Object: The pose of someone on a ship keeping watch, with binoculars.

Good morning, boys and girls. Today is the first day of Advent and that means it is the first day of a new year. Did you know that in the church we don't wait for January 1st to begin a new year? We start with the first Sunday in Advent. (Let them answer.) That's right, we start all over again and begin by looking forward to the coming of Jesus.

This morning we are looking forward to the time when Jesus will return and that means we should be keeping watch. How many of you have ever seen a movie or a picture of a person keeping watch on a ship? (Let them answer.) Good, a lot of you have seen that. What does the person do who is keeping watch? (Let them answer.) Th…