Counting Down to Christmas is getting closer...

Christmas is coming. It’s getting closer by the day and we’ll begin our official launch of this year’s paid resource on the 1st December 2023 with the first email going out at 5am (NZDT).

If you want to have a surprise about what that first email/website post will include then I suggest you read no further. If you have a paid subscription the time will arrive soon enough for all to be revealed. If you’d like to have a better idea of what’s to come so you can decide whether to sign up or not, or you are just full of excited, enthusiastic, anticipation then read on!

A sneak peek at the 1st December…

1^st December - 25 Days to Christmas

Searching for Christmas…

Watch the Christmas friends get ready for Christmas and read about their journey to Christmas.

It’s the first of December and the Christmas friends are decorating their Christmas tree. Holly climbs up the ladder to reach the top branches. Snow holds the string of lights, carefully unravelling them, as Holly winds them up and around the tree branches. Holly shouts from the top of the tree, “Christmas is coming!” Down below her, Snow smiles and starts the countdown, “24 more sleeps to go until Christmas Day!”

The Christmas Friends Answer a Question…

Detective Sam T. Sirhc is curious. She has lots of questions she’s pondering and thinking about. Here’s her question for the first of December. She asks it of her Christmas friends and she also wants to know what you think. She’d love it if you answered in the comments.

What are you looking forward to the most this Christmas season?

The Casebook of Detective Sam T. Sirhc

Sam and her trusty sidekick, Leon, are on a search for Christmas. Here’s a few excerpts out of her casebook for the 1st of December.

A snippet from the Bible

Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us. They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened.

-  Luke 1:1-2 (CEV)

Notes and thoughts

People like to countdown to good things. This creates a feeling of anticipation. When we know there is something worth anticipating, it helps to take more notice of what’s happening around us. When we take notice, it helps us feel grounded. Counting down to Christmas is a way that people can immerse themselves in the celebration of Christmas. We can get involved in the Christmas story by understanding more about it, and living out what we learn.

An Anagram

I made this anagram to solve. I’ll post the answer in my case notes tomorrow. Click on the play button to read the Anagram (or find it in italics in Clue 3 below)

Clue 1 - Where to find today’s answer - the words for the solution are hidden in my notes and thoughts section.

Clue 2 - Hint on what the answer might be - a tale for all time.

Clue 3 - Anagram in a sentence - “I hope we don’t have HOT SMART HYSTERICS as we count down to Christmas.”

I wrote this prayer for you and for me to pray on this first day of December….

A Prayer

Our God-With-Us

Please let us know your presence is with us as we count down to Christmas this year.

Help our minds and hearts be open to hearing your Christmas story as a fresh experience.

Help us to act our new learnings as we navigate to Christmas this year.

Amen.

Leon’s Pawprint

Leon is Detective Sam T. Sirhc’s cat and he wanted to be involved in this year’s Counting Down to Christmas so she asked him to help her by suggesting a daily activity. He’s calling this section, “Leon’s Pawprint” and invites you to make your own pawprints in whatever way you’d like.

Start a notebook or sketchbook as your casebook to record your Counting Down to Christmas. This is both a written and visual record. Decorate your casebook with pictures, stickers, decorations, and photos. Write down your thoughts or ideas.  

Every day Leon will suggest a fresh idea offering something to include in your casebook.

Detective Sam T. Sirhc and Leon need your help

Every day in our Counting Down to Christmas our four Christmas friends will answer a question posed by Detective Sam. She needs your help with providing the answers.

Download the questionnaire and fill in as many answers as you’d like, offering your own voice as the voice of Holly, Star, Angel or Snow. One or more of your answers will appear in the publication. Sam, Leon and Caroline would love it if you could join in the fun.

Return the form to Caroline as soon as possible by email (caroline@kererupublishing.com)

A note from Caroline

I’ll be back once more before we begin counting down this coming Friday the first of December. If you have any questions about your subscription please email me. I’m looking forward to sharing this year’s Counting Down to Christmas with you. If you think you know of others who might enjoy the style and content of this all-age offering, please click on the share button below and pass this one on!

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