Make a family Christmas memory

By Kim Harris

What will you remember about the year 2002? Will it be a special summer vacation, the birth of a child, a sporting victory, a "first" for you, or a tragic event?

What will you remember about Christmas 2002? Will it be a special gift, a secret shared or a special celebration? Once the Christmas decorations are packed away, I sometimes quickly forget what gifts I received. However, the things I don't forget are the memories made with family and friends and family traditions begun and anticipated from year to year.

The Advent season is a special time of year when we anticipate the coming of the Savior. It traditionally begins the four weeks before Christmas. Advent season challenges us to personally prepare the way for the birth of the Christ child.

Some families make an advent wreath to put on a table in a special place. The four candles of the Advent wreath are lit one week at a time and focus on one particular aspect of the season. The center candle, representing Jesus, is lit on Christmas Eve. These activities can be followed and enjoyed together as a family during the Christmas season. Remember to include younger and older family members in the devotion and activity time together.

You may want to use the following suggestions as a guide or you might create other devotionals and activities as well. Regardless of the form, the memories made from time spent with each other will be remembered for years to come.

Week 1 - the Prophecy Candle
This week is the period of waiting as we anticipate the coming of the Christ child. Read Isaiah 9:2-7 with your family and light the prophecy candle. Place a manger scene in a special place in your home. Let each family member place a nativity figure in the manger and tell why he or she is thankful for Jesus' coming to earth. Younger children may want to act out the Christmas story using the figurines. Listen to Christmas music or sing some favorite Christmas songs.

Week 2 - the Angel's Candle
This week is the week of love and concern. Read Luke 1:26-38. Give every family member one piece of paper for each of the other family members. Guide them to write a note of love for each person in the family and then share the notes with one another. Younger children may want to draw a picture for each person. As a family, decide on a family project to be done together to show love and concern for someone else. Sing a favorite Christmas carol together as you light the Angel Candle.

Week 3 - the Bethlehem Candle
This week is the preparation to welcome the Christ Child. Read Luke 2:17. Discuss ways that each family member can welcome the Christ Child into his or her life and then together into their family. Sing "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful" together. Make luminaries for the holiday season. Provide paper lunch bags, sand and small candles. Children can help pour about an inch of sand in each bag. Place the bags along your driveway or walkway and insert the candles. Light the candles at evening and enjoy.

Week 4 - the Shepherd's Candle
This week is the week to tell the Good News of Jesus' birth. Read Luke 2:8-20 that tells of the shepherd's account of the birth of Jesus. Either go outside or look out the window at the stars in the nighttime sky. Which are the tiniest, the largest and the brightest stars? Pretend you are a small band of shepherds gazing into the night. What must it have felt like to see the star that shined so brightly in the eastern sky? What must it have felt like to hear the heavenly host of angels singing and praising God? Sing "Silent Night" together and pray. If there is time, go outside and carol to others in your neighborhood telling them the good news of Jesus' birth just as the shepherds did.

Christmas Eve or Christmas Day - the Christ Candle
This candle represents Jesus, the light of the world. As you prepare for today's devotion, turn out all of the lights and light all of the candles in the Advent wreath. Read John 8:12. Give each family member a small candle. Let them light their candle from the center candle and tell one way that they know Jesus loves them. You may want to end this time together in prayer and by singing together, "Away in a Manger."

(EDITOR'S NOTE - Kim Harris is the director of church leadership development for the Bartow Baptist Association in Georgia. She is a resident of Marietta, Ga. and a native of Morganton.)