Christmas Wreath

What you need:

1 flat Styrofoam disk per wreath, enough green silk pine picks to cover the top of the Styrofoam, 
gold metallic ribbon-enough to cover outer edge of Styrofoam, glue, 3 purple candles, 1 pink candle, 
1 white candle. (Optional decorations: fake strands of pearls, small pine cones.)

What you do:

Glue the ribbon to the outer edge of the disk. Push the white candle into the center of the disk. Push the other candles evenly around the white candle, towards the outer edges of the disk, as shown in the picture. (You might want to place a bit of glue into the candle holes for added stability.) Push the pine picks into the disk, around the base of the candles to cover the top of the Styrofoam. 

Optional decorations: 

I always drape an old strand of fake pearls on top and small pine cones with the tips painted white onto my Advent Wreath. It makes for an elegant display on our coffee table during the Christmas season! 
(I made this Advent Wreath with my children a number of years ago during our church's Kingdom Kid's program, and have used it every year since then! I think it will hold fond memories for my kids when they're grown!) Merry Christmas and Christ's Blessings! Sarah Keith <><


THE MEANING:

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. (Romans 15:12-13)

2nd CANDLE- (purple) "CANDLE OF PREPARATION"
Preparation means to 'get ready'. "Help us to be ready to welcome YOU, O GOD!" (Luke 3:4-6)

3rd CANDLE- (pink) "CANDLE OF JOY"
The angels sang a message of JOY! (Luke 2:7-15)

4th CANDLE- (purple) "CANDLE OF LOVE" 
God sent his only Son to earth to save us, because he loves us! (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! (John 1:29 and John 3:1-8)


Setting aside a few minutes each day during Advent to light the candle(s) and worship will help everyone in the family to get ready for Jesus' birthday celebration! On the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day burn the first candle, read the Scripture references, sing a carol and pray. On the next Sunday, you will burn the first and second candle. Continue in this manner until the Sunday before Christmas when you will burn all four candles. On Christmas Day you burn the 'Christ Candle', signifying that Jesus has come!

Additional Scripture verses to be read during Advent :

FOUR WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
SUNDAY: Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2
MONDAY: Matthew 1:18-24 and Luke 1:26-33
TUESDAY: Luke 2:1-5
WEDNESDAY: Luke 2:6-7
THURSDAY: Luke 2:8-9
FRIDAY: Luke 2:10-12
SATURDAY: Luke 2:13-14

THREE WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
SUNDAY: Luke 2:15-16
MONDAY: Luke 2:17-18
TUESDAY: Luke 2:19
WEDNESDAY: Luke 2:20
THURSDAY: Luke 2:21
FRIDAY: Matthew 2:1-2
SATURDAY: Matthew 2:3-6

TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
SUNDAY: Matthew 2:7-8
MONDAY: Matthew 2:9
TUESDAY: Matthew 2:10-11
WEDNESDAY: Matthew 2:12-15
THURSDAY: Galatians 4:4-5
FRIDAY: Ephesians 2:8-9
SATURDAY: 1 John 4:7-16

ONE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS 
(* Please note, you may or may not have a full week before Christmas Day.)

SUNDAY: Ephesians 2:12-22
MONDAY: John 7:37-38, and 14:6
TUESDAY: Matthew 28:19-20
WEDNESDAY: John 8:12
THURSDAY: John 9:4-5 and Matthew 5:14-16
FRIDAY: Psalm 98:1-6 
SATURDAY: John 1:1-3, 14 and Romans 6:23

* CHRISTMAS DAY
Psalm 100, Revelation 3:20-21