The most amazing thing about the Christmas story is its relevance. It is at home in every age and fits into every mood of life. It is not simply a lovely tale once told, but eternally contemporary. It is the voice crying out in every wilderness. It is as meaningful in our time as in that long-ago night when shepherds followed the light of the star to the manger of Bethlehem. —Joseph R. Sizoo
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John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
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Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the Holy bible say
Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ,
Was born on Christmas Day
While shepherds watched their flocks by night
They saw a bright new shining star.
They heard a choir from heaven sing
The music came from afar
Hark now, hear the angels sing
A new king born today
And we will live forever more
Because of Christmas Day
Now Joseph and his wife Mary
Come to Bethlehem that night
They found no place to bear her child
Not a single room was in sight
Hark now, hear the angels sing
A new king born today
And we will live forever more
Because of Christmas Day
Trumpets sound and angels sing
Listen to what they say
That man will live forevermore
Because of Christmas Day
Gloria in excelsis deo
A new king born today
(glorias)
Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ,
Was born on Christmas Day
Hark now, hear the angels sing
A new king born today
And we will live forever more
Because of Christmas Day
By and by they find a little nook
In a stable all forlorn
And in a manger cold and dark
Mary’s little boy was born
Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the Holy bible say
Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ,
Was born on Christmas Day
Hark now, hear the angels sing
A new king born today
And we will live forever more
Because of Christmas Day
Trumpets sound and angels sing
Listen to what they say
That we will live forevermore
That we will live forevermore
That we will live forevermore
Because of Christmas Day
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TRADITION
Let me tell you a story about a family. Every year, they went through town and looked at the Christmas lights. Their tour always ended at a local church which sponsored a live nativity. All of the children were thrilled by the animals and giggled and laughed as they watched them romp around, even when one goat chewed on one of the children’s coats. Young parents who were members of that church took turns each year playing Mary and Joseph. One child stopped and carefully studied the nativity, the manger, the baby. Her grandmother said, “Isn’t that beautiful? Look at all the animals, at Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.” “It’s beautiful, Grandma. It is really nice. But isn’t Jesus ever going to grow up… he’s the same size as last year1”
How many of our children really understand that there is more to Jesus than just his birth? For a possible new tradition this year, let’s include stories of the baby, the boy and the grown up Jesus. Without Christmas there would be no Easter, and without Easter, there would be no need for Christmas. His life is one circle.
I tried to think of a way to tie them altogether and thought a game might work. My children were all very competitive and loved games.
Here are some trivia questions to use in a game. For the youngest children, you might need to make these multiple choice. Here are a few I’ve come up with. Make up your own questions, let older children make them up and be in charge. Take the opportunity to tell the whole story. ~~ Marilee
Where did Mary and Joseph live before Jesus was born?
Was Jesus born in Jerusalem or Bethlehem?
Where did Jesus sleep when he was a new baby?
What animals does the bible tell us were in the stable?
How many wisemen say does the bible say came to visit Jesus?
What was special about Mary?
Who warned Mary and Joseph to leave Bethlehem?
Where did they go?
Who was Jesus’ true father?
Where did Jesus go when he turned 12?
What did he do there?
Were his parents worried about him?
What was Jesus first miracle?
Jesus said to ________
How long was his ministry?
How old was he when he died?
Why did he die?
Where is he today?
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20 years ago, Joan and I were in a yahoo group together. We shared many stories. This is one of hers
THE LAMB AND THE LIGHT
A Christmas Story by Joan Goble, 2004
Marney was so excited! Her little heart was beating in anxious delight as she was helping her mother trim the tree and decorate the house. She held the figure of a little lamb tightly in her fingers so she wouldn’t drop it.
“Don’t squeeze the lamb so hard dear, it is very delicate and you might crush it, put it by the baby Jesus. “
“Ok, Mommy,” she said, and reluctantly she placed the figure of the little lamb in the Crèche under the tree.
“The little lamb also has a meaning, dear. It is the symbol of our Lord Jesus, who was called the ‘Lamb of God’. He was called the lamb, because in the ancient days the Prophets looked forward to his coming, and lambs were sacrificed as a remembrance of the Lord Jesus who would be born, and who would die for us so that we would be able to go back to live with our Heavenly Father someday. We take the sacrament for the same reason now, dear.”
Marney didn’t understand much of what Mommy was talking about, she just knew that every time she said her prayers that she had a warm feeling inside that told her that Jesus loved her. She bent over the Crèche, touching each figure of the manger scene, ever so gently with her pudgy finger. She let her finger linger for a while longer on the baby Jesus, and then back to the little lamb.
“Lambs are a lot like babies, Marney,” said Mommy. “They are very helpless and small and need a lot of watching and care. Jesus called us his lambs and his sheep, and he also said that he was the Good Shepherd.”
“Oh, Mommy, Jesus is just a little tiny baby. These are the shepherds. You tell funny jokes sometimes.”
“Yes dear, Jesus was born a tiny baby in a manger, just like you see in the Crèche. But he grew up to be our Lord and Savior. Just like your daddy was once a little baby and grew up to be your daddy.”
When you are four years old, big words like “Lord and Savior and symbol” are a little confusing, but Marney still was happy and excited about getting ready for Christmas, and she was feeling a warm glow in her heart that told her that Mommy was telling the truth and sometime she would understand more.
Mommy was standing on a step stool, placing a glowing star right up on top. “Why do we put a star on top of the tree, Mommy?”
“Long ago the prophets said that Heavenly Father would send a new, bright star to tell people that the Lord Jesus had been born. The new bright star appeared in the sky, just like the prophets said it would. It was a sign that Jesus is the Light of the World. It guided the Wisemen to see the baby Jesus; they had been watching the sky for it to appear.”
“Did the baby Jesus shine like a star, Mommy?”
“Let me explain it to you, dear. Do you remember a while ago when I plugged in the string of lights, and look at them to see if any were burned out and needed to be replaced?” Marney nodded her head thoughtfully. “Well, come over here and touch the light bulbs, now that the lights have been unplugged.” Marney wrapped her fingers around some of the bulbs.
“They feel kind of warm,” she said.
“How did you feel in your heart at Home Night when Daddy told you how much he loves Jesus and that he knows He is real?”
“I felt warm in my heart and my tummy. I felt like laughing and crying at the same time,” said Marney.
“Well, Marney. We can’t see the light on the Christmas bulbs anymore, but we can feel that they are warm. You can’t see the light in your heart, but you can feel it is warm. That is the light of the Spirit of the Lord. That is your heart light, dear. Jesus is the Light of the World because his spirit shines in our hearts. The Lord Jesus sends His Spirit to us, because He can’t be with us in person like He was when He came as a little baby. When the shepherds came to see the little baby Jesus, they could feel the light of His spirit shining in their hearts, too.”.
“If Jesus came and stood here, you would see that He shines like the sun, Marney dear. But He can’t stand here with us right now, so He sends us His spirit to light up your heart light.”
Mommy finished putting the long string of lights on the tree, and then she plugged it in. Marney looked at the sparkling lights in awe. “They look just like a zillion sparkling stars!” squealed Marney.
“When you look at all the beautiful Christmas lights, Marney, think about the Christmas Star that Heavenly Father sent us to tell us that the baby Jesus was born, and that He is the Light of the World. And think about your heart-light-- the warm feeling you have inside you that is His Holy Spirit shining in your heart and soul.”
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Marney was standing and looking at the newly decorated tree, holding her newborn baby girl and watching as Ken was plugging in the lights, and the tree blazed into holiday glory. She remembered back to that day she had helped her mother decorate the tree so long ago. She now understood to some extent, what love really was, and the meaning of the words “Light of the World and Lamb of God.”But she still knew, as she knew back then as a tiny four year old, the feeling of her heart-light, and the Knowing, beyond words, of the Love of the Spirit of Christ in her heart.
For me, the miracle of these Christmas lights is a special blessing. It is a special gift that I have been granted each time I look over to the little remembrance of lights I say a prayer of thanksgiving for all that Christ did for me, because He loved me, because He is the Light of the World and the Lamb of God.
For me this is truly a miracle that I witness each day and night. I don't know when these lights will start to fade but I know the miracle of it all is this ~ the brightest lights of love, always remain in our hearts and souls forever ~ they are never extinguished. We are all a part of life's miracle ~ each one of us emits a special glow and hopefully our glow will always remain.
I wish you love and an abundance of light always.
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For nativity crafts, goto my pinterest and look in crafts for children. I have many different projects that are easy and fast. I also have many fun treats ~~ Marilee
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