This Family Advent PDF is designed to be an intersection of holiday family fun and the expectant waiting and preparation for the Nativity of Christ. Advent is a word from the Latin, adventus, which means coming. It is meant to be a time of reckoning for the stirring of our souls in response to the sturdiness of God. These four weeks are built into the traditional church calendar as a way to look forward to the coming of Jesus, both in remembrance of how He has already come (Matthew 1:22-23) and a belief that He will again (Revelation 21:3). And that is worth celebrating! God, in all His majesty, is our great Immanuel— He is with us.This 36 page guide and separate printables file will take a closer look at the four themes of advent— hope, faith, joy, and peace. Families will learn more about each concept with the weekly family devotional and memory verse as well as having opportunities to express it through different activities throughout the week. Each week includes four activities — play, serve, share, and make. The goal is that each family will have a united focus on not only learning about but leaning into the advent theme by playing silly games, choosing to serve others, sharing their hearts, and making fun recipes together. It’s meant to be simple and flexible with families being able to pick and choose what works for them each week.Most importantly though, it’s meant to draw each family closer to the real reason for the season. Let’s not view it as a cool story from a make-believe storybook but as a really real event orchestrated by the God of the universe! (John 3:16) And that by faith, we can each accept this plan for our lives and experience His abundance of hope, joy, and peace! (Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9)
