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Advent lighting:�Waiting on the second coming of Christ

Writer: Dr.Huang (Leah)

By: TwoLittleCoins Children Ministry

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Warm-up Activity:

Lantern creation

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Materials to prepare:

Three A4 white papers per person, scissors, rulers, pencils, strings, double-sided tape, and a small flashlight with a keychain or holes per person.

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Warm-up Activity cont. :

Lantern Creation part 1

Making the shell of the lantern:

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Fold the white paper in half, measure 5 cm from the opening of the paper, draw a line and cut it.

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Discard the smaller strips of paper.

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From the opening of the paper measure 1cm of space and draw a line. Turn the paper 90 degrees, and draw small strips of lines 1 cm apart all the way until the end.

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Cut along the lines, but be careful not to cut beyond the line.

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Cut two small pieces of double-sided tape. Stick them at the upper right and bottom right corner of the paper.

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Use the double-sided tape to stick the left and right corner together to form the shape of a lantern.

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Warm-up Activity cont.：Lantern Creation part 2

Making the top cover:

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Fold a new blank piece of paper in half three times.

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Measure and draw two lines at 6.5 cm from left to right and top to bottom. Cut them and leave only the 6.5 cm square.

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Fold the square both vertically and horizontally then unfold it.

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Fold the four corners toward the center cross.

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Make holes on the left and right sides of the rhombus.

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Stick four small pieces of double-sided tape inside of the four corners. Don’t tear it yet.

Then stick four more double-sided tape on the outer side.

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Prepare a 20 cm string.

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Thread the string through the two holes in the top cover, then through the flashlight’s keychain or hole and tie a knot at the bottom.

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Warm-up Activity cont.：

Lantern Creation part 3

Making the cylinder of the lantern:

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Measure 13 cm on a piece of paper, and draw a line. Cut it out, and keep the 13 cm paper. Discard the rest.

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Roll it up.

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Tear off the double-sided tape inside the top cover and tape it over the cylinder.

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Turn the cylinder upside down and stick a double-sided tape to keep the other end of the cylinder in place.

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Turn it right-side up again, and tear off the double-sided tape on the outer side of the top cover. Finally, slide the cylinder in from the top and you are finished.

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Reach in from the bottom of the lantern to turn on the light.

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Scripture Readings: Matthew 25:1-13 The parable of the Ten Virgins

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

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Jesus Christ said He would come again, but many churches have grown lukewarm and have fallen asleep.

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Many proactive Christians know that the Lord Jesus Christ has not returned yet because of teh slowness in preaching the gospel, which delays the Lord’s return. Therefore, soem churches will hold evangelistic events during Christmas to invite unbelievers to the church, as well as other baptism ceremonies and activities to lead more people to enter salvation.

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At the same time, the Christmas season is also a period of celebration for Christians to wait for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. From the end of November, there are many church-candle-lighting ceremonies where a candle is lit every Sunday. It is not until Christmas Eve when all the surrounding small candles are lit, that the big candle in the center is also lit. By then, the whole ceremony is considered complete.

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Today, as we welcome Christmas, we also have to prepare our hearts. If Jesus Christ comes, are we ready? Although we are young and have limited things to do, we ccan still shine for the Lord. In this dark world, we should emit some light into the world to give warmth to the people around us.

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Next, each of us brings the gifts we have prepared and offers it to God. We will go to the cross and pray for those who we hoped would receive these gifts, hoping that they would not only receive them but also be redeemed by Jesus.

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Experiential Activity 1:

Act of Love

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Activity Prodecure:

1. Let the children wrap the gifts they had brought.

2. Set up a corner, place a cross and light a lamp there. Let each child come before the Lord with their wrapped gifts and pray for the recipients and leave the gifts there.

3. Gather the presents, then give it to the people they discussed eariler.

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Experiential Activity 2:

Shine the light before people

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Activity Procedure:

Choose a night and lead the children carrying the lanterns they made to report the good news in the nearby streets and businesses.