Sunday morning we kicked off our month of Christmas learning about the angel’s visit to Mary. When the angel told Mary that she would have a special baby, Mary praised God. We will be celebrating Jesus’ birth this month by answering the question: How do we know God loves us? God gave us Jesus!

To help us remember this great story, we made angel wing ornaments, ate angel cookies and played a game announcing Jesus’ birth!

Parents, this is a great time of year to make Jesus a priority in your home. During the Christmas season, kids can become very “me” focused. Help them remember that Christmas is all about Jesus by doing a few simple things. Begin bysetting out a nativity set and talk about it with your child every day. There are lots of child-friendly nativity sets available that kids can play with. . Fisher Price has a great one. Letting your child play with and explore all the people who celebrated Jesus’ birth a long time ago, will help them celebrate Him now.

Help your child with their memory verse this month: “God (point up) has given (hold hands out with palms up) a Son to us.” (cradle your arms, and rock them like you have a baby). Isaiah 9:6

Today we continued the Christmas story by talking about the angels message to the shepherds who were watching their sheep in the fields. The shepherds were so excited that they ran to Bethlehem to see baby Jesus! We were all excited today too! It was obvious from all the energy that Christmas is almost here.

Today we made sheep masks and dressed up like angels with halos and horns! We also had a special shepherd trail mix (marshmallow sheep and pretzel stick staffs) and played a few fun games.

Memory Verse: “God (point up) loved (cross hands over heart) the world (make a world by circling hands) so much that he gave (extend arms in front) his only Son” (make a cradle with arms for a baby). John 3:16 (hold hands like a book)

Parents: To help children keep their focus on Jesus, make Christmas Eve or Christmas extra festive by putting out a birthday cake (or cupcake) for Jesus. Light a candle, sing happy birthday to Jesus and let the kids blow out the birthday candle.

Our Biblequestion this month is “How do we know God loves us?” Answer: “He gave us Jesus!”

Our memory verse is “God (point up) loved (cross hands over heart) the world (use hands to make a big cirlce) so much that he gave (extend hands out) His only Son (make a cradle with arms.) John 3:16 (hold out hands to form book)

Parents, This week set out your family nativity set. Ask your child to help identify Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and the angel (if you have one). Sing Happy Birthday to baby Jesus. During Christmastime, it’s very easy for children to become “ME” focused. Help them keep their focus on Jesus by talking about Him everyday.