12/7/2023 0 Comments Christmas church countdownFor this reason, in the middle of all the other busy things that happen during the countdown to Christmas, Christians try to make sure they make time to remember what they are really celebrating at Christmas – the birth of Jesus.Įncourage the children to use the time each day when they open a door on their Advent calendar to pause and think about what they are really celebrating this Christmas. If appropriate, explain that Christians believe that Jesus was the baby mentioned in Isaiah, the baby so many people had been waiting for and who, when he grew up, would change the world. We can read about the wait for this baby in the Old Testament part of the Bible in Isaiah 9.6, where it says:ĭisplay the image with the quote from Isaiah 9.6, if using Much longer ago than that, however, the Jewish people had been waiting and counting down to the time when her special baby would be born, a baby who would change the world. It must have felt like a very long time to wait, but it was worth it because Christians believe Mary’s baby was Jesus, God’s own son. More than 2000 years ago, a young girl called Mary was counting down the days until her baby would be born. Note how there is actually quite a lot of counting down in the Christmas story in the Bible, too.The Post Office has notices to tell you the latest dates that you can post Christmas cards and parcels - especially important if you have friends who live in other countries and want your presents and cards to reach them in time.Ĭhildren, mums and dads and teachers count down how many days of school are left before the Christmas holidays begin! TV adverts have countdowns of shopping days left and ideas for buying presents for all your family and friends. Posters and magazines have Christmas dinner countdowns, such as when to buy your turkey and when to make or ice your Christmas cake. Continue by saying that there seems to be a lot of counting down going on at this time of the year as people get ready for Christmas – doing things such as this.ĭisplay the 'countdown to Christmas' images, if using.Say that this year, Advent starts/started on Sunday 29 November. You may like to let a few children tell you what was behind the door on their Advent calendar that morning and/or let someone open the door for today on your calendar.Īsk if they have ever wondered why it’s called an ‘Advent’ calendar, then explain that Christians call the four weeks leading up to Christmas ‘Advent’ and it’s a time when they prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Say that you expect a lot of the children are counting down the days till Christmas and ask if anyone has got an Advent calendar.If necessary, give them a clue by holding up the Advent calendar. Ask if anyone can guess why you have asked them to count backwards from 25 to 0 at this time of the year.Then count all together as follows (starting slowly and getting faster and louder as you go): Ask the children if they are good at counting and go on to say that you are going to start the assembly by doing some counting with them.Have available the song ‘Talk about Jesus’ by Ken Warke on the It’s Christmas CD (Children’s Ministry, 2003) or a recording of an appropriate Christmas carol and the means to play it at the end of the assembly. Also, if you wish, you can create an image with the following quote from Isaiah 9.6 (NRSV):.Gather some images of countdowns to Christmas and have the means to show them in the 'Assembly', Step 4, where some examples of these are described (optional).You will need an Advent calendar with pictures of the Nativity to show during the assembly.To encourage us to use the season of Advent to consider the Christian belief that ‘Christmas starts with Christ'. So get out your Santa hat, and join us this Advent for our Countdown to Christmas.Suitable for Key Stage 1 - Church Schools Aims And, on the Sunday before Christmas, we will have a Christmas Cantata along with a Children’s Christmas Story (because a play would be a bit of a trick). In worship, we will study the book of Isaiah to prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ. It is our own Advent calendar, complete with activities for you to carry out to make sure you remember to celebrate the birth of Christ even in the midst of the things going on around you. Towards that end, Maize Manor UMC has created a 2020 Christmas Countdown. As we all navigate the weeks in front of us, I imagine many of us would benefit from embracing the Christmas spirit. Now, as the year rounds to a close, many families will be skipping their usual reunions – or adapting treasured traditions to keep people safe. Let’s suffice it to say: 2020 has been tough. The holidays feel a little strange this year.
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