# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Godly Play Christmas Eve Liturgy for use at home

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Select from the options below to find worship ideas that fit what you’re looking for.

# data[].attributes.body
New resources for 2025

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Complete Christmas Pack -A Little Star, A Big Journey - Muddy Church’s Ko-fi Shop

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover the wonder of Christmas through story, nature, and light. A Little Light, A Big Journey from Muddy Church, invites people of all ages to exp…

# data[].attributes.body
Christingle Resources for 2025

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christingle | The Children’s Society Shop

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Order all the resources you need for your Christingle celebration.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Must Know Bible Stories - Christmas (English / Gaelic) | Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore the Christmas story as you play and learn together. Now in English and in Gaelic.

# data[].attributes.body
This is just a photo of an alternative idea for a nativity set.

# data[].attributes.body
This is just a photo of an alternative idea for a Christingle service!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Bedtime story for children THE ANIMALS' CHRISTMAS | The Nativity story told by its Animals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ideas For an Intergenerational Christmas 5

# data[].attributes.body
Paid resource

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A fun and festive event for all the family. Invite your community to join in a festive and symbolic journey around your town or church grounds.

# data[].attributes.body
Youtube playlist (including Christmas)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Inviting people to discover the Bible for themselves, at home and around the world.

# data[].attributes.body
Videos including Mary & Angel and Jesus is Born.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Bring the Bible to life with engaging, story-based videos for children and families.Bibleworld Videos is a free digital resource from the Scottish Bible…

# data[].attributes.body
Christmas resources can be found at the bottom of the website.

# data[].attributes.body
Christmas Archives

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christmas Archives – Worship for Everyone

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Christmas Story: Brick by Brick Explore the story of Christmas brick by brick as we stack up the surprises and discover what the first Christmas means for us today. Come Along, Christmas! A simple retelling of the first Christmas showing how the birth of Jesus offers ordinary people an extraordinary encounter with God. The…

# data[].attributes.body
Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Daily inspiration for discovering faith together as a family

Many of us want our children to develop their own personal relationship with God that will last. As mums and dads, we are the greatest influence in our children's lives, and we have the amazing privilege of joining them in this adventure of faith.

Full of daily inspiration, encouragement and ideas, the calendar will help you to find new ways to weave faith into the everyday moments of family life. What a great way to naturally explore faith together as a family - without adding more to your to-do-list!

* Full colour pages
* Free-standing and spiral bound
* 366 dated pages - can be used year after year
* Size: 11cm(w) x 12cm(h) x 9cm(d)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Many of us want our children to develop their own personal relationship with God that will last. As mums and dads, we are the greatest influence in our children's lives, and we have the amazing privilege of joining them in this adventure of faith.

# data[].attributes.headline
Galilee Books - Independent Christian Bookstore

# data[].attributes.subject
Galilee Books - Independent Christian Bookstore

# data[].attributes.body
36 Battlefield Rd, Glasgow G42 9QH

Phone: 07475 546945

# data[].attributes.headline
Copy of Quest Cards for Shepherds Treasure 

# data[].attributes.subject
Copy of Quest Cards for Shepherds Treasure 

# data[].attributes.body
by Shelley Spiers

# data[].attributes.body
Lots of different prayer activities including Christmas prayer activities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Schools Archives - Prayer Spaces In Schools

# data[].attributes.body
BRF resources (paid)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Sustainability and creation care for busy people

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Wouldn’t it be great if we could make Christmas greener, less wasteful, less stressful, more enjoyable, and with more space to focus on what it’s really all about? Written for families to work through, Dreaming of a Green Christmas is an essential companion as you prepare for the festive season. With 111 practical eco-

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Graham has many songs suitable for the Christmas and Advent season. We have created a playlist of the 12 most popular songs and Graham has made a short video about each song, the story behind them and how they can be used. There is also a lyric video for each song that can be downloaded or streamed.

See the 12 Songs of Christmas Playlists below.

There is also a Spotify playlist of the 12 songs plus a bonus version of Dreaming of a Holy Night which was re-released last year.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christmas Songs for the Church - Graham Kendrick - Worship Leader

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
UK based worship leader and modern carol composer for Christmas including Adore, The Candle Song, and Thorns in the Straw.

# data[].attributes.headline
Christian Values in Education - Christmas resources 

# data[].attributes.subject
Christian Values in Education - Christmas resources 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
© CVE Scotland. Website by yellowcherry.uk

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As the festive season approaches, a time traditionally marked by tidings of peace and joy, we invite you to consider the reality of those facing unimaginable hardship due to violence.

Chance, a mother of eight from the Democratic Republic of Congo:  'As soon as this baby was born, we started to flee. He doesn't know anything yet, except coming into the world as bombs are dropping.'

When Chance escaped armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), her baby wore only a nappy. As Chance waits for peace in a shelter, it's a struggle to provide for her young children.

Chance isn't the only one displaced and struggling to provide for her family.  'Here in the camp, we need food and financial assistance... We have nothing at all.'

Funds raised this Christmas could fund nutritious meals, medicine, blankets and other essential supplies mothers like Chance need to survive.

Looking for online/downloadable materials to help you and others get involved?

The resources for the 2025 Christmas Appeal will be available soon.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This Christmas, will you support families fleeing conflict to buy food and lifesaving supplies?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Churches one-stop shop for posters, banners and outreach materials, evangelism resources and courses, with the the ability to customize online, supported by an expert team ready to provide support and advice on your ministry resources.

# data[].attributes.headline
Messy Church bank of Christmas resources 

# data[].attributes.subject
Messy Church bank of Christmas resources 

# data[].attributes.body
Messy Church have put together this bank of christmas resources. Here you will find a list of websites that may help you in your Christmas planning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Summary of Christmas resources - Messy Church

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Jane pulled together this useful list for Christmas that is worth keeping in a folder for future use.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Application error: a client-side exception has occurred (see the browser console for more information).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Resources to support your ministry this Advent and Christmas time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Advent and Christmas Resources - The Methodist Church

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Advent and Christmas resources for your church. You are a gift. Made with love.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Are you starting your preparations for Advent and Christmas? This year, The Church of England's Advent and Christmas theme revolves round a single word: Joy!

The national resources we are offering this year are all designed to help all ages to be drawn into the joy of the first Christmas. The printed resources this year include a children's book, The Grumpy Owl and the Joy of Christmas, to help schools and churches sharethe joy of Christmas with children and families, and reflections in the book and booklet Twelve Joys of Christmas.

You can read about the theme and resources at cofe.io/Christmas - this page will be updated continually with new tools and resources as they become available. In this blog we'll unpack the digital resources made to help churches share this theme of joy.

Christmas webinars

Webinars are a great way to learn, explore different digital opportunities and ask any questions you may have. Upcoming Advent and Christmas webinars include:

1. Special Webinar: The Christmas Digital Planner (September 18, 12pm). In this session we'll introduce our 2025 Digital Planner, which provides a comprehensive guide to strategising and organising your church's digital content. Our social media team will also be available to share ideas for the kind of content you could be creating. Learn more and sign up here.

2. Special Webinar: Digital Giving at Christmas (October 14, 12pm). Join us to dive into Digital Giving and how it can benefit your church, whether through online donations, contactless giving, or in-person contributions. We'll provide templates for promoting donation QR codes and demonstrate how to edit these on Canva. Additionally, we'll explore strategies to encourage generosity during the Advent and Christmas period. Register for this session here.

3. Ask us anything: Church websites at Christmas (Oct 22, 2pm). How can you make the most of your church websites at Christmas? This webinar will help you make strategic use of your church's online home, whether it's on AChurchNearYou.com, another website, or both. We will share advice and exercises to help you optimise your website, and look at how you can use AChurchNearYou.com to share church events and help people find you online. We'll also be available to answer any questions you might have about church websites and digital comms over Advent and Christmas. You can sign up here.

You can see all upcoming Digital Labs webinars, including our ongoing AChurchNearyou.com and Canva webinars, here. There will also be weekly tips and inspiration for using digital at Advent and Christmas via the Digital Labs blog.

Online reflections

Daily Advent reflections on the Everyday Faith app: As well as being available as a printed book, the daily 'O Come Emmanuel' reflections are available with audio on the Everyday Faith app from 1-24 December. An outline of the reflections is now available to download to help you plan content around these reflections.

Twelve Joys of Christmas meditations: These funny and profound reflections are also available by email and the Everyday Faith app (with audio). You can sign up for Joy of Christmas emails here.

'Joy of Christmas' branded assets and templates

We're offering a wide array of digital assets and customisable templates that allow churches to creatively use the colourful Christmas branding in their own digital materials. To aid accessibility, several of these templates can be downloaded as a basic Word document.

We are also now offering all our templates not just as downloads but directly customisable Canva template links. We offer a range of resources to support churches using Canva. You can read about how to get free Canva 'Pro' features for your church here, or read about the latest changes to Canva here. We have a range of bitesize tutorial videos on different Canva tasks that you can watch here, and you can sign up for our next Canva webinar where we will demonstrate creating a Christmas design here.

On the AChurchNearYou.com Resource Hub you can download:

Cover and feature images for your AChurchNearYou.com site​

Unique Advent and Christmas icons to make it easier than ever to create eye-catching graphics​

Customisable Christmas card templates​

'What's On' and 'Keep in Touch' flyer templates - now also in Word format​

Logos and brand guidelines​

Advent poster templates - now also in Word format​

PowerPoint templates​

Social media templates​

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Let's Unwrap the Advent and Christmas Resources for 2025 | The Church of England

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover the digital resources available for churches this Advent and Christmas as we reflect on our 2025 theme: Joy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
December can feel like chaos - lots of social events, services, Christmas presents to buy, never-ending to-do lists and the pressure to create the perfect Christmas. But in the midst of this chaos, our churches can offer an opportunity to find peace during this busy time.

The Church of England's theme for Advent and Christmas 2024, Follow the Star: Calm and Bright, draws on the world-famous carol, Silent Night:
"Silent Night! Holy Night!
All is calm, all is bright..."
One of the reasons that this carol is so universally loved is the way it invites us into the still centre of the Christmas story, to contemplate Mary holding the new-born Jesus, the Light of the World.

The angelic messages we encounter in the biblical story of Jesus' birth typically hold together the need for calm in the present ("Do not be afraid" ... "Fear not") with the hope of a bright future ("for you have found favour with God" ... "for behold I bring you tidings of great joy").

Throughout Advent, we will focus primarily on how to find Calm during this busy period, with reflections offering people a chance to pause during the busy season and tips on how to prepare for a calm Christmas.

Then through Christmas, we will focus particularly on Bright, with a series of daily reflections from Christmas Day to the Eve of Epiphany (5 January) by Sammi Tooze, Discipleship Adviser for the Diocese of York, both in digital form and as a full-colour booklet to share locally.

We will also share reflective content throughout Advent and Christmas for those who find this time of year difficult, with some Blue Christmas resources.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Follow the Star: Calm and Bright | The Church of England

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Church of England's theme for Advent and Christmas 2024 is Follow the Star: Calm and Bright, drawing inspiration from the world-famous carol, Silent Night.

# data[].attributes.body
Engage Worship

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We are very excited to share these 24 Tiny Advent Poems by Amy Scott Robinson. They have been presented visually by Richard Lyall, and we think the potential for these is endless!

They are free to download and use as you wish for non-profit purposes. Could you:

Look at one a day as part of family devotions through December?

Use in a school classroom for a daily reflection through Advent (the open-ended nature of the poems makes them good to use in a religiously neutral setting)?

Post (or share our Facebook or Twitter posts) of these on social media for each day of Advent?

Email one a day to your church family?

We would love to know how you have used these and any stories that have come as a result.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We are very excited to share these 24 Tiny Advent Poems by Amy Scott Robinson. They have been presented visually by Richard Lyall, and we think the potential for these is endless! They are free to download and use as you wish for non-profit purposes.

# data[].attributes.body
Bear Nativity, The Brick (Lego) Nativity, Prince of Peace, Selfie Nativity, Nativity adverts resources for churches

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christmas — macfish resources for churches

# data[].attributes.headline
Helping children find Jesus this Christmas time. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Helping children find Jesus this Christmas time. 

# data[].attributes.body
Parenting for Faith

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parenting for Faith | Finding Jesus in the midst of Christmas – throwing him a birthday party

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How do we help our children to find Jesus at Christmas? Rachel shares what her family do to make Jesus the centre of their Christmas Day.

# data[].attributes.body
Are you looking for ways to teach and explore the Christmas story with your class? Do you need ideas for a Christmas themed assembly? Or are you looking for a simple way of performing the story for your school community?

Check out our new downloadable packs: they've got everything you need to introduce, tell and explore the story before reflecting on its meaning together.

# data[].attributes.body
Here's a great way to take the Christmas story out into your community! Whether you use weatherproof paint on pebbles or Sharpies on white stones, these Jesus Rocks can be a treasure hunt, a teaser for the Crib Service, or you can even create a social media campaign via your church’s Facebook page (although I don’t recommend encouraging children to post selfies). Here’s how one church did it: https://www.earlshall.com/what-goes-on/jesus-rocks/

# data[].attributes.headline
Advent Prayer - 24-7 Prayer International

# data[].attributes.subject
Advent Prayer - 24-7 Prayer International

# data[].attributes.body
Ways to pray through Advent and Christmas individually, as a family, and with your community

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Advent Prayer - 24-7 Prayer International

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Prayer resources to help you engage with Advent and Christmas. Pray in Advent with prayer guides, prayer activities, and Christmas prayers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A poem you could use before or during Advent, inviting people to slow down and receive the gift - the present - that Advent offers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Make Your Own Glowing Nativity Lantern - Free Printable

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Crafts and outdoor activities for kids and families

# data[].attributes.body
Hide Mary and Joseph around the house each night until Christmas Eve to represent their journey to Bethlehem, and on Christmas Day have Jesus appear in the manger. Then you can continue the story by hiding the shepherds and wise men for a few days, as they travel to worship baby Jesus.

# data[].attributes.headline
Christmas Drama Scripts and Nativities from The Salvation Army

# data[].attributes.subject
Christmas Drama Scripts and Nativities from The Salvation Army

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Use the Christmas scripts and nativities to tell the story of the birth of Jesus in a fresh and creative way. Scripts are available for a wide range of group sizes, ages and abilities. There are also 'Countdown to Christmas' resources including dance videos, music and script for pre-school children.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Engaging with the Christmas story through drama

# data[].attributes.headline
DIY Wooden Candles for Kids to Make - Perfect for a Nature Advent Wreath or Forest Church

# data[].attributes.subject
DIY Wooden Candles for Kids to Make - Perfect for a Nature Advent Wreath or Forest Church

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
DIY Wooden Candles for Kids to Make - Perfect for a Nature Advent Wreath or Forest Church

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Crafts and outdoor activities for kids and families

# data[].attributes.headline
Advent and Christmas Resources - The Methodist Church

# data[].attributes.subject
Advent and Christmas Resources - The Methodist Church

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Advent and Christmas Resources - The Methodist Church

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Advent and Christmas resources for your church. Hush the Noise and join in the love song this Christmas.

# data[].attributes.headline
✨ 🎄 Welcome to your family Christmas guide! 🎄✨                   Care for the Family  

# data[].attributes.subject
✨ 🎄 Welcome to your family Christmas guide! 🎄✨                   Care for the Family  

# data[].attributes.body
We know this time of year can be hectic for many of us, so we’ve put together this guide to encourage you to savour the season – to make the most of the small moments and take the pressure off.

Designed for all families, this guide is full of practical tips and encouragement, plus a printable poster, and a media agreement to get you all on the same page when it comes to tech use over the holiday.

You’ll find inside:

✨ Five tips to help you savour the season

✨ Creating quality time – your Christmas media agreement

✨ From chaos to calm – managing the tricky moments

✨ Savouring memories – navigating grief

✨ Savour the season printable poster

To download your copy for free, simply sign up to our mailing list and we'll send it straight to your inbox 🎉

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Your free family Christmas guide! - Care for the Family

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sign up today to receive your free family Christmas guide. We look forward to sharing more about our work and events, as well as practical articles, top tips and encouragement.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Type: Book
Product Code: HOPETOG000006

A Christmas story... with a difference.

Offers:

Type: Book
Product Code: HOPETOG000014

A beautifully illustrated Christmas book.

Offers:

Type: Book
Product Code: HOPETOG000004

Christmas comes early...our Countdown to Christmas Hope daily Advent journey is now FREE! With things to read, make, watch and think about, Countdown to Christmas Hope takes people on a journey exploring why Christmas gives us hope. Order your copies while stocks last.

Offers:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Type: BookProduct Code: HOPETOG000006 A Christmas story... with a difference. Offers: Type: BookProduct Code: HOPETOG000014 A beautifully illustrated Christmas book. Offers: Type: BookProduct Code: HOPETOG000004 Christmas comes early...our Countdown to Christmas Hope daily Advent journey is now FREE! With things to read, make, watch and think about, Countdown to Christmas Hope takes people on a journey exploring why Christmas gives us hope.

# data[].attributes.body
A pattern for you to knit your own Christingle beanie!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It’s here! Oh, yes, it’s here! The long-awaited, much-vaunted and over-hyped Christingle Beanie! The world’s most stunningly awesome way to tell folks about Jesus, the Light of th…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Thank you for signing up to receive the Community Matters at Christmas Free Resources, please click the buttons below to download the resources!

If you have any questions, contact comms@abyyt.com.

Don't forget to tag us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with your Community Matters at Christmas stories!

Download links to resource videos (YouTube links can be found in PowerPoint):

‍

‍

‍

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Community Matters at Christmas Download Page

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This Advent, we're challenging your pupils to look out and notice how important communities are. Over four weeks, the resource celebrates how community can bring us joy, acceptance, generosity and love.

# data[].attributes.body
Bible Society (paid resource)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Family Advent Box will make for a FAB Christmas season in your home. It’s packed with ideas and everything you need for interactive, memory-making, family fun suitable for all ages. Learn more about Christmas and each other, while engaging in some easy and inexpensive activities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
BRF | Leading Christian charity enabling ministry and mission | Free Christmas activity ideas for children and families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Planning presentations to children or all-age gatherings this Christmas – in school or church? Choose from over 70 free, tried and tested, creative ideas for storytelling, interactive activities and more to put God in the centre of your event.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sun Hats & Wellie Boots Christmas Resources

# data[].attributes.subject
Sun Hats & Wellie Boots Christmas Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Crafts and outdoor activities for kids and families

# data[].attributes.body
The Sunday School Store

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
FREE Christmas Program: The No Rehearsal 100% NO Stress Christmas Page - Sunday School Store

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This is a 100% stress free Christmas Program you can use in your church with almost no preparation required. Yes, it's true! Sometimes the most memorable and enjoyable programs don't require a ton of work. Absolutely no rehearsals are required.

# data[].attributes.body
We played this game within our Christmas Day service last year - it takes about 2- 3 mins. People created their own teams and played as 1 so it doesn't matter if you are a team of 2 or 10.
People had a paper copy and pen to tick off but basically just throwing a dice to and ticking off each number. Fasted team wins, covers the christmas story and great participation - you just need a supply of dice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Nativity Thaumatrope - Optical Illusion Toy for Kids to Make

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Crafts and outdoor activities for kids and families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Looking for an Advent Countdown for children that explores the Nativity Story? This fun Advent Countdown does just that, revealing a part of the Christmas Story each day in the run-up to Christmas.

Made up of 24 printable cards, the child-friendly text has one word each day with letters missing for children to fill in. The 'fill in the blank' words are simple, & I've added a few letters to the slightly longer words to give a little hint as to what they may be.

Each card explores key parts of the Christmas Story; from the Angel Gabriel visiting Mary, to the arrival of the 3 Wise Men at the stable. It's a great way to explore key words from the Nativity as well as encouraging a little literacy & spelling. Completing each card will not only help children to sequence the events of the Nativity, but also encourage a sense of accomplishment as they fill in the letters & complete the missing word each day.

You can find all 24 Nativity Advent Countdown Cards in our . You could add the cards to a reusable Advent Calendar for children to discover during December, or simply share them together at a mealtime each day.

At the end of December, you'll have 24 mini Nativity Story Cards that can be used to retell the story encouraging children to recall the characters & all the events. There's also a card to colour in on our printable too for you to use either during Advent or on Christmas Day.

For more Nativity ideas take a look at our Nativity Activities here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Nativity Advent Countdown with 24 'Fill in the Blank' Cards - Free Printable

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Crafts and outdoor activities for kids and families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Like many of you, we're big fans of small world play & anything miniature so you can imagine how much excitement has been had with this mini matchbox Nativity. It's a perfect craft if you're exploring the Nativity story, & just the right size for kids to hold in their hands or pop into a pocket or bag.

We started by painting some rocks that were small enough to fit inside a matchbox with a white acrylic paint, this gave us a neat light base to draw on.

Inspired by these we used a selection of Sharpies to create the detail for our baby Jesus pebbles.

To turn our matchbox into a stable we coloured the inner section brown & added a little straw. (If you have no straw, raffia or shredded yellow paper also look great.) Then to create a night sky we coloured the outer box blue/black & added a Christmas star so it would shine over the crib.

We added our baby Jesus & our Mini Matchbox Nativity was ready.

There's something about the simplicity of this little play scene that I just love. In our house, our mini stable has had pride of place on the fireplace.

At night, baby Jesus has been 'tucked in' with the blue backdrop becoming a 'blanket' to keep him safe & warm. You know when your kiddo places this next to their bed at night that it's clearly a special treasure to them. ♥

We recently made these with primary school children & they adored their creations, each taking immense care not only to paint their pebble but also to decorate their tiny stable. Each one was unique & beautiful. We suggested they might like to pass these on as gifts to friends during Advent, but I'm not sure how many will be given away as they clearly loved their creations.

This is an ideal craft for all ages to create & would make a great activity for a Messy Church session. They'd also be a fun activity to make after a school Nativity & a great keepsake to treasure.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Crafts and outdoor activities for kids and families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Looking for a Nativity Scene that's quick & simple for children to make? Here's one that all ages can create & colour. Designed on just one sheet of paper, this Nativity Scene makes a great printable to share with families at school or church.

This standing Nativity Scene makes a lovely Christmas decoration & is made up of just two sections for children to colour in. The first is a Christmas stable with Star, two angels, a donkey & an ox, which creates the backdrop, & the second features Mary, Joseph & baby Jesus, & these characters can be moved in around the stable.

The backdrop can be easily folded in half to enable it to stand up, & if you wish, the sides of the stable can be folded too to enable the animals to stand out.

You'll find all the instructions you need on the Free Printable so it's super simple to follow. Download your Nativity Scene to Make & Colour here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Nativity Scene for Kids to Make & Colour - Free Printable

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Crafts and outdoor activities for kids and families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Start your 2023 MAF Advent Adventure Now

From 1 December, you'll be able to sign in and begin your journey with MAF this Advent which includes

Daily story and chance to enter the grand competition

Learn about the places MAF works in, and the people they help

Fun Advent craft, recipe ideas, prayers and more!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Start your 2023 MAF Advent Adventure Now From 1 December, you'll be able to sign in and begin your journey with MAF this Advent which includes

# data[].attributes.body
Shared on Facebook by a school Chaplain

# data[].attributes.body
Sun Hat and Wellie Boots

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Looking for an interactive Christmas Trail that children & families can explore around your outdoor area? Then this is for you! Follow 'Dotty the Donkey' as she retells the Nativity Story in this fun engaging Christmas Trail for children.

An outdoor trail is a perfect way to explore the Nativity & share the Christmas Story your community. Made up of 12 bold & colourful stations, this trail takes you on a journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem & features key figures from the Nativity for children to meet along the way.

It's designed to engage with children who know the Christmas Story well, & also those who are maybe discovering it for the first time. The text throughout the Trail is short & simple so it's quick & easy to read, & the stations are numbered so they're easy to sequence.

Each station also features a fun activity for children to discover as they interact with the story. These are simple activities that require no extra resources, so all ages & stages can easily join in. They include:

:: Nature-based activities

Also running through the Trail is a mystery word challenge for children to solve. Together the letters on the stations spell out 'God Is With Us' & the answer to the challenge can be found on the last station of the Trail.

If you regularly have trails around your outdoor space, something to consider is how you display them. We've found frames are a great alternative to plastic laminating pouches, & they can be reused again & again.

It's been wonderful to see how many churches & schools have used my previous Bee & Scarecrow Trails, & I'd love to see how you use this 'Dotty the Donkey' Nativity Trail in your area. Please do share any photos over on our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, it's so nice to see where the Trails go.

Just a friendly reminder before you print off the trail, please do not alter the text, remove the Sun Hats & Wellie Boots watermark, or amend the work in any other way. Thank you. You can download our FREE Printable Nativity Trail HERE

Wherever you use this Nativity Trail, I hope children have fun exploring the wonder of the Christmas Story. ♥

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Outdoor Nativity Trail for Kids (Ideal for Churches or Schools)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Crafts and outdoor activities for kids and families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
"rend collective" "counting every blessing" rescuer "build your kingdom" "irish folk worship" "gareth gilkeson"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hailing from a small town off the coast of Northern Ireland, Rend Collective (Gareth Gilkeson, Chris Llewellyn, Ali Gilkeson, Patrick Thompson and Stephen Mitchell) wants to be known as a celebration band. The group's authentic and energetic style of worship has attracted an international audience, with songs like Build Your Kingdom Here, My Lighthouse, and Counting Every Blessing.

# data[].attributes.headline
Hadeel Fairtrade Palestinian Crafts Shop

# data[].attributes.subject
Hadeel Fairtrade Palestinian Crafts Shop

# data[].attributes.body
Seasonal decorations, ornaments, gifts, cards and food

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christmas Archives - Hadeel - Fair Trade Palestinian Crafts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Seasonal decorations, ornaments, gifts, cards and food

# data[].attributes.body
Paid advent resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Buy Advent resources including Advent Candles, Advent Calendars, and Advent Studies plus resources for advent in schools and churches From Eden

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
One mile hike: Hike approximately one mile.

Lantern hike: Hike with a lantern ( homemade or store bought).

Hot cocoa hike: Hike with some hot cocoa on hand. We love this thermos that has cups built into each end.

Popcorn hike: Take a hike and bring some popcorn along for a snack.

Hike with friends: The best kind of hike there is :). Call up some friends and head out to a nearby trail!

Make stars out of twigs and twine: Use five or six sticks on similar length. Lay them out in a star shape (I visualize how I draw a star and then lay it out that way). Tie the ends together with twine, one at a time. For younger children, it may help to hot glue the ends together first and then this becomes a great fine motor activity as kids wrap the ends of the sticks with pretty colored twine. Use these as ornaments or as decor for packages.

Creating a hiking journey stick: Find a walking sticks and using rubber bands or yarn, tie fun finds on your journey stick along your hike. Once your hike is over, use your items to retell parts of your hike.

Winter bonfire: Warm up beside a winter bonfire.

Nature ornament: Make an ornament out of things you find in nature.

Nature table decor: Use things you find outside to create a pretty table display.

Make and hang bird feeders: There are so many ways to do this! Our favorite way is to smear sunbutter or peanut butter on a pinecone, roll it in bird see, and hang it with twine in a tree.

Search for animal tracks: Search for tracks in the snow or mud. See if you can identify what animals have been there. Follow the tracks if you can.

20 minute bird count: Spend time in one spot outside and count how many birds you see. How many different types did you see? Make a nature journal entry about what you've seen!

Decorate a tree with food for birds and squirrels: We love to dry fruit slices with a dehydrator or in the oven and hang them out for birds and squirrels. These make outdoor trees look very festive!

Holiday decorations walk: Take a walk through a neighborhood and be on the look out for holiday decorations. This is a great activity to do during the day and then repeat at night when the colorful lights come on!

Ice ornaments: Fill muffin tins with water and bits of seasonal nature. Add a loop of twine near the top and freeze outside or in your freezer. Hang in trees the next day.

Snow painting: Paint snow with food coloring and water. You can make a mixture and put it in a spray bottle, in jars, or in squeeze bottles. This activity can be done outside or inside (with a large amount of snow placed in a bowl).

Ice globes: There are many ways to create an ice globe. You can fill a bowl with water and place a smaller bowl inside so there is a ring of water around the smaller bowl. Freeze and place a tea light (or an electric tea light) underneath. You can also do this activity with a round water mold and then carve the bottom once it's frozen and place a tea light underneath.

Snowball lantern: Make a bunch of snowballs. Stack them like a pyramid and place a tea light in the middle once it gets dark.

Unique snowman: How creative can you get with your snowman? Consider painting one with your snow paint!

Outdoor s'mores: Our favorite version is a marshmallow between two fudge stripe cookies.

Star Gazing & Looking for Constellations: Head out when it's dark and count how many stars you can see. Can you find any constellations?

Cook an outdoor meal: There are so many options here!! Cook over a fire or use a grill or camp stove.

Winter tea party: Bring along your favorite friends and stuffed animals!

Deliver a meal or treat to a neighbor: And make sure you walk it over!

Sit spot day one: Find a spot to sit and observe for 15 or 20 minutes. Come back a day or two later and see what is the same and what is different. Often you may notice the same squirrels or birds!

Sit spot day two: What did you see that was similar to day one? What was different?

Outdoor book reading: Take your reading outside! Bring a favorite winter book or two.

Paint and hide a festive rock: Our kids love finding painted rocks when they are out and about. Paint your own and leave it around your neighborhood for someone to find later on. Avoid leaving them on trails so as not to impact the environment or animals.

Your choice: Put your favorite idea here!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Free Outdoor Advent Calendar - 1000 Hours Outside

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The busier we get, the more we need nature. During a season that is notoriously stress-filled, purposefully adding nature elements to our daily routines will help our health and our moods. This year we have TWO versions - one for warmer weather and one for cooler weather.

# data[].attributes.body
Advent Calendar ideas

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Order an Advent calendar for you, your family, or your community! Color your own or print out the full-color version included with your download.

# data[].attributes.body
paid resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled.

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

Bring the story of Christmas and the birth of Jesus to life with a colourful twist told through a variety of craft projects. Designed to help children learn about the traditional Christmas celebration through fun, creative crafting. Kids will love recreating the nativity scene with their decorative kits and colour-in advent calendars.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Bring the story of Christmas and the birth of Jesus to life with a colourful twist told through a variety of craft projects.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In our church, we have noticed that our children and youth do not know the story about the birth of Jesus as well as they did ten years ago. Because of this, we have decided to focus our December Sunday faith formation on experiencing the Christmas story in several different ways.

Our Sunday faith formation is a one-room schoolhouse with children and youth ages 3 to grade 5 as well as several parent and grandparent helpers. We focus on one Bible story for a month and use a different activity every week to engage the story. Throughout the month, our activities could include a lesson on drama, art, science, cooking, media, or games, depending on the skills and passions of the teachers who have signed up to teach. We aim to make each activity accessible to our youngest while still challenging enough for our oldest.

For our December formation in 2022, we came up with a variety of activities. We showed the movie "Buck Denver Asks . . . Why Do We Call it Christmas?" We made nativity sets and Jesus-centered ornaments to take home. We acted out the story for ourselves.

My task for the month was to find a snack. I thought about the possibility of an edible nativity, which I had made at an Advent workshop several years back. I decided to create a version that would work nutritionally as a snack and that would show our children and youth a full nativity story. That was the start of our Edible Nativity activity.

Planning Our Storybuilding and Telling

The first step was choosing which characters were essential to the story. I reviewed the story in the Easy-to-Read Version of the Bible and selected Joseph, Mary, the manger, the stable, baby Jesus, the angel, the shepherds/sheep, the star, and the gifts.

I decided that we would create the nativity step-by-step as we read the story together. I split the story into manageable chunks for my youth and adults to read.

Choosing the Food

Then it was time to figure out how to make a tasty, mostly healthy snack with the characters. Here are the foods we chose:

string cheese and grapes for Mary, Joseph, and the angel (with wings of apple slices)

a baby carrot wrapped in a triangle of tortilla for Jesus

a clementine slice manger

a pretzel stick stable

popcorn sheep

metallic wrapped candy for the gifts

We also made our own non-edible star ornaments from two sizes of wooden stars that we colored with gold colored pencils and glued together. For an edible version, you could use slices of star fruit or star-shaped crackers if they are available to you.

Creating Edible Nativities

When it came time to actually make the edible nativities, we paired older youth with younger children, side by side. One of our children or youth who could read would read a section of the story, and then the pairs would work together to assemble that part of the story. Adults assisted with handing out supplies, reading, and snack assembly as needed. Most learners chose to take their nativity home to share, and we made a snack of all the extra fruit, cheese, and pretzels.

All of the learners absolutely loved this activity. They were eager to share what they did and learned with adults and siblings who had not been able to attend. It is also becoming a tradition. Every time we have mentioned December faith formation, people express hope that this activity will return.

Edible Nativity Printable Instructions & Script

If you would like your own copy of the instructions and text for this activity, you can find it through this link at my website: Edible Nativity Instructions and Story.
Editor's Note: Please credit the author when you use or share this resource. Featured photo is by the author, Breen Marie Sipes

Pastor Breen Marie Sipes is an ELCA Lutheran pastor, a full-time parent and an all-time advocate for intergenerational ministry. She the board president and a facilitator for Music that Makes Community, a guest preacher in small, rural, vibrant congregations, a confirmation curriculum developer, and a volunteer children's faith formation leader at her home church. She lives in North Platte with her husband Patrick (also a pastor), three amazing daughters, two geriatric cats, and one Nebraska farm dog. She enjoys making music, swimming, biking, crafting, and supporting her girls in their many passions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Healthy Edible Nativity to Tell the Christmas Story

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This article describes a food-based activity for creating a nativity scene and telling the Christmas story with children and youth.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ever since childhood, I've always enjoyed seeing the different Nativity sets displayed around the holidays. This year, I finally tried making my own Paper City style Nativity Scene to share with everyone. I had a great time playing around with different designs, and I think it will be fun to color in, too!

So far the kids are really enjoying it, and our youngest one keeps grabbing the sheep and saying "ba ba ba!"

Happy Holidays!
Joel

You can see more Made by Joel winter holiday crafts, including the Hanukkah and Christmas Dressy Cats play sets.
UPDATE: NEW NATIVITY SCENES - Joyfully Expanded & Travel Size Version!
Side notes:

After folding the figures in half, I decided to make small curved cuts at the top of their heads to round them out a bit. You can try that too if you'd like. (See photos above.)

Finally, I printed these on matte photo paper, but any paper will work great.

Also, don't forget to always encourage your kids to draw their own if they're in the mood! My son wanted to try it out, and he made this wonderful scene below. I love it!
Click on the templates below, then print.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ever since childhood, I've always enjoyed seeing the different Nativity sets displayed around the holidays. This year, I finally tried making my own Paper City style Nativity Scene to share with everyone. I had a great time playing around with different designs, and I think it will be fun to color in, too!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Click the image above to download the pack

This is a new resource you can give to your families or school, offering a fun alternative to the pesky Elf! 😉

Hide and Speak is an advent challenge that tells the whole Christmas story day by day. Every day from December 1st adults hide the relevant card along with a treat of choice - chocolate, fruit or whatever the child loves. The child seeks out the card, reads the verse and enjoys the treat. You could even involve the Elf in the hiding if you wanted!

The cards can then by stuck or hung up on a wall or the fridge so that by December 24th the whole story can be read together.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This is a new resource you can give to your families or school, offering a fun alternative to the pesky Elf! 😉 Hide and Speak is an advent challenge that tells the whole Christmas story day by day. Every day from December 1st adults hide the relevant card along with a treat of choice - chocolate, fruit or whatever the child loves.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parenting for Faith | An Advent devotional for families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A free Advent devotional for families, the big story of Jesus’ birth, tools and techniques to help you unlock any part of the Bible.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
England and Wales charity no. 1105851 Scotland charity no. SC039150 UK company no. 5171525 Christian Aid Ireland: NI charity no. NIC101631 company no. NI059154 and ROI charity no. 20014162 company no. 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
One of my most popular Advent resources is the awesome, magnificent, fantabulous Advent Flexagon. Click the link to get the PDF and video.

But now there is more! Yes, you heard that right - another printable, foldable, colourable Advent yummy. This time it is based on the ever-popular fortune-teller / cootie catcher. I present to you the Flip-Flap Advent Story Teller.

It features the four candles of Advent and has a short explanation and Bible verse to go with each week: Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. It links with the Advent Wreath devotion resources.

Start with the story teller closed and ask someone to pick one of the big letters or a symbol.

Flex the story teller as you spell out ADVENT to the letter they choose. If they choose a symbol, that goes at the end. Eg, If they choose the candle, flex the story teller seven times: A-D-V-E-N-T-candle.

Ask your person to choose either a word or a set of candles. Flex the storyteller to spell that word or count the candles.

Ask your person to choose a word or set of candles again. Open the flap they choose and tell them about the candles of Advent.

The Reflectionary is free because I believe this stuff is important, but I'm a self-employed writer and still need to make a living.

I give this stuff away for free because I believe it is important. If you'd like to join my merry band of one-off or regular supporters, why not BuyMeACoffee? Or send Colin Firth with diamonds. (Blow the diamonds, just send Colin Firth!)

But don't worry if you can't afford anything. You are very welcome to help yourself for free. Thank you for being part of the team.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Click here for a printable PDF - Flip-Flap Advent Story Teller
Liturgy Resources for Proper 28

Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18, Psalm 90:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Confession and Absolution

Be silent before the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is at hand.
You are children of light, therefore put away the deeds of darkness
for the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
Let us confess our sins to Almighty God

O Lord, you have set our iniquities before you.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Neither our silver nor our gold will save us on the day of your judgement.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

But God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.

So you are forgiven your sins,
brought back from death to life,
and born again as children of light.
Therefore, live in that light.
Amen.

Blessing and Dismissal

Since we belong to the day,
let us put on the breastplate of faith and love,
and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
Let us encourage one another
and build each other up.
And the blessing ...

Go now from this place
to live in God's glorious kingdom of light,
and to be that light to those around you.
We will be that light.
Amen.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One of my most popular Advent resources is the awesome, magnificent, fantabulous Advent Flexagon. Click the link to get the PDF and video. But now there is more! Yes, you heard that right - another printable, foldable, colourable Advent yummy. This time it is based on the ever-popular fortune-teller / cootie catcher.

# data[].attributes.body
On this page you will find many links to organisations’ resources. Each organisation is listed in green, the link to the resource underlined and the type of resource in most cases is in bold. With such a variety of different resources to skim through, they have been grouped into the following categories:

1. Resources written for use in schools

2. Assembly Resources

3. New resources for 2023

4. Resources written for use in other settings, e.g. youth groups & Sunday schools

5. Video resources

6. Resources for families at home

# data[].attributes.body
Nativity of New York ( a 'Fairytale of New York' puppet parody)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Nativity of New York (a 'Fairytale of New York' puppet parody)

# data[].attributes.body
Christmas Parodies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christmas Parodies | Out of the Box | Inspiring children through performing arts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Out of the Box (Scotland) Ltd – Scottish Charity SC 035701

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Children’s Ministry - Welcome to the Children’s Ministry page. We hope you enjoy your visit. Use this page to find out what’s on in your area, what’s happening in Synod, free resources for you to use and more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With 95% of children and young people in England and Wales not in church but many open to faith, will you help share the real meaning of Christmas with them?

# data[].attributes.body
A Christmas Parody of Fairytale of NewYork. (This links takes you to a Facebook page)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Christmas Parody of Fairytale of NewYork | We produced this video last year. A parody of a fairytale of New York. Enjoy. 😀 | By Out of the Box (Scotland) Ltd | Facebook

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
13K views, 73 likes, 9 loves, 21 comments, 299 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Out of the Box (Scotland) Ltd: We produced this video last year. A parody of a fairytale of New York. Enjoy. 😀

# data[].attributes.body
BRF

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Advent resources for those who love to colour and think about the Bible at the same time!

# data[].attributes.body
Intergenerational worship through Advent

Check out these fantastic advent resources that can be used with all ages

# data[].attributes.headline
Chocolate Shredded wheat cribs, with icing baby Jesus - idea!

# data[].attributes.subject
Chocolate Shredded wheat cribs, with icing baby Jesus - idea!

# data[].attributes.body
Manger is just two bits of card slotted together. Cut a slot on each - to half way-  about 1/3 from bottom Just practicing for next week! I'll be making the wheat cribs, children will make baby Jesus out of ready to roll icing and parents can help slot the manager together Craft & snack all in one ... Win Win!
c/o 1277 Make it /count Facebook page

# data[].attributes.body
What if instead of telling our kids to be grateful, we broadened their perspective? BRF shares 24 ideas to spark gratitude this Advent.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What if instead of telling our kids to be grateful, we broadened their perspective? Becky shares 24 ideas to spark gratitude this Advent.

Well, the Christmas season is here!

I remember as a kid the excitement of Advent, watching the pile of presents under the tree grow bigger and bigger. And then the frenzy of ripped wrapping paper on Christmas morning, followed by the huge, unwelcome task of writing those thank-you notes. Somehow much less attractive than receiving the presents!

We want our kids to be grateful. Not only because God asks us to, but we know that truly grateful people are happier and more content. So we teach them to say, 'Thank you.' But what if that isn't the key to raising grateful kids?

At school, I had a geography teacher called Miss Swann. I didn't actually like geography and gave it up as soon as I could, but one thing Miss Swann said changed my life forever. She had volunteered as a teacher in Africa, and used to share stories about her time there. One day, as I was day-dreaming at my desk, she described how the children she'd taught in Africa had only one cup of water a day to wash themselves in. Bam! For some reason, that picture changed my attitude to water forever. To this day, whenever I turn on a tap, I say a silent prayer thanking God for our never-ending supply of clean and life-giving water.

I wonder if the key to raising grateful kids isn't about their behaviour, but their perspective? Not telling them to say, 'Thank you', but widening their vision so that gratitude becomes part of who they are?

This Advent, we thought about spending a bit of time exploring what might spark gratitude in our kids (and ourselves). So here are a few ideas for starting conversations about gratitude during Advent. Use them in whatever way works best for your family. You might do one a day in order, or pick out one when it suits you. Or cut them up and pop them in your kid's advent calendar, or chat about one at meal times. Whatever works for you. It's not about making everyone say 'Thank you', but about changing our perspective so that gratitude naturally overflows.

And if it helps, we've popped them onto a pdf, which you can download and use as you want.

Some of our ideas will work for your family, some won't. Use this as a springboard to spark your own ideas. Wouldn't it be great if together we could discover how to really make this Advent a season of gratitude and joy. Share your experiences and ideas using #growinggratitude.
Download PDF
24 days of gratitude

1. Ask everyone to share one thing they are particularly grateful that God gave them this year.

2. Who surrounds your family with love? Draw a heart in the middle of a piece of paper and write or draw your family in it. Around that heart, draw a series of hearts, so your family is enclosed in hearts. In each one write the name of people who surround your family with love.

3. Ask someone else in your family, 'What's the best thing someone's done for you this week?' Share your answer too.

4. Watch a nature documentary or go for a walk, taking time to stop and examine nature close up. Chat to God about which parts of his creation you find funniest, most beautiful and most amazing.

5. Think about the different people in your life who've helped you to meet God and know him better. Chat to God about them and see if you can catch from him any encouragements to share with them.

6. Share stories of what God has done for you, big or little, over this last year.

7. As you are enjoying something you love to eat, talk about whose work made it possible for you to enjoy it - not just the person who cooked it, but the person who worked to grow it in the first place, the person who harvested it, the person who packed it up, the person who drove it to the factory... you get the picture!

8. Get creative! Spend some time using whatever your child is into at the moment whether that's Lego, Minecraft, playdough, video animation, baking or painting. Build, draw, paint, mould or bake something you are grateful for and share it with God and each other.

9. Share a time where you had to trust God. What did he do? What did you do?

10. Run through your day in your mind and share about anybody who you saw today who made your life easier.

11. Give everyone three stickers or Post-it notes and ask them to imagine they are only allowed to keep three things from the whole house. Ask each person to stick them on the things (not people or pets!) that they would choose. At the end of the day, share with each other what you chose and why.

12. Ask God what makes his heart happy and see what you catch back.

13. Talk about who are you specially grateful for this Christmas, and why.

14. Have a scroll through some old photos on your phone or computer. If you have family photo albums or photobooks, dig those out too. Enjoy reminiscing and remembering special people and memories.

15. Ask other people in your life (grandparents, godparents, friends from church) what they are grateful to God for and how they thank him.

16. Try going one hour (or however long you can manage) without electricity and see what you miss most.

17. Ask God to remind you things he's given you. Write down whatever you catch in a wordcloud (using pens and paper or digitally) or draw what God shows you. Put it somewhere you'll see it often.

18. Talk about the different names of God - for example, shepherd, rock, healer, almighty, provider. Which is your favourite? Why? If you want, you could decorate a decoration for the Christmas tree to remind you of this. Save any decorations with names of God that you don't use and put them in your Christmas decoration box for next year - a different name might be significant to you then.

19. Talk about your favourite hobbies or clubs. Who has made it possible for you to do them?

20. Count the number of pairs of shoes in your house. Consider going on a short walk barefoot or in the wrong shoes (like flip flops on a rainy day) to experience firsthand what a difference it makes to have the right footwear.

21. Pause and go over the highs and lows of your day with God. Ask him to show you what he was doing.

22. Try an experiment taking away one of your senses for one meal. Wear a blindfold, ear plugs or oven gloves. Tell God your favourite sense and why. Ask Him any questions you have about them.

23. Make a family gratitude jar to use next year. Have paper and pens ready so that when somebody does something you are particularly grateful, you and write down what they did and why it sparked gratitude in you. Once the jar is full, share a special meal and read what people wrote.

24. Read the Christmas story together. Wonder together: 'What would the world be like if God hadn't come to earth?'

Some of these ideas use skills from the Key Tools of Parenting for Faith. If you haven't discovered them yet or need a reminder, you can check them out here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parenting for Faith | Growing gratitude in our kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What if instead of telling our kids to be grateful, we broadened their perspective? Becky shares 24 ideas to spark gratitude this Advent. Well, the Christmas season is here! I remember as a kid the excitement of Advent, watching the pile of presents under the tree grow bigger and bigger.

# data[].attributes.body
Scroll down the list to find the nativity characters

# data[].attributes.headline
Yarn tree - Thanks to Muddy Church - idea!

# data[].attributes.subject
Yarn tree - Thanks to Muddy Church - idea!

# data[].attributes.body
These super simple trees can be glued or tied and maybe people could make them individually and bring them to make a garland or picture together.

# data[].attributes.body
Our free Resource Hub offers a huge collection of activities and ideas developed by specialists for schools and churches to bring Christian teaching alive for children and families.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
BRF | Leading Christian charity enabling ministry and mission | Free Christmas activity ideas for children and families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Planning presentations to children or all-age gatherings this Christmas – in school or church? Choose from over 70 free, tried and tested, creative ideas for storytelling, interactive activities and more to put God in the centre of your event.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a wonderful devotional for parents written by Lucy Rycroft for busy parents. It encourages us to use the festivities around us to fix our eyes on Christ, deepening our relationship with the Father God who sent him.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"Redeeming Advent is a warm, welcoming feast of an Advent devotional. Lucy's grounded, empathetic prose draws us in to an abundant treasure-trove of reflections which surround, assure and entice. So many devotional books are difficult to engage with, because they can seem removed from the messy reality of life, but this lovely book shares the raw and chaotic edges of life from the start. Lucy is starkly honest about her struggle to find any kind of Advent discipline, and so this is a collection of thoughts and meditations which will appeal to those whose lives are less than perfect in any way - to those who want to capture the beauty and hope of the Advent period, yet find that their lives are overflowing with mess, busyness, exhaustion or anything which doesn't match up to the brightly staged TV ads and the flawless Instagram feeds of those whose lives are unblemished. It will particularly appeal to parents with young children, but the relatable wisdom and down-to-earth humour will speak to all those who are seeking something more in the Christmas period. Highly recommended." - Liz Carter author of 'Catching Contentment: How to be Holy Satisfied' (IVP 2018)

"As someone who often approaches Christmas with a rather jaded mentality of 'Oh, it's that time of year again,' I've found Lucy's book, Redeeming Advent, revolutionary and a wonderful blast of fresh air. It is a devotional with a difference, meeting us right in the midst of all the things that make Christmas busy, fun, chaotic, poignant, joyful and overwhelming, then opening our hearts to the awe and wonder of God entering our world as a tiny baby.

Lucy writes in a friendly, down to earth style that captivated my attention from the first page. As a busy mum to 4 children she explores Christmas traditions like putting up the decorations, Santa, present buying and dinner rituals and then turns them on their heads with personal reflections, scriptures and prayers that are really searching and open us up to God.

Redeeming Advent is both amazingly readable and thought provoking. It made me smile. It made me think. It made me laugh and it brought me back to having a real desire for Jesus to be number one in my life. I would recommend it to everyone as a beautiful means of celebrating Jesus, while still having great fun enjoying Christmas to the full. Well done Lucy, this is a brilliant book and a wonderful resource." - Tracy Williamson is an author and speaker working for MBM Trust, an itinerant music and teaching ministry

"Redeeming Advent is full of reality. Lucy 'gets' that we can lose the significance, joy and anticipation of Advent under the wrapping paper, mince pies and blind panic that often accompanies the run up to Christmas. It is also full of grace and help! It's a gentle, humorous, honest and real-life-rooted aid to our being 'with Jesus' during the season we celebrate his coming to be with us. We highly commend it!" - Andy and Beth Croft, Soul Survivor Watford

"If like me you are someone who yearns to grow closer to Jesus during Advent but don't always feel like you manage it amidst the busyness and expectations of others, you will be encouraged and inspired by this book so that you can grow closer to Jesus not in spite of but through all the fuss." -Revd Dr Sean Doherty, Principal, Trinity College Bristol

"With warmth, wit and disarming honesty, Lucy has given us an opportunity to engage in the spiritual significance of Advent. These reflections will enrich your experience of the Christmas season and draw you into the presence of God. Don't let another December get eaten up by stress, over-consumption and exhaustion: join Lucy in redeeming Advent. You will be grateful you did." - Jo Swinney, Author of 'Home: the quest to belong'

"What a refreshingly honest read. Lucy shares her life - her own stories and struggles - in this Advent devotional, which seeks to redeem Advent from the endless consumerism that can so easily envelop us. Each of the daily readings includes Lucy's own thoughts on the four areas she has focused on: redeeming our home, our Christmas celebrations, our hearts and our communities but she also provides the reader with questions to ponder and a prayer to utilise. The devotionals started life on her blog, and they certainly have a polished style that invites you to ponder more deeply. She draws on family life as well as current culture to present an engaging series of readings. If you are a parent you will certainly relate to a lot of her recollections! Often humorous, her writing also invites serious self-reflection. This devotional is well worth engaging with." - Claire Musters is a writer, speaker and editor. Her books include 'Taking Off the Mask'.

"If you're looking for a thought-provoking Advent read, this is it. Lucy Rycroft has taken key points from the biblical account of the Jesus' birth, and skilfully interwoven them with a blend of family traditions and 21st Century Christmas preparations. Redeeming Advent avoids a sanitised version of Advent, acknowledging that for most of us, this is a frenetic time of year. Instead, short prayers and questions help the reader reflect on how we keep Jesus as our focus in the midst of the pre-Christmas hustle and bustle. Highly recommended!" - Fiona Lloyd, author of 'The Diary of a (Trying to be Holy) Mum'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Redeeming Advent by Lucy Rycroft | Fast Delivery at Eden | 9781999722487

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"Redeeming Advent is a warm, welcoming feast of an Advent devotional. Lucy's grounded, empathetic prose draws us in to an abundant treasure-trove of reflections which surround, assure and entice. So many devotional books are difficult to engage with, because they can seem removed from the messy reality of life, but this lovely book shares the raw and chaotic edges of life from the start.