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December 2005 ETC Corner
Find Focus in Advent Activities
We are entering the most wonderful and busiest time of the year. Even Christian families struggle with keeping Christ in the center of all the season's activities. Here is a helpful schedule for Advent that includes the whole family.
Are you looking for ways to bring "Christ" back into Christmas this year? Advent activities, ranging from simple to more elaborate, can be tailored to meet your family's needs.
What is Advent?
The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The Advent season is a four-week period beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30th. For 2005, Advent begins on Sunday, November 27th.
The season of Advent is an opportunity for Christians to reflect on the meaning of the coming of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent. We also look forward in anticipation to the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent.
Buy or Make a Simple Advent Wreath
Buy a pre-made evergreen wreath (real or artificial) or make one. Decorate with pinecones or other symbols of Christmas if desired.
Place four candles (in candle holders) in the wreath. Three candles are purple and one is pink. Purple is the color of repentance; pink represents joy.
Light one candle on the first Advent Sunday, two candles on the second Advent Sunday, and so on.
Place a white candle, the Christ candle, in the center of the wreath on Christmas day and light all five candles.
Suggested Daily Readings
Week #1
Light one purple candle on the Advent wreath.
Hear from the prophet Isaiah: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. On those who live in the land of deep shadow, a light has shown." (9:2).
Read from Luke's narrative each day:
Sun, Nov 27 -- Luke 1: 5-7
Mon, Nov 28 -- Luke 1: 8-10
Tue, Nov 29 -- Luke 1: 11-13
Wed, Nov 30 -- Luke 1: 14-17
Thu, Dec 1 -- Luke 1: 18-20
Fri, Dec 2 -- Luke 1: 21-23
Sat, Dec 3 -- Luke 1: 24-25
Prayer: Lord God, we give you thanks for your light that pierces the darkness of our world. As we watch and wait for Jesus' coming, we pray that you will make us eager to learn from one another and to allow the light of Christ to flood our lives. Amen.
Week #2
Light two purple candles on the Advent wreath.
Hear from the prophet Isaiah: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel." (7:14).
Read from Luke's narrative each day:
Sun, Dec 4 -- Luke 1: 26-29
Mon, Dec 5 -- Luke 1: 30-33
Tue, Dec 6 -- Luke 1: 34-35
Wed, Dec 7 -- Luke 1: 36-37
Thu, Dec 8 -- Luke 1: 38
Fri, Dec 9 -- Luke 1: 39-45
Sat, Dec 10 -- Luke 1: 46-56
Prayer: Lord, prepare us to welcome Jesus into our hearts and into our home. May the business of this Advent season be sprinkled with quiet times of reflection on the glory of Jesus' coming. Amen.
Week #3
Light three purple (or two purple and one pink) candles on the Advent Wreath.
Hear from the prophet Micah: "But you, Bethlehem, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel." (5: 1-2).
Read from Luke's narrative each day:
Sun, Dec 11 -- Luke 2: 1-4
Mon, Dec 12 -- Luke 2: 5-7
Tue, Dec 13 -- Luke 2: 8-12
Wed, Dec 14 -- Luke 2: 13-14
Thu, Dec 15 -- Luke 2: 15
Fri, Dec 16 -- Luke 2: 16
Sat, Dec 17 -- Luke 2: 17-20
Prayer: Lord we stand with those through the ages who have longed for your coming. We rejoice with them for satisfying our longings through Jesus' coming. Fill us with joy and gladness this season so that many will see Jesus in us and find true joy. Amen.
Week #4
Light four candles on the Advent Wreath.
Hear from the prophet Isaiah: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (9:6).
Read:
Sun, Dec 18- John 1: 1-5
Mon, Dec 19 - John 1: 6-9
Tue, Dec 20 -John 1: 10-13
Wed, Dec 21 -John 1: 14-18
Thu, Dec 22- John 3: 16-21
Fri, Dec 23- Psalm 89: 1-4
Sat, Dec 24- Mark 1: 1-3
Prayer: Lord God, our joy overflows as we see your love come to life in the infant Jesus. We praise you for sending Him among us and for His willingness to come. Amen.
On Christmas Day:
Light four candles and the Christ candle in the center.
Hear from the prophet Jeremiah: "This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (31:33).
Read: Matthew 1: 18-25
Prayer: Lord God, we thank you for sending your one and only son to us to live as a man on earth and to die for our sins. Amen.
Blessed are the Flexible, for They Shall Not be Broken!
Adjust your Advent activities to fit your family's needs/attention span. You may want to have an Advent activity only once or twice a week; include a craft activity or sing a Christmas carol.
Remember, the main idea is to put the focus on Jesus during this special season, not to stick to a regimented schedule. Be flexible and have fun!
Mary Said "Yes"- Will You?
By Elaine L. Bridge
Are you willing to be part of a miracle? They still happen today as Elaine Bridge so eloquently describes in her beautiful Christmas article.
And Mary said, "Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me just as you say." Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:38 (MSG)
Mary wasn't the only one to carry God's Son, just the first. She brought His presence into a lost and dying world, and now God asks us to do the same.
This Christmas season my mind and heart seem to be focused on a single thought. Mary was chosen to perform a specific task - to carry within her God's precious Seed and to give birth to Hope in the form of baby Jesus. And God is reminding me that each of us is just like Mary in that regard. He has chosen each of us to perform specific tasks and has placed within each of us gifts that He alone can give to accomplish that task. Mary conceived through no other means than by the Spirit of God. Likewise, what God asks us to accomplish can be done through His might alone with the abilities He has placed within us. We are to nurture those talents so that they might increase and eventually give birth to ministries that bring God's Light into darkness.
When Mary gave birth to Jesus, the skies lit up with the Glory of God. The angels rejoiced and spread the news to simple shepherds who came to see if what the celestial beings had said was true. Wise men traveled great distances to worship and lay their gifts before this King. We tell the story over and over at this time of year and imagine what that night must have been like. But the same scenario has been repeated countless times since then as well. It happens even today when an ordinary woman allows God to have His way in her life. Through her labor, Jesus is born into the heart of a lost and dying soul. The angels still rejoice at the announcement that a soul has been born into the kingdom of God. People whose lives surround the one who is newly born soon hear the news. They come to see for themselves, watching this new life and wondering if what is said about it can be true. And as a result of the Light that shines in the eyes, the step, and especially the heart of this new creation, others come from lives equally far away to also worship the King and lay their treasures down.
Mary was tired - physically weary - as she neared the point of delivery. Scorned and persecuted by those who didn't understand the true nature of her situation, she must have felt very much alone and inadequate as she bore the physical and mental weight of what had been asked of her. Many times she must have wondered why God chose her for this particular assignment. Perhaps the reason was to remind women some two thousand years later that God still works His miracles through simple people… like Mary and Joseph… and you and me.
"Therefore, since we do hold and engage in this ministry by the mercy of God
[granting us favor, benefits, opportunities and especially salvation],
we do not get discouraged (spiritless and despondent with fear)
or become faint with weariness and exhaustion." (2 Corinthians 4:1 AMP)
Homemade Gift Ideas
It is estimated that the average American family spends about $750 on Christmas gifts for friends and family each year. Most families would like to minimize their budget while maximizing the impact of the gift. The following article helps by giving ideas for thoughtful and inexpensive gifts to make at home.
This year give friends and family personalized, homemade gifts. It's easier than you think and lots of fun too!
The sample ideas below are from the book Homespun Gifts from the Heart by Karen Ehman, Kelly Hovermale and Trish Smith. This book contains more than 200 gift ideas from candy cane cappuccino to window gardens and "Movie Night in a Box." It also includes creative packaging tips, along with 250 reproducible gift tags.
Purchase Homespun Gifts from the Heart from Proverbs 31 Ministries.
Oatmeal Coconut Crunchies
This layered cookie mix might cost you as much as $10 in a country shop, but you can easily whip up several batches for under $1 each by buying the needed items in bulk. Be sure to add a cute topper and a tag with instructions (see below).
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup coconut
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
¼ cup white baking chips
1 1/8 cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup brown sugar
Spoon the brown sugar into a wide-mouth quart jar, pressing down well. Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and place on top of the brown sugar. Then, in this order, layer the rolled oats, coconut, chocolate chips and white chips.
Instructions for the tag:
(Please note that if you choose to purchase the book, you can simply photocopy the pre-printed tag.)
Oatmeal Coconut Crunchies
Cream together:
½ cup butter
½ tablespoon milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 egg
Add the ingredients from this jar, mixing well. Bake at 375 degrees for 9 to 13 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet. This recipe makes 2 dozen cookies.
Little House Gift Basket
The Little House books have been loved for so many generations; who can forget how Laura describes what Christmas meant to her as a young child? You could choose the chapter book Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder for an older child or the picture book Christmas in the Big Woods (My First Little House Books) for someone younger.
Title your basket "Laura's Christmas." Write the title on a blank tag and decorate it with borders or stickers.
(Please note that if you choose to purchase the book, you can simply photocopy an appropriate tag.)
Include the items that Laura received that Christmas:
A red and white striped peppermint stick
Red mittens
Heart-shaped sugar cookie sprinkled with white sugar
A shiny new penny
A rag doll named Charlotte
A tin cup
These ideas are taken from the book Homespun Gifts from the Heart, Copyright 2003, Revell Books. Used by permission.
More Holiday Recipes from the MaryBeth Whalen, the Graceful Gourmet
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cocoa
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
3/4 cup coarsely crushed candy canes (about 8 large)
Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Fold in chocolate morsels and crushed peppermint candy; drop dough by rounded tablespoons, 3 inches apart, onto lightly greased baking sheets.
Bake at 350º for 12 to 14 minutes. Do not over-bake. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
Chocolate Chip Toffee Grahams
11 whole graham crackers, broken into squares
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1 (6 ounce) package semisweet mini morsels
Arrange graham crackers in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Set aside.
Combine butter and sugar in medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until butter melts. Bring to a boil, boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add cinnamon and pecans. Pour mixture over graham crackers, spreading evenly to edges of pan. Bake at 350º for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately add miniature chips. Cool for five minutes, separate cookies and remove to waxed paper-lined cookie sheets with a spatula. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens. Store in refrigerator in airtight container between layers of waxed paper.
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