When I heard last winter Vanessa Myers was writing an Advent devotional for kids with questions kids (and adults) wonder about the Christmas account, I was thrilled. Wondering To Bethlehem: A Wonder-filled Advent Devotional For Kids provides inspiration and knowledge beyond my wildest imagination. Vanessa’s devotional books for kids are written for middle to upper elementary to read for themselves or younger if directed and read by a big person: Bible Food Truck and Breakfast With Jesus. Her knowledge and understanding of how kids learn, what makes a learning sticky, Bible study, and using a child’s imagination makes this devotional my go-to this Advent season. Her kid’s devotionals offer so much more than just a great developmentally appropriate read.

Vanessa’s knowledge of the Bible offers nuggets of wisdom and ‘did you know?’ notes throughout especially on the “Wonders To Unpack” pages which follow each Advent reading. For instance: “The angels praised God at the beginning of Creation (see Job 38:4-7). And now, the angels praised God at the beginning of a new creation: the birth of God’s son.” (pg. 85)

Each reading includes a daily invite for kids to write, “Things I wonder about in this story…” entitled Wondering Notes as well as a half-page space for drawing a picture of the story. The special add-on to make this devotional especially interactive is the QR code in the front for a download of twenty-six 2-inch round stickers for cutting out (how I’ll use them) or printing on round stickers for each daily reading PLUS two additional readings for Christmas Day and Epiphany.

This is a beautiful gift for the grands and the kids, AND I’m using this 125-page advent devotional as the inspiration for how our children’s ministry will celebrate Advent this year. Here are a few of our ideas…..

  • Campfire Christmas is our kickoff event with worship led by a special musical guest, shepherd stations for creativity and storytelling (luggage tags, sticker nativity ornaments, sheep mini fidgets, waterbottle stickers, bookmarks, sheep masks) an interactive re-telling of the nativity story for anyone who wants to participate, sheep games, roasting marshmallows, finishing well with dinner served and provided by our youth ministry. The shepherds jump into the story from around a campfire.
  • Each family will receive their own copy of the devotional while supplies last beginning at Campfire Christmas. We were able to order the devotional in bulk and received a family event guide from Vanessa at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRPIbL1NmQHitp3tnerSttKd5fWr-PpARZ99IXngZ-TYO2zw/viewform 
  • 100+ small sheep will be placed all over campus for littles and bigs to be delighted, play with, and move around. We’ll pick them all up in January. We are sheep (dependent on God) AND we are shepherds (sharing first the good news of Jesus’ birth and God’s salvation with others).
  • Children’s moments will open with sheep jokes and shepherd hooks sharing the wonders of a song (I Wonder As I Wander), wonder of a good shepherd, wonder of Psalm 23 (my rod and my staff…tools for the journey), and wonder of remaining with the flock. 
  • Our church has several wonderful mission opportunities during Advent yet few are kid-friendly-sticky, so we will collect gently-used suitcases and duffle bags for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and foster children as we ‘unpack Christmas’ for others. We’ll include a children’s devotional and/or Bible inside. Several church members are actively involved in this amazing program and are taking the point to store and get them where they need to go to do the most good.
  • Sheep cut-outs for prayer prompters; sheep games.
  • Inviting families to reach one chapter of the gospel of Luke (24 chapters) each day beginning December 1st, finishing on Christmas Eve.

Christmas is a wonder for littles AND bigs. So many fabulous characters. So many amazing places. So many fantastic relationships. So much love from a Heavenly Father who offers His own Son to be the only way to be made right with Himself, a holy God. 

Thank you, Lord, for the Advent season! Thank you, Vanessa, for a fresh way to celebrate!

“Holy God, thank You for the Good News of Jesus’ birth. Give me the boldness to share about who Jesus is with others, just like the shepherds did. Amen.” Wondering to Bethlehem, pg 91