United Church of Christ
United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.
The Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ (UCC) equips a courageous Church alive with Christ’s transforming love.
Scripture Text | Luke 2:8-20
Wonderings
1
What does the story of Jesus’ birth mean to you?
2
How does your family celebrate this day?
Games/Movement
Simply Beautiful
Materials: candle lighter or matches; Advent Wreath with five candles; optional: print the instructions
How to: Set an unlit Advent Wreath in an accessible space for children. Light all four Advent Wreath candles and the Christ Candle. Ask participants to observe the flames, how simple yet beautiful they are.
- Ask: What do you see when you look at candle light? How does looking at the flames make you feel?
- Then, stepping away from the candles: Invite everyone to stretch – reaching up to the sky, then bending forward to touch their toes; tip side to side, rolling their shoulders. Then invite them to lie on the floor or sit in a chair and rest.
- Regroup to reflect and connect.
Reflect:
- How does it feel to simply rest?
- How does it feel to know that we are beautiful, just like we are, without working or trying?
- Can people living in other bodies be beautiful, simply by being?
Creative Project
Gratitude Pictionary
Materials: paper, pens or pencils
How to: Pictionary with a twist! Use the normal rules of pictionary, whereby you take turns drawing – no words, letters, or numbers – and getting the other team/the group to guess what your picture represents in one minute or less. Some creative rounds to try:
- Draw what you are most grateful for right now; draw something that is simple; draw something everyday (routine); draw something that gives you awe.
Caring for the Common Good
Share the Warmth
Create cozy, no-sew fleece blankets to share using these detailed instructions. Check with hospitals, homeless shelters, care facilities, and pet rescue organizations to find a local recipient eager for your creations. Consider asking your broader community to share fleece donations to minimize the cost of this giving project.
Reflect:
- Do you have a blanket or something soft and cuddly that you love? How do you feel when you hold it?
- Why would a blanket bring comfort to someone who is having a difficult time?
Books
Picture Books
- A Winter Candle by Jeron Ashford
This lovely story follows the candle as it is passed from family to family, lighting gatherings for the Sabbath, Saint Lucia Day, Kwanzaa, and others. - The Gift Inside the Box by Adam Grant and Allison Sweet Grant
Readers will love this mysterious gift in search of someone to open him.
Chapter Books
- The True Gift by Patricia MacLachlan
A community comes together to create a wonderful holiday surprise for two big-hearted children and one snow white cow.. - The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson
This Newbery Honor book makes it clear that family and friends are greater treasures than any objects. The story introduces us to Armand, a homeless, solitary man, who discovers a family with children living under a bridge.
Additional Resources
- More service-minded ideas:
- Create cheerful Car Window Poetry and share your notes, along with colorful candy canes, on nearby cars.
- Decorate customized, big-hearted awards to share with people in your congregation who are making a difference this Advent season.
- Books: The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau, Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo