From the Manger Youth & Intergenerational Curriculum
From the Manger Youth & Intergenerational Curriculum is a digital product. No physical product will be shipped. Your purchase includes one Single-Entity license. Learn about Multi-Entity licenses here.
Hunger is a universal human experience, drawing attention to both our basic needs for nourishment and deeper needs for peace, liberation, and meaning. From the Manger reflects on the playful symbolism of Jesus being laid in a feeding trough in Bethlehem, the “House of Bread,” inviting us to consider how the baby born in a bread town continues to feed a hungry world today. This Advent resource is designed to inspire, empower, and nourish your community and can be used on its own or alongside other From the Manger products.
Our From the Manger Youth and Intergenerational Curriculum is the perfect resource for youth group or other intergenerational programming your community has planned for during Advent.
The curriculum is designed to honor everyone’s experiences and focus on relationship building instead of retention of knowledge or information. The bulk of your time together will be spent sharing and discussing different experiences during a sharing circle. For the four weeks of Advent and the first Sunday after Christmas, each session includes the following:
- Introduction: a brief explanation of the session’s Advent or Christmas theme
- Opening Prayer: a short prayer to begin your time together
- Sharing an Experience: an optional activity to experience together
- Sharing the Scripture: the chosen scripture passage read aloud to the group
- Sharing Circle: a set of 12 sharing statements to encourage conversation and connection
- Sharing the Reflection: a short reflection summarizing the topic
- Sharing the Song: an optional suggested song
- Closing Prayer: a prayer to end your time
How You Can Use It
Many churches find weekly intergenerational programs, often centered around a shared meal, easier to organize during seasons like Advent or Lent. If your church hosts gatherings like these, this curriculum can serve as the foundation for meaningful conversations using the discussion prompts from each week’s lesson. It’s also an excellent resource for youth groups during Advent, as well as for small groups or adult Bible studies.
Some other possible ways to use this curriculum include:
- Intergenerational Sunday School: Instead of separating age groups, create a Sunday morning gathering for upper elementary students, youth, and adults. The sharing circle would allow all ages to learn from each other’s experiences.
- Advent Retreat Day: Organize a half-day or full-day retreat using the curriculum as the core of the activities. Include meal-sharing, group discussions, and reflections in a peaceful, retreat-like atmosphere, focusing on the season’s meaning.
- Small Group Ministry: Encourage small groups to use the curriculum during Advent or Lent. It can be an alternative to traditional Bible studies by focusing on relationship-building and personal reflection.
What You Will Receive
After your purchase, you’ll receive a link to download your PDF file. You can open it directly on most devices, but for the best experience, we recommend downloading on a computer. You'll also receive a link to the Media Kit in the PDF. Please refer to the information included in the PDF on best practices for sharing our products with your community.