Family Advent Devotionals 2013

Advent is a season of preparation and waiting. During this time, we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of esus. !he word "Advent# means "coming.# $e are anticipating the coming of the %hrist child, &mmanuel '(od with us). *n the church calendar, Advent begins four +undays before %hristmas day. &ach wee, in the Advent season, we remember a gift - the gift of hope, the gift of love, the gift of .oy, and the gift of peace. /nli,e the gifts that we wrap and put under our %hristmas trees, these gifts will never brea,, go out of style, or grow old. Find a time each wee, when your entire family can gather to share in the lighting of the Advent wreath. +hare the scripture and devotional for the day. !hen, light the candles from the previous wee,'s) before lighting the candle for the current wee,. 0any families continue to light all five Advent candles for five days following %hristmas.

First +unday of Advent December 1 1ope

Scripture: 0atthew 1213423

oseph is the main character in today5s 6ible story. !he story begins with oseph learning that 0ary was pregnant. At first, oseph was troubled and worried. !hen, one night, oseph had a dream. *n his dream, an angel came to oseph with a message from (od that he and 0ary were going to name the baby esus, which means "(od saves.# !he +criptures go on to tell us that esus would also be called &mmanuel, which means "(od is with us.# !he gift of hope is given to us through a baby who will save his people and be "(od with us.# $e light the first candle on the Advent wreath to help us remember hope. 1ope is the feeling you get when you are sure you will get something you want, or when you are sure things will be o,ay. $hen oseph heard the angel5s message, he felt hope. !he birth of esus gives all of us hope. 1ope is a %hristmas gift that won5t brea,.

Prayer: (od of hope, than, you for the season of Advent and the gift of hope. 1elp us to prepare our hearts for your coming and to remember the true meaning of %hristmas.

+econd +unday of Advent December 3 7ove

Scripture: 7u,e 22148 and ohn 3219

oseph and 0ary were going to have to ma,e the long trip to 6ethlehem to be registered or counted, .ust li,e we are when we ta,e a census. !he trip was bout eighty miles over very rough ground, and 0ary ,new her baby would be born very soon. !here were so many people in the city when they arrived that the only shelter they could find was in a stable, probably a cave behind the inn. *t was there that 0ary laid her newborn son in a manger, a feeding trough for animals. From such humble beginnings, we are to understand that esus came as (od5s greatest gift of love. $e light the first candle on the Advent wreath to remember hope. As we light the second candle, it helps us to remember another unbrea,able gift, the gift of love. (od loved the world so much that he sent us esus. $e than, (od for this gift of love by showing love to our families, friends, and others. $hat are some ways we can show love to our families: $hat are some ways we can show love to our friends: $hat are some ways we can show love to others:

Prayer: (od of love, than, you for the gift of love. 1elp us to share this gift with others. 1elp us to love unconditionally. 1elp

us during this Advent season to practice love in action with family, friends, and others. Amen.

!hird +unday of Advent December 1; oy

Scripture: 7u,e 22341<

!he +criptures tell us that angels filled the s,y to announce the birth of (od5s +on. Angels are powerful beings. Angels acted with (od5s authority and carried (od5s message. !he word angel means "messenger.# !he appearance of angels to tell of esus5 birth is not surprising, since that would seem to be most appropriate for the birth of (od5s +on. $hat is surprising is that they came to shepherds. +hepherds were simple, hardwor,ing people, who were often loo,ed down upon. =et, the angles did go to the shepherds, reminding us that this gift of .oy is for A77 people, both rich and poor. !his wee,, we will light the third candle on the Advent wreath. !his candle helps us remember the third unbrea,able gift, the gift of .oy. $e light the first candle on the Advent wreath to remember hope. $e light the second candle to remember love. $e light the third candle to remember .oy. !he angels told the shepherds good news of great .oy - (od5s +on is born> 7i,e the angels, we can share (od5s message of .oy with others.

Prayer: (od of .oy, than, you for the gift of .oy and for the way it brightens our day. 1elp us to share .oy with others through what we say and do. +how us how to ma,e this %hristmas a true season of .oy for all people. Amen.

Fourth +unday of Advent December 22 ?eace

Scripture: 7u,e 221;420

$hen esus was born, a multitude of angels sang praise to (od and promised peace on earth. *n the 6ible, "peace# means more than "no fighting.# *t means wholeness, well4being, and rightness with (od. esus is called the ?rince of ?eace. !he angels were singing about this ,ind of peace. ?eace is a %hristmas gift that will not brea,. $e light the first candle of the Advent wreath to remember hope. $e light the second candle to remember love. $e light the third candle to remember .oy. As we light the fourth candle to help us remember peace, we should as, ourselves what we can do to help bring peace on earth. 'stop fighting@ help others@ love (od, ourselves, and others@ be ,ind@ show love to people who are different from us@ turn off the !A show or video game that does not demonstrate peace.) !he shepherds were not only the first to hear the (ood Bews, but they were also the first to respond by see,ing esus and telling

others the (ood Bews. 1ow will you return to your daily life after %hristmas: ?ray that (od will wor, through you to reach others with the (ood Bews.

Prayer: (od of peace, than, you for the (ood Bews, and the peace that comes through esus. Cemind us to serve as peacema,ers and share the love of (od with those in need. Amen.

%hristmas Day December 2;

Scripture: 0atthew 22142, 10411

!he $ise 0en who had been following a star were filled with .oy once they found the baby esus. !hey came bringing gifts. ?erhaps you have brought gifts to esus during this Advent season 4 the gifts of hope, love, .oy, and peace shared with those around you. 0aybe you helped another person in need, turned your bac, on anger, or showed ,indness to someone who needed it. *t is easy to wa,e up on %hristmas morning thin,ing of the gifts we will receive. $hat would it mean for us to wa,e up, &A%1 and &A&C= day, thin,ing about the "unbrea,able gifts# we can give to esus by giving to others: As we light all five candles on the Advent wreath today, we than, (od for esus, the light of life, and for the gifts of hope, love, .oy, and peace.
"!hese are the %hristmas gifts that always fit. !hese are the %hristmas gifts that never go out of style. !hese are the %hristmas gifts wrapped

in heaven. !hese are the %hristmas gifts that we as %hristian disciples are called upon to pass on to others. !hese are the %hristmas gifts that won5t brea,># ames $. 0oore

Prayer: Awesome (od, we than, you for being with us, for sending your +on to wal, with us, teach us, lead us, and love us. 1elp us carry the hope, love, .oy, and peace of %hristmas into our daily lives, sharing the (ood Bews of esus with those around us. (uide us as we share these unbrea,able gifts with others. Amen.