1 December
At the heart of Christmas is the birth of a baby
Read Isaiah 9.6
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Today's activity
Draw some hearts. Inside each one write the name of a baby you know and say, ‘Thank you, God, for baby (name).’
2 December
From Christmas to Christmas, we remember the good things God has done
Read Psalm 9.1
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all your marvellous works.
Today's activity
Grab a piece of paper. Challenge your family to remember stories of God’s good deeds and write or draw them on your sheet. How many did you come up with?
3 December
Celebrating is at the heart of Christmas – and that often includes music!
Read Colossians 3.16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
Today's activity
Make a playlist of Advent and Christmas music. Share it with your family. Listen to it around your house or in the car.
4 December
Hearts remind us of God’s love
Read Matthew 22.37
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
Today's activity
Make a woven heart decoration for your home. This video shows you how to make the decoration.
5 December
At the heart of Christmas is the story of God’s love for the world
Read John 3.16
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.’
Today's activity
Christingles are a way of thinking about God’s love for the world and how we can help. Make one with an orange, a candle, some sweets and red tape. This video shows you how to build a christingle.
6 December
Today we remember Saint Nicholas, the gift giver
Read James 1.17
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Today's activity
Christmas can be expensive. Some people worry that they do not have enough money for food or gifts. Could your family help by giving a gift to a local foodbank?
7 December
At the heart of Christmas, there are lots of people. Read Mary’s story
Read Luke 1.26-38
The angel said to Mary, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus ... ’ Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.
Today's activity
Many people have a Nativity scene to help them remember the Christmas story. Here’s a simple one you could cut out and colour.
8 December
Some people find Christmas a difficult time. The Bible reminds us that God is with us however we feel
Read Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Today's activity
Find a sticking plaster. Draw a sad face on it. Stick the plaster on your bathroom mirror to remind you to pray for people who are sick or sad and worried.
9 December
Mary shared the news about Jesus with her cousin Elizabeth
Read Luke 1.39-42
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’
Today's activity
Use Google maps (or similar) to make or print a map showing where your wider family lives. Who lives furthest away from you? Who do you see most often?
10 December
St Paul wrote a letter to remind his friend Timothy always to remember Jesus
Read 2 Timothy 2.8
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel
Today's activity
Look at your Christmas cards. Which help you remember the story of Jesus?
11 December
Read how the first Christians met together to remember Jesus
Read Acts 2.44-47
All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.
Today's activity
Make a card for someone who helps lead your church. In it, thank them for the things they do to help people remember and follow Jesus.
12 December
For many people, family is at the heart of Christmas. Because of Jesus, we are part of God’s family!
Read 1 John 3.1
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Today's activity
Make a paper chain of dolls. On each doll, write the name of a family you know and all the children and adults in it. Put the dolls in a place where you can see them and thank God for the people they represent.
13 December
Today we remember Saint Lucy. Her name means ‘light’. Read what Jesus said about light
Read John 8.12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’
Today's activity
Go round your home and count how many light sources there are (don’t forget torches on phones and bedside lamps!). Consider giving 10p for each source to a charity that is helping bring light or electricity to people who don’t have easy access to it.
14 December
Loving God and other people is at the heart of what Jesus taught
Read Luke 10.25-28
‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’
Today's activity
Draw round your hand. On each finger, write something you could do to help someone this Christmas.
15 December
There are a lot of angels in the Christmas story. They are God’s messengers
Read Luke 1.19
The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.’
Today's activity
Some angels have names. Search online for ‘angels in the Bible’ to find out what they are and some of the messages they gave to people.
16 December
At the heart of Christmas is Jesus, God’s gift to us
Read Romans 6.23
The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Today's activity
We give gifts to each other at Christmas because God gave us the gift of Jesus. Make a list of the people your family will give gifts to this Christmas. Thank God for each person.
17 December
For many people, carols are at the heart of Christmas, a chance to sing about God’s love
Read Ephesians 5.19-20
As you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today's activity
What’s your favourite Christmas carol? Record your family singing it and share it with your wider family and friends.
18 December
God’s prophet Isaiah said that the promised baby would be like light to show us the way
Read Isaiah 9.2
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
Today's activity
Go for a walk with your family. As you pass houses and shops, pause and look at any decorations that celebrate Christmas. Which are your favourites and why?
19 December
At the heart of Christmas, there are lots of people. Read Joseph’s story
Read Matthew 1.18-24
All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.
Today's activity
Do an internet search for Christmas carols that include Joseph. What do they say about him?
20 December
Some people followed a star to find their way to Jesus
Read Matthew 2.1-12
When the Wise Men saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Today's activity
Make a star from construction bricks, card or pipe-cleaners. Put it in your window as a reminder you of the wise men’s story.
21 December
Being thankful is an important part of following Jesus
Read Colossians 3.15
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
Today's activity
Have a family huddle with your favourite hot drinks. As the drinks cool, tell each other the things you have enjoyed in 2021.
22 December
At the heart of Christmas is love
Read 1 John 5.1-2
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
Today's activity
Make or decorate some biscuits with a heart. Share them with your neighbours as a way of sharing God’s Christmas love.
23 December
At the heart of Christmas, there are lots of people. Read the shepherds’ story
Read Luke 2.8-20
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’
Today's activity
The shepherds were busy working that first Christmas! Make a list of people who are working today and ask God to be with them.
24 December
It’s Christmas Eve! Read the story that is right at the heart of Christmas
Read Luke 2.1-7
Joseph went to Bethlehem to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Today's activity
Gather your family round your Nativity scene or Christmas tree. Sing your favourite carol together and have a group hug.