First Sunday of Advent: Exploring Hope and Anxiety

For the last three years I've tried to mirror our Sunday School lessons to line up with what is being preached during Advent. Our overall theme for this Advent Season is lighting the candles of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. This Sunday in our service, for HOPE, Wanda Wagler-Martin (of Shalom Counselling) will be talking about work towards hope by overcoming anxiety. With our kiddos we will be exploring this idea of anxiety and hope. We'll link it to the Christmas story by looking at how the angels appeared to Mary, Joseph, the shepherds (etc.) and said "Do not be afraid!"

... but how to we do this? In the work I do outside of the Gathering, (in social work) we see that there is a huge increase in anxiety in our society, especially with kids. I'd like to explore this with them. We'll talk about how anxiety comes from a good place- our body/mind wants to protect us. But, often this switch can go on too often, which doesn't always serve us well. We'll explore what makes us anxious and some tools we can use to overcome this (deep breathing, remembering that God is near, knowing who we can talk to/ask for help, being healthy (through good sleep, food and exercise). They'll be making their own tool kits :)

Our guiding verse for this Sunday is:
"Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified; do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

As always, let me know if you have questions/ideas/concerns!

Blessings, Rachel