The Bethlehem star that the magi followed became a little more popular in 2020.  On the eve of the winter solstice (12/21/2020) two planets aligned to become a planetary conjunction.  Historical astronomers believe that as two planets converged they were most likely responsible for the light that the magi followed to the Christ child’s birth.  This conjunction only happens every 400 years and was last seen 800 years ago!
 
The star, the light of hope, the candle for Christ’s birth!  What an amazing light to celebrate especially in 2020.  A meme posted on social media said that “After of 40 days of rain God showed Noah a rainbow. At the end of 2020 God shows us the Star of Bethlehem!”  The sweetest part of this is if you are a Christian, one gift that never leaves you is the gift of HOPE and it began at that    manger over 2000 years ago.
 
We are offering our families a Sunday School lesson on the star, the magi, their camels and HOPE!  Please enjoy these crafts as you hold on to the HOPE that came with the star that the magi followed to the birth of the Christ child.  Let us carry this light of HOPE into 2021! 

 ​It was a simple day.  Baby shower gifts were being delivered in the Amazon truck by the “wise men.” The baby shower hostess was confused because the gifts that were delivered were actually intended for funeral director down the street.  The local government had just proclaimed death to all children under the age of two. The “wise men” delivery truck intentionally led that government’s army in the wrong direction to save the baby.  Queue up music for the Marvel Comic Hero theme song.  This could be a great storyline for a book or movie, right?  Oh, wait.  That book was written, about 2,000 years ago, and you know how the story ends. 
 
The astronomers (those wise men) were following a star to meet this mysterious baby and they really did bring gifts that were used for embalming.  Those gifts were of the most valuable commodities of the time.  The weary pregnant momma barely made it to town before the delivery, and dad found a crib in the nick of time.
 
The story continues with just the breath of the animals and minimal swaddling keeping the baby warm.  Oh, by the way, the cow was very patient when the baby was cooing in his food trough.   The baby shower guests might have made a few wrong turns because they were more than “fashionably late.”
 
It began as a very simple birth.  Yet this simple baby grew up and He ended up sharing some amazing teachings.  He humbly cared for the sick, poor, and downtrodden.  What an amazing role model!  What a gift to the world.  Over 2000 years later we still lovingly reminisce about the simple birth that changed the world.
 
This week’s Sunday School lesson is about that baby and that simple birth!  Please share these nativity crafts with your children and grandchild as you retell this familiar yet majestic story.  Sometimes simplicity is all that is needed!

Aren’t the decorations beautiful at Christmas? We enjoy colorful lights, nativity scenes, ornaments, stars and lots and lots of angels. 

When we think of angels at Christmas, our first thought is generally the angels that appeared to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. But an angel is important to Christmas even before Jesus was born.

Our Bible lesson today tells us about a visit from an angel. Joseph and Mary were engaged to be married. Can you imagine the thoughts that came to Joseph's mind when he discovered that Mary was going to have a baby and they weren’t married yet? He probably asked himself, "What do I do now?" Joseph was a good man and did not want to disgrace Mary publicly, so he decided that it would be better to break off the engagement quietly. While he was considering this, an angel appeared to him in a dream.

"Don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife," the angel said. "The child that is inside her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus."

When the angel of the Lord had spoken and made God's plan clear, Joseph listened. He didn’t have to understand how everything was going to happen. He didn’t need to worry about what anyone else would think. Joseph trusted God.
​
Sometimes we may find ourselves in a situation where we don't know what to do. Like Joseph, we might ask ourselves, "What do I do now?" If we listen, God will guide our actions. He probably won't speak to us through an angel, but he can speak to us through the words in the Bible. This week we have “Directed Drawings” for you to do.  You can listen and watch the videos and tutorials to make a directed drawing of the nativity, Mary & Joseph, baby Jesus, and angels!  

It was just another night in the fields for these shepherds, until the angels appeared to them over 2,000 years ago.  The angels told them the Christ child had come as a baby and was nearby in Bethlehem. Like most Jews at that time, the shepherds were waiting for the Messiah. It’s not difficult to imagine how excited they were as they rushed to find the baby.
 
The Christ child was an unbelievable gift to the people of that time. The Bible tells us that the people “got excited and rejoiced over the greatest gift of all.”
​
As we know the story it begins with some shepherds tending their flocks at night.  On that night an angel suddenly appeared to the shepherds and told them that the Messiah had been born in Bethlehem.  Then a bunch of angels appeared with the biggest “angel in the sky party” ever!  They were celebrating the birth of baby Jesus.
 
Can you just imagine the excitement that they felt?  They sure had a great reason to rejoice!  As you prepare for Christmas this year try to focus on the excitement that you would have felt if you were one of those shepherds outside that night.  What would the sky have looked like?  Would you have been cold or hot in that desert?  Would you have run or walked to Bethlehem to see baby Jesus?  Would the excitement of angels make you smile, laugh or sing with joy?
 
Our Sunday School lesson this week is about the joy that the shepherd felt the night the met those angels.  We have links to angel and shepherd crafts to get you crafting.  YouTube videos with the Drummer Boy, The Worlds Littlest Shepherd and Oh, What a Glorious Night to get you singing!  We encourage you to spread the joy of the season through gift, song or word with all you meet!