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ADvent Resources

As you celebrate the season of Advent this year, here are some resources for you to grow deeper in your love of Jesus, who took on our flesh.  May your Advent be fruitful and blessed as we awaiting the coming of the King. 

Be KNows Advent

Find videos every Wednesday by our very own Be on the explaining the varied meanings of items you see during of Advent.

Want to know more about the season of Advent and Christmas? Check out this great link: ​https://www.whychristmas.com/

Be Knows Advent: Week 5
The Nativity


Be Knows Advent: Week 4
​The Colors of Advent


Be Knows Advent: Week 3
​The Poinsettia


Be Knows Advent: Week 2
​The Chrismon Tree 


Be Knows Advent: Week 1
​The Advent Wreath

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Festival of Carols and Lights Materials

The following candles should be placed on a table in preparation for the service. You can use a variety of candle lengths and place them on various kinds of fabrics at varying heights for interest. Each candle symbolizes a character in the narrative. If you don’t have the varied colors, that is ok, use what you have! The number of candles needed are listed to the left of the characters.  You don’t necessarily have to have 5 candles for angels or 3 for shepherds. 
  • (1) Mary — light blue candle in simple ceramic candleholder
  • (1) Joseph— royal blue candle in simple ceramic candleholder, can be similar or identical to Mary's
  • (1) Baby Jesus — simple, clear round candleholder with white votive candle
  • (1-5 +) The angel candles are yellow, placed in crystal candleholders on a glittery gold fabric directly behind the Mary and Joseph candles. One is taller than the others — this is the Gabriel candle.
  • (1-3) The shepherd candles are a variety of shades of green, placed in wooden candleholders on a green shade of fabric. These are placed to the left of the angel candles.

Be the LIght Resources

Find resources for our Family Experience Kit here.
Advent wreath candle lighting songs​
November 29 "Go Tell it on the mountain"
THIS SONG WAS WRITTEN BY JOHN WESLEY WORK, JR IN 1907.  THE LYRICS TO THIS SONG MIRROR WHAT THE ANGELS TOLD THE SHEPHERDS TO DO OUTSIDE OF BETHELHEM. ​
December 6 "Little Drummer Boy"
This song was composed in 1941 and first record in 1951 by the Trapp Family Singers.  It is originally known as "Carol of the Drum." The boy was summoned to baby Jesus by the Magi and did not have a gift for Jesus so he played his drum for Jesus instead.
December 13 "Joy to the world"  
This song was originally a poem based on Psalm 98 by Isaac Watts.  This song celebrates Christ's second coming so it is an unlikely Christmas Carol. You can read more history here ​https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-joy-to-the-world
December 20 "Away in a Manger"​
We are not sure when, where or who wrote this song.  We do know that this children's song reminds us that we must learn to become like children to commune with God. 
favorite christmas shows/movies
Elf
A Charlie Brown Christmas
It’s a Wonderful Life
Christmas Vacation
A Christmas Story
Grinch
White Christmas
A Christmas Carol
Miracle on 34thStreet
Home Alone
Frosty
Santa Clause is Coming to Town
Nightmare Before Christmas
The Polar Express
favorite christmas foods
Little Smokies in BBQ Sauce
Fudge
Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls
Sausage Cheese Balls
Roast Beef
​Turkey and Dressing
Minced Meat Pie
Fig Cookies
Pecan Pie
Sweet Potato Casserole
Broccoli Salad
Spritz Cookies
Chex Party Mix
christmas music
​O’ Holy Night
The Christmas Song –Chestnuts Roasting
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Silent Night
Jingle Bells
Joy to the World
White Christmas
Carol of the Bells
What Child is This?
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Love Came Down at Christmas
I Will Be Home for Christmas
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Let it Snow
Mary Did You Know?
O’ Little Town of Bethlehem
Little Drummer Boy
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Silver & Gold
12 Days of Christmas
favorite christmas stories
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Polar Express
Santa Mouse
Song of the Star
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer•
The Grinch
A Christmas Carol
How Murray Saved Christmas
Davey & the First Christmas
The Crippled Lamb
The Christmas Box
The Little Drummer Boy
The Sweet Smell of Christmas
Yes, Virginia
cinnamon ornament recipe
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup cinnamon (provided in kit)
1/2 tsp nutmeg (optional)
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp water

Mix dry ingredients, then slowly add water.
Stir together and kneed if necessary.
Roll out dough on a flay surface and cut with cookie cutters.
Use a straw to poke a hole in each ornament for a ribbon to hang.
Lay ornaments out to dry.  It takes about 2 days to dry.
Decorate with paint, rhinestones, sequins and glitter.
ways to bless someone in need
​Give your time.  During Covid many people have been isolated and not able to see family and friends like they normally would.  Think about people you know who might be lonely.  Set aside a few minutes to call them and actually have a conversation.  If they are familiar with Zoom or Facetime, you can show them your holiday decorations and your smiley face!

Decorate Christmas ornaments and deliver (doorstep, socially distanced) or mail to friends and neighbors.  You can make really simple personal ornaments using photos and chipboard.

Have a Netflix Party.  Choose a favorite movie and invite other families to join you.  The browser extension is netflixparty.com.  Pop some popcorn, get in your jammies and enjoy!

Create ‘Merry Christmas’ signs to place in the yards of local care facilities and hospitals.  Place them a day or two before and go back the day after to remove them.  Call and ask permission before you put out your signs.
​
Help people have a true holiday meal.  It can be a challenge to prepare a traditional holiday meal for just one or two people.  Think of friends and neighbors who might not be cooking a big meal and offer to share yours.  Package up small containers of all your holiday favorites and deliver them.  You can find great disposable containers that can be put directly into the oven for reheating.
nativity scene
how to make a fleece blanket
Create a no sew fleece blanket with just a little cutting and tying.

You will need:  two pieces of polar fleece fabric two yards each (typically one solid and one pattern that coordinate).

Lay out the two pieces of fleece, one on top of the other with the front of the fabric pieces facing out
The fleece will likely have one side that is best for the outside.  As you lay out the fabrics, make sure you check for the side on the printed piece where the pattern looks the best to put on the outside.  Put the fuzzy side out on the plain piece.

Once you have laid the fabric out with one piece on top of the other, line up the edges and spread out any wrinkles.  Trim the fabric edges so they are lined up all the way around.

Once you have the fabric trimmed, cut a three inch by three-inch square out of each corner and discard those pieces.  Next, you are going to cut strips –1 inch wide by 3 inches deep –around the outside of the entire blanket.  Be sure you cut through both pieces of fabric at the same time so the strips match up.  I like to lay a yardstick across the fabric to make sure my cuts are the same length.

After you have cut the strips around your blanket, you are going to tie the strips –one from the top piece and one from the bottom piece–into a knot. If you cut through both pieces of fabric at the same time, your strips should be lined up on top of each other and easy to tie.
​
When you have tied all of the strips, your blanket is finished!
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advent wreath ideas
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Jacksonville, AR 72076

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  • Home
  • New Here
    • New Here
    • Staff
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  • Ministries
    • Adult Discipleship
    • Children's Department >
      • Discipleship Resources >
        • Children's Library
        • Parent Resources
        • For Kids
      • Nursery
      • Sunday School
      • Worship
      • Events
      • Kids @ First News
    • United Methodist Youth Fellowship
    • Missions
  • Childcare Center
  • Resources
    • Assistance
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  • Give Online