Before and After Christmas: Activities for Advent and Ephiphany - Softcover

Debbie Trafton O'Neal

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0806625341 ISBN 13: 9780806625348

Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Pub, 1991

Synopsis

A treasury of ideas and activities for celebrating the days before Christmas, and also things to do after the Christmas tree is taken down. Specific activities, including crafts, service projects, and family worship ideas, are included for each day in Advent and through the twelve days of Christmas. In addition, each day offers a Bible passage for reading together. Full-color illustrations bring the text to life and make completing the activities a snap!

About this title

From the Author

Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, is a rich season often swallowed up by the world’s commercialism. In the same way, the season of Christmas, the twelve days from Christmas Day to Epiphany on January 6, is also lost as people return to ‘business as usual.’

Many of the people I know and have met through my Advent workshops have echoed my thoughts – there must be alternatives to the hectic pace of this time of year. If you have thought the same thing, this book is for you. Through family activities, family time, and family fun, this book gives direction to help us focus more on the true meaning of the days before and after Christmas.

When we take time to prepare, reflect, and renew ourselves during Advent, we eagerly await the birth of Jesus, God’s greatest gift to us. These four weeks help us truly celebrate the gift of God’s Son on Christmas Day and the days following.

Although this book is intended primarily for families, anyone will benefit from using it, especially those who work with children. It contains information about the history and traditions of the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, as well as symbols and their meanings, the stories of the seasons, and activities for each day up to Epiphany.

Read through the entire book, then decide how you will use it. For instance, if you have small children you may want to extend activities to more than one day. Or you may want to switch activities from one day to another, depending on the amount of time you will have and the type of activity. Don’t feel you have to do everything! There are enough ideas here to keep a family busy for several Christmas seasons.

About the Author

Debbie Trafton O’Neal is the author of MY READ-AND-DO BIBLE STORYBOOK, THE ADVENT WREATH, AN EASTER PEOPLE, HANDBOOK FOR CHURCH NURSERIES, BEFORE AND AFTER EASTER, and 101 THINGS TO DO FOR CHRISTMAS. She is also a professional teacher and parenting specialist, appearing regularly on regional and national television. She lives in Federal Way, Washington, with her husband and three daughters.

David LaRochelle is a writer and illustrator of children’s books from White Bear Lake, Minnesota. He illustrated the best-selling and award-winning book, PRIME TIME TOGETHER...WITH KIDS, as well as MORE PRIME TIME ACTIVITIES...WITH KIDS, BEFORE AND AFTER EASTER, AND MY MOM IS DYING.

Edition details

• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Pub
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0806625341
• ISBN 13: 9780806625348
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 64