Advent and Christmas might be an overwhelming time for some parents. There is a pressure to plan for the most perfect craft, buy the most perfect gift, cut the most perfect tree, put up the most perfect decorations, prepare the most tastiest feast– even find the best opportunities to help others. Sometimes we forget to do all these from an outflow of love and joy – the spirit of advent. For Christians, we forgot to do it from an outflow of Christ’s love and the joy and anticipation of Christ’s coming, where he like 2000years over, came and brought love, joy and peace in a ear of darkness and silence.
Children remember best what we did with JOY with them. If Advent feels overwhelming, like it did so for me, momma, we can rest first. Let God fills our hearts with the love, joy and peace of the advent season and then with that joy , find something we feel joyful to do with your kiddos — and this activity will be most fun and memorable for your family. (May not be an activity, can be an outing where everyone feels most loved by)
For me, the most memorable advent memories were the weeks before Christmas where we sang carols together as a cozy youth group , preparing for carolling sessions in public spaces. As a young youth, after singing these carols almost daily for a month, I felt that I was transported to the Lil Town of Bethlehem where I see lil baby Jesus laying on a manger. I felt as earnest as the Three Kings of Orient are . For moments, I thought I was an angel on the plains, singing to shepherds Gio in Excelsis Deo, Christ the Saviour is Born.
This advent, I hope to bring Christmas to my kids with introduction a few characters of the nativity story a time, accompanied with carols and the actual bible narration as well. (Free downloads of nativity narration in scenes and accompanying carols below)
Scene 1: Angel appears to Mary
Scene 2: Joseph all alone (not shown in gallery)
Scene 3: Mary and Joseph travels to Bethlehem
Scene 4: Mary and Joseph talks to Innkeeper
Scene 5: Jesus born in a manger
Scene 6: Angels appearing to Shepherd
Scene 7: Shepherds visits baby Jesus
Scene 8: Three wise men following a star
Scene 9: Three wise men bearing gifts and visiting Jesus
Scene 10: Everyone together, Wefie =) JOY TO THE WOLRD! Merry Christmas
Seems like my advent is only 10 days long this year =) That will leave time for chill moments, time for each other and time to bless others.
Previous years I have DIYed my nativity figures ! It works fine and there are a wealth of resources on the internet, just google and you can find. You can get a photo frame from Ikea which I did, and slip in a felt sheet and you can have a felt nativity play =)
But for the past two years, we are really lucky to work with a local artist who designed 32 nativity cut outs. The nativity cut outs above are from this humble local shop ! Soft copy is available for purchase and downloads, hard copy with velcro attached for FELT play are available too.
Check out https://www.hirojack.com/store/p1077/32_Piece_Nativity_Set_%28Physical_Cutouts%29.html
for SOFT of Hard copy of the nativity figures, available for shipping in Singapore and the UK.
Shalem and Shekinah 