AIO Advent Calendar
Transcription
AIO Advent Calendar
In November, get a free subscription to Thriving Family, the award-winning marriage and parenting magazine from Focus on the Family. ThrivingFamily.com/subscribe ADVENTURES IN ODYSSEY Activity Calendar Christmas can be a hectic time oof year. Visiting family, hosting dinner parties, attending Christmas celebrations—we pack our schedules with activities and festivities. Sure, many of those things might be enjoyable, but it’s easy to become overwhelmed and stressed with all we have to do. That’s why it’s important to turn our eyes to the meaning behind the season and help our families enjoy holiday celebrations built around the hope and truth of Christ. One way my wife, Jean, and I have found to focus our family’s hearts is through Focus on the Family’s Adventures in Odyssey—audio dramas that tell the stories of a small town where kids learn important life lessons every day. We’ve had these radio dramas playing before our sons’ bedtimes since they were 4 years old. One thing I love about Adventures in Odyssey is how it’s such a wonderful tool for parents to use. It leads to meaningful discussions: Why did that person lie? How did this character learn to trust God’s will? What can we learn from this story? This Christmas, Thriving Family and Adventures in Odyssey have teamed up to create a unique and meaningful Advent experience for your family. The gang from Odyssey will share a variety of Bible-based activities and lessons that you can use with your kids to teach them about the real reason for the Christmas season. Take the time this Christmas season to connect with your kids in a meaningful way while enjoying a very special Advent in Odyssey! Jim Daly WEEK one 1 Sunday D EC. BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: D EC. DEUTERONOMY 7:9 Welcome to the first day of Advent. Have you ever counted down the days until Christmas? It’s pretty exciting when those numbers get low, isn’t it? For an Advent calendar, we do the same thing. We count down to Christmas by lighting candles on a wreath. Advent focuses on Jesus—His birth, how He is with us every day, and His promise to one day return to earth. Advent wreaths are made of evergreen branches, which symbolize God’s faithfulness because they remain green all year. At one meal each day this week, light the Whit first purple candle. Purple is a color of roy- alty, and this color represents Christ as King. God’s people trusted in their heavenly ruler, that He would keep His promise to Adam and Eve and send a Savior to rescue all of us from sin and death (Genesis 3:15). So each time you see the evergreen branches, think about God’s faithfulness in your life. 2 Monday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: 2 THESSALONIANS 2:16-17 Here’s a clever diversion for your family: Find a fellow family member and attempt to hold a balloon between your bodies without using your hands. The rest of the family should then challenge said pair to perform specific activities, such as walk down a hallway or sit on a chair, all without letting the balloon fall. ne Euge As you will quite easily observe, the laws of physics require you to stay close to your partner at all times. In a similar way, our Father in heaven always stays near to us, and He is ever ready to send His Holy Spirit to comfort us and give us hope. When Adam and Eve sinned, their punishment was that they could no longer be in God’s presence. That is why God sent His Son, Jesus, as a baby to enable us to draw near to Him again. D EC. 3 Tuesday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 12:4-8 Do you like drawing? When you draw, does everything end up looking like a fish wearing a tutu? Maybe that’s just what happens when Wo I draw. . . . Anyway, oton never fear, because I have an easy art project for you! Trace your family members’ hands on a piece of paper so your wrists and palms become a tree’s trunk and your fingers stick out like branches. See how each handprint is different. Then give everyone a different color of ink or paint. Use your fingerprints to make the tree’s leaves. Our fingerprints are all different, and so are our talents and abilities. Some people are good at making others laugh or comforting friends. People say that I’m good at figuring out what people need— oh, and I’m great at collecting Good Eatin’ Cereal box tops! God made each of us different so we can use our gifts to show others His love. BO NU S For directions on how to make an Advent wreath, visit ThrivingFamily.com/Advent. Make your own Christmas scene with paper-craft buildings from the town of Odyssey! To begin, download the pattern and directions for J&J’s Antiques at ThrivingFamily.com/Advent. week one D EC. 4 Wednesday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: EPHESIANS 5:1-2 Here is an activity for aspiring thespians (that is to say, actors): Write down the names of each member of your family, ne and perhaps two Euge other relatives, on separate slips of paper. Then, have everyone draw a name and simultaneously imitate the person on his or her slip. Guess whom each person is imitating. Repeat by drawing new names. (And don’t neglect to be kind when you are imitating!) This activity reminds us that Advent is a time of imitating. We attempt to duplicate God’s sacrificial giving to us. God gave His Son to us so we could be set free from the sin that separates us from Him. During Advent, test your thespian skills by imitating God’s sacrificial giving. Look for ways to show God’s love to others. BONUS D EC. 5 Thursday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: ACTS 20:35 Grab a bag of jelly beans, and pick three red, three yellow, three green, etc. There should be one color for each player, so if there are five of you, choose five different colors. Then add one black jelly bean. Put them all in another bag and shake them up. Then, everyone should reach into the bag without looking and pick out three jelly beans. Sit in a circle. And then, everyone secretly passes one jelly bean to the right. Then do it again. The first to get all the same-colored jelly beans wins! Oh, and the black one is “wild”— it can be any color. This jelly bean game reminds me how I messed up my gift giving last Christmas. Just like the game, I gave based on what I thought I was going to get in return. That’s not the way it’s supposed to work. When we give to others, Jesus asks us to give like He gave to us. He gave His life for us, even though He knew we had nothing to give Him. Jesus said that those who give without caring about what they get in return are blessed. D EC. 6 Friday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: 1 PETER 4:8-9 People say I’m good at hospitality. Well, at least that’s what Mrs. Randolph says. And I think she counts as “people.” Wo She says that when oton people visit me, I’m good at making them feel welcome and comfortable. I think she says that because when I know people are coming to visit, I always carve their initials in the soap in the guest bathroom. You can do something hospitable, too, but not with soap. Get an item from your room, then tell how you can use it to make others feel more comfortable. When Jesus was born, people on earth didn’t show Him much hospitality. There wasn’t room at the inn, so He had to be born in a stable. Herod tried to kill Him, so His parents had to leave Bethlehem to save His life. Of course there were a few who did honor Him: The angels sang about Him, shepherds worshiped Him, and wise men gave Him gifts (later). That’s pretty much what hospitality is all about: showing how much you appreciate people through your words and actions. Add a paper-craft house to your Odyssey Christmas scene! Download the pattern and directions for the Parker house at ThrivingFamily.com/Advent. D EC. 7 Saturday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: EPHESIANS 4:32 Have someone wrap your arm with toilet paper to make it look like an arm cast and sling. Give the others in your family some kind of cast—either on their legs, arms or ankles. Then, try to do some everyday things like folding towels, playing Frisbee or eating ice cream. When I was 7, I broke my arm right before Christmas, and I had to wait a few weeks before I could ride my new bike. How frustrating! When we hurt ourselves, we have to rest, let others take care of us and be patient. Even though we can’t see it, healing is happening underneath the Band-Aids. The same is true of broken relationships. They hurt on the inside, and the healing begins within our hearts. It often starts when we C onnie forgive the hurtful things that other people did to us, just like God has forgiven us through His Son, Jesus. week two 8 Sunday D EC. BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: D EC. 9 LUKE 3:4 the first and second purple candles at one W h it meal each day. The second purple candle reminds us that we are sinners who need to repent, and we need to prepare our hearts for the return of Christ, who saves us from our sins. How do we prepare? By learning all we can about Jesus. By trying each day to be more and more like Him. Before Jesus walked the earth, God’s people had to wait thousands of years for Him. But waiting didn’t mean they sat around and did nothing. God sent prophets to let people know what to look for, so that they knew about Jesus before He And He sent leaders and judges to help them not go astray. So prepare your heart today to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of the Son of God. Try this with your family: Give them five Popsicle sticks each. Write one word on each stick: birth, anointing, betrayal, Crucifixion and Resurrection. After you read a prophecy, have them hold up the word that the verse refers to. Here are the Scriptures (and the answers!): Isaiah 7:14 (birth); Isaiah 25:8 (Resurrection); Zechariah 11:12-13 (betrayal); Isaiah 9:6 (birth); Isaiah 53:12 (Crucifixion); Isaiah 11:1-4 (anointing); Micah 5:2,4-5 (birth); Isaiah 53:6 (betrayal); Psalm 22:16-18 (Crucifixion); Psalm 16:10 (Resurrection). BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: PSALM 139 :13-14 On different slips of paper, write down the names of everyone in your family, along with one good character quality that each of them has. For example, one might say “good listener” and another might say “helpful.” Take turns drawing a slip, and talk about how the person shows this character quality. The second week of Advent starts today. Light even got there. He gave rules to show them how to behave. Monday Con nie When I was a young Christian, I sometimes wondered how much God loved me. I was an average student, I wasn’t good at sports, and it looked like I was going to spend my life working at an ice cream shop. I didn’t have much to offer God. But now I understand better how God loves everyone. He uniquely created each individual and gave him or her a purpose in His kingdom. If you ever feel worthless, trust in the value God places on you. He loves you so much that He gave up His Son for you! Thank God for creating you the way you are. Then wait to see what He accomplishes through you. D EC. 10 Tuesday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: PHILIPPIANS 2:4 Give a shoe box to each family member, and cut a hole on top. Let each person decorate the box. From now until Christmas, put Scriptures, notes W oot on or mementos in each other’s containers to encourage family members. When I’m delivering mail, I try to encourage people by saying, “Good morning!” and “Your yard looks great today!” and “You got a birthday card from your mother-in-law! Congratulations! She spelled your name right this time!” Sometimes life is tough, you know? That’s why friends are so important. They encourage us to keep going, regardless of how we’re feeling. Supporting one another helps us become more compassionate. Kinda like the compassion that Jesus showed us by coming to earth to take away our sins. Add a building to your Odyssey scene! Download the pattern and directions for the Electric Palace at ThrivingFamily.com/Advent. BONUS week two D EC. 11 Wednesday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: PSALM 46:10 Here is an activity that can easily double as a science experiment: Pour a small handful of glitter into an empty 2-liter bottle. Fill it with water. Put the cap on tightly and shake it. Because glitter is slightly denser than water, you’ll soon notice that it will slowly fall to the bottom of the bottle. ge ne Eu This experiment inspires an analogy. Just as the glitter settles when we stop shaking the bottle, we sometimes need to let all the activity in our lives settle down. It seems that busyness has become as much a tradition of Christmas as the exchange of gifts. But God does not desire for us to be so busy that we forget to spend time with Him, even if we’re doing positive things. The Christmas season is a good opportunity to rest from our busyness and simply communicate with God. Today, listen to the free Adventures in Odyssey episode “Peace on Earth” in Thriving Family’s iPad edition. D EC. 12 Thursday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: 2 THESSALONIANS 2:15 Quick! Set a timer for one minute. Have each person in your family write or yell out as many Christmas traditions as he W oot on or she can. The activities can be ones you already do or new ones. Then vote on your favorites. You might be surprised at the ones that other people like! When I start a family, I’m going to have a Christmas tradition where we decorate the tree only with red licorice whips. It will look cool, and plus, what’s better than licorice trees? Some traditions are passed down through the generations and remind us of family or friends. Others can keep our focus on God. And then some are just fun. Traditions also teach us. In the Bible, Paul told believers to follow the traditions that he passed down to them. As you celebrate Jesus’ birth, your Christmas traditions can remind you of who God is and what He has done. BONUS D EC. 13 Friday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: EPHESIANS 5:15-16 Here is a potentially challenging endeavor: Have each family member take a slip of paper and write down a recent bad decision that he or she has personally made. Fold the slips, place them into a container, and then have everyone draw one. Discuss what would have been a better choice. It is quite amazing when I consider how many bad choices I made before I became a Christian. Now, I pray before all major decisions, and I am, statistically speaking, much more likely to make ne Euge better ones. By reading the Bible, talking with other Christians and tackling questions of faith, we are given God’s wisdom each day. Start a new tradition: Give each person a family prayer partner. Begin to pray for your partner, for his or her ability to make wise decisions. D EC. 14 Saturday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: EPHESIANS 2:10 Here’s an idea that we do at my church: Create homemade Christmas cards for a Con nie veterans hospital or nursing home. The people who get them will love your artwork, and they’ll feel special that you remembered them at Christmas! I remember when I was sick for a couple of days last month and Wooton came by with chicken soup and a card decorated with macaroni, glitter and cotton swabs. It was a little weird, but I felt better immediately! It really cheered me up because I was laughing. God created us to live happily with Him forever. Just like the cards you create today, God made you for a special purpose. And part of that purpose includes encouraging others. Hand deliver the homemade cards—who knows, you just might brighten someone’s day! Make another house for your Odyssey town! Download the pattern and directions for the Barclay house at ThrivingFamily.com/Advent. week three 15 Sunday D EC. BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: D EC. 16 ECCLESIASTES 3:12 Today, light the first two candles of your Advent wreath, along with the rose-colored one. This third candle represents the joy of God’s people as they anticipated the coming Messiah. Lighting this can- dle at meals reminds you that a joyful excitement for Christmas is a good thing. There are many types of joy. The joy of the Lord can thrill us or simply help us remember that God is always with us. But joy isn’t just an emotion. Joy is a continuous knowledge of the goodness of God, regardless of how we feel. Whit Monday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13 Play a game I like to call “Crazy Bus Driver!” Arrange chairs or sit on the floor like you’re riding on a bus. Let someone be a driver who ignores every traffic law there is. You’ll be shouting, “We’re gonna crash!” and you might start to appreciate why there are rules for driving. And you might think that I come up with games that have some pretty silly rules! n oto Wo Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 to be joy- ful. Solomon, the wisest man in history, said the same in Ecclesiastes 3:12. So our joy shouldn’t be based on what’s happening to us. We should put our hope and trust in God daily, and that will bring us joy. BONUS When He was on earth, Jesus followed some of the Pharisees’ rules and ignored others, but He followed all of God’s rules. Every day, we should follow God’s rules, too. His rules are always fair, just and good for us. Sometimes the world has rules that seem unfair (like grocery stores limiting us to eight free samples—what is up with that?!). If we can find a way to follow them without breaking God’s rules, we please God and are a good witness to others. D EC. 17 Tuesday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:8,13-14 As a child, I never enjoyed playing “pretend.” I simply didn’t see it as a practical use of time, and I much preEug ferred solving ene physics equations. But I’ve since learned the value of imagination. Therefore, perhaps you might enjoy this activity. Build a tent with a blanket and chairs. Turn out the lights, sit in the tent and pass around a flashlight. When a person holds the flashlight, he should begin a Christmas carol that the family can sing together. Now, imagine you are one of the shepherds in the field, watching your sheep. How amazing it must have been for them to hear the joyous news of Jesus’ birth through the hymns of angels! The angels were rejoicing because Jesus came to show God’s great love to ordinary people, e.g., the shepherds. Sometimes the worship songs and hymns we sing together are perfect reminders of how great God is. Make a new building for your Odyssey town! Download the pattern and directions for the Odyssey Community Church at ThrivingFamily.com/Advent. week three D EC. 18 Wednesday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: MARK 12:42-44 Here’s a fun family activity: Decorate “giving” boxes. And what are giving boxes, you ask? Can you guess what’s going to be inside them? Money, right? Nope! Put a button or marble inside the boxes any time you do a good deed or help others. On Christmas Eve, wrap your giving boxes as a special gift for Jesus. Set it under the tree as a reminder to continue serving others like Jesus did. W o ot on There are a lot of things to give people besides money. In the story of the widow’s offering in the Bible, Jesus told us that it is not how much we give, but how much we give of ourselves. When we do this, we’re following Jesus’ example. He was the sacrifice for our sins (John 1:3536). Jesus chose to give not just some of himself. He gave everything for us! D EC. 19 Thursday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:4-5 When I was 8 and we were going on vacation, I asked Mom if I could pack my Con nie own suitcase. I stuffed it with potato chips (no bag), 150 crayons (no box) and three stuffed bears. But no clothes! Try packing a single small backpack like you’re going on a long trip. What would you bring, and why? I wonder how Mary and Joseph packed for their trip when they traveled the 70 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Imagine walking several days to a foreign city, able to bring only what you could carry yourself or maybe fit on a donkey’s back. Then, they got there, and they had to stay with a bunch of animals. Sometimes when we look at a beautiful Nativity set, with all the nice-looking animals and shepherds, we forget what Mary and Joseph had to go through during the first Christmas. D EC. 20 Friday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: JOHN 1:14 And now it’s that special time of Advent when we discuss the miracle of sound waves! I love this time of year! Take turns speaking into a large cup or bowl that will distort voices or make an echo. Speak today’s Bible Eu verse, or sing gen e “Jesus Loves Me” into it. Then roll up a sheet of paper like a megaphone and do the same. Sounds waves can bounce (or echo, if you prefer), and they can be amplified, if concentrated by some type of megaphone. Sometimes, our voices seem to take on a life of their own. The Gospel of John refers to Jesus as the Word, which makes me think of a way that we can use our voices—to tell others about Him! Make another house for your Odyssey town! Download the pattern and directions for the Washington house at ThrivingFamily.com/Advent. D EC. 21 Saturday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:10-11 I looked through my baby pictures the other day. Wow, was I cute! Pull out baby pictures and birth announcements of everyone in your family. Talk about how excited people were when they were expecting each family member’s birth or adoption. Then, make a birth announcement for Jesus. Just as people were excited about your birth, there were so many people expectantly waiting for Jesus’ birth. It’s obvious by how many people showed up to celebrate—shepherds, angels and the wise men who arrived later. Jesus coming into the world as a child fulfilled a promise that God made to His people. It showed Connie us that He loves us and always keeps His promises. BONUS week four 22 Sunday D EC. D EC. BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: 23 PSALM 95:2 Today, light the final purple candle, along with the other three. This candle represents God’s love. Remember that God loved us so much that He sent His Son, even though we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). We should respond to God’s love for us by obeying Him and worshiping Him. We often think that worship is something we do, such as singing songs. But it’s that and more. Worship is how we come into the presence of God. It’s an act of Whit respect in all we do—in our actions, atti- tude and words. Being able to come into His presence is a gift. It allows us to express our love to God and enjoy His love for us. Each time you light this final Advent can- dle, think about one way you can better worship God. Tell your ideas to each BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 29:13 And now it’s that time of Advent when we learn about magnetic properties! I love this time of year! Hold a piece of paper horizontally in the air while someone else holds a e n Euge magnet below it. Place paper clips on top. Then move the magnet. Watch as the paper clips appear to move by themselves. Just as the magnet moved the paper clips, God can invisibly guide our lives. The wise men certainly took an inexact scientific approach by following a star, yet God still led them to Jesus. Just as the wise men sought Jesus, we can seek Him through prayer, Bible reading, attending church and talking about Him. Over time, we will sense His guidance and be able to follow Him through faith. other. Then this week, do a few of them as a family. Monday BONUS Perhaps you could make a “seeking God” wall in your home. Using pens and sticky notes, post Scriptures that serve as reminders to seek God. D EC. 24 Tuesday BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: 2 SAMUEL 22:3-4 Place a napkin in a resealable plastic bag. Hold the sealed bag under running water. Turn off the water and remove the dry napkin from the bag. You’ll find that the bag helped keep the napkin dry. OK, so I admit it’s not as exciting as one of Eugene’s complicated science experiments, but it makes a point about protection. That napkin will always stay dry in that plastic bag. Make a list of things that protect you every day—parents, shoes, roofs, Con nie seat belts, gloves, etc. Make sure God is on your list, too. He is our refuge. When Herod found out that Jesus had been born, he schemed to kill Him. But God sent an angel to warn Joseph to flee to Egypt with Jesus and Mary. When bad things happen, we can turn to God to help us get through the circumstances and to comfort us. Make one final building for your Odyssey scene! Download the pattern and directions for Whit’s End at ThrivingFamily.com/Advent. CHRISTMAs daY BEGIN WITH SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:1-20 Wh it 25 D EC. Rejoice! Celebrate! The Savior is born! Advent ends on Christmas Eve because the waiting is over. Today is a day of celebration. To help in your celebration, play the ABC Advent game to remind your family about Jesus’ birth. To do this, come up with 25 things related to the Nativity. For example: A B C is for the Announcement of the birth of Jesus by Gabriel. is for the Baby born in Bethlehem. is for the Choir of angels. (Skip the letter “X” if you want an even 25.) This family activity may only take about 15 minutes out of your day, but it will remind your family about the reason for this celebration. Then, light the white candle in the center of your Advent wreath to represent Jesus, the Light of the World. Authors who contributed to the creation of the Advent calendar are listed in alphabetical order (by last name): Lindsey Bell, Chris Brack, Donna Brennan, Crystal Brothers, Naomi Cassata, Hannah Conti, Nancy Kay Grace, Rhonda Hensley, Sarah Kohrs, Lisa Robertson, Stacey Thacker, Marshal Younger and Lori Zenker. Illustrator: Gary Locke. Copyright © 2013 by Focus on the Family. Adventures in Odyssey Album List Go deeper each day of Advent with Adventures in Odyssey audio dramas. Dec. 2 Dec. 6 Dec. 11 Learn more about God’s comfort amid brokenness in Adventures in Odyssey’s “Monty’s Christmas.” Album No. 7: On Thin Ice Find out how one family made a grandparent feel welcome in Adventures in Odyssey’s “Grandma’s Christmas Visit.” Album No. 52: Cause and Effect Discover why busyness isn’t a good Christmas tradition in Adventures in Odyssey’s “Peace on Earth.” Album No. 3: Heroes CBD CBD CBD http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=72349&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/07-on-thin-ice/id560378945/?179506 Dec. 3 http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=976380&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/52-cause-and-effect/id560189752/?179506 Dec. 7 http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=970721&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/03-heroes/id559787666/?179506 Dec. 12 Hear how others have used or hid their talents in Adventures in Odyssey’s “The Popsicle Kid.” Album No. 39: Friends, Family and Countrymen Go deeper into how forgiveness helps heal broken relationships in Adventures in Odyssey’s “Where’s Your Daddy?” Album No. 12: At Home and Abroad Explore the rich history of Christmas celebrations in Adventures in Odyssey’s “A Time for Christmas.” Album No. 19: Passport to Adventure CBD CBD CBD http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=970462&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/39-friends-family-countrymen/id560245743/?179506 Dec. 4 Enjoy a funny story about sacrificial love in Adventures in Odyssey’s “Gifts for Madge & Guy.” Album No. 1: The Adventure Begins CBD http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=970705&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/01-the-adventure-begins/id559939816/?179506 Dec. 5 http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=972899&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/12-at-home-and-abroad/id560365228/?179506 Dec. 9 Learn more about the value God places on people in Adventures in Odyssey’s “It’s a Pokenberry Christmas” (part one). Album No. 31: Days to Remember CBD http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=58784&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/31-days-to-remember/id560265938/?179506 Dec. 10 Discover the reasons why people give gifts in Adventures in Odyssey’s “A Christmas Conundrum.” Album No. 45: Lost & Found Hear how friends can encourage each other in Adventures in Odyssey’s “It’s a Pokenberry Christmas” (part two). Album No. 31: Days to Remember CBD CBD – http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=73319&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/45-lost-found/id560225293/?179506 no=58784&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/31-days-to-remember/id560265938/?179506 http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=92667&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/19-passport-to-adventure/id560336388/?179506 Dec. 13 Find out why St. Nicholas chose to give freely in Adventures in Odyssey’s “BTV: Redeeming the Season.” Album No. 48: Moment of Truth CBD http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=974470&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/48-moment-of-truth/id560209673/?179506 Dec. 14 Go deeper into what serving others might mean in Adventures in Odyssey’s “The Visitors.” Album No. 7: On Thin Ice CBD http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=72349&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/07-on-thin-ice/id560378945/?179506 Dec. 15 Dec. 20 Hear how joy doesn’t depend on good things happening to you in Adventures in Odyssey’s “Silent Night.” Album No. 45: Lost & Found Come along as Eugene explores the first Christmas in Adventures in Odyssey’s “Back to Bethlehem” (part two). Album No. 10: Other Times, Other Places CBD CBD http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=73319&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/45-lost-found/id560225293/?179506 Dec. 16 http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=72868&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/10-other-times-other-places/id560372435/?179506 Dec. 21 Explore how to celebrate your faith in a world that is anti-God in Adventures in Odyssey’s “The Living Nativity.” Album No. 16: Flights of Imagination Enjoy the exciting conclusion of the Nativity story in Adventures in Odyssey’s “Back to Bethlehem” (part three). Album No. 10: Other Times, Other Places CBD CBD http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=9190X&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/16-flights-of-imagination/id560352827/?179506 Dec. 17 http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=72868&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/10-other-times-other-places/id560372435/?179506 Dec. 23 Learn more about the songs we sing at Christmas in Adventures in Odyssey’s “Caroling, Caroling.” Album No. 15: A Place of Wonder Find out how the wise men searched for Jesus in Adventures in Odyssey’s “The Star” (part one). Album No. 12: At Home and Abroad CBD CBD http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=72918&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/15-a-place-of-wonder/id560355475/?179506 Dec. 18 http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=972899&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/12-at-home-and-abroad/id560365228/?179506 Dec. 24 Discover how the best gifts come from the heart in Adventures in Odyssey’s “A Lamb’s Tale.” Album No. 43: Along for the Ride Discover how Jesus’ early years were not easy in Adventures in Odyssey’s “The Star” (part two). Album No. 12: At Home and Abroad CBD CBD http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=70785&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/43-along-for-the-ride/id560238035/?179506 Dec. 19 iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/12-at-home-and-abroad/id560365228/?179506 christmas Day Learn to be thankful for all that God has given you in Adventures in Odyssey’s “The Day After Christmas.” Album No. 1: The Adventure Begins CBD CBD iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/10-other-times-other-places/id560372435/?179506 Make paper models of Whit, Connie, Eugene and Wooton from Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse magazine. Download “Clubhouse’s Cut-and-Fold Characters” at ThrivingFamily.com/Advent. http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=972899&p=1146767&event=ORCE Join Connie as she rediscovers the first Christmas story in Adventures in Odyssey’s “Back to Bethlehem” (part one). Album No. 10: Other Times, Other Places http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=72868&p=1146767&event=ORCE make paper models! http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_ no=970705&p=1146767&event=ORCE iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/01-the-adventure-begins/id559939816/?179506 ThrivingFamily.com Advent Activity Calendar for your iPad includes full-color building templates