Keep Awake • Anticipate

What is happening in this story?

This text contains some of Jesus’ last sayings before he is arrested. Jesus is the one who came as the Prince of Peace, the one who will die instead of raise a hand to his captors, and the one whose mission from the Father is to love the whole world. He speaks these words right before he is unjustly betrayed, tried, and crucified. Jesus’ last words are ones of comfort and assurance, and provide advice on living through the tough times as we wait for the second coming.
 

Why does this story matter for kids?

Cultural messages about anticipation during December focus on the commercialism of Christmas. They remind us to anticipate parties, gifts, food, get-togethers . . . the list goes on. Anticipation during Advent means something different in the church. This Advent journey of anticipation gets us ready for Christmas and the beginning of a whole new church year. Advent is a season of hope and anticipation in which we prepare to welcome Jesus—both in remembering his first coming as a baby and in looking forward to his second coming as King.

What is the lectionary connection?

The first Sunday of Advent is the first Sunday of the church year calendar. The color of Advent is blue or purple: royal colors reminding us of the coming King, Jesus! Happy New Year!

 

WATCH

THE VIDEO

  • KIDS AGED 10 AND YOUNGER

In the video today, the kids are looking forward to Christmas. Watch how they try to rush through Advent to get to Christmas instead of waiting for it.

Watch the video below:

 

Ask kids these questions about the video:

  • What’s the hardest thing about Advent for the kids in the video?

  • How do the kids try to squeeze all of Advent into one day?

  • What’s the hardest thing about waiting for Christmas for you? Why?

  • Why is waiting important? What do you do while you wait?

 
 

  • KIDS AGED 11 AND OLDER

Changes can happen in church frequently! Let’s find out what happens when Ruby helps with changes in her church!

Watch the video below:

 

Ask kids these questions about the video:

  • What does anticipate mean?

  • Ruby didn’t seem to get that Advent was a time to anticipate Jesus, not presents. What do most of your friends anticipate?

  • How do you anticipate Jesus during Advent?

  • How does helping others help us focus on Jesus?

  • How can you focus on Jesus this Advent? Will you?

 

read

the bible story

Mark 13:24-37

Jesus is telling us we should always pay attention. You never know when something important is going to happen. We all anticipate Jesus’ birth in Advent, but Jesus asks us to always “keep awake.”

Ask these questions after you read the story:

  • How many times did you hear “keep awake”?

  • How do you feel when you know something big is about to happen?

  • What clues do you use to figure out what might happen next in your life?

  • What clues can you use to watch for God all around you? Who can help you with these clues?

wrap up with

review + prayer

Today we talked about how the season of Advent is about watching and waiting and preparing for Jesus to come. Jesus promises that he loves us and is with us always, even when we can’t see him. What is the best part about waiting for Jesus?

Pray together:

Dear God, we anticipate celebrating your birth. Our hearts are thankful for the promise of your presence. In Advent we watch; in Advent we wait. Amen.

try one or two

Follow-up activities

This week’s theme is ANTICIPATION. During the season of Advent, we anticipate the birth of Jesus. While the world around us is already in Christmas mode, we wait and get ready. Try some of these get-ready activities together.

  • The Four Ends

    Write a prayer that includes the four directional ends of the earth, and the winds that come from them (N, S, E, W). In the prayer, bring these four elements together into one blessing from God.

  • A Banner Advent

    What are you anticipating this holiday season? Make an anticipation banner, where you name everything that your family is expecting to happen at Christmas. Hang it in a common area where you’ll see it each day.

  • Late Nights

    Do a simple science experiment: try to stay awake. On a Friday night (when you don’t have a Saturday morning commitment), see how late family members can stay up. How late can each person make it? What makes it hard to stay awake after a while? Take notes on what you observe.

This week, our family is praying for:

Season of AdventSalt 'n Light Kids