Christmas 2013 Family Guide

8/13/2019 Christmas 2013 Family Guide

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Advent Family Guide


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Worship

Sunday Morning Worship ServicesSunday Morning Worship Services9:30am 11:00am9:30am & 11:00amSunday, December 1Sunday, December 1 Candle of HopeSunday, December 8Sunday, December 8 Candle of PreparationSunday, December 15Sunday, December 15 Candle of J oySunday, December 22Sunday, December 22 Candle of Love

Christmas Eve Worship ServicesChristmas Eve Worship Services3:00pm, 5:00pm 11:00pm3:00pm, 5:00pm & 11:00pmTuesday, December 24Tuesday, December 24 Candle of Christ


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Advent

Christmas comes full with anticipation.Christmas comes full with anticipation.While we celebrate with worship services, time

with family and friends, and serving those in need;

parties, presents, and the rush of the holiday

season inundate us. This year, our MGEFC family

is choosing to slow down, be still, and prepare

for the season with a return to the tradition of

Advent candles and all. We will dive deeperinto the meaning of each week of Advent.

Use this guide and take time as a family to light

the candle(s) at home and prepare for J esus

presence on Christmas.


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What isAdvent?

Advent comes from the Latin wordAdvent comes from the Latin wordmeaning arrivalmeaning arrival and represents a seasonof anticipation and celebration of the coming

of Christ. Long awaited by the people of Israel,

the first coming of Christ was foretold many times

throughout history. They waited for a savior who

would rescue and restore them. His coming was

the hope of Israel.

J ust like the Israelites at the time of Christs first

coming, we celebrate. Advent is a season of

jubilation and reflection, remembering and

watching. It is a time to remember the fulfilled

promises of God in Christs coming and the hopewe have as we look forward to his return.

Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before

Christmas and continues until Christmas Day.

It is a season for the church to remember and

celebrate the coming of the savior.


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Advent Week

Light a purple candle and read theLight a purple candle and read thepromise of the Messiah.promise of the Messiah.

The hope candle reminds us of the prophets who

hoped and prayed about what God would do

for his people. They predicted and anticipated

the birth of J esus that would bring hope, peace,

joy, love and salvation to the world.

Read:Read:Isaiah 9:1-7Reflect:Reflect:How does this passage in Isaiah instillhope in Gods promises whether at Christmas or

all year long?

Sing:Sing: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

for the First Week of Advent:for the First Week of Advent:Monday:Monday:Isaiah 7:10-15Tuesday:Tuesday: Micah 5:2-5Wednesday:Wednesday:Isaiah 40:1-8Thursday:Thursday: Isaiah 40:9-11Friday:Friday: Isaiah 55:1-13Saturday:Saturday:J eremiah 23:5-6


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Purple Candle of

for Families:for Families:Christmas Card Prayers. As Christmas cards arrive, save

them with the Advent wreath and use your Advent

prayer time to pray for the senders. Pray that they will

experience the hope that J esus provides.

O Come, O Come, EmmanuelO Come, O Come, EmmanuelO come, O come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel,

that mourns in lonely exile hereuntil the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,

to thee shall come Emmanuel!

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,

and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;disperse the gloomy clouds of night

and death's dark shadow put to flight.



O come, Desire of the nations, bind

in one the hearts of all mankind;bid every strife and quarrel cease

and fill the world with heaven's peace.




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Purple Candle of

for Families:for Families:This activity can help visual learners summarize the

passage. Together draw a set of pictures to tell the story

of Luke 1:16-38. Hang your pictures on your refrigerator

as a reminder of this weeks candle.

O Little Town of BethlehemO Little Town of BethlehemO little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep,The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shinethThe everlasting Light

The hopes and fears of all the yearsAre met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary and gathered all aboveWhile mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering loveO morning stars togetherProclaim the holy birth

And praises sing to God the KingAnd Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human heartsThe blessings of his heaven.No ear may hear his coming,

But in this world of sin,Where meek souls will receive him still,

The dear Christ enters in.


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Advent Week

Light the pink candle, the twoLight the pink candle, the twopurple candles, and read aboutpurple candles, and read aboutGod becoming flesh and dwellingGod becoming flesh and dwellingwith us.with us.

The joy candle represents the joy the wisemen

experienced when they discovered Christ. Theyshared the joy of J esus birth, just as we can share

with others the joy of his presence in our lives.

Read:Read:Matthew 2:1-12Reflect:Reflect: What can we learn from the magiabout finding joy in seeking J esus?

Sing:Sing: Silent Night

for the Third Week of Advent:for the Third Week of Advent:Monday:Monday: Psalm 100Tuesday:Tuesday: Psalm 103Wednesday:Wednesday:Psalm 150Thursday:Thursday:Isaiah 50:4-9Friday:Friday: Luke 2:25-32Saturday:Saturday: Luke 2:33-40


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Pink Candle of

for Families:for Families:Write a family letter to J esus telling him why you are

glad he came and what each family member is looking

forward to in celebrating his birth.

Silent Night, Holy NightSilent Night, Holy NightSilent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child

Holy infant, so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night

Shepherds quake at the sight

Glory streams from heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing alleluia

Christ, the Savior is born

Christ, the Savior is born


12/16

Advent Week

Light all three purple candles andLight all three purple candles andthe pink candle and read about thethe pink candle and read about theangels proclaiming the coming ofangels proclaiming the coming ofChrist.Christ.

The candle of love, otherwise known as the angel

candle, represents the angels announcing thegood news of the savior. We too, can announce

the saviors birth through our faith and love.

Read:Read:Matthew 1:18-23Reflect:Reflect:In what ways can we remember that

J esus came to save us as Emmanuel, God with us?

Sing:Sing: Angels We Have Heard On High

for the Fourth Week of Advent:for the Fourth Week of Advent:Monday:Monday:Luke 1:26-38Tuesday:Tuesday:Luke 1:39-45Wednesday:Wednesday:Luke 1:46-56Thursday:Thursday:Luke 2:8-14Friday:Friday: Luke 2:15-20Saturday:Saturday:Philippians 2:1-11


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Purple Candle of

for Families:for Families:Do an Advent service project together. Collect food for

the needy, bake for a neighbor, make a care package

for a missionary or someone in the military, or any other

project that reflects Christs love.

Angels We Have Heard On HighAngels We Have Heard On HighAngels we have heard on high,Sweetly singing oer the plains,

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strainsGloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?Why your joyous strains prolong?What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo

Come to Bethlehem and seeHim whose birth the angels sing;Come, adore on bended knee

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo

See Him in a manger laid J esus, Lord of heaven and earth;

Mary, J oseph, lend your aid,With us sing our Saviors birth.

Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo


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Eve & Day

Light all of the candles includingLight all of the candles includingthe white one and read about Godthe white one and read about Goddwelling with men as a baby anddwelling with men as a baby anda king. Remind each other that Goda king. Remind each other that Godchose to become a man.chose to become a man.

The white Christ candle reminds us that J esus isthe spotless lamb of God, sent to wash away our

sins! His birth was for his death, his death was for

our birth!

Read:Read:Luke 2:8-28Sing:J oy to the World

ng:


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White Candle of

for Families:for Families:Candy canes look a lot like shepherds staffs and can

remind us of the shepherds being the first to worship J esus.

Place one candy cane on your tree for everything you

are thankful for this year.

Joy to the WorldJoy to the WorldJ oy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her king.

Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing,

Heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glory of his righteousness

And wonders of his love

And wonders of his love

And wonders of his love.


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Maple Grove Evangelical Free ChurchMaple Grove Evangelical Free Church8585 Rice Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55369

mgefc.orgmgefc.org

Christmas 2013 Family Guide

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