Try this idea to encourage your youth to spend some time focusing on the themes and texts of the Advent season.
Inspired by a 2011 post by Joel Mayward and some of the ideas we have shared here for Advent prayer stations, I developed the following activity to encourage our youth to spend some time sharing themselves with each other while exploring the meaning behind the season of Advent.
Prepare a small gift box with the following items: shepherd nativity figure, watch or hour glass, baby toy, votive candle, greeting card with image of the nativity, strips of green and red construction paper (most of these items I just picked up at a dollar store). Print and cut out the texts below and tape them to the corresponding object in the gift box. Invite one participant at a time to select an item from the box, read the text and corresponding question and pass the object around the group, giving each person a chance to respond. Note: You could do this as one large group (no more than ten would be good) or divide into smaller groups (with 3-5 people per group).
LIGHT: Read from Isaiah 9: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”
The Messiah was expected to be like a light in a dark world, especially to the poor, the hungry, the outcast, the marginalized, and the oppressed. For many people, Jesus was that light. But he also said, “You are the light of the world.” Pass around this votive candle and have each person share: How are you being called to be a light this Advent season? Where are you needed right now to illuminate some love and peace in the world?”
Close by passing around the box itself and say: "Think about what gift you would most like to receive this advent season to help you be part of sharing the good news of Christ's love -- something that can't be bought in the store. Maybe it's rest, self-confidence, or patience to deal with a friend." Pass the box around the room and have each person share. Close in prayer.
Inspired by a 2011 post by Joel Mayward and some of the ideas we have shared here for Advent prayer stations, I developed the following activity to encourage our youth to spend some time sharing themselves with each other while exploring the meaning behind the season of Advent.
Prepare a small gift box with the following items: shepherd nativity figure, watch or hour glass, baby toy, votive candle, greeting card with image of the nativity, strips of green and red construction paper (most of these items I just picked up at a dollar store). Print and cut out the texts below and tape them to the corresponding object in the gift box. Invite one participant at a time to select an item from the box, read the text and corresponding question and pass the object around the group, giving each person a chance to respond. Note: You could do this as one large group (no more than ten would be good) or divide into smaller groups (with 3-5 people per group).
WAITING: Read from Luke 3: “As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in
their hearts concerning John (the Baptist), whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by
saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is
coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you
with
the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Advent is a season of waiting – waiting once again to
celebrate the birth of Jesus and the way that birth changes the world. Invite each group member to hold this watch
and answer the following question: What are you waiting for this Advent season
(for example, in your personal life, at school, with your family, in the world,
etc.) If you like, pass the watch around again and ask each
person: What do you think God is waiting for?
STORY: Read from Luke 2: “In that region there were shepherds living
in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood
before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified. But the
angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of
great joy for all the people: to
you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,
the Lord. This will
be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in
a manger.’ “
Consider the nativity story. Pass around this greeting card
to each person and have them answer: Which character from the story do you most
connect with, relate to, or see yourself as at this point in your life? The humble, smelly, outcast shepherds? The
expectant (and potentially disgraced)mom? The worried, confused dad? The
wandering magi bearing gifts? The angels bringing good news? The animals
watching from the background?
PRAYER: Read from Colossians 3: “ As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear
with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each
other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you
also must forgive. Above
all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony. And let
the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the
one body. And be thankful. Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”
Who are you praying
for this Advent season (Yourself? Someone else?) Everyone take a slip of red or green paper
and write the name of the person you wish to lift up in prayer on the paper. As
you go around the circle and share your prayer concerns with the group one at a time, attach your prayers
to form a paper chain, connecting your prayers together. After each person shares their prayer
concern, respond as a group: “God, in your love, hear our prayer.”
SHEPHERD: Read Luke
2:8-14: In that region there were
shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood
before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified. But the
angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great
joy for all the people: to
you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,
the Lord. This will
be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in
a manger.’ And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,
praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he
favors!’
What a radical story we tell, claiming that the first people
to come and worship Jesus were a bunch of dirty, peasant shepherds! These were people that most wouldn’t have
given the time of day, and yet they are the ones who we follow to the manger. Scripture often refers to Jesus as a shepherd
who cares for his sheep – as one who will lead others to the way of peace and
compassion. Pass around the shepherd figure and ask each person to answer: Who
is (or has been)a “shepherd” in your life that you are thankful for? Who is nurturing you? Who is guiding you and
helping you find your way? LIGHT: Read from Isaiah 9: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”
The Messiah was expected to be like a light in a dark world, especially to the poor, the hungry, the outcast, the marginalized, and the oppressed. For many people, Jesus was that light. But he also said, “You are the light of the world.” Pass around this votive candle and have each person share: How are you being called to be a light this Advent season? Where are you needed right now to illuminate some love and peace in the world?”
EXPECTATION: Read this passage from Luke where the
teenager Mary discovers she will be having a baby: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in
Galilee called Nazareth, to
a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The
virgin’s name was Mary. And
he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by
his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not
be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in
your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be
called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne
of his ancestor David. He
will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no
end.’”
In the story, Mary is pretty confused when she gets this
news from the angel. And yet, very often the announcement of a new baby on the
way is good news, a chance to celebrate new life. In Advent we prepare to share the good news
that the same God who loves the world through the birth of a tiny, helpless,
peasant baby, also loves the world through each of us…if we are willing. That’s
pretty good news! Pass around the baby toy and have each person share: What good
news do you have to share about your life right now? What can you celebrate?Close by passing around the box itself and say: "Think about what gift you would most like to receive this advent season to help you be part of sharing the good news of Christ's love -- something that can't be bought in the store. Maybe it's rest, self-confidence, or patience to deal with a friend." Pass the box around the room and have each person share. Close in prayer.
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