Last year, my friend Lori made these amazing advent tags for her family. What a great way to prepare their hearts for Christmas. I totally want to make these for my family this Christmas (I need to get started asap!). I love this idea and asked for her permission to share it with you. So, here you go - thank you Lori!
Here's what Lori wrote in a facebook note last December about her Advent Tags:
"To save anyone else the hassle of writing the Christmas story in 24 bite size chunks, I've copied it below for you. I used the NIV version (because it's the closest to the way I memorized it growing up, although it is missing the word "swaddling," which I desperately wanted to add!). I only took liberties with the Wise Men part so I could squeeze it all in. To that end, King Herod got kicked out of the story. I tried to keep each day short enough so that I could hold Sebastien's attention (age 6). I'm expecting to lose Xavier (age 4) this year. Molly Irwin (inspiration website from earlier post) uses verses from all over the Bible to include prophesy. I just wanted to keep it to the narrative.
In an ideal world, there would be a small, thin Christmas tree in my front foyer on which every day we would add a tag. I'm sure it would be beautiful by Christmas day. We'll be taking them from their wooden bowl and placing them either on the mantel greenery or on the big tree. Maybe next year I can get that small tree."
Here's the story:
1
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
2
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
3
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God.
4
You will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.
5
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, his kingdom will never end.”`
6
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
7
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
8
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as you wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
9
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
10
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
11
In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman World. And everyone went to his own town to register.
12
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of Daivd.
13
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
14
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
15
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
16
And there were shepherds living out in the field nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
17
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
18
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
19
Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
20
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
21
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
22
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a manger.
23
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, Magi from the followed the star they had seen in the east until it stopped over the place where the child was.
24
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of frankincense and myrrh.
Do you have any traditions in your home to prepare for Christmas? I'd love to hear them : )
