{"id":123,"date":"2014-11-07T19:24:51","date_gmt":"2014-11-07T19:24:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cnob.org\/?p=123"},"modified":"2014-11-07T19:33:37","modified_gmt":"2014-11-07T19:33:37","slug":"inter-generational-advent-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cnob.org\/?p=123","title":{"rendered":"Inter-Generational Advent Event"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"advent<\/a>The beginning of Advent is a wonderful time to gather the whole church family together to learn and celebrate together the beginning of a brand new church year and begin to anticipate and prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas.<\/p>\n

Intentional inter-generational events are among the best activities a church can have to help all of our members grow in faith and in faithful relationships across all ages.\u00a0 When we share our rich stories of faith with each other we help our younger members learn from those they look up to and provide opportunities for our older members to experience anew the wonder and awe of our children.\u00a0 Together we build meaningful cross-generational relationships that lead to life-long faith formation.<\/p>\n

This intergenerational Event has been designed to not only provide and opportunity for faith sharing and learning, but also to provide resources for all of our families to continue to learn and worship together at home through the ritual of lighting an advent candle each day of advent and doing age-appropriate family devotions together.\u00a0 Together the congregation will share in a meal, learn about the history and practice of advent, get to know each other a little more, make an family advent wreath to take home, be supplied with an advent devotional booklet, and practice the ritual of lighting the wreath, reading and praying as a family at the event so they\u2019re ready to carry it on day-by-day as a family when they get home.<\/p>\n

This event is designed to happen on the first Sunday of Advent following worship or in the evening, or on a weeknight during the week before Advent.\u00a0 Here\u2019s what your Advent Event could look like:<\/p>\n

Would You Rather<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 (10 minutes)\u00a0 This is a fun getting-to-know-you game that you could play either before after the shared meal.\u00a0 You play Would You Rather<\/em> by dividing the Would You Rather <\/em>questions slips of paper between four baskets.\u00a0 Place one basket on each of four little tables or chairs set up in a circle to create question stations.\u00a0 Divide the participants between each of the stations and invite one member of each group to pick out a slip from their basket and read it to the group surrounding the basket beginning with the words, \u201cWould you rather\u201d, followed by the two options on their slip of paper.\u00a0 For instance they might read, \u201cWould you rather a. hot chocolate or b. apple cider\u201d.\u00a0 Each person responds with their own personal preference.\u00a0 Once they\u2019ve shared their answer with their group those who chose option \u2018a\u2019 move to the next station in a clockwise direction, while all of the \u2018b\u2019s\u2019 move in a counter clockwise direction.\u00a0 Just drop the slip of paper in the basket before you move on for someone else to pick out later in the game.<\/p>\n

Every station is asking and answering questions all the time with people moving quickly to their next stations, either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on their individual answers.\u00a0 There are no winners, just opportunities to mix the group up and get to know each other a little more.\u00a0 Stop the game while it is still fun.<\/p>\n

The Would You Rather<\/em> slips of paper are attached as a separate file with this resource. Just cut them apart and you\u2019re ready to go.<\/p>\n

Share with a Meal\u00a0 <\/strong>(45 minutes)\u00a0 <\/strong>A potluck meal makes it easy for everyone.\u00a0 You may wish to ask families to bring a seasonal family favorite.\u00a0 Is there a food they always eat when they decorate the tree? wrap presents? have extended family members over?\u00a0 You may wish to put on some hot apple cider or hot chocolate for everyone to enjoy the scents of the season.\u00a0 Whatever works for you church with the emphasis on easy and enjoyable.<\/p>\n

Invite families to sit together at this meal, but make sure a broad cross-section of ages are represented at each dining table.\u00a0 Decorate the tables festively and place some discussion cards on each table with fun Christmas questions such as: What is your favorite Christmas carol?\u00a0 What was the best Christmas gift you ever received and why?\u00a0 What is your favorite Christmas cookie and who makes it?\u00a0 Who\u2019s coming for Christmas this year?\u00a0 What do like to eat at Christmas?\u00a0 Encourage tables to get to know each other a little more through these questions and chat about Christmas\u2019 past and the joy each has brought.<\/p>\n

Intro to Advent<\/strong>\u00a0 (10 – 20 minutes depending on the age of the group)\u00a0 While everyone is still at their tables take some time to introduce the theme of Advent to the group.\u00a0\u00a0 Rather than delivering a lecture on Advent you might want to pick some of the more interesting points about Advent an print one point per piece of construction paper, cut each piece of construction paper into a 6 – 8 piece jigsaw puzzle, and place each jigsaw puzzle into an individual envelope.\u00a0 Distribute the envelopes of puzzles to the table groups and have them assemble their puzzles to discover exciting things about Advent for themselves.\u00a0 Have each group share what they have learned with the whole group.<\/p>\n

Here are some interesting things to know about Advent:<\/p>\n