Christmas Advent
A Christ-Centered Christmas
Last year we were given a fantastic book for Christmas.
The book is divided into 7 chapters:
Mary--Ponder
Joseph-- Serve
The Angel--Share the Joy
The Shepherd--Testify
The Wisemen-- Journey Another Way
The Lamb-- Give Thanks
The Christ Child
The idea is that each day you read a set of scriptures that discover the main subject and a principle. After the lesson, the coordinating piece/s of the nativity are put in place with the idea of the Christ Child being added to the Nativity on Christmas Eve. There is also an activity that goes with each lesson. I'm so excited to start this tradition in our family!
Advent Calendar
This year I decided to do an Advent calendar. I wanted to do it last year when I saw this adorable tree at Pottery Barn Kids. So I bought the felt for it. Turns out it was quite the project! After months of planning and cutting and stitching and stitching and stitching, it is finally done! I'm so glad that it is completely finished and ready for Christmas!
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| J. wanted his picture taken with "his" tree. |
I wanted to include scripture readings and activities for each day. I used the seven readings and activities from the Christ -Centered Christmas book and had to do a bit of research to come up with my list because I wanted to use both the Bible and The Book of Mormon accounts of Christ's birth. Paul is gone during the day so for some of the more crafty activities I color coded the cards for things we do without Daddy, and things we do with him when he gets home.
Christmas Books
I had also read about this great idea of wrapping up 24 Christmas themed books and opening one each night up until Christmas. James loves books! So I got a bunch of off freecycle, went to DI and picked up the last few from the clearance section at Deseret Book.
So...with that in mind I give you my ridiculously long and complicated Christmas Advent List:
December 1st
Scripture: Isaiah 7:14
Activity: Make Paper Chains & Snowflakes
Book: Christmas Snow by Dawn Sirett
December 2nd
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6
Activity: Make Wrapping Paper
Book: Fun with Reindeer by Igloo Books
December 3rd
Scripture: Micah 5:2
Activity: Make Play-Doh Snowmen
Book: Baby Kermit's Christmas by Louise Gikow
December 4th
Mary
Scripture: Luke 1: 26-56; 2:5-7, 19
Activity: Make Heart-Shaped Ornament for the Tree Representing what Mary Pondered in Her Heart.
Book: O Little Town by S. Harrison
December 5th
Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-15
Activity: Christ's Birth FHE Packet
Book: Little Snowflake's Big Adventure by Steve Metzger
December 6th
Scripture: John 1:14
Activity: Bake and Deliver Cookies to Friends
Book: Warm in Winter by Erica Silverman
December 7th
Scripture: Isaiah 40:11
Activity: Send Christmas Cards to Soldiers
Book: Christmas Wishes by Tony Mitton
December 8th
Scripture: Jeremiah 23:6
Activity: Have Dinner by Candlelight
Book: Saide and the Snowman by Allen Morgan
December 9th
Scripture: Jacob 7:11-12
Activity: Make Christmas Hand & Footprint Crafts
Book: Pooh's Jingle Bells by Kathleen Zoehfeld
December 10th
Scripture: 1 Nephi 10:4
Activity: Hand Deliver Christmas Cards to Friends
Book: Santa's On His Way by Mark Shulman
December 11th
Joseph
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 2:1-7
Activity: Donate Food to Homeless Shelter
Book: Away in a Manger by S. Harrison
December 12th
Scripture: 1 Nephi 11:20-24
Activity: FHE: Tell the Christmas Story using Little People Nativity Set
Book: A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M Schulz
December 13th
Scripture: 1 Nephi 11:27
Activity: Wrap and Mail Christmas Presents
Book: The Biggest, Most Beautiful Christmas Tree by Amye Rosenberg
December 14th
Scripture: Heleman 14:3
Activity: Make Ornaments for Gifts
Book: The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott
December 15th
Scripture: Heleman 14:5-6
Activity: Make a Christmas Craft
Book: My Christmas Wish-epersonalizeit.com
December 16th
Scripture: Luke 1:30-31
Activity: Make Hot Cocoa with Marshmallows
Book: The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck
December 17th
Scripture:3 Nephi 1:13
Activity: Elf! Someone
Book: The Twelve Days of Christmas
December 18th
The Angel
Scripture: Luke 2:9-14
Activity: Listen to Christmas music that reflects on Christ. Turn off the TV, laptops, cell phones. Sit around the Christmas tree and drink hot chocolate.
Book: Hark the Herald by S. Harrison
December 19th
Scripture: 3 Nephi 1:19
Activity: FHE: Put on PJs & Go for a Drive to Look at Christmas Lights
Book: Franklin's Christmas by Paulette Bourgeois
December 20th
Scripture: Luke 2:4-7
Activity: Deliver Christmas Goodies to Friends
Book: Snappy Little Snowtime by Dugald Steer
December 21st
The Shepherd
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-2
Activity: Decorate Shepherd Staff (Candy Cane) Cookies. Share Testimonies.
Book: While Shepherds Watched by S. Harrison
December 22nd
The Wisemen
Scripture: Luke 1:12-14
Activity: Cookie Day with Aunts.
Visit a Living Nativity
Book: We Three Kings by S. Harrison
December 23rd
The Lamb
Scripture: Luke 2:8-11
Activity: Hang a small white stocking on the tree. When we notice a tender mercy in our lives we write it down on a piece of paper and put it in the stocking
Book: Little Donkey by S. Harrison
December 24th
The Christ Child
Scripture: Mosiah 3:5-8, Luke 1:26-38, 46-47; Luke 2:1-10; Matthew 2:1-14
Activity: Write down a gift that you can give to Christ over the next year. Put it in a white envelope to be opened next year to see how we've done. Keep it with the nativity set.
Visit Temple Square to Look at Christmas Lights.
Book: The First Christmas by Sophy Williams
Click the links below to view the printable cards.
Scripture Cards Activity Cards
Click the links below to view the printable cards.
Scripture Cards Activity Cards
