's hard to tell what it is at first, but when you fold and color it, you see Jesus!

He talked with us on the road. He opened the Scriptures to us. Weren’t our hearts burning inside us during that time?

Luke 24:32

Jesus is Risen! Appearance to Mary Magdalene

• Get ready: 

  • Sing: My God is so big, so strong and so mighty

• Pray: We praise you, Jesus, that you are alive, today and forever! Help us to believe.

  • Teach your children this simple responsive prayer of thanksgiving:

    • Alleluia! Christ is risen! 

    • Response: The Lord is risen indeed! Allelula!

• Story: Read "God's Wonderful Surprise" from Jesus Storybook Bible. If you don't have that book at home, you can watch the audiobook version here.

• Read: Luke 24. Memory verse: Luke 24:5b, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!"

• Do: Make a simple play to re-tell this story. You may dress up or use props if you'd like, but the most important part is to engage your imagination. Allow your child to take on different characters. How does it feel to share the amazing news the angel tells--that Jesus is risen? How does it feel to be Mary encountering Jesus? Invite Jesus to meet you in this playful way of engaging the most wonderful, most true story of all.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

As we begin the most holy days of our church year, here are a few simple ideas you can use to enter into Jesus’ last days, crucifixion, burial, and miraculous triumph over death. Choose one per day, or whichever ones work best for your family.

Check out We Wonder, which has daily contemplative storytelling for kids during Holy Week.

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday:

• Share a special meal together and remember the Last Supper.

• Wash each others' feet. Use any bowl, fill it with warm water, and love your family by gently washing one another’s feet. Giggles are welcome. Use this as an opportunity to remind your children how Jesus calls us to serve one another.

• If you’re up for a bigger project, try these handprint crafts to make a Holy Week book. (She says to purchase and print her template, but you can also just DIY it!)

• Scripture: John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Good Friday

Good Friday:

• Pick up your cross. Whatever chore you hate? Try to do it with love and without complaining. Take up a tiny cross while you remember the greatest one—and the heavy crosses carried by so many sick and suffering around the world.

• Create a simple cross with sticks and string.

• Make space for quiet. While silence can be impossible to find in a house full of people under quarantine, try turning off screens / phones from 12 - 3 pm, the hours when we remember Jesus’ suffering and death. St. John of the Cross said, “Silence is God's first language.” Ask your child, what do you think this means?

• Scripture: John 18:1-19:42

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday:

• Make these cookies which require only simple ingredients you probably already have, and are a hands-on way to walk kids through Jesus' death and resurrection

• Scripture: Matthew 27:57-66

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday:

• Sing praises together at sunrise (since many of us with young children are up at dawn anyway!)

• Ring bells, a traditional way to celebrate our risen Lord.

• Make a sidewalk chalk mural proclaiming, “Christ is Risen!”

• FaceTime Feast! Set a “date” with loved ones and celebrate a resurrection feast together.

• Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10, John 20:1-18

Thanks to Susan Mount for this lesson!

· Get ready: 

o If you have your prayer pot we made in Sunday School on the first week of Lent, get it out along with the purple piece of felt. (If you don't have a prayer pot, just get a piece of purple fabric or paper and let your child hold it).  This purple felt reminds us that Jesus is our King.

o Today we will talk about Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem bringing praise and joy to the people. The people were eager to see who this man Jesus was, and the hope he was going to bring to their lives. Can you imagine if you were to see Jesus coming and the excitement (discuss, invite your child's questions) you would feel. Share with your family what you may be thinking if you were watching Jesus ride into the town down the streets on a donkey.. What would be you first thoughts? We need to have hope and the people were putting their hope in Jesus. What is your hope for Jesus today? What hope do you have for our community? Our friends? Family?

 Palm Sunday

· Pray: Dear God, "We give you praise and honor for your ways are righteous and true. We give you worship for you are holy and just. We will declare that your love stands firm forever. For your lovingkindness endures forever."

· Story: Read above the story of Palm Sunday or view....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7r2jaciG0g&list=PLUtSdUwXCOX0vJD63EXTHCAC5J5DJyYKP&index=3

· Read: "The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”  -John 12:12-13

· Do: 

o Print the attached picture and create a palm 

o Ask your child to make the palm leaf and then listen to the song "Hosanna" (which means "save Now") while waving the palm back and forth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSBR-r9B_94

Jesus Heals

• Get ready:

  • If you have your prayer pot we made in Sunday School on the first week of Lent, get it out and look at the 5th Sunday. Place a band-aid in the pot. (If you don't have a prayer pot, just get out a band-aid and let your child hold it).

  • Today we will talk about how Jesus heals his people. Do you know anyone who Jesus has healed? (discuss, invite your child's questions)

• Pray: Thank you, Jesus, that you heal. You made our bodies and you love each one of us. We pray for people we love who are sick (name them)--please heal them and be with them. Amen.

• Story: Read "A Little Girl and a Poor Frail Lady" from Jesus Storybook Bible. If you don't have that book at home, you can watch the audiobook version here.

• Read: Luke 8:40-56. Memory verse Luke 8:50 (part of verse) - "Jesus said to Jairus, 'Don't be afraid. Just believe.'"

• Do: Pray with your hands

  • Print the attached picture and use play-dough to do the prayer craft. If you don't have a printer, you can sketch a simple version of the attached picture. o Ask your child to make play dough hearts and place them on the picture. Use the time to pray for people (people you know, or people you don't know) who are ill. You may also want to use this time to pray for health care workers who are on the "front lines" during this time.