FHE Lesson {Advent}

 Advent starts 4 Sundays out from Christmas. We do ours on Sundays but I thought this would also make a good lesson plan for the next four Monday nights for FHE as well.


 My kids love the weekly burning of the candles... but I think they humour me on the devotional and singing hymns part. I used this book (I bought it but its free online!) last year for daily advents but think I might opt for this easier to remember one.

So if you would like to celebrate a more spiritual Christmas I find Advent helps me out.


You need:
4 Candles and a 5th white one for Christmas eve {battery operated ones if you are cautious of fire}
A ring/wreath (optional or make it out of a paper plate)
Chosen carols
Devotional


Each Sunday we light one of the candles and have a little devotional
{then light 2 the next week then 3, then 4 and the 5th one on Christmas Eve to symbolise Christ}.
Advent means 'coming or arrival' so we light the candles in anticipation of celebrating the coming birth of Christ.


Week ONE is the Good NEWS candle
Explain the prophets of old told of the coming of christ.
(choose any scripture/s you like eg Isaiah 9:6)


Week TWO is the HOPE candle
Jesus gave hope to people that God still loved and cared for them.
The angles told the good news that Jesus had come (Luke 2:8-11)


Week THREE is the JOY candle
When the shepherds heard the good news they rejoiced and went to tell others (Luke 2:15-20)


Week FOUR is the LOVE candle
God shows his love through Jesus Christ. His Son and helps us to show love to others
(John 3:16)

CHRISTMAS EVE
Conclude the Advent season by lighting all four candles and placing an additional white candle in the center in its own holder. Remember this is the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. As you prepare to open gifts explain how we give gifts as a reminder of how much God gave us in Jesus.

 You can add as little or as much information, scriptures, hymns to these four topics.
Search your own scriptures to match. I'd also love to do a more involved one for myself and The Mr.


See here for Previous Advent Ideas I've tried
Advent how to 2008  and 2010