The Week of Joy

Light two purple candles: the candle of Hope, and the candle of Preparation. Light the candle of Joy, the pink candle.

There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun. Ecclesiastes 8:14-15

Read Luke 2:25-40, Psalm 16:7-11

Jesus is the Light of the World. Take a few Lifesavers and place in baggie. Gather the family together in a very dark room, close the door and wait ten minutes to let everyone’s eyes adjust to the dark. Keeping the candy in the baggie, use pliers to squeeze Lifesavers between pliers and crush. The candy will give off a flash of blue-green light. Relate this to the light of Jesus in the dark of the world. (Supplies: snack-size Ziploc bag, pliers, a roll of Wint-o-Green Lifesavers)

Glowing Prayer Reminder. Trace around the rim of a small juice cup on thin cardboard and cut out circle. From your yard collect a small stick, about 6 inches long. Break off the end of the stick at about two inches. Glue them together to form a tiny cross. Take masking tape and tape the cross upright in the center of the cardboard circle. Paint cross with glow-in-the-dark paint and allow to dry. Place grass or evergreens around the base of the cross. Place plastic cup over cross and tape in place. Sit the cross under a lamp on your bedside table.

(Supplies: plastic cup, pencil, thin cardboard, scissors, two small sticks, glow-in-the-dark craft paint, artificial grass, masking tape)

Father, we feel your presence here with us now. Apart from you, there is no goodness and joy. We are truly thankful you came to the earth to save us. In your name we pray, Amen.