An alternative Advent series which links in with the symbolic interpretation of the Advent
wreath (as suggested in The promise of His Glory)
(This series draws closely on the style and content of similar sessions worked out by
Jerome Berryman)
(Please note: Not included are any “I wonder” questions. Many churches are preparing for nativity
plays at this time, and so you may just want to do this storytelling part. It will help to give children a
sense of marking Advent amidst the business of your Christmas preparations)
Materials
City of Bethlehem
Board, 16” x 20”, covered or painted white on one side and purple on the other, to put under the
city.
Purple underlay, 12” x 45”, divided into 4 sections using e.g. flat wooden strips or braid/ribbon sewn
on.
Figures
Advent 1: 7 adults and 2 children
Advent 2: scroll
Advent 3: 1 adult
Advent 4: 1 adult
Scroll
Coloured night lights to match your church’s tradition
Advent 1
Go to the liturgical shelves and bring the materials for Advent
Purple. It’s now the time of the colour purple. Purple is the colour of kings and queens. A long time
ago, no one could wear purple unless they were royal people. Purple is also a serious colour, and it
means something serious is about to happen in the church. A king is coming but the king who is
coming is not the kind of king that people thought was coming. The king had no great army, no
great house, and no riches. This king was a baby who was born in a barn.
The king who was coming is still coming, but that is a mystery. A mystery is hard to enter
sometimes. That is why this time – the time of Advent – is so important. Sometimes people can
walk through a mystery and not even know it is there. This time of year everyone is so busy, people
hurrying around the shops, buying things and doing this and that, and it’s so easy to miss the
mystery. People don’t always know how to get ready for the mystery or perhaps they do not take
the time to get ready.
This is the season of Advent. The time when we get ready to celebrate the mystery of Christmas
and we all need time to get ready to come close to the mystery that is Christmas. The church sets
aside four weeks to get ready for Christmas.
Count the sections on the purple underlay.
This is such a great mystery that we need that long to get ready. During this time we are all on a
journey to Bethlehem.
Lay down Bethlehem at the left hand end of the road.
We are all making the journey, but who can show us the way?
Present Abraham and Sarah
There once was a man called Abraham who had a wife called Sarah. They loved God very much.
One day God told them to go to a new land, and God would make them into a great nation, he
would bless them and make them a blessing to other people. Abraham and Sarah were happy to
follow where God led them, but they were sad about one thing, they had no children. One day
Abraham came close to God and God came close to Abraham, and God said “You will have as
many children and grandchildren as the stars in the sky and as grains of sand on the seashore”.
Sarah laughed at this because they were so old. But God’s promise happened, and Abraham and
Sarah had a son called Isaac, (place child next to Abraham and Sarah). When he grew up, (remove
child figure and replace it with adult) he married Rebecca, and they had two sons called Esau and
Jacob (place 2 children), and when Jacob grew up he married (remove child and figures and
replace with 1 adult) and had 12 sons; the one we know most about was Joseph. We call these
people the Patriarchs, the great fathers – and I guess mothers – of the people of God.
But wait, there’s one more (present Moses). Moses was another great father. God make a promise
to Moses and Moses trusted in God and Moses led the people of God through the waters from
slavery in Egypt to freedom.
(Light a nightlight and place it in front of the Patriarchs, but off the purple underlay.)
This is the candle of the Patriarchs. It reminds us that they were people who listened to God and
tried to trust God, even though that was very difficult at times.
Let’s enjoy the light of the Patriarchs for a moment.
Advent 2
Go to the liturgical shelves and bring the materials for Advent. Place the long purple road in front of
you, unrolling from your right. Lay down Bethlehem at the left hand end of the purple strip.
It’s now the time of the colour purple. Purple is the colour of kings and queens. Purple is also a
serious colour, and it means something serious is about to happen in the church. A king is coming
but the king who is coming is not the kind of king that people thought was coming. This king had no
great army, no great house, and no riches. This king was a baby who was born in a barn.
The king who was coming is still coming, but that is a mystery. A mystery is hard to enter
sometimes. That is why this time – the time of Advent – is so important. Sometimes people can
walk through a mystery and not even know it is there. This time of year everyone is so busy, people
hurrying around the shops, buying things and doing this and that, and it’s so easy to miss the
mystery. People don’t always know how to get ready for the mystery or perhaps they do not take
the time to get ready.
This is the season of Advent. The time when we get ready to celebrate the mystery of Christmas
and we all need time to get ready to come close to the mystery that is Christmas. During this time
we are all on a journey to Bethlehem.
Touch Bethlehem
We are all making the journey, but who can show us the way?
The Patriarchs can show us the way
Place the figures in the right hand section as you say their names
Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob, Joseph and Moses.
Light the nightlight for the Patriarchs
Who else can show us the way?
The prophets will show us the way
Prophets are people who listened and spoke the word of God. Sometimes the people listened to
prophets, but sometimes they didn’t like what the prophets said. The words of the prophets are very
important and some of their words are in the Bible. A long time, ago, their words might have been
written on a scroll.
Place the scroll in the space next to the one for the Patriarchs.
Isaiah was a prophet who listened and spoke the word of God. He said one day the Messiah would
be born. The Messiah would be like a light shining in darkness. This is what Isaiah said: “The
people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwell in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.”
This is the candle for the prophets
Light a second candle and place it in front of the second section of purple underlay, in line with the
first nightlight.
This candle reminds us that prophets like Isaiah listened and spoke the word of God, so they can
show us the way to Bethlehem.
Let‘s enjoy these lights: the light of (touch the figures as you speak) the Patriarchs and the light of
the prophets.
Advent 3
Go to the liturgical shelves and bring the materials for Advent. Place the long purple road in front of
you, unrolling from your right. Lay down Bethlehem at the left hand end of the purple strip.
It’s now the time of the colour purple. Purple is the colour of kings and queens. Purple is also a
serious colour, and it means something serious is about to happen in the church. A king is coming
but the king who is coming is not the kind of king that people thought was coming. This king had no
great army, no great house, and no riches. This king was a baby who was born in a barn.
The king who was coming is still coming, but that is a mystery. A mystery is hard to enter
sometimes. That is why this time – the time of Advent – is so important. Sometimes people can
walk through a mystery and not even know it is there. This time of year everyone is so busy, and
it’s so easy to miss the mystery. People don’t always know how to get ready for the mystery or
perhaps they do not take the time to get ready.
This is the season of Advent. The time when we get ready to celebrate the mystery of Christmas
and we all need time to get ready to come close to the mystery that is Christmas. During this time
we are all on a journey to Bethlehem.
Touch Bethlehem
We are all making the journey, but who can show us the way?
The Patriarchs can show us the way
Lay down the figures in the right hand section as you say their names
Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob, Joseph and Moses.
Light the nightlight for the Patriarchs
The prophets can show us the way, (place the scroll in the next section to the left) the people who
listened and spoke the word of God.
Light the nightlight for the prophets
Who else can show us the way?
John the Baptist can show us the way.
Place the figure for John the Baptist on the third section from the right.
John the Baptist lived in the desert near the river Jordan. The people of God came out to the desert
to listen to John. John said, “Get ready. God is sending someone special. The special Messiah is
coming.” But how could people get ready?
John said they had to change the way they live, to live like God wants them to live.
This is the candle for John the Baptist.
Light a third candle in front of John the Baptist, in line with the other two candles.
This candle reminds us of John the Baptist, who told people to get ready for the Messiah coming, so
John the Baptist can show us the way.
Let’s enjoy these lights: the light of (touch the figures as you speak) the Patriarchs, the prophets
and now John the Baptist.
Advent 4
Go to the liturgical shelves and bring the materials for Advent. Place the long purple road in front of
you, unrolling from your right. Lay down Bethlehem at the left hand end of the purple strip.
It’s now the time of the colour purple. Purple is the colour of kings and queens. Purple is also a
serious colour, and it means something serious is about to happen in the church. A king is coming
but the king who is coming is not the kind of king that people thought was coming. This king had no
great army, no great house, and no riches. This king was a baby who was born in a barn.
The king who was coming is still coming, but that is a mystery. A mystery is hard to enter
sometimes. That is why this time – the time of Advent – is so important. Sometimes people can
walk through a mystery and not even know it is there. This time of year everyone is so busy, and
it’s so easy to miss the mystery. People don’t always know how to get ready for the mystery or
perhaps they do not take the time to get ready.
This is the season of Advent. The time when we get ready to celebrate the mystery of Christmas
and we all need time to get ready to come close to the mystery that is Christmas. During this time
we are all on a journey to Bethlehem.
Touch Bethlehem
We are all making the journey, but who can show us the way?
The Patriarchs can show us the way
Lay down the figures in the right hand section as you say their names
Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob, Joseph and Moses.
Light the nightlight for the Patriarchs
The prophets can show us the way, (place the scroll in the next section to the left) the people who
listened and spoke the word of God.
Light the nightlight for the prophets
John the Baptist can show us the way, (place the figure of John the Baptist in the next section to the
left): he told people to get ready for the Messiah coming.
Light the nightlight for John the Baptist.
Who else can show us the way?
Mary can show us the way.
Place the figure for Mary in the fourth space from the right (nearest Bethlehem).
One day God came close to Mary, and Mary came close to God. An angel told Mary that she was
going to be the mother of a very special baby, Jesus, the Messiah. Mary listened to the angel and
said “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be as you have said”.
This is the candle for Mary
Light the fourth nightlight, in front of Mary and in line with the other lights
This candle reminds us of Mary, who agreed to be part of God’s plan and became the mother of
Jesus, so she too can show us the way.
Let’s enjoy these lights: (touch the figures as you speak) the light of the Patriarchs, the light of the
prophets, the light of John the Baptist and now the light of Mary.
All the lights are lit. I wonder if we feel ready to celebrate the mystery that is Christmas?