Snowmen and Christmas trees have been replaced by floral and beach themed designs to help children and families engage with Advent across the Anglican parishes of New Zealand
The ‘Kiwi Advent’ illustrations are designed to help guide children and families through the four weeks of Advent using themes of love, peace, joy and hope on the Sundays leading up to Christmas.
Diana Langdon and Annelies Berends, who are part of the Anglican Strandz website hub for children and families ministry, produce resources designed to encourage, equip, resource and train all those working with children. The illustrations are for use by Anglican parishes involved with children and families’ ministries.
“These Aotearoa New Zealand Advent Illustrations are designed to be useful for anyone and everyone.” said Diana. She said the colouring sheets picked up on Aotearoa New Zealand seasonal images from native flora and summertime at the beach.
“We hope they will be enjoyed by families, churches, ‘Messy churches’, as part of welcome packs for kids this Christmas, or anyone running reflective services where a contemplative colouring activity will work – from services in rest homes to community Christmas events.”
The Advent Illustrations can also be printed as large posters for use as a collaborative project in an all-aged group. They were designed by Strandz administrator and illustrator Annelies Berends, and the downloadable images can be shared under a Creative Commons licence when credited to Annelies Berends and Strandz.
The new Advent illustrations complement the many Advent and Christmas resources on the Strandz Children and Families ministry website which include: Advent calendars and videos, resources for intergenerational Advent and Christmas services, Advent prayer stations and candle prayers, and a range of ideas for families to mark the journey toward Christmas at home.
Please note this article is based on an article from Anglican Taonga
Rachel Farmer for ACNS
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