Object:
a New Year's noisemaker and party hat
Happy New Year! It's not the end of December, but it is the beginning of
the church year. We call it Advent. It's the first Sunday in Advent. How
many Sundays are in Advent? (Let them respond.) Some of you remembered
that there are four Sundays in Advent. I brought some party things with me
today to remind us that Advent is a time to celebrate. In another month it
will really be the end of another year. Have you ever been to a New Year's
Eve party? (Let them respond.) It's awfully late for you to stay up, but
sometimes on special nights some children get to stay up really late. At