Advent

I have been busily preparing for the start of Advent which comes early this year.  The first week of Advent begins this Sunday.  Advent is a time of spiritual preparation leading up to Christmas.  The word Advent means "Coming".  We can ready ourselves for the coming Jesus as a baby, but also for a second advent as we patiently wait for Him to come again.  One of the things that I prepared for Advent is a set of Advent Candles.  Traditionally, there are 5 candles (3 purple, 1 pink, and 1 white).

THE CANDLE MEANINGS:
1st CANDLE – (purple) CANDLE OF HOPE – We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises made to us. Our hope comes from God. “And again, Isaiah says, ‘The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:12-13)

2nd CANDLE – (purple) THE CANDLE OF PREPARATION – God kept his promise of a Savior who would be born in Bethlehem. Preparation means to “get ready”.  “As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.‘ (Luke 3:4-6)

3rd CANDLE – (pink) THE CANDLE OF JOY – The angels sang a message of JOY! “…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:7-10)
4th CANDLE – (purple) THE CANDLE OF LOVE – The angles announced the good news of a Savior. God sent his only Son to earth to save us, because he loves us! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

5th CANDLE – (white) “CHRIST CANDLE” – The white candle reminds us that Jesus is the spotless lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins! His birth was for his death, his death was for our birth! “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!‘” (John 1:29)


Advent Candles. 

5 classes/jars, Epson salts, food coloring, and some tea lights.

First, I measured out the Epson salts into each glass. 

Then I colored the Epson salts with some food coloring in a Ziploc bag.
 I just mixed it until the color was even throughout.  Then I did the purple in a separate  bag.

The I poured the pink and purple Epson salts back into their glasses and added a tea light to each.

On the mantle waiting for Sunday.

Kid friendly Advent Candles. 
Obviously, the kids really can't be involved in anything with a flame.  So I thought I would make some candles just for them.

Colored felt (2 different yellows for the flame, purple, white and pink for the candle sticks).

Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of the previous step.  What I did was cut two flame pieces for each candle and two inner flame pieces from the darker yellow.  See the picture below.  Leave a tab at the bottom of the flame to glue into the candle stick.  I hot glued the flame around the outside to create a little pouch which I then stuffed with a cotton ball and the glued shut.  The you can hot glue the darker yellow flame cutout onto each side.

Each candle stick is one piece of felt cut length wise.  Hot glue your  flame to the corner and fold over gluing along the edge.  Then roll up and glue the end to secure.  Repeat for each candle.

Kid friendly advent candles.

Linked to:
Sun Scholars
ABC and 123
The Imagination Tree
Link and Learn