Family Advent at Home: Week 1 O Come, O Come Immanuel
Bible Verse
22 So the Lord's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 23 “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.” Matthew 1:22-23
The four weeks before Christmas are a special time for God’s people and your family to come together in anticipation of Christ’s birth. This time is called Advent.
Click here for complete instructions on the Advent candles. Three of the candles can be purple, the traditional color of Advent. In the third week, use a pink candle to represent joy.
Light the first Advent candle, hope.
Ask someone to say, “This is the first week of Advent. Today, we light the candle of hope.”
Dig Deeper
- Talk about the devotion: Advent at Home: O Come, O Come Immanuel. You can use the prayer at the end of the devotion or your own prayer.
- To learn more about what hope means in the Bible, you can select readings from Isaiah 9:2, Lamentations 3:21-22, Psalm 130:5, and Psalm 119:114.
- Ask this self-reflection question: “What do you think kids your age are hopeful or waiting for?” Allow space for kids to share. Children might focus on the upcoming Christmas day. Maybe list their answers on a piece of paper. You can decide as a family if the lists can be shared or kept private. Ensure that everyone knows they can talk to you anytime, anyplace, about things that worry them. Then ask, “What hopes, prayers, and dreams can Jesus answer for people?” Examples: He came to earth to be Immanuel, “God with us.” He has saved us from our sins. He can heal. He will return to restore all things. If you wrote a list, write “God with us” or “Hope” in capital letters over the entire list.
- Listen to (or sing!) a family-favorite Christmas carol about hope, like “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, or find an Advent/Christmas playlist. You might play more songs as you discuss the optional family activity.
- Check out Kids Corner's audio Bible story The Birth of Jesus.
Optional Family Activity:
This Christmas, consider ways as a family to give hope where it’s needed most. Talk together as a family and list ways family members can share hope this Christmas season. Talk about what else might work to share hope.
- Compliment a friend who is having a bad day.
- Send a Christmas card with a friendly note.
- Check in on an elderly neighbor and help them with chores.
- Donate food to a food pantry for someone hungry.
- Hold the door open for someone and give them a big smile.
Who could you invite? There are many upcoming December days and activities: a favorite movie, a concert, or making Christmas cookies. Choose one of those days and ask someone who might enjoy being with your family and having fun. It could be a family friend, a relative, or a neighbor. Consider hosting anyone who doesn’t have a place on Christmas. Is there a favorite family game that can draw someone in and make them feel welcome?
Jenée V. Giles-Hamilton
Jenée V. Giles-Hamilton is a wife, TV writer, and homeschools two of her four sons (ages five years old to 21). She loves searching for the perfect picture books to read to her younger sons and Bible devotions to share at family dinners. She also enjoys caring for their two cats: Nano-Rex and Santi Cat.
