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An Illustrated Advent for Families

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We are excited to announce the launch of our newest family Advent devotional resource: An Illustrated Advent for Families: In Light & Darkness! It’s not just an Advent devotional for kids, but for people of all ages.

Family Devotional for Advent

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Our church families love An Illustrated Advent for Families. We print it out and have it available throughout Advent. I love the inclusive illustrations and short and accessible devotions. The materials needed aren’t complicated. Illustrated Ministry’s products are made for modern, progressive, busy families.
– Erica Jeglum, Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Advent Devotional for Families

It’s hard to believe, but this is our fifth year of publishing our annual Advent resource for families. An Illustrated Advent for Families provides families with a resource for engaging their children in faith formation during the Advent season. This Advent devotional for kids and families, along with An Illustrated Lent for Families, has been used by thousands of families around the world, and we can’t wait for you to check out this new edition.

FREE SAMPLE: Click here to download a free sample of An Illustrated Advent for Families: In Light & Darkness.

Order your copy of An Illustrated Advent for Families: In Light & Darkness by visiting our store today!

Family Advent Devotional for Kids

Family Advent Devotional

Advent Family DevotionalIt’s no secret that families today are busy, and rather than make a family Advent devotional that feels burdensome, we wanted to create an Advent devotional for kids and families that would be simple but meaningful. Accessible for all ages, but also thought-provoking.

An Illustrated Advent for Families: In Light & Darkness will help you slow down, ask questions, have fun, be intentional about how you spend your family time and get creative! There are simple but meaningful devotions for all ages, a fantastic craft that includes coloring and will be fun to create throughout Advent, and an Advent Calendar that is more than just opening up chocolates every day before Christmas.

Keep reading to learn a bit more about the activities in this year’s edition, and to hear testimonials from people who have used our previous versions of An Illustrated Advent for Families.

I like everything Illustrated Ministry puts out. We use it consistently and find their products to be beautiful, they align with our theology, and they are easy to use. An Illustrated Advent for Families is excellent for helping families spend some time attending to their faith during a hectic time of year.
– Jessie Brajcki, Children’s and Youth Pastor, Artisan Church

Advent Devotional for Kids

Advent for Families

This year’s theme is In Light & Darkness. The weekly devotions explore the theme of light and darkness in Advent scriptures. How we understand these ideas affect the way we view God, our faith, and our world. Inspired by Barbara Brown Taylor’s book, Learning to Walk in the Dark, we re-frame traditional understandings of light as good and darkness as bad or evil.

Light and Darkness

Each week, there is a suggested scripture to read, a short reflection, discussion questions, an activity (with lots of coloring opportunities), and a prayer to explore the theme of light and darkness working in balance in our lives.

These weekly devotionals are written so they can be used by children of all ages (and adults as well), and we believe you’ll find questions and discussion topics in each of the devotionals that will work for your children, no matter the age.

I am looking forward to using the “In Light & Darkness” resources this year because I know the information will be theologically appropriate and sound. It is also a meaningful way for families to connect during the busy Advent and Christmas season. And I especially love there is an additional all-ages devotional this year (In Light & Darkness: An Illustrated Devotional), so we can genuinely do intergenerational ministry during Advent.
– Mary Hagley, Minister of Families, Dixboro UMC
In Light & Darkness: An Illustrated Devotional, the devotional pictured and referenced below, is not included with An Illustrated Advent for Families: In Light & Darkness, but we wanted you to see what you could also purchase as an accompanying product.

In Light & Darkness: An Illustrated Devotional

This year we are also offering another devotional that goes into our theme of light and darkness a bit more, and also has discussion questions that work for all ages. This Illustrated Devotional is a new type of product for us, and we think you’re really going to like it.

This unique intergenerational resource is a hybrid devotional/coloring book. In Light and Darkness: An Illustrated Devotional includes five weekly devotions for all ages, as well as illustrations to color and opportunities to doodle and engage with the content in fun and creative ways. The photos below can help give you a sense of some of the coloring opportunities in this devotional.

You can purchase this illustrated devotional here.

FREE SAMPLE: Click here to download a free sample of An Illustrated Advent for Families: In Light & Darkness.

Christmas Shadow Box Theater

Advent Craft for Kids

We are excited about this fabulous craft this year: our Christmas Shadow Box Theater. By following simple directions, you can build your Christmas Shadow Box Theater and use it to act out the story of Christmas using light and shadows.

This is a great supplemental activity for Sunday School, to use at an Advent festival or event, and for families with young children to help tell the Christmas story.

While our youngest participants may need some additional assistance with this year’s craft, it is something that all ages can participate in. And certainly, it is an activity that all ages will have fun playing with once it’s created.

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As a Christian educator who is also a mom, I found this resource to be an excellent guide for our family and our congregation’s families during Advent. I appreciated how both my 8-year-old and 5-year-old could engage with the writings, questions, and prayers. The coloring is always a hit and creates space for conversations and questions around scripture…I’ve done a lot of research on Advent devotionals for families and hands down, An Illustrated Advent for Families is the best. Sound theology with content that has depth and engages families while understanding the realities of a family’s life makes this resource a must-have for Advent.
– Jenna Campbell, Director of Children and Youth Ministry, First Presbyterian Church, Stillwater, OK

We also have this craft available for purchase as a standalone activity. You can purchase our Illustrated Christmas Shadow Box Theater, and find other crafts from past years, here.

Advent Activities for Families

Advent Calendar

While many Advent calendars today come with the promise of chocolates or toys behind each of the numbered doors, this Advent calendar is a little different. Our Advent calendar is more of an activity calendar — activities that can help you get into the Advent and Christmas spirit.

Some of these activities will be great for your kids to do by themselves—others will require the whole family. And some activities require you to get out of your house and go into your community.

Illustrated Ministry always does a good job creatively welcoming you into the Advent season. Their design elements are fun and engaging, yet approachable and straightforward in all the detail. I appreciate the way their resources give kids and families a platform to step into the mystery of Advent in compelling and meaningful ways.
– Daniel Booker, Associate Pastor of Children & Families, Bethany Covenant Church

Each of the Advent calendar activities fits in with our theme of light and darkness and will help participants (of all ages) think about light and darkness and how it can affect how we think about Advent and Christmas.

Below are 3 sample activities from the Advent Calendar:

  • When it is dark outside, lights and sparkles remind us to celebrate. Does your family use Christmas lights to light up your home or Christmas tree? What about glitter or tinsel? How many sparkly, reflective, shimmery, or flashing things can you find in your home? Set a timer for three minutes and see who can find the most LIGHT!
  • Advent is a time of waiting and slowing down to think about life. But we are usually busy in December! Schedule a time during your day to do something slow. Read a book, write in your journal, meditate, or play with playdough. But do it verrryyyy sloooowwwlllyyy.
  • Some people do not have access to electricity, so it can be tough for children to do their homework after dark. Find an organization that provides solar lamps to families with children and gift them with a donation.
In past years, we have written our own Advent materials or adapted something from an older in-house devotional. An Illustrated Advent for Families was so much easier, still very reasonably priced, and theologically aligned with our view of Advent. It is easy to use, beautifully crafted, thoughtfully written, theologically sound, and thoroughly engaging.
– Kristine Nussbaum, Minster of Education, Kidron Mennonite Church

Order your copy of An Illustrated Advent for Families: In Light & Darkness by visiting our store today!

Advent Devotions for Families and Kids

We hope you’ll take some time to check out An Illustrated Advent for Families: In Light & Darkness, and let us know if you have any questions. Whether you thought you were just looking for an Advent devotional for kids, or if you specifically wanted a family Advent devotional – our Illustrated Advent for Families has something for everyone.

FREE SAMPLE: If you’d like to download a sample of the resource to check out before you purchase, you can click here.
Illustrated Ministry’s products are more engaging and well put together than most others. They’re always fun to use and beautiful to look at. IM’s resources are always comprehensive and engaging. I never have to look around to add things to their products to make it feel fleshed out. If you’re looking for something that will be fun and educational for families, this is what you need.
– Hollie Friot, Church School Director, Barre Congregational Church (UCC)

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5 Wildly Effective Ways to Connect with Families Not Regularly at Church

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connect with families

One of our amazing readers wrote to us wanting to connect with families who aren’t regularly at church. We hear you! This can be a tough thing. Read on for our five wildly effective ways to stay connected.

Do you have even more ideas to share? Tell us in the comments below!

connect with families

Why You Need to Connect with Families

There are so many reasons why families may not be at church regularly. As a ministry leader, it may be easy to assume it’s because they don’t like something you’re doing. However, this is most likely not the case.

Families may not be attending church regularly because…

  • Parents are working long hours or traveling a lot for their job.
  • Families are navigating co-parenting and children living in two homes.
  • Children have scheduling conflicts with their extra-curricular activities.
  • Parents feel unsure while contemplating their own theology and religious affiliation.
  • New babies are throwing off their mornings and/or evenings.
  • Homework is keeping kids home.
  • Families feel disconnected from the community because they aren’t there often. So, they attend even less.

Keep in mind how busy families are and remember that context. Packed schedules and complex dynamics make it difficult to say yes, even to the things we really want to be doing in our lives.

connect with families

Connect with Families Purposefully

So, what’s your role given that some of this may be true? You need to be doing two main things: connecting to the families and connecting the families to the community.

And here’s the cool thing. The families who aren’t at church regularly are going to feel more a part of the church. But, so are the families who are there regularly. Everyone will feel the improvement when these efforts are made.

How can you do this effectively? Read on for a few ideas we hope will help in both of these efforts!

connect with families

Connect with Families Even When Apart

Stay in touch.

Families who aren’t present regularly can feel forgotten. So, be sure to connect with families regularly even if they aren’t at church. Send a text checking in. Be sure they’re on the email blast. Send birthday and holiday cards to them. Invite them personally to special events.

Vary contact.

If families are hearing from you in only one way, it can feel contrived. They may feel like there’s a list they’re on (which is probably true, but still…) and they’re only getting contacted because of that.

So, vary in your contact with them. Text, email, snail mail are all great options. Also, vary the person who contacts them. Share this responsibility across several people. For example, perhaps the pastor sends an email checking in. Then the ministry director sends the email blast and sets up a lunch date. And the Sunday school teacher comments on their social media posts. And a friend of the family invites them to a special upcoming event.

Post consistently.

If your church doesn’t have an online presence, that needs to change. It just does. Too many of our churches don’t have a person heading up digital communications. If your church is one of them, just create a profile for your ministry to connect with families.

Your families are online all the time. It’s an easy way to connect to all of them with little effort.

Learn how to use social media to communicate with your families. And post 1-3 times a day.

Communicate service opportunities.

Most families aren’t finding ways to serve others. And this is a value for so many parents, especially in their children’s development. However, it can be hard to know where to look for opportunities. So, connect with families around service.

For this reason, events where families can serve together and make a difference tend to be well-attended. This is great news for everyone. It connects the congregation and the congregation to the community.

Share education resources.

Parents very often have little to no idea how to do spiritual formation with their children. As a result, if families aren’t at church, the kids aren’t learning about their faith.

So, share resources with them. Send them a new book to read together each month. Send a weekly email with the Sunday School topic and discussion questions for them to use at home.

connect with families

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have more ideas to share with the IM community? We’d love to hear from you! In the comments below tell us how you connect with families who aren’t regularly at church.

5 Low-Prep Small Group Games Perfect for Sunday School

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Get your creative juices flowing with these five low-prep ideas for small group games that are absolutely perfect for Sunday School.

group games

Fun group games that kids actually enjoy playing and aren’t crazy to prep for are hard to come by. We hope this list is helpful as you work to create the best Sunday School ever!

What group games are you playing your your kids during Sunday School? We’d love to hear in the comments section below!

A Cold Wind Blows

This game is a great precursor for any lesson having to do with the Holy Spirit, a wind or storm motif, and beyond.

Similar to musical chairs or “Have you ever”, in Sunday School have the group sit on chairs in a circle. Gather one fewer chairs than there are people, leaving one person standing in the middle of the circle.

The person in the middle begins a sentence with the words “A cold wind blows…” and then describes an attribute that refers to one or more players.

For example:

“A cold wind blows for anyone who is wearing red, has blonde hair, and plays basketball.”

Anyone sitting who fits in this category has to jump up and quickly find a new vacant chair. The person who was in the middle is also looking to sit in a vacant a chair, and whomever is left standing without a chair becomes the new person in the middle.

The game continues for as long as people are enjoying playing.

group games

Blind Draw

This is one of the group games that’s a great precursor to any Sunday School lesson that has to do with communication, language, scripture translation and beyond.

Have the children pair up. Each pair should sit back-to-back so they cannot see each other.

Give one member of the pair a picture, object or a scene. They must then describe this to their partner.

The other partner draws what they hear their partner describing to them.

Make it more challenging by not allowing them to use words that are too obvious. For example, the picture may be of a chicken but the person is not allowed to use the word “chicken, bird, hen.”

You can either give everyone the same picture or have a few different options.

Depending on the picture, you will need to allow 10-15 minutes. Once time is up, share the pictures – you will find there are some very funny interpretations!

group games

Secret Questions

This is a great used with any lesson having to do with getting to know God, the disciples getting to know Jesus, questions about the faith, and much more.

On the back of some Post-it Notes, i.e.: the sticky side, write some good get-to-know you questions. Make sure you write at least as many questions as there are people – you can double up with the questions if there’s a lot of people in your group.

Stick them all on a whiteboard or wall so people cannot see the question on the back. Each person then has to come up, pick a post it note and answer the question on the back.

Make the questions simple enough that the kids won’t struggle too much to think of an answer or be embarrassed to answer.

Once done, they select someone else in the group to choose and answer the next question.

group games

Human Knot

This is a great addition to a discussion about the Holy Spirit’s role as an “untangler” or what you all may be called to help untangle in your community. It’s also one of those group games about communication, patience, perseverance, etc.

Everyone stands in a close circle – puts both hands out – and randomly grabs hold of someone else’s hand, creating a massive knot!

Without letting go of hands, the group should try to untangle itself.

sunday school

Toothpaste Challenge

This game is a fantastic demonstration for a Sunday School lesson on the power of our words and actions and, therefore, why we need to use them wisely.

For this game, you need a few tubes of toothpaste. Depending on the size of your group, have each student work alone or create pairs or groups.

Ask the kids to take all the toothpaste out of the tube as quick as possible into a bowl.

Then ask them to put the toothpaste back inside the tube. Obviously, this is more difficult, and probably impossible to do.

There are lots of bible verses to apply to this, e.g. James 1:26, Proverbs 15:1 or 21:23, Ephesians 4:31-32.

Group Games FTW

Group games in Sunday school help to focus and engage the kids. Additionally, they create connection to the content you’re teaching. We hope this list is helpful to you!

And don’t forget to share your ideas with us in the comments below!