advent

Creating Advent & Christmas Faith Practices in a Box for Your Congregation

This year we’re going to need to be giving our families creative ways to celebrate Advent and Christmas at home. Now, more than ever, families are going to be celebrating Advent and Christmas at home. I created this tutorial to show you one way of using Faithful Families For Advent and Christmas to create “Advent

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5 Simple Ways to Use Picture Books During Advent for All Ages Ministry

Family ministry (and ministry in general!) can be extremely chaotic during Advent. Churches squeeze in a lot of programs and activities, and ministry to children and families becomes a priority as visitors and friends attend. One of the “tricks up my sleeve” during Advent has been to rely on good picture books to rotate during

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A Quick Thought About Santa Claus, Jesus and Unconditional Love When You’re “Naughty”

“Mama, does Santa bring you presents if you are bad?” My five year old asked me that question this week with a worried look on his face. “Yes,” I said. “That’s not what I heard. I heard that if you’re bad you don’t get anything at all.” “Well, in this house, we don’t believe in

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Christmas Love Letters from God by Glenys Nellist: A Review and Giveaway!

  Last week when I posted about Advent Calendars, I mentioned that I’m planning on doing the “book a day” calendar with my children, starting on December 1. I’ve already wrapped all of the books (um, it took more time than I anticipated, but I was watching The West Wing, so it’s all good.) and

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5 Advent Calendar Ideas that Focus on Family Time, Kindness and Service

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that there’s a part of me that really thinks the best Advent Calendar idea is something that gives the child a toy every day. I’m particularly eying the Lego City calendar, the Plamobil calendar, and the Thomas the Train calendar. They’re cool, right? Getting a toy every day from the

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