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Need book suggestions for Advent/Christmas


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Hmmm... I personally think Advent readings are best done all together as a family. All the best Advent devotionals I've seen are written at an adult level and are meant to draw a family or church body together into meaningful thought and dialogue on the meaning of Advent. Here are several well-written Advent suggestions:

 

Focus on the Family: daily Advent, 25 suggested passages for daily Scripture reading

A Jesse Advent Celebration, 25 poetic and meaningful Advent readings by Ann Voskamp

- The Glorious Impossible (L'Engle), 25 short readings -- entire life/death/resurrection of Jesus, illustrations are the works of classical painter Giotto

God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas, (editor: Greg Wolfe) is poetic and meaningful daily readings for Advent through Epiphany, plus additional readings for the Catholic feast days during that time period

Donkey Bells: Advent and Christmas (Doherty) is probably closer to what you looking for: 35 short meditations; 20 short articles on customs and feasts; and 8 short real life stories; personally, I would still do it all together as a family, maybe at dinner, or first thing in the morning.

 

Advent/Christmas readings that are more geared for younger children but can do as a whole family:

- Family Book of Advent (Garborg) -- 25 short readings with hands-on activity for each

- One Wintry Night (Graham) -- meaning of Christmas; can read one short chapter a day

- The Jesse Tree (by McCaughrean, or other Jesse Tree devotionals written for children)

- Christmas Carols for Kids Hearts (Wulgemuth/Tada)-- short reading and traditional hymn/carol a day

 

 

For your young teens

Perhaps have meaningful classics your young teens could be reading as their daily literature for the month, set around Christmas, or bringing out themes of Advent. Here are a few specific Christmas-setting ideas:

- Dance in the Desert (L'Engle)

- A Christmas Carol (Dickens)

- "A Child's Christmas in Wales" (Thomas)

- "The Other Wise Man" (Van Dyke)

- "The Gift of the Magi" (Henry)

- The Thirteen Days of Christmas (Overton)

 

works with Christian themes (but NOT Advent/Christmas related):

- "The Light Princess" (MacDonald) -- short story; redemptive sacrifice

- "The Golden Key" (MacDonald) -- short story; journey of faith

- "The Wise Woman" (MacDonald) -- short story; receiving/rejecting work of sanctification

- "Smith of Wooten Major" (Tolkien) -- short story; the King walking as one of us

- "Leaf By Niggle" (Tolkien) -- short story; going "further up and further in"

- The Great and Terrible Quest (Lovett) -- novel; self-sacrifice & keeping your oath

- The Tombs of Atuan (Le Guin) -- novel; from bondage to powers of darkness to freedom

- The Bronze Bow (Speare) -- historical fiction; lives changed when encountering Christ

- Ben Hur (Wallace)  -- historical fiction; lives changed when encountering Christ

- Ides of April (Ray) -- historical fiction; lives changed when encountering Christ

 

 

activities for whole family/younger children:

- make a Jesse Tree ornament each day, and read an accompanying Scripture passage

- make a soft bed for Jesus: each time a family member secretly does an act of service or kindness for another, they put a piece of straw in a manger, and by Christmas, everyone's acts have built up and prepared a place for the Savior

- each day add one figure to a Nativity scene, and read a supporting Scripture passage

- each day have children make a small gift, bake something, or do an act of service for a different neighbor, relative, or friend

idea list of Advent family traditions and activities

- printable packet of Advent activities for young children

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