As we anticipate the upcoming celebration seasons, we also anticipate the busyness and chaos that often accompanies them. One thing I love about the observance of Advent is that it pushes back against everything that might consume us during these days. To our busyness, Advent says, “wait.” To the one burdened by grief and sorrow, Advent says, “A rescuer is coming to meet you in your pain.” To those who are weary and worn out, Advent says, “You can hope in Christ.” To those who feel anticipation and joy, Advent says, “How great your joy will be at his coming!”
Wherever you find yourself this season, advent offers an opportunity to join Christians throughout time in a practice of waiting, remembering, and anticipation of the God who came to live with us and who will come again soon.
The CFC team has collected some of our favorite resources for celebrating Advent & Christmas with those you love. Whether you’re looking for a practice your family can do together or a gift you can give the families in your church this Advent or Christmas season, we think you’ll find something great here!
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Advent Resources
Many people choose the season of Advent as an opportunity to build a regular rhythm of family devotions. If you’re a parent looking for a daily or weekly resource to use with your family as you wait together this Advent, or if you are a children’s ministry leader putting together your own list of recommendations or buying gifts for the families in your church, here are our team’s favorite Advent resources!
Advent Blocks
This set of blocks is excellent for families who want to begin a practice of daily observance of Advent. The accompanying booklet has twenty-five stories that retell the story of Scripture–very clearly highlighting God’s coming. Repeating a devotional like this year after year really helps kids (and adults) grasp the big story of the Bible! Advent Blocks are an excellent visual and tactile way for families to practice waiting together in the season of Advent.
All Creation Waits
This Advent devotional features different animals’ hibernation behavior, connecting this season of waiting for a rescuer and the way creation “waits” in wintertime. Short poems accompanying beautiful illustrations make this a favorite of animal lovers, especially those ages 4-8. A companion version for adults is also available.
Look!
If you want to teach your children about the history of church practice surrounding Advent or if you attend a liturgical church, this book gives an excellent introduction to the season of Advent as a time on the church calendar. Highlighting the waiting reflected throughout scripture and mirroring that to the waiting for Christ’s coming. Note: As this book comes from more liturgical traditions, prayer beads are mentioned.
Advent Cards
These Advent cards are designed to be used weekly, giving your family art, scripture, a Christmas carol, and a prayer to gather around during the Advent season. This simple card set is also downloadable & printable, which makes it a perfect option if you’re trying to find a last-minute resource!
Christmas Books
You likely have your own favorite retellings of the Christmas story. It’s not hard to find books that tell the story of Christmas, but a book that does so beautifully and in a way that will resonate with children in particular is a rare gift. Whether you’re looking for a read-aloud for a special event or service or a book to give as a Christmas gift to children you care about, here are a few of our favorite Christmas books to read with the children in your life this year.
Mary’s First Christmas
This wonderfully illustrated book is an imaginative retelling of the story of Jesus’ birth. In this story, Mary tells a child-aged Jesus the story of his birth. We love how this framing helps us all remember that Jesus lived an entire human life–including growing up as a child. In these pages your child will meet the Jesus who understands their cares and experiences because he was a child as well. A picture book divided into four chapters, this makes an excellent bedtime read in the days leading up to Christmas.
The King of Christmas
Our team has never met a FatCat book we didn’t like! The King of Christmas is full of playful illustrations and a “hunt” for the King of Christmas. End notes also help guide adults as they share the wonder of Christmas and the good news of Jesus with the kids in their lives. Kids will also enjoy finding “Fat Cat” on every page.
Birth of the Chosen One
We hope this new book from IVP is the first of many! We love how this contextualized retelling of the birth of Jesus highlights the all-powerfulness of God. Hearing the story in a new way is also excellent. With quotations from the First Nations Version of the New Testament, this storybook is a beautiful way to help children see and understand that Jesus is the world’s savior!
Holy Night and Little Star
Beautiful illustrations accompany this excellent retelling of the Christmas story written by Mitali Perkins. We love how this gentle retelling imaginatively captures the wonder of the incarnation.
Celebrating Advent & Christmas Together
Whether you choose to order any of these resources or you use ones your family has cherished for years, remember that the season of Advent is about slowing down, about waiting, about entering into the longing for a savior that God’s people experienced so many long years ago, and paying attention to the ways we and our world ache for Jesus to come again and make all things new. However your family makes room this Advent and Christmas season, know that you can depend upon the God who has come to be with us and who will come again.