The Christmas season is my favorite season of the year. It's the joyous time of the year when we celebrate our Savior's humble birth. As a parent, my priority in life is to share the stories and life of Christ with my children. The Christmas season has become so cluttered with activities and false priorities that are not centered around the meaning of the season. This Advent calendar is just one way of instilling just a piece of the Christmas story and taking the focus away from Santa and back to whom the credit deserves - our Savior.
I had desired to do an Advent Calendar, but had no clue where to start. I searched the creative side of my brain (a.k.a. - Pinterest) and stumbled upon a great tutorial for this Advent Calendar from www.howsweeteritis.blogspot.com. I adjusted the format of the print-out (below), but the text is verbatim. I also got creative with how I would like to store the Advent Calendar and the items for each day. I decided on the ease of a craft box from the craft section of Walmart ($7, 30 non-adjustable sections). This item can be found year-round. Hobby Lobby carries a standard 25-compartment box (1 large piece with 25 small sliding compartments) that is in stock only in the Christmas season. There are other thrifty ideas on Pinterest on how to create your own Advent Calendar box (using matchboxes, etc.).
The scripture for the corresponding day and symbol/item is cut and place into that box (ex: 2. Two gold rings, Mary & Joseph's engagement, Matthew 1:18 - would be placed into day 2/box 2. In that box would be 2 gold rings.).
The scripture for the corresponding day and symbol/item is cut and place into that box (ex: 2. Two gold rings, Mary & Joseph's engagement, Matthew 1:18 - would be placed into day 2/box 2. In that box would be 2 gold rings.).
"Copy" and "paste" the following into a Word/Open Office document, for instance, re-size/re-format to your desire and print:
1. Angel wings, "halos", picture of an angel (ex: clipart)
(Angel
Gabriel)
Luke 1:26-28,
31
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth ’s
pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to
Nazareth , a
town in Galilee , 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named
Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was
Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you
who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and
you are to call him Jesus.
2. Two gold rings
(Mary & Joseph's engagement)
Matthew 1:18
18 This
is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother
Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she
was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
3. Shrunken sheet
music/music notes
(Mary's song)
Luke 1:46-55
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my
spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he
has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all
generations will call me blessed, 49 for the
Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to
generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down
rulers from their thrones but has lifted up
the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his
servant Israel
4. White satin or organza/Guardian angel
(Angel)
Matthew 1:20
20 But
after he had considered this, an angel of
the Lord appeared to him in a dream and
said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because
what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
5. Cross
(Salvation
through Jesus' sacrifice)
Matthew 1:21
21 She
will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from
their sins.”
6. Bridge or string
(Jesus
bridged the divide between Heaven and sinfulness (on earth))
Matthew 1:22-23
2 All this took place to fulfill what
the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a
son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which
means “God with us”).
Isaiah
7:14
Therefore
the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will
give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
7.
Star of David/house/chain
(House
and line/chain of David & Jesus' genealogy)
Luke
2:4
4 So
Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in
Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David
8. Donkey or horse
(Journey
from Nazareth to Bethlehem
Luke 2:5
5 He
went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
9. Lion or Purple Cloth
(Lion represents house of Judah
Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of
Judah , out of you will come
for me one
who will be ruler over Israel
10.
Baby
(Baby Jesus)
Luke
2:6-7
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby
to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She
wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest
room available for them.
11.
Piece of soft cloth
(Swaddling
blanket)
Luke
2:7
She wrapped him in
cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available
for them.
12. Peace Sign
(Jesus
is the Prince of Peace)
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and
the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
13.
Wool/stuffing/shepherd's staff
(Sheep/shepherds)
Luke
2:8-11
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields
nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of
the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I
bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David
14.
Pieces of straw, hay, or dead grass
(Manger)
Luke
2:12
12 This
will be a sign to you: You will
find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
15. Many gold
"halos"
(Multitude of angels)
Luke 2:13-14
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the
angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
16. Jingle Bells
(Spreading the word and carrying the message to others)
Luke 2:15-18
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds
said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem
17. Dirt or rocks
(Kneeling on the ground - our right response to Jesus
as God)
Psalm
95:6-7
Come, let us bow down in
worship, let
us kneel before the Lord our
Maker; 7 for he is our God
and we are the people of
his pasture, the
flock under his care.
18.
Heart
(The emotions Mary as Jesus'
mother)
Luke
2:19-20, 33-35
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and
pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising
God for all the things they had heard and seen, which
were just as they had been told.
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what
was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his
mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and
rising of many in Israel
19.
The Name of Jesus
(The
name
"Jesus" is the Greek form of "Joshua", which means
"The Lord saves")
Luke
2:21
21 On
the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel
had given him before he was conceived.
20. Two doves or
feathers
(Sacrifice of doves by Joseph and Mary; the
Holy Spirit is like a dove at his baptism later in life - see v. 21)
Luke 2:22-24
22 When the time came for the purification rites
required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present
him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every
firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is
said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
Luke 3:21-22
21 When all the people were being baptized,
Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was
opened22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form
like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with
you I am well pleased.”
21.
Googly eyes/ Mr. Potato Head eyes
(Revelation
of Jesus as Christ the Savior to Simeon and to all people)
Luke 2:25-32
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem Israel Israel
22. Small book or
scroll
(Knowledge and wisdom of the Magi)
Matthew 2:1
After Jesus was born in
Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from
the east came to Jerusalem
23. Crowns, rhinestones,
jewels, throne, or purple cloth
(Jesus is King of Kings)
Matthew 2:1-2
After
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea , during
the time of King Herod, Magi from
the east came to Jerusalem2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born
king of the Jews? We saw his star when
it rose and have come to worship him.”
24.
Star
(Star that the Magi followed)
Matthew
2:9-10
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their
way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it
stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 33
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then
Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to
cause the falling and rising of many in Israel
25.
Three gift boxes/picture(s) of gold, frankincense, myrrh
(Gifts from the Magi to Jesus)
Matthew
2:11
11 On
coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed
down and worshiped him. Then they
opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
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