Joy

This worship series finds us preparing for Christmas. For most families, there are many traditions and rituals that coincide with the Advent season. The children’s messages for this series are created around one such tradition – Christmas cookies. Each week, a traditional cookie-cutter shape will be introduced, reinforcing the scripture passage for each week’s message. Provide a cookie-cutter template for children to take home each week. Encourage their families to bake cookies and reflect on each Sunday’s message during Advent.

The cookie shapes used are as follows: tree, snowflake, heart, angel, small gingerbread man, and larger gingerbread man.

DOWNLOAD Cookie-cutter Template (PDF)

Bring all the cookie-cutter shapes with you each week to use as visual aids and have the children select the shape that coincides with each week’s message.

A secondary activity could be to use the templates for coloring pages and/or Christmas tree ornaments and family discussions.

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Christmas Eve, Year C

Isaiah 9:6, New International Reader's Version

⁶ A child will be born to us.
A son will be given to us.
He will rule over us.
And he will be called
Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God.
He will also be called Father Who Lives Forever
and Prince Who Brings Peace.

Luke 2:6-14, New International Reader's Version

⁶While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born. ⁷She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. That is because there was no guest room where they could stay.

⁸There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were taking care of their sheep. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news. It will bring great joy for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said,

¹⁴“May glory be given to God in the highest heaven!

And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!”

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Visual Aids:

All cookie-cutter shapes.

Cookie shape:

Small gingerbread man to represent the baby.

Message:

We have come to the end of Advent. We have been preparing, baking cookie reminders, and waiting for this time to arrive. The time of waiting is over. Tonight is the beginning of Christmas. Tonight is a wonderful night! Tonight is a night filled with joy! It is Christmas Eve. When the sun comes up tomorrow morning, and most all of us get up way too early, we will remember Jesus’ first coming; our Savior was born as a tiny baby in a stable.

Mary and Joseph stayed in a stable because all the guest rooms in town were full, and no one would welcome them into their homes. Jesus, the Son of God, was born in a manger. Jesus was no ordinary baby. He was incredibly special. He was incredibly special to the prophet Jeremiah, who told the people that he was coming. He was incredibly special to Malachi, who told of his purity. He was incredibly special to John, who reminded all people that he would baptize with the Holy Spirit. He was incredibly special to his mother, Mary, and to Joseph, who both had been told about his birth by angels. He was incredibly special to the shepherds, who were amazed and even scared when the angels told them the news. The glory of God’s love is so bright that the shepherds trembled in fear at how close God was to them. At Christmastime, we are amazed at the way God’s good news comes to us. The savior of the world did not come as a rich and powerful king. In fact, the rich rulers and powerful kings felt threatened by this baby and would-be king. Christ comes as a little baby lying in a manger.

What cookie-cutter shape do you think that we should prepare and bake this time? (Allow children to choose. This one may be a little more difficult for them.) Notice that there are two different gingerbread figures that are two different sizes. I wonder if Jesus comes to us as a baby in a manger, which shape best suggests this? That is right, the smaller gingerbread figure. That night, in a stable in Bethlehem, Jesus was born and placed in a manger. And all who were there loved him. What an amazing and wonderful surprise!

• I wonder how the shepherds felt when the angel told of the good news of the birth.
• I wonder if all who were there realized all the amazing things Jesus would do when he grew up.
• I wonder how you can share that same amazement and excitement of the good news of Jesus’ birth as you spend Christmas day with your loved ones.

Prayer:

God of wonder and surprises, the good news of Christmas is so big and amazing. Fill us each with wonder, excitement, and surprise at the great joy of Jesus’ birth. Amen.