“God’s people waited for Jesus. We get ready to celebrate Jesus’ birth.”

“Jesus, thank You that You came, and I can wait for You with joy.”

Isaiah 7:14

Children repeat after you:

“Dear God,
Thank You for loving us.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for the Bible,
Your special book.
Help us listen and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Song 1 – B-I-B-L-E

• Bible hands, hug the “book,” step on “I stand alone.”

Song 2 – When I Look

Song 3 – “We Are Waiting for Jesus”
(Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)
“We are waiting for our King,
Jesus, Jesus, everything.
Long ago God promised Him,
Born to save us from our sin.
We are waiting for our King,
Jesus, Jesus, everything.”

Motions: 
Rock arms like a baby on “Jesus,” point up on “King,” hands together like waiting on “waiting.”

Sit kids in a circle. Use: an empty stable/manger, a “prophet” figure or scroll, a picture of baby Jesus (kept aside for now), and an Advent candle (real or pretend).

a) What is Advent? (waiting time)
Show the empty stable/manger.

• “Advent is a special time before Christmas. It is a time of waiting. We remember how God’s people waited a long time for Jesus to come.”
• Show the candle or picture of a candle.
• “Each week of Advent, some people light a candle to remind them to think about Jesus and to wait with hope.”

b) God’s people waited for the promised Savior
Hold a scroll or “prophet” figure.

• “Long ago, God promised to send a Savior, a special King. God’s messengers, called prophets, talked about Him. They said a child would be born who would be called Wonderful and Prince of Peace. People waited and waited for God to keep His promise.”

Point to the empty manger.

• “They did not know when it would happen, but God knew. God always keeps His promises.”

• c) Jesus came, and we still wait
  Now place the picture gently near the manger (or tell them you’ll “wait” to put Him in the manger at Christmas).
• “Now, at Advent, we remember that first Christmas and we also remember that we are still waiting. We are waiting for Jesus to come again one day and make everything new. While we wait, we can love Him, trust Him, and tell others about Him.”

d) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:

• “Advent is waiting for Jesus. I can wait with hope.”

Motions:
Tap wrist like a watch on “waiting.”
Rock arms like a baby on “Jesus.”
Hand on heart and smile on “wait with hope.”

Say it several times: loud, whisper, standing and sitting.

Goal: 
A simple stable with an empty manger to picture hopeful waiting.

Steps

• Give each child the stable-and-manger page.
• Help them glue yellow/brown “straw” in the manger.
• Let them color the stable, night sky, and star above.
• At the bottom, write:
  • “Advent is waiting for Jesus. I can wait with hope.”
• Optional: tell them, “We’ll remember this manger when we talk about Jesus being born.”

Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)

• “Your picture shows a stable and an empty manger with straw. The manger is ready, but baby Jesus is not there yet. Advent is like this—we are waiting and getting ready to celebrate Jesus’ birth. When you look at this picture, remember: ‘Advent is waiting for Jesus. I can wait with hope.’”

Have children hold up their pictures and say:

• “Advent is waiting for Jesus. I can wait with hope.”
  
  

Find more hands-on activities (PDF format) from Pierre to help children learn and live God’s Word.