The word Advent means ‘arrival’ or ‘coming’.
The Festival of Advent celebrates two things, firstly the time when Jesus came from heaven and was born as a baby.
Secondly, Christians believe that Advent looks forward to when Jesus will return to the Earth.
Table of Contents:
1. Teacher’s background information.
Advent celebrates Jesus’s coming to this Earth as a man when he was born to Mary in Bethlehem.
Christians believe that Jesus is God and to meet us humans at our level, he had to put on flesh and blood and become like one of us – except he had no sin.
Having no sin means that he did nothing wrong, he had no bad thoughts even though he was fully human and yet still one with Father God.
Advent also looks for him to come to Earth again, not like a servant as before, but as a king at the end of this world.
There will then be a completely perfect new heaven and a new Earth.
2. Lesson plans and resources for the: Christian Festival of Advent.
Christian Festival of Advent lesson plan
3. Free children’s songs about Advent.
These songs can be used in R.E. lessons, assemblies, collective worship, church children’s talks, Sunday schools, etc.
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1) A song explaining what Advent is.
‘What is Advent? for Kids’. By twinkl.
Advent explained in two minutes and where did Advent Calendars come from?
2) A song about Jesus being a King.
‘The Kingdom of God Song (In God’s Kingdom everyone is welcome)’. By John Hardwick.
4. How to fulfil the locally agreed syllabus on the ‘Christian Festival of Advent’
Hopefully, you will be able to match your local agreed syllabus with what is here which satisfies eight councils:
- Know the cycle of the Christian year, the meanings of the major festivals and how they are celebrated including the use of symbolic colours and special hymns.
- Find out how Christians celebrate this festival of Advent.
- Talk about celebrations, worship, pilgrimages, and the rituals, which mark important points in life.
- Explore and describe the meaning of a range of beliefs, symbols, and practices.
- Demonstrate understanding of how people express their identity and their spirituality through symbols and actions.
- Make connections between the beliefs that underpin different celebrations, forms of worship, pilgrimages and rituals.
Key vocabulary: Advent, Bible, Christ, Christmas, Disciple, Faith, God, Gospel, Holy, Jesus, Worship.