The Lord be with you! Welcome to FaithActivities from Roots and Wings of the Virginia Synod. Each week you will receive an idea or two to help you strengthen your family, nurture faith in your children (or grandchildren or godchildren or any child in your life!) and pass on your values to them. The activities offered here may one week be more suitable for very young children, the next week for older children. Please adapt them to fit your needs and your family’s situation.
Written by Pastor Cathy Mims, Good Shepherd Lutheran ChurchVirginia Beach, VA
One of my family’s favorite traditions during Advent is to read a different Christmas book each night at storytime. Even if you don’t have a regular time for reading together, older children may be willing to sit down and share in a Christmas story during Advent, especially if they get to read! Some of our favorite stories include:
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
The Nutcracker by Susan Jeffers
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore (we like Jan Karon’s edition)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
Angels & All Children: A Nativity Story in Words, Music, and Art by Walter Wangerin, Randy Courts, and Tim Ladwig
A Child Is Born, by Margaret Wise Brown
A Christmas Story by Brian Wildsmith
And of course, Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20
What are your favorite Christmas stories?
Sharing the Faith: Roots and Wings
December is rich with opportunity for sharing our faith and values with those most dear to us. Advent and Christmas are beloved seasons in which families naturally participate in rituals and traditions and service projects. This year, seek to be intentional about what you are doing. Intentionality avoids the pitfalls of trying to create the ‘perfect holiday’, and instead focuses activities and rituals on nurturing your children in the way of faith, building character and forming patterns that will guide them throughout their lives.
Rituals and traditions:
Consider celebrating Santa Claus on St. Nicholas Day, December 6, reserving December 25 for the celebration of the Christ Child. Read a story about the original St. Nick, and reflect as a family on ways that we can be “Santa” for others.
Make Christmas cookies as a family. Make homemade gifts.
Watch a beloved Christmas movie together.
Caring Conversation:
In Germany, the custom of Christ Kindl helps people focus on the spirit of giving during the Advent season. According to the custom, at the beginning of the Advent season, individuals select the name of a family member. Throughout the season, the Christ Kindl secretly does small favors for that person, such as making his or her bed, leaving a small treat or gift, or any other gesture that displays love, caring and thoughtfulness. On or around Christmas Eve, the Christ Kindl reveals his or her identity.
Write a family Christmas letter, giving everyone the opportunity to share what has been the highlight of their year, a favorite family event or why Christmas is important to them.
Worship and prayer:
Use your crèche to tell the story of Jesus’ birth. Place figurines throughout the house and let them ‘travel’ to Bethlehem a little bit each day. Don’t let the wise men get there until Epiphany! Provide a child-friendly crèche for young children to play with.
Use an advent wreath for family prayers in the evening or at bedtime. Practice waiting (which is the whole point of Advent!) by incorporating some silence and stillness in your prayers or sometime throughout each day.
Family Service:
Make gift/care packages for those who will be spending Christmas in homeless shelters, nursing homes, prison, etc.
Consider giving donations to charitable organizations in honor of someone rather than buying them a gift they don’t need.
Help make a child’s Christmas! Pack a shoebox with gifts for Samaritan’s Purse; take a name off an angel tree; fill a Salvation Army Christmas Stocking; adopt a family in your church or neighborhood that needs some help.
