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"I am the Root and Offspring of David, the bright and morning Star"
means that it is the Lord Himself who was born in the world,
and was then the Light.
The Lord came into the world to share the light of His Divine truth in a way that would help people see the way to heaven more clearly.
READ: "The Lord's Birth" by the Rev. David Lindrooth
The Lord was born on earth so that we could become more aware of His presence in our lives.
COLORING PAGE: Three Christmas Scenes by Robert Glenn
Shows the angel appearing to the shepherds, Mary and Joseph by the manger, and three wise men looking at the star. The pictures are shown with quotes from the King James version of the stories and an intricate border.
COLORING PAGE: Illuminations - Three Christmas Stories by Robert Glenn
Here the pictures of the shepherds, nativity, and wise men are part of the design of the initial letter of three quotations from the Word.
SING: In Lowly Stable Thou Art Born
A Star shall come out of Jacob;
A Scepter shall rise out of Israel.
(Numbers 24:17)
Balaam gave this prophecy which foretold the Lord's birth and that a star would be one of the signs of His coming. Despite prophecies like this one, most people would be unaware of the Lord's birth. But some people - such as the wise men - were watching for the Messiah and knew what the star of wonder meant.
READ: "The Star of Bethlehem" a sermon by the Rev. Patrick A. Rose
The Lord came down to earth to show us the way to heaven and help us become angels. This is why the wise men saw a beautiful star in the sky when the Lord was born. It was a sign that the Lord had come to show people the direction they should go.
ACTIVITY: Dramatize the Story of Balaam Giving His Prophecy (for ages 3-7)
Follow the directions to help little ones make a star and a scepter, then use the script to help them dramatize the story of Balaam prophesying that the Lord would be born on earth.
COLORING PAGE: Balaam's Prophecy by Robert Glenn
READ: "The Christmas Star" family talk by the Rev. Fred Schnarr
Angels love stars because they know that stars symbolize truths that are filled with love. They know that the most important truths are about the Lord. So when they see a star, they think of the Lord. As we think about stars at Christmas time, let us invite the Lord into our hearts and minds so that His Christmas star will light the way to heaven for us.
PROJECT: Decorate a Beautiful Star (ages 4-8)
Print this star onto card stock, punch holes around the edge, then use yarn with sparkly (metallic) strands to "sew" around the edge of the star to make it sparkle.
PROJECT: Making a Five-Pointed Star (ages 9-14)
Directions for folding and cutting paper to make a five pointed star.
Behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them,
till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
(Matthew 2:9,10)
The wise men saw the special star that appeared when the Lord was born, and they followed it to Jerusalem and then on to Bethlehem, where they worshiped the Lord who was now a young child, living in a house.
READ: "The Journey of the Wise Men" by the Rev. Kurt Asplundh
A story with pictures for young children from the Early Childhood Religion Program.
READ: "Wise Men from the East" by the Rev. William Whitehead
Presents a dramatic word-picture of the wise men's journey and a message for us all: If you wish to be wise, and to be made happy with an exceeding great joy, follow the Lord's star, that is, follow knowledge from heaven - knowledge from the Lord's Word.
READ: "The Two Stories of Christmas" by the Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss
Selections from this article help us explore the meaning of the story of the wise men and Herod.
ACTIVITY: Dramatization of the Wise Men (all ages)
While a parent reads the story from the Word, dramatize the story of the wise men in silence. You may want to invite another family to join with yours for dinner and a short worship that includes opening the Word, the Lord's prayer, and the dramatization. Note that the wise men don't just kneel before the Lord, they "fall down and worship" Him. Encourage the children to kneel and touch their heads to the ground. Nothing and no one is more important than the Lord!
Note on Costuming: A shawl or small blanket can be worn over Mary's head and shoulders.
Bathrobes can be robes for Joseph and for the wise men. Use various containers to represent the gifts.
COLORING PAGE: Three Kings from the East by Lisa Buss
ACTIVITY: Follow the Star (ages 3-6)
Set up the nativity scene (or at least the baby Lord, Mary, and Joseph) in a "secret" place, temporarily. Have an adult carry the star while everyone else follows. Sing "We Three Kings" or play a tape of this song, while you follow the star to the baby Lord.
PROJECT: Star of Wonder (ages 4-12)
Four ways to picture the star in the dark of night.
ACTIVITY: Focus on the Star (all ages)
Use the Star Quotes as readings for family worship, perhaps letting each member of the family read a quote. Then go outside and look at the stars, imagining what the wise men saw and how they felt.
PROJECT: The Guiding Star (ages 8-up)
Paint a beautiful guiding star and then use salt crystals on wet paint to make a starry sky for the background.
PROJECT: The Christmas Star (ages 8-12)
Gives directions for assembling four large triangles into a beautiful star.
PROJECT: Diorama of the Wise Men Seeking the Lord (ages 8-12)
Print this project onto thick paper (such as cover stock). Then color the wise men, the camels, and the background scene of Bethlehem and assemble a diorama with the wise men looking at the star.
COLORING PAGE: The Wise Men See the Star by Robert Glenn
ACTIVITY: Starry Background for the Nativity Scene
Put up the nativity scene as your first decoration. Hang a blue piece of cloth behind your crèche scene and put a pile of gold self-adhesive stars nearby. Encourage everyone to put a star in the sky throughout the Christmas season when they've done a good deed (preferably without anyone else knowing about it). This project has proved a winner with children of all ages.
PROJECT: Story of the Wise Men Stained Glass Windows (ages 6-14)
Make stained glass windows depicting the star of wonder, the three wise men following the star or the wise men presenting their gifts before the Lord.
PROJECT: Stained Glass Windows (ages 9-14)
Here is a special technique to make a stained glass window for Christmas that you will want to display year after year. The example shows the three wise men following the star of wonder.
ACTIVITY: Making Star Cookies
Ideas for decorating rolled cookies cut in the shape of stars.
SING: We Three Kings
PROJECTS: Paper Snowflake Patterns by the Rev. John Odhner (ages 9-up)
Intricate paper patterns to fold and cut into beautiful shapes.
Star Snowflake
Concentric Stars
Star of David
Tips on Making Paper Snowflakes
A "star" symbolizes the knowledges of good and truth,
and in the highest sense the knowledge respecting the Lord.
(Apocalypse Explained 422:20)
We need to look to the Lord in His Word to find the stars of truth that can help us find real happiness in life - now and forever.
PROJECT: Stars of Light Ornaments (ages 8-12)
Use watercolor or acrylic paint and stiff paper to make beautiful star ornaments with quotes from the Lord's Word.
ACTIVITY: Recitation Stars (ages 5-10)
Truths from the Word are like stars that can guide us in life. To encourage your child to learn portions of the Word by heart, displays recitation stars on a ribbon. Variation: Buy glow-in-the-dark stars. When your child learns a recitation from the Word, put a star on his or her bedroom ceiling.
PROJECT: Stars of Truth Mobile (ages 9-up)
Make a mobile of stars with quotes from the Word written on them. The other side can be decorated with paint, glitter, gold pens, etc.
The gold symbolized celestial good, the frankincense
spiritual good, and the myrrh natural good - the three kinds of good
from which everything of worship originates.
(see De Verbo 7:5)
The wise men brought special gifts to the Lord because they wanted to worship Him and because they knew the meaning or symbolism of each gift. What do these gifts teach us about what the Lord wants us to offer Him?
READ: "Joy in the Coming of Our Lord" by the Rev. David C. Roth
Like the star that led the wise men, the truth will lead us to the Lord and make us happy. But the real joy in our lives will be when we come to the Lord offering gifts to Him, as the wise men did. These gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh symbolize love to the Lord, love to our neighbor, and a life of obedience. These are the gifts which the Lord asks us to bear on Christmas day and beyond.
READ: "The Gold of the Wise Men" by the Rev. Patrick Rose
Gold stands for loving the Lord. This was the first gift that the wise men gave the Lord because it is essential for worshiping the Lord. You can give the Lord the gift of spiritual gold - the gift of love.
ACTIVITY: Show and Tell the Three Gifts (all ages)
Read the story from the Word. Show the frankincense and burn some of this incense. Let everyone smell the myrrh. Look at the gold and discuss how precious it is. Discuss ways we can give these symbolic gifts to the Lord.
PROJECT: The Three Gifts of the Wise Men (ages 3-7)
Make ornaments for your tree by printing pictures of wise men's gifts on stiff paper (such as cover stock). Then color the gifts, cut them out, and display on your tree.
COLORING PAGE: The Wise Men Present Their Gifts to the Lord
PROJECT: Story of the Wise Men Scene Boxes (ages 7-12)
Paint four sides of a box to show 4 different scenes from the story of the wise men. This can be done as group project or one person can depict all 4 scenes. For the story of the wise men, you might want to show them following the star, meeting with Herod, presenting gifts to the Lord, and then show Joseph taking the Lord and Mary to safety in Egypt.
THE GIFTS WE BRING TO THE LORD
Gifts offered to the Lord serve to bear witness to things offered from the heart,
which are those of faith and charity.
(Arcana Coelestia 9293)
We give gifts to family and friends at Christmas time because this is a precious way to celebrate the birth of the Lord. By expressing our love for others, we are giving a special gift to the Lord. But it is also good to reflect on the kinds of gifts that we can offer directly to the Lord.
SPIRITUAL TASK: Gifts for the Lord (teens and up)
ACTIVITY: Bringing Gifts to the Lord
Consider giving your children gifts that can enhance their spiritual growth (such as a religious book or Bible pictures). You may also want to help your children give something to your Sunday School program or church as a tangible way for them to give a gift to the Lord. Or ask them to make pictures or special decorations for the place where you keep a copy of the Lord's Word.
FAMILY DISCUSSION: Gift Giving
- We give each other presents at Christmas time because we are celebrating the Lord's birthday. When we share with each other, it's a way of giving to Him.
- Think of ways to help other children have a nicer Christmas by contributing to a Toys for Tots program or to an organization that sends Christmas boxes to children in war-torn or poverty-stricken countries. On Christmas Day, think about the child receiving your box.
- Take time with your children to write thank you notes to those who sent them gifts.
SPIRITUAL TASK: Giving to Others (teens and adults)
PROJECT: A Wreath of Gifts from the Lord (ages 9-12)
Print out the directions and page of "packages" or presents. Color the front of each package and make a wreath from construction paper or poster board. Now write something that the Lord has given you on the inside of each of the packages, then arrange them on your wreath to remind you of all the gifts that the Lord gives us.
And it will be said in that day:
"Behold, this is our God;
We have waited for Him, and He will save us.
We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."
(Isaiah 25:9)
READ: "Why We Celebrate Christmas" by the Rt. Rev. Alfred Acton
A clear explanation of why we celebrate Christmas and what gifts we can bring to the Lord.
READ: "Preparation for Christmas" by the Rev. Lorentz Soneson
This article shares a variety of ways that families can focus on the true meaning of Christmas in their celebration of Christmas. Suggestions include preparing a tableaux with simple costumes to reenact the story of the Lord's birth, displaying a crèche or representation of the nativity - perhaps made by the children, and giving children a religious gift such as a bookmark, Word cover, Bible pictures, etc. after having a family worship service on Christmas morning.
ACTIVITY: Let Your Light Shine - Affirmation Stars
During the weeks leading up to Christmas, try to notice true and good things from the Lord in others. Make affirmation stars for family members that can be hung on the Christmas tree or shared at an appropriate time. Each star will represent a gift to the family from parent or child and a gift to the individual person through your appreciation.
ACTIVITY: Decorating Your Home for Christmas
You may want to decorate your home this Christmas with an emphasis on the star motif. There are lots of star projects that can help you.