SIMPLE CHRISTMAS
Its that simple.
Advent Guide
Advent
Worship
SIMPLE CHRISTMAS
Worship Services
Sundays, Nov. 27 - Dec. 18 | 9:00am & 10:45am
Christmas Eve
December 24 | 3:00pm, 5:00pm & 11:00pm
The celebration of Christmas brings so many
wonderful sights, smells and sounds. It can also bring
stress, busyness and frustration. We invite you to join us
for a Simple Christmas, as we turn our hearts toward
the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas
can be that simple.
Advent
Guide
Christmas comes full iwth anticipation.
While we celebrate with worship services, time
with family and friends, and serving those in need;
parties, presents, and the rush of the holiday season
still inundate us. Our lives can become so busy
celebrating Christmas that we somehow miss out
on celebrating Jesus. Our lives often resemble the
response of the inn keeper to Mary and Joseph no
room. Christians throughout the ages have used
candles and a wreath to assist them in slowing
down and making room for Jesus. This guide is a
simple tool for you to use personally or with family and
friends to prepare room for Jesus this Christmas. Come
let us adore him!
Activity
How will your family make room for Jesus this
Christmas? Talk about the ways each of you fill your inns.
How can you create margin this December and beyond to
focus on a growing, vibrant relationship with Jesus?
What is
Advent?
Advent comes from the Latin word meaning
arrival and represents a season of anticipation
and celebration of the coming of Christ. Long
awaited by the people of Israel, the first coming of
Christ was foretold many times throughout history.
They waited for a savior who would rescue and
restore them. His coming was the hope of Israel.
Just like the Israelites at the time of Christs first coming,
we celebrate. Advent is a season of jubilation and
reflection, remembering and watching. It is a time
to remember the fulfilled promises of God in Christs
coming and the hope we have as we look forward
to his return.
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas
and continues until Christmas Day. It is a season for
the church to remember and celebrate the coming
of the Savior.
The Advent
Wreath
Starting in the 4th century, believers have set
aside time to prepare for Christ. During the Middle
Ages, believers celebrated Christs birth by using a
cartwheel wreath decorated with evergreen
branches and candles, symbolizing the eternal (the
wheel) and the hope (the lights and evergreen) that
Christ brings.
As we celebrate Advent, we encourage you to make
your own wreath or purchase one. Each day light the
corresponding candle as a family, individually or with
friends to continue preparing your heart for the
celebration of Christmas this year.
The Advent wreath traditionally has four candles.
Three purple candles, signifying humility for the first,
second and fourth weeks of Advent, and a pink
candle, representing joy, lit during the third week.
Many today add a fifth white candle in the center to
symbolize the coming of Christ.
Activity
Have fun creating your own Advent wreath.
Ideas abound on Pinterest. Home Front Monthly magazine,
available in each kids classroom, also has many great ideas
for celebrating Advent.
Advent Week
One
Light a purple candle and read the
promise of the Messiah.
The hope candle reminds us of the prophets who
hoped and prayed about what God would do for
his people. They predicted and anticipated the
birth of Jesus that would bring hope, peace, joy,
love and salvation to the world.
Read: Isaiah 9:1-7
Reflect: How does this passage in Isaiah instill hope in
Gods promises whether at Christmas or all
year long?
Sing: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Readings for the First Week of Advent:
Monday: Isaiah 7:10-15
Tuesday: Micah 5:2-5
Wednesday: Isaiah 40:1-8
Thursday: Isaiah 40:9-11
Friday: Isaiah 55:1-13
Saturday: Jeremiah 23:5-6
Purple Candle of
Hope
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,
To thee shall come Emmanuel!
O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And deaths dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,
To thee shall come Emmanuel!
O come, Desire of the nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid every strife and quarrel cease
And fill the world with heavens peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,
To thee shall come Emmanuel!
Activity
As Christmas cards arrive, save them with the
Advent wreath and use your Advent prayer time to pray
for the senders. Pray that they will experience the hope
that Jesus provides.
Advent Week
Two
Light two purple candles and read about God
becoming flesh & dwelling with us.
The preparation candle, also known as the Bethlehem
candle, reminds us that Jesus was born as a human
baby at a specific time and place to bring peace
amid fears and human failings.
Read: Luke 1:26-38
Reflect: What does Jesus birth show you about Gods
faithfulness?
Sing: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Readings for the Second Week of Advent:
Monday: Isaiah 11:1-10
Tuesday: Luke 2:4-7
Wednesday: Matthew 2:1-12
Thursday: Isaiah 49:1-6
Friday: John 3:16-17
Saturday: Isaiah 61:1-6
Purple Candle of
Preparation
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep,
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
For Christ is born of Mary and gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
Activity
This activity can help visual learners summarize
the passage. Together draw a set of pictures to tell the story
of Luke 1:16-38. Hang your pictures on your refrigerator as a
reminder of this weeks candle.
Advent Week
Three
Light the pink candle, the two purple candles
and read about God becoming flesh &
dwelling with us.
The joy candle represents the joy that the wisemen
experienced when they discovered Christ. They
shared the joy of Jesus birth, just as we can share
with others the joy of His presence in our lives.
Read: Matthew 2:1-12
Reflect: What can we learn from the magi about
finding joy in seeking Jesus?
Sing: We Three Kings
Readings for the Third Week of Advent:
Monday: Psalm 100
Tuesday: Psalm 103
Wednesday: Psalm 150
Thursday: Isaiah 50:4-9
Friday: Luke 2:25-32
Saturday: Luke 2:33-40
Pink Candle of
Joy
We Three Kings
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
O, star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
Born a king on Bethlehems plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high.
Myrrh is mine: its bitter perfume
Breaths a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
Activity
Write a family letter to Jesus telling Him why you
are glad He came and what each family member is looking
forward to in celebrating His birth.
Advent Week
Four
Light all three purple candles and the pink
candle and read about the angels proclaiming
the coming of Christ.
The candle of love, otherwise known as the angel
candle, represents the angels announcing the
good news of the Savior. We too, can announce
the Saviors birth through our faith and love.
Read: Luke 2:1-18
Reflect: In what ways can we remember that Jesus
came to save us as Emmanuel, God with us?
Sing: Angels We Have Heard On High
Readings for the Four Week of Advent:
Monday: Isaiah 7:10-15
Tuesday: Micah 5:2-5
Wednesday: Isaiah 40:1-8
Thursday: Isaiah 40:9-11
Friday: Isaiah 55:1-13
Saturday: Jeremiah 23:5-6
Purple Candle of
Love
Angels We Have Heard On High
Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing oer the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo
See Him in a manger laid
Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
With us sing our Saviors birth.
Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo
Activity
Do an Advent service project together.
Collect food for the needy, bake for a neighbor, make
a care package for a missionary or someone in the military,
or any other project that reflects Christs love.
Christmas Eve & Day
Light all of the candles including the white
one and read about God dwelling with men
as a baby and a king. Remind each other that
God chose to become a man.
The white Christ candle reminds us that Jesus is the
spotless lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins!
His birth was for His death, His death was for our birth!
Read: Luke 2:8-28
Sing: Joy to the World
White Candle of
Christ
Joy to the World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her king.
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
Heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glory of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love.
Activity
Candy canes look a lot like shepherds staffs
and can remind us of the shepherds being the first to
worship Jesus. Place one candy cane on your tree for
everything you are thankful for this year.
Maple Grove Evangelical Free Church
8585 Rice Lake Road,
Maple Grove, MN 55369
mgefc.org
