baby jesus
This month’s child of the faith is the ultimate one - Jesus! It really is a wonderful thing that when God wanted to change the world, God didn’t choose to throw down lightning or send an earthquake; God sent a baby. Think about when you were a baby. Think about how much you needed other people!
And that’s how God became one of us - as an infant who needed other humans. Parents, when caring for your children leaves you exhausted, remember that Mary and Joseph could totally relate. Children, when you’re frustrated by wanting to do things for yourselves and not being quite old enough, quite tall enough...Jesus gets it. Jesus was a miracle - and Jesus came into the world just like every single one of us did, a literal mess of joy and pain. Read this story together and notice new things in it this month.
And that’s how God became one of us - as an infant who needed other humans. Parents, when caring for your children leaves you exhausted, remember that Mary and Joseph could totally relate. Children, when you’re frustrated by wanting to do things for yourselves and not being quite old enough, quite tall enough...Jesus gets it. Jesus was a miracle - and Jesus came into the world just like every single one of us did, a literal mess of joy and pain. Read this story together and notice new things in it this month.
Read It: Luke 2: 1-22
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” .....
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” .....
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Do It
- Act out the story. Pull out some costumes (a bunch of scarves will go a long way!) and read the story as you act it out. Then act it out from what you remember of the story and begin to play with it. Or if you have a nativity set, tell the story using those figures. Let your child tell it to you, and vice versa.
- Games: Here are some goofy games for exploring the story.
- “Baby Swaddling”: Teach your household how to swaddle a baby, using dolls and baby blankets. Then time each person doing it and declare a Swaddling Clothes Champion!
- “Pack the Donkey”: What all did Mary and Joseph take with them on their journey? Gather some things, declare a chair to be your “donkey” (or get ambitious and make a barrel donkey), and see how quickly you can pack the donkey for the journey.
- “What did Jesus eat?”: Jesus pooped. Just like us. So here’s a typical baby shower game we can borrow for Christmas. Smear mini candy bars in "baby diapers,” then see if you can identify which candy bar each is. What did Jesus/the baby eat?
- Help refugee/migrant children: The book of Matthew tells us that Jesus, Mary and Joseph needed to flee a dangerous situation in Judah. They became refugees in Egypt. Right now, there are so many people in this same situation. Around the world, people flee difficult and dangerous situations and become refugees and immigrants. They are not always treated as well as Mary and Joseph and Jesus were. Find a way to reach out to people in today’s world who are refugees.
- Start local: Are there any immigrant families in your area? If you know people, reach out to them with Christmas gifts, a meal, or some other extension of friendship. If you don’t know anyone, find an organization that helps the immigrant community and donate time or other resources.
- Go national/international: Mennonite Central Committee has a long history of standing with refugees. Visit their website to get involved.
Pray It
God, you became one of us. That is hard to understand! You were a child, you played and you cried and you grew. We want to grow in your ways. Amen.
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