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Today’s Reading

Luke 1:61-64 ESV

And they said to Elizabeth, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

Today’s Activity

Today is a smashing day for carolling! This is the day when many churches hold their annual carol service, which is such a jolly, festive occasion. If your own church does not have this service, perhaps plan to visit a new church today, and enjoy their company 🙂

Another suggestion is to gather with friends and go carolling in your neighbourhood. Dress up warmly, practice those nature-themed carols from December 1st  before you go, and give your neighbours a treat 🙂

See you tomorrow for more advent fun.

Today’s Reading

Luke 1:59 ESV

And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.”

Today’s Activity

Have fun in the kitchen today and cook up your favourite Christmas treats. One of our family favourites is Peppermint Bark. We have our own family ‘recipe’, although, as it is so simple to make, it would be better described as a method. You can find a similar recipe here.

Make a double portion and take the opportunity to share with a neighbour; perhaps an elderly person who cannot get out and about as much as they would like, and would appreciate some company, or a harried new mother, who will have little time for home-made treats this year.

Just remember; the goal is not to bake the perfect sweet treat, but to have fun with your family and to share with others.

See you tomorrow for more advent fun.

Today’s Reading

Luke 1:58 ESV

And Elizabeth’s neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

Today’s Activity

Head out to your special nature spot and have fun making a natural collage right there on the floor with found items such as twigs, seed pods, rocks and stones, feathers, and any other natural items you find. Leave your work of art in place for other walkers to enjoy. Perhaps leave a ‘Happy Christmas’ message too?

See you tomorrow for more advent fun.

Today’s Reading

Luke 1:57 ESV

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.

Today’s Activity

Today we will be making Christmas cards using the rubbings we made yesterday.

This a super-easy craft, that results is beautiful cards.

• Take the rubbings you made yesterday and cut out simple Christmas shapes. Here are some printable patterns, but the shapes are so simple, it would be possible to draw them free-hand.
• Glue a single shape onto the centre of a blank greeting card.
• Outline the shape with a metallic marker for a extra-special, festive touch.

Enjoy the afternoon writing your Christmas cards, and praying for each recipient, as you sip a hot chocolate.

See you tomorrow for more advent fun.

Today’s Reading

Luke 1:56 ESV

And Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and returned to her home.

Today’s Activity

Today, take your child for a textures walk; explain that you are going to hunt for different textures of all kinds in the natural world. Some examples would be:

• Tree bark ~ rough
• Pine needles ~ prickly
• Stone ~ rough or smooth
• fallen leaves ~ dry or slimy

Have younger children describe the textures they find, which are rough? Smooth? Slimy?

With each suitable texture you find, take a rubbing with the flat side of a dark-coloured crayon onto white paper. Keep these rubbings safe; we shall be using them tomorrow.

See you tomorrow for more advent fun.

Today’s Reading

Luke 1:46-55 ESV

Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

    and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

    from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

    and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

    and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

    in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Today’s Activity

Let’s make play dough 🙂

Play dough is great for your child to play with whilst you read aloud, allowing them to create the characters you read about, or just to enjoy it’s lovely texture. It may also help to keep them busy while you get on with Christmas preparations for a little while (not guaranteed!)

• 300g salt
• 360g plain flour
• 2 tbsp sunflower oil
• 250ml warm water

Method:

• Mix together all the dry ingredients
• Add the oil.
• Gradually add the water until you reach a good dough texture.
• Knead for a few moments to improve the texture.

For fun you can add different ingredients;

• Cinnamon & ground ginger (1 tsp each) for a gingerbread playdough
• Peppermint essence (a few drops) and red food colour for candy cane play dough
• GLITTER! and food colour of your child’s choice for Christmas magic (You can buy biodegradable glitterhere)

See you tomorrow for more advent fun.

Today’s Reading

Luke 1:39-45 ESV

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Today’s Activity

This week is bird week in Exploring Nature With Children. Today, check that your bird feeders are nice and full, and that the birds visiting your garden have a place to drink, then spend some time watching to see how many different birds visit your feeder.

Keep a log in your nature journal, and perhaps sketch and read up on some of the different birds that you see.

See you tomorrow for more advent fun.

This week in Exploring Nature With Children is ‘Winter Birds Week’.

Here are some helpful links to get you going:

• Drawing Birds Tutorial by John Muir Laws
• How to Attract Birds to Your Feeder in Winter Video
• Feeding Birds in Winter
• Are Crows the Ultimate Problem Solvers? BBC
• Seeing Like a Bird BBC
• Backyard Bird ID cards  Tanglewood Hollow

Happy exploring!

Today’s Reading

Matthew 1:24-25 ESV

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Today’s Activity

Today, grab lots of pillows and blankets, light some candles, and enjoy an afternoon of drinking hot chocolate and reading Christmas books.

Some of our favourite nature-themed Christmas stories:

• The Christmas Kitten by James Herriott
• Night Tree by Eve Bunting
• This is the Star by Joyce Dunbar
• The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett
• The Cobweb Curtain by Jenny Koralek
• The Tale of Three Christmas Trees by Hunt/ Jonke
• A Wish To Be A Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe

See you tomorrow for more advent fun.

Today’s Reading

Matthew 1:22-23 ESV

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

    and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).

Today’s Activity

Go for an ‘I Spy’ nature walk with your child. Enjoy this peaceful time in nature as the world around you is getting busier as Christmas approaches.

This is also a great nature game to play from a window at home if the weather is very bad.

See you tomorrow for more advent fun.