Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 7 - God in the Manger

Today, we focus of the babe in the manger.  Jesus is born. 

The suggestion was made that we make thank you cards.  Some are still working on advent calendars so I changed my plans and made simple thank you cards.  I used the cards available at the local arts and crafts store.  I then selected some Christmas and non Christmas frame images to surround the greeting at the center of the card.  I made 2 of each design.  The images were selected from Clker and Graphics Fairy.  

We started with gratitude and we end with gratitude.  God comes quiet... The victory is won.  All of conquered heaven and grateful earth echo and throb tonight with the heart cry of the God-Child. I did it for love.

The greatest Gift laid into our empty hands...  Grace is weightless.

We have had a very good class.  I have learned a lot and I believe the ladies enjoyed it as well.

Have a stress free Christmas season.  Today was the first snow for us so it's starting to look a lot like Christmas.

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 7 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.  I handed out this freebie from Ann's website.  You don't have to work for Christmas.

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 6 - God With Us

This week the lesson focus is God With Us - It's the story of Joseph.
This week we make a twig ornament because every Christmas tree is shadowed by a Cross tree.  I collected the twigs this summer on my walks in the park.  I applied a bit of hot glue to tack down the cross piece then tied the join with red string in a crisscross pattern.   Once tied off at the back I applied a bit of hot glue along the back of the back piece to keep the string aligned and make the ornament hang straight.  I added a nice scroll ornament hanger.
Joseph is given the privilege of naming the Baby.  The angel says you will name Him - Jesus - the Lord Saves - God is With Us. The God who loves us and likes us and isn't merely 50% or 73.2% for us, but the God who is always, unequivocally, 100% for us - the God who likes us, the God who is so for us that He is the God that chooses to be with us.

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 7 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 5 - Be a Dwelling Space for God

We continue to assemble our Advent Calendars.  See last weeks lesson here. There is sewing on of buttons and adding strings to the envelopes.  We then place our scripture readings and activity sheets in envelope.  I will leave the writing of their chosen activities to their own time.  The envelopes can now be hung on the buttons.

This week the lesson focus is Be a Dwelling Space for God. It's the story of Mary. When you make space in your words, in your wants, in your ways for Jesus, He comes and lives in the most miraculous way in your heart, too. Only one thing is necessary - just let your hands and your heart be a space for love to come into the world.
Is there anything you need to take a break from for a while to make more space for Jesus?

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 7 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 4 - When All the Miracles Begin

Our activity for the next 2 weeks is creating an Advent Calendar.  I found a wide variety during my on-line research.  I chose a garland type calendar with a scripture reading for every day.

I cut the envelopes with the Stampin Up Petal Card Bigz die. For this calendar, I chose navy card stock. The bottom three petals of the envelope were adhered together with quick dry adhesive leaving the top petal to hang the envelope.  A hole was added to the top petal and a piece of coordinating thread was pulled through and a knot was added to the end. Each envelope holds a small sheet with the day's scripture verse and also a small sheet is included to write down the day's activity.  I found the set of scripture readings here (A Girl and Her Blog).  I punched a SUcircle in gold and color printed the numbers to match the navy and burgundy colors I chose.  Again, they were adhered to the other side of the envelope with quick dry adhesive.  I ran a length of white grosgrain ribbon through the burgundy felt garland to add strength and interest. White buttons were sewn in the middle of the circle elements in the felt making sure that the ribbon was attached.  The envelopes are then hung onto each button.  This allows you to take down the envelope to the family, have your time of sharing and then return it to the garland.  For children to track the progress the number can be turned to the back each day so they know which date in December is next.

This week the lesson focus is When all the Miracles Begin. It's the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah.   We don't have to work for the coming of the Lord. He will prepare our hearts for His coming.  You don't have to work for Christmas, you don't have to earn Christmas, you don't have to perform Christmas, you don't have to make Christmas. Just open your hear to the miracle. 

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 7 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 3 - Come to the King

With Lesson 3 it comes down to being one to help others.
I chose to make Blessing Bags for our Street Ministry team as our activity this week.  I handed out a list of suggested items I had compiled from the internet and a zip lock bag last week.  We will assemble our bags tonight and hand them over for giving.  You can find the list in my Freebies tab.  Soon homeless here will need warm clothes so I bought a scarf, gloves, a tuque and lip balm.  For health I included cough drops and Advil.  For hygiene I added a toothbrush, (I thought it was important to have a cover for the toothbrush so it stays clean), toothpaste, handi-wipes, shampoo and a microfiber washcloth with a ziplock bag to store it. Sweets are always nice.  Notebooks & pencil just to write a note for someone cause they are not home. Or make a food list when you go to the food bank or notes when at the shelter. Kids came to mind when I saw the pencil crayons.  I could think of so many things that I ended up with 2 bags.

I wanted to include a note for the recipient and with a search on line I decided on this one.

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 7 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.

This week the lesson focus is Esther the queen who could act to save her people who live outside the gate of the palace in which she lives. It meant being brave to approach the King. Her uncle tells her "This is the moment you were made for: Use the life you have been given to give life to others."

If not you, then who?  We have so much we are compelled to share it.

We made 12 Blessings Bags.  It was so exciting and a lot of fun!!!

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 2 - A Love Story

Today, we are making Christmas cards as the activity for our lesson to show love to those we care about.  

I needed a design for ladies who are not card makers and could be made in 30 minutes or so.  I have stamped the Stampin Up Holy Family from the Gentle Peace polymer set onto vellum and embossed it.  Half with silver powder and other half in gold powder.  We will be making 4 cards - 2 of each design.  I selected water color designer paper by Creative Imaginations - Sea Wash and Blue Wash.  I paired them with coordinating card stock in green and blue.  I have included an insert with the coordinating sentiment from the stamp set.  The vellum is trimmed close and held in place with 3 brads, a star one for the top and to tiny ones for each bottom corner. 

This week the lesson focus is Life Begins with a Love Story. We were created by a huddle of holy hearts.  Go to the window, the front door, the backyard, the park, the highest hill be awed by God's creation, you were made by love, for love and watch it come down. 

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 7 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.

It's time to start thinking of our Christmas Card List.  As you can imagine I would highly recommend paper cards but I recognize that it may not be right for everyone.  We want to show our love to others so it is better that they receive the love than it be handmade.  Maybe it’s a family photo, a postcard, a digital card sent by email, or a newsletter. Other ideas?

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 1 - The Small Shoot

I have provided a journal for the participants. It provides a central place organize their experience.

Each week, they can include their prayer lists, the lesson plan, their Random Acts of Kindness, their family activities, and other relevant information.

I have cut a Stampin Up Top Note to be adhered to the front or the inside cover to identify the owner of the journal and the class.  Some journals have stripes, some dots and some chevrons.  Red, pink and grey.

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 7 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.

The stump brings forth a small new shoot.  From what appeared dead life emerged.  It's not about the dead past but what we can create going forward. We must come as we are, ready to look at the smallest, find the shoot in the stump, find the broken in the cracks of the world and offer a word of love which will bring about miracles.

This pink one is my book for the class.

Be Present for Christmas - Gratitude

I'm teaching a class I've called "Be Present for Christmas" and the first class is tonight.  It is a class to help people slow down, focus on the reason for the season, and prepare their hearts for Christmas.

I am starting with Gratitude.  I've read Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts from which I have taken a small excerpt about this very subject.  Living with an attitude of gratitude changes us.