Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Advent: Week 2 - Preparation Day 2

Advent Tree Ornament - "No Talking" Sign
  • Click here to download my ornaments to print out yourself.
  • If you have an advent wreath, light two candles while your do your Bible reading (we read it in the morning without the candle and then light the candle when we read it again at night with daddy.)

Bible Reading -  Luke 1:5-25

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah.  And he has a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.  And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. 
Now while he was serving as priest before  God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.  And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.  And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord.  And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.  And he will turn many of the children if Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before them in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." 
And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this?  For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."  And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.  And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time."  And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.  And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple.  And he kept making signs to them and remained must.  And when his service was ended, he went to his home. 
After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, "Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

 Activity - Speaking Without Words

Take a scarf (or something similar) and tie it around your child's mouth.  Tell him that he is going to be like Zechariah, who couldn't speak since he did not believe the angel.  See if he can stay silent for one minute...it's harder than it sounds for a child!  Next, tell your child to try to tell you something without talking.  Have them think about how you can communicate without words.  This was great fun for us!  Trevor kept wanting to play off and on all day.

Being good and silent =)


Memory Verse - Luke 2:1&3 (if you have older children you could add verse 2)

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered...And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

Discussion -

Explain to your child how everything in all of history had to be prepared just right for Jesus to com in the world.  If everything wasn't 'just so' then the prophecies wouldn't have been fulfilled.  Guess where Mary and Joseph had to go to be registered?  Yes, Bethlehem! God had to arrange it so that Caesar Augustus would call for this census at just the same time that Mary was due to have her baby in order for the prophecy of Micah 5:2 to be fulfilled...amazing!  All this week we will see the stage being set for the coming King.


Vocab Words - (definitions for preschoolers)

  1. Decree - someone saying something that HAS to be done
  2. Caesar Augustus - he was like the 'king' of the area (giving him the right to give a decree!)
  3. Registered - everyone going and writing their name down (or whatever) to say Yes, I am here!) Caesar Augustus wanted to know how many people there were.

Song - O, Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above the deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in the dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

 
For printable advent ornaments and the list of verses for the whole month, click here.  For all of this weeks activities, click here.

Merry Christmas!

3 comments:

  1. Just love the expression on your son's face!! Was he able to be quiet for very long? We did something similar with vocabulary, tying them to reading material and it paid off. With that and lots of narration, they were equipped for debate and still enjoy speaking in public. Thank you for these well-thought-out helps to Moms!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hope you are having a blessed Advent season! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you, Candace!

    Jacqueline, yes! He did a great job not talking (but did giggle a bit =)

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...