SCRIPTURE
Luke 2:21-35
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
SONG
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground,
an angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shone around
and glory shone around.“Fear not,” said he for mighty dread
had seized their troubled mind
“glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind
to you and all mankind.“To you, in David’s town, this day
is born of David’s line
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord;
and this shall be the sign,
and this shall be the sign:“The heavenly babe you there shall find
to human view displayed,
all meanly wrapped in swaddling bands
and in a manger laid,
and in a manger laid.”“All glory be to God on high,
and to the earth be peace;
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to man
Begin and never cease,
Begin and never cease.”
This is the version with the melody written by Handel. Here is a good Youtube version of the song with lyrics.
ACTIVITY
It’s time to make Mary, Joseph, Jesus and the Manger to put in your Nativity.
Make Mary and Joseph similarly to how you made the Shepherds and Angels, but give Mary a more feminine appearance – for example, you could give her hair made from yarn or doll’s hair instead of a headpiece.
To make Baby Jesus, there are a few options:
You can use a baby size peg doll and paint.
You can take a small, but proportionately sized smooth stone and paint it white (as if the baby is bundled), with a pink face.
You can also draw or print out the picture of a swaddled baby and cut it out.
The manger can be made out of craft popsicle sticks and a little shredded kraft paper.
Or it can be a very small box, if you have one the right size, painted brown and filled with craft straw or shredded brown kraft paper.
Place Mary, Joseph and the Manger in the Stable, and place Baby Jesus in the Manger.
