ADVENT-urous Tags- family project

Sometimes in ministry it is challenging
 to find activities that bring together 
family members for a joint project. 
My friend Michele Schulteis, 
an LCMS- trained elementary educator, 
shared this from Bethany Lutheran Church,
 Long Beach, California.

Here is her description of this Sunday after 

Thanksgiving project for families.

Ready for the beginning of ADVENT. 

Think it is a great time to add this to the blog, 

since it always sneaks up so quickly. 

So file this away, 
and make up a sample 
so you are ready for next year - 
far in advance!

Michele shares:

We had our “3^rd annual” family advent

 project Sunday school class

 the weekend after Thanksgiving.  

The past couple of years we did the Jesse Tree project, 

while this year we came up with ADVENT-urous tags. 

 We had 25 Christmas discussion starters, 

tags and supplies so families could create the tags.  

 I used the questions that were in the book, 

Celebrating A Christ-Centered Christmas 

by Sharon Jaynes-

 chapter 5 (pages 23-26) Dinner Conversations. 

 I made up the rest – 

though I did get inspiration from the book-

 The Conversation Piece Collection:  The Christmas Conversation Piece.

 The questions were very basic–

 just changed the way they were asked.

I presented the discussion starters

 at our family ministry meeting, 

Mary Fink suggested tags,

 I shared the idea with Jeannie Borg-Breen

 and it came together! 

 Jeanne completed a sample.

For the event, these items were provided:

tags (Staples is great for these)

  markers, colored tape, glue sticks

 or double sided sticky tape

ribbon or yarn

 scrapbook paper scraps
Christmas wrapping paper
recycled Christmas cards
Washi tape
(post edited in Oct. 2017)

  Each family had 13 tags on a ring. They decorated and added the title + the 25 discussion starters back to back (26 pages, 13 tags).

 ADVENT-urous Tags

Here are the questions that they used for

 family conversation starters around the table and for the tags.

You could use them or modify them for the age group

 you are working with and your own settling.

This was an intergenerational family activity.

Describe the sounds that might

 have been heard in the stable on Christmas night.

Who do you think took care of the sheep

 when the shepherds ran off to see baby Jesus?

Describe a Christmas tree to a blind person.

What do you think the wise men 

wore when they visited Jesus?

What smells do you imagine were in the stable?

  What do you think the animals were thinking after Jesus was born?

What is your favorite Christmas present ever?

What Christmas tradition means the most to you?

How much light does it take to drive out darkness?

What are some amazing facts about

 the Christmas story?

What is your favorite Christmas carol/hymn/song?  

What Christmas song is the first one

 you remember learning?

What is your favorite Christmas smell?

  Sound?  Sight?

What is your favorite Christmas food?  

What is your favorite cookie?

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

  What’s your first Christmas memory?

  Tell about your first Christmas memory.

Describe how the sky looked when the angels

 appeared to the shepherds.

Which person in the Christmas story

 would you like to have been?  Why?

If you were one of the wise men visiting

 Jesus in today’s world, what would you bring Him?

Which event or part of the Christmas season 

do you look forward to most of all?

What makes a Christmas gift really special to you?

  Do you have a favorite gift you have received?

In the Christmas story, Mary was very surprised 

to learn that she would give birth to the son of God.  

What is the best surprise at Christmas

 that you’ve ever had?

What reaction did Mary

 have when the angel visited her? 

Joseph? The shepherds?   

How do you think you would react

 if you were visited by an angel?

What is your favorite Christmas decoration in your house?  Why?

Is there a Christmas tradition that you do not do

 that you would like to start? 

Have you ever looked at the way other cultures celebrate Christmas?

Think of someone in need. 

It could be someone you know

 or someone you may have seen.  

What act of kindness could you do for that person?

In the past year, what is the greatest blessing

 in your life?

What is your favorite day of the week

 for Christmas to be on?

A  D  V  E  N  T -r o u s

This project is being formatted to share on the Visual Faith Ministry website.
visualfaithmin.org