Week 1: Hope

Guide for Families

Advent Guide Activity:

Read: Isaiah 9:2&6 together.

Say: Isaiah 9:2&6 talks about the light of the world–Jesus. It’s a prophecy that announces the Messiah’s arrival. We’re going to talk about how the world was in darkness before Jesus came.

Do: Put blindfolds on the kids and have them walk around to find a toy or play with something. Talk about how hard it is to see and do anything. Then, take off the blindfolds and turn on a flashlight. Talk about how Jesus was promised to be the light that would help the whole world see!

Family Advent Reading:

Do: Grab your candles either from your swag bag or a white candle from around the house.

Say: Advent, which means ‘Coming’ in Latin, starts this week which means that Christmas is four weeks away! We use these four weeks to remember the coming of Jesus. Today we light the first candle of Advent which represents HOPE. What does the word hope mean?

Do: Wait for answers. Below are some age-appropriate examples and definitions. 

Preschool Definition: Hope is wanting something really good to happen, and believing that it will

Elementary Definition: Feeling of expectation or desire for a certain thing to happen; a feeling of trust in something greater

Examples: The hope of getting something you want for Christmas, the hope that you have a nice teacher, hope that you get to see your friends/have them in your class, hope to get to go somewhere you want to go (Disney probably).

Say: Hope is present today in the midst of any darkness that we experience around us. May the birth of Jesus remind us of God’s unconditional love for all of us and help us to become lights in the lives of those around us. Prepare our hearts for the joy and gladness of your coming, for Jesus is our hope. Amen. 

Do: Light the purple or white candle together.