The First Advent: Stories and Activities

By Michael J. Larson and Janine Ringdahl Schmidt

Designed to prepare childrens hearts and minds for the arrival of baby Jesus, The First Advent contains stories and activities for each of the twenty-five days of Advent.

On the first day of Advent, Andrew the angel appears to the animals living in the stable in Bethlehem. He encourages them to use their gifts to prepare the stable for the arrival of baby Jesus. David, the stable boy; One Hump, the camel; Cow, the cow; Roger Rat; Anna, the milk maid; Wooly and Fuzzy, the sheep; and a host of other stable residents must first recognize their own gifts. Then they use their unique talents to prepare presents for that special day.

As the days of Advent pass, the excitement builds, and the animals gifts prepare the stable for the arrival of the savior of the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973625551

Michael J. Larson

The author has spent forty years teaching young people. As a biology teacher it is not surprising that he would choose two sparrows to remind us what happened in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb on that first Easter. He and his wife Kathie live in western Minnesota on a small acreage with a large garden.

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Copyright © 2018 Michael J. Larson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-2552-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-2555-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018904245

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/13/2018

To Priudence Ramos, whose suggestion about a need for Advent stories for children inspired the author to create The First Advent.

Contents

November 30—A Visit from Andrew the Angel

December 1—Cow Can’t Think of a Gift

December 2—A Prayer Is Answered

December 3—A Spider Gift

December 4—A Gift from the Stable Boy

December 5—Surprise Decorations

December 6—A Time to Color

December 7—A Gift of Silence

December 8—One Hump Needs Gift Help

December 9—A Gift from the Flock

December 10—Shearing Solves the Problem

December 11—A Gift Made from Wool

December 12—Picture-Coloring Time

December 13—A Very Late Gift

December 14—Grandpa Dan

December 15—A Gift from Roger Rat

December 16—Roger Rat Puzzle

December 17—A Gift from the Pigeons

December 18—Celebrate with Song

December 19—The Web Gift Is Complete

December 20—Solving the Dot-to-Dot

December 21—Anna Talks Beesness

December 22—The Sweetest Gift of All

December 23—Word-Find Fun

December 24—Gift-Sharing Time

Introduction

Hi, kids! We call the four weeks before Christmas Advent. During these four weeks, we wait and prepare our hearts for the arrival of Baby Jesus.

This book will help you do that, as it contains a reading or activity for each day