{"id":450057,"date":"2024-11-27T10:42:27","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T15:42:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/growcurriculum.org\/go?p=450057"},"modified":"2026-02-09T08:41:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T13:41:53","slug":"5-ways-to-celebrate-advent-with-teenagers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/growcurriculum.org\/go\/5-ways-to-celebrate-advent-with-teenagers\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways to Celebrate Advent with Teenagers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Christmas season is a time for sharing memories, gathering with our loved ones, and a few last-minute trips to the store to buy those gifts you forgot about. But anyone who has ever wrapped a gift for a teenager knows Christmas is more than just a single day. The anticipation starts as soon as November (or December 26th for those of us who count down all year long)!<\/p>\n

We can start to celebrate Jesus’ birth in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day with that same anticipation. This time is known as Advent, and it’s a way for us to reflect on Jesus’ arrival on earth, celebrate all that God has done for us, and pray for what’s next in our lives. If you’ve never celebrated Advent, there are simple ways to help the families in your ministry connect. Advent is all about reflecting on the hope, peace, joy, and love God brought to earth through Jesus.<\/p>\n

Here are a few of our favorites…<\/p>\n

SERVE TOGETHER<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Christmas is a time for giving. So, why not invite families to serve together this year? Help families celebrate Advent by organizing a coat drive, asking them to clear out their closets to donate lightly used clothes and belongings, or creating community service projects.<\/p>\n

Their acts of service could be something simple, too, like hanging lights for a family or helping to wrap gifts. When families serve together, they spread joy and love while cultivating gratitude and empathy.<\/p>\n

STUDY SCRIPTURE TOGETHER<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You could also help families make opportunities to study Scripture together. During the Christmas season, we’re so focused on the holiday that it can be an easy conversation starter. Christmas music plays everywhere we go, and there are Christmas movies on every channel. So why not go back to the original stories and explore how we connect with them today?<\/p>\n

A family can use one of these Advent reading plans<\/a> from YouVersion and read through it together. Then, throughout the day or whenever works best for their schedule, they can talk through what they’ve learned and how God’s words are inspiring them. The Christmas season is a perfect time for families to grow closer together through God’s words.<\/p>\n

PRAY TOGETHER<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Along with reading Scripture, you could also help families create a rhythm of praying together. Before the first day of December, you could write up a few simple prayers based around each of the four themes of Advent\u2014hope, peace, joy, and love. Then, invite families to set aside some time to select one of these prayers to pray, whether at random or on a rotation.<\/p>\n

Give families an extra challenge by having them set up a special prayer space in their home and inviting each member of their family to lead the prayer each day or each week. Families can go beyond these Advent prayers by asking each other to share about what’s happening in their lives and praying for the challenges their facing each week.<\/p>\n

SHARE YOUR CHRISTMAS MEMORIES<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You probably have so many memories associated with Christmas, and the families of teenagers do too! We might remember a special time with our loved ones, a time when we received a perfect gift or a story about our favorite Ugly Christmas Sweater. Some of these stories might be silly, but they can be powerful reminders of God’s presence in our lives and of the relationships we hold with others.<\/p>\n

Families can celebrate the Advent season and the birth of Jesus by sharing these stories with each other. Invite parents to talk to their teenagers about their favorite traditions and the stories from when they were younger. Encourage teenagers and their families to talk about what the holiday means to them and their place in the world. Good stories stick with us long after we’ve heard them, so help families share their favorite Christmas stories this year.<\/p>\n

USE AN ADVENT CALENDAR<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Finally, one of the most common ways to celebrate Advent is with an Advent calendar. There are all sorts of Advent calendars containing anything from chocolate to LEGO pieces to collectible toys. An Advent calendar comes with special compartments marked for each day of December. Once a day, simply open a box and take out what’s inside. Each day is a new surprise! Advent calendars are simple ways to spend time together, and they’re one of the easiest ways for families to celebrate Advent.<\/p>\n

And if you’re looking for an Advent calendar to share with families this year, we’ve got one just for you! We have The Advent Journey Devotional Cards<\/a>.<\/strong> It’s a card deck that teenagers and their families can use to celebrate and anticipate Jesus’ birth. For each day of Advent, we’ve created cards with four different prompts for families…<\/p>\n