First Thoughts: I always though the word Advent meant "waiting" or something similar. The experience of waiting isn't always very much fun, particularly when we're unsure about what we're waiting for or whether our waiting will result in something we actually want. But I just found out that Advent actually comes from the Latin meaning "coming." That changes things, doesn't it? As we enter Advent the focus isn't on the fact that we're waiting, but that something is coming. This fits in nicely with the theme for this first Sunday in Advent: hope. Hope is faith in something that's not yet here, but we're sure is coming. For most of us Christmas has become an event we anticipate and plan for. It's important for us to keep in mind that "Christmas the Event" is not the same as "Christ the Coming." Whereas "Christmas the Event" can be counted on to show up on December 25, "Christ the Coming" can happen any time, in any circumstance, and -- if scripture is to be believed -- often when we would least expect. When we live our lives in hope, we endeavor to stay open to "Christ the Coming" at all times, not vaguely wishing it might happen, but in clear assurance that it will, and because God loves this world and enters our lives regularly. Because God intends to deliver us out of our darkness and into new life. Because God simply cannot keep God's hands off of the beloved ones -- that's us! Spend a few moments reflecting on what you need most from Christ the Coming this season and hold it in hope before God.
Teaching On Your Own: (holds up water, scrutinizes it carefully) Hey, everybody, see what I have here? Isn't it exciting? Okay, maybe not yet, but that's going to change really soon. See, in this glass there are sea monkey eggs. They're not doing anything right now, but at any moment, they're going to hatch and explode everywhere. I don't want to miss it when that happens. You know what? That reminds me of the new church season we're beginning today, called Advent. Do any of you know what Advent means? It means "the coming." For the next four Sundays we're getting ready to welcome someone who is coming. Can anyone guess who? This person is even more exciting than my sea monkeys. Jesus! In just four weeks we'll celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus into our world. And believe me -- when God comes to visit, everything changes. Just like my glass of water. As soon as those sea monkeys hatch, it's going to be wild in there! But until Jesus comes, though, we live in hope. We wait and believe in something we don't yet see, but we know is coming. Hope is the first theme of Advent. Isn't hope a nice word? Say it with me: hope. It just makes your heart feel more open, doesn't it? That's the idea: hearts open, ready to welcome the one who's coming.
Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 2 holds up container of water and scrutinizes it carefully.)
Leader 1: Hey (name), what do you have there? A glass of water?
Leader 2: (distracted, doesn't look up) Yep.
Leader 1: Is it very interesting?
Leader 2: Nope.
Leader 1: Then why are you looking at it so hard?
Leader 2: Well, it's not interesting yet. But it's going to get interesting very quickly.
Leader 1: Oh, really? What do you mean?
Leader 2: In this glass there are sea monkey eggs. They're not doing anything right now, but at any moment, they're going to hatch and explode everywhere. I don't want to miss it when that happens.
Leader 1: Wow, that does sound exciting. It reminds me of the new church season we begin today, called Advent.
Leader 2: Advent? That's a funny word. What does it mean?
Leader 1: It means "the coming." For the next four Sundays we're getting ready to welcome someone who is coming.
Leader 2: My sea monkeys?
Leader 1: No, someone even more exciting than sea monkeys. In just four weeks we'll celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus into our world. And believe me -- when God comes to visit, everything changes.
Leader 2: Like my glass of water. As soon as those sea monkeys hatch, it's going to be wild in there!
Leader 1: Right. Until Jesus comes, though, we live in hope. We wait and believe in something we don't yet see, but we know is coming. Hope is the first theme of Advent.
Leader 2: Hope. That's nice. Just saying the word makes my heart feel more open.
Leader 1: That's the idea: hearts open, ready to welcome the one who's coming.
Closing Prayer: God who loves us, be with us as we prepare for the coming of Christ in our hearts and lives. Help us to live in the strength of hope, knowing that you will certainly come to be with us, bringing us new life and new love. In name of the one who comes we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a home or classroom environment, talk a little more about hope and preparing for someone to come. Ask the children to think of someone very important who might come to their house to visit -- maybe a famous movie or sports star, the president, or a favorite relative. What if that person was going to spend the night in the child's bedroom? Would their room be ready for that person right now? What would they do in that room to get it ready? Answers might include change the sheets on the beds, clean up toys, vacuum the floor, take out any trash. You might even bring in some flowers or draw a beautiful picture to hang on the wall to make the room happier.
The season of Advent is also about getting ready for someone important come, but this person is Jesus. And Jesus isn't coming to stay overnight in our bedrooms but to live in our hearts. We want to make sure our hearts are as cleaned out as possible when Jesus comes, so he can feel at home. What are some things that make our hearts messy? Maybe we are holding onto anger or fear, or we are feeling unloving toward someone who needs a friend. Ask the children to also think about what they could to do make their hearts more beautiful. Perhaps they can sort through their toys and pick some out to give to charity, do extra chores to help their parents, be extra patient or kind with a younger sibling.
For a craft idea, help the children make a small broom as a symbol of clearing out the clutter from our hearts. For each child you will need brown or yellow yarn, three brown or black pipe cleaners, and scissors. Start by measuring out 20-30 pieces of yarn, each seven inches in length. Lay them in a bundle together wrapping a pipe cleaner about the middle of the bunch, catching it together. Divide the yarn another way and use another pipe cleaner to catch it in the middle of the bunch that way. Twine or braid the pipe cleaners together creating the "handle" of the broom. About a half inch down from the folded edge of the yarn, use another 2-3 inch piece of pipe wire to tie around the yarn, gathering the string together in a real broom shape. Trim the bottom edges of the yarn to make it even. Use the broom in a prayer practice together, sweeping it over the area of your heart as you say cleansing prayers together. This might be something like, "God, clean out the anger in my heart and fill me with hope" or "God, clean out my fight with my brother in my heart and fill me with hope." Invite the children to use their broom prayer practice at home, all through Advent, as often as things come up that clutter their hearts.
