Faithful Families for Advent and Christmas: 100 Ways to Make the Season Sacred

by Traci Smith

Overview

From the bestselling author of Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home, this new book of Advent and Christmas practices provides 100 easy ideas to make the season sacred.



In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's easy for families to forget the true meaning of the season. In this new book of faith practices for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers, pastors, and anyone who cares about kids will find easy, fun, and meaningful ideas for bringing the sacred back into the season.



The book includes prayers, practices, and stories, grouped by different themes of the Advent and Christmas season, from Decorating, to Family Time, to Giving, to Telling the Story, and more. Practices include: Making an Advent Wreath, Christmas Card prayers, Hot Chocolate Gratitude Party, Year Round Christmas Gift, Silent Night Star Walk, Birthday Party for Jesus, Leaving Hay for Camels, Memory Box for the Year to Come, and many, many more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780827211360
Publisher:	APG Sales & Distribution
Publication date:	08/18/2020
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	681,203
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Traci Smith is the author of the bestselling book, Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and mother of three, Traci loves helping families find ways to practice faith at home through creative practices. She regularly shares her work with congregations, at special events, and bookstores. Traci has a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and Bachelor of Arts from Calvin College. She is the senior pastor at Elmhurst Presbyterian Church and lives in Elmhurst, IL with her husband and children.

Table of Contents

Opening Words ix

The Faithful Families Perspective on Advent and Christmas x

Notes for Parents and Guardians xiii

A Note on Ages xvi

Notes for Ministry Leaders xvii

Chapter 1 Beginnings 1

Spiritual Practices for Beginning the Season 3

Prayers for Beginning the Season 13

Chapter 2 Decorating 15

Spiritual Practices for Decorating 16

Prayers and Blessings for Decorating 22

Chapter 3 Family Time 25

Spiritual Practices for Family Time 26

Prayers and Blessings for Family Time 33

Chapter 4 Giving 35

Spiritual Practices for Giving 36

Prayers for Giving 44

Chapter 5 Telling the Story 45

Jesus' Family Tree 47

Joseph and the Angel 49

Mary's Song of Praise 50

Shepherds 51

No Room in the Inn 52

Immanuel 53

God's Love Is for All 54

Go Tell It on the Mountain 55

The X in X-Mas 56

The Light of the World 57

Chapter 6 Advent Values 59

Reflecting on the Advent Values 60

Prayers for the Advent Values 65

Chapter 7 Difficult Moments 69

Spiritual Practices for Difficult Moments 70

Prayers for Difficult Moments 73

Chapter 8 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 77

Spiritual Practices for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 78

Prayers for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 83

Chapter 9 The 12 Days of Christmas and Epiphany 85

Spiritual Practices and the 12 Days of Christmas and Epiphany 86

Prayers for the 12 Days of Christmas and Epiphany 92

Chapter 10 Endings 95

Spiritual Practices for Ending the Season 96

Prayers for Ending the Season 102

Acknowledgments 105