Family Activities

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Read Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6. What is pre- dicted to hap- pen?

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Read Luke 1:26- Make a dessert Make a paper plate Complete the word Sing “Hark The Donate to a lo- Make a 56. Say a with angel food angel search Herald Angel Sing” cal charity ex: Card and give it to a neighbor prayer and cake. -food pantry Yummy https:// thank Mary for www.craftymorning. -animal shelter her strength and com/paper-plate- -Toys for Tots faith. angel-craft-for-kids/

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Read Put out your fam- Complete the Make an acronym Sing Away in a Read the story of the Find a youtube Luke 2:1-20 ily nativity or visit Color using the name manger with Candy Cane video that tells JESUS Eat candy canes and How did the a nativity. Who Sheet and dis- your family. the story of Je- heard from and J is for ____ share the story and a shepherds hear play it for others E is for ____, bring Call a family candy cane with a sus’ birth for angel and who about Jesus to see. it to church to put on member and friend kids. followed a star? the bulletin board. sing to them

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Attend Cantata at Complete the Tell 20 people Ask your family Sing “Go Tell It Paint or color Use a cookie cutter HUMC 6:00 Star color sheet to tell you about On The Moun- the star orna- to make Star cookies Dinner following or a Star shaped We will make orna- Merry their favorite tian” ment sandwich, ments at the dinner Christmas! Christmas deco- Look for Ms Cindy ration and why. and Ms Doris.

23 24 25Sing 26 27 28 29 Read Sing “Silent “Joy To Matthew Night” The World” 2:1-12 Light a candle to Celebrate that Jesus What gifts did the welcome Jesus. is born!! Say Thank Magi bring to Jesus? you to Jesus after each gift you open. 30 31

Nativity Word Search

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A Candy Cane Christmas 6C NIV Learn More About our Ministries, Products and Resources at www.truthquest.net cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death "A Candy Cane of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy. White symbolizes the virgin birth and the sinless nature of Jesus. Back in Bible Christmas" times, a person was supposed to present a lamb for sacrifice when he had sinned. This lamb had to be a very special lamb. It had to be spotless, and How Can Candy Remind us of Jesus? perfectly white. It could not be sick or crippled. It had to be perfect for it to It's Christmas, and everywhere you look, whether people realize it or not, be acceptable for sacrifice. there are reminders of Jesus. Nativity scenes, crosses, stars, and Christmas Leviticus 5:17-19 Exodus 12:5 carols remind us of what Christmas is about. But what about the candy we Mint: The Flavor of Sacrifice eat? There is a legend about a particular kind of Christmas candy which The flavor of the cane is peppermint, which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is gives us multiple reminders of Jesus. It's the legend of the candy cane, and it in the mint family and was used in the Old Testament for purification and tells of how the color, consistency and shape of the candy all point to Jesus. sacrifice. Jesus is the pure Lamb of God. He came to be a sacrifice for the While it is not clear where this legend began or whether it is factual, the story sins of the world. Jesus is called the spotless lamb of God without blemish nonetheless shows us how even a piece of candy can remind us of Jesus. That or defect. This means that Christ was perfect, without sin. Only perfection story, along with some Scripture references, is the basis of this Family Study. was acceptable for the sacrifice of sins. Jesus was the only one who met We encourage you to use this sheet for your family devotions this week and that standard. Only He could take away our sins. consider how many ways we are reminded of Christ this Christmas! 2 Corinthians 5:21 1 Peter 2:22 1 John 3:5 Ancient Beginnings Hebrews 4:15-16 Revelation 5:12 The symbol of the shepherds’ crook is an ancient one, representing the humble shepherds who were the first to worship the newborn Christ. Its Christ the Solid Rock counterpart is our candy cane – so old as a symbol that we have nearly The hard candy symbolizes the solid rock - the foundation of the church forgotten its humble origin. Anyone who’s even been near a child knows and firmness of God’s promises. A rock is solid, heavy, and unmovable the impossibility of keeping one of them still and quiet for any reasonable without heavy equipment. Christ is our solid rock. He provides us with an length of time. And it’s even worse in church, especially if it’s a long service. unshakable foundation on which to stand. This was the concern of the Choirmaster of Cologne back in 1670. His Psalm 18:2 1 Corinthians 10:4 solution was probably the same as any harried child-care provider: Give ‘em candy. But not just any candy would do. He wanted the candy to remind "J" for Jesus the children of Jesus. Hard candy was freely available. Legend has it that the The candy maker made the candy in the form of the staff with which the choirmaster handed out sugar sticks among his young singers to keep them reaches down to the pits of the world to lift out the fallen quiet during the long Living Nativity ceremony. In honor of the occasion, he lambs that, like all sheep, have gone astray. It also represents the letter “J” to had the candies bent into shepherds’ crooks. It became a mini-shepherd’s represent the name of Jesus. crook, instantly transforming a bad distraction into a heavenly one. They Isaiah 9:6-7 Matthew 1:21 Luke 1:31-33 were pure white then. Stripes of Red Jesus is the Good Shepherd Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it A candy cane is shaped like a shepherd's crook to remind us that Jesus is our with red stripes. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on Good Shepherd. A flock of sheep rely totally on their shepherd for survival. the cross. The candy maker used three thinner red stripes for the stripes Without a good shepherd, a flock of sheep can be destroyed. Back in Bible He received on our behalf when the Roman soldiers whipped Him. It was times, a shepherd was responsible for making sure all of his sheep were because of us and our sins that Jesus died. well fed and watered. He also had to be wary of predators who would like Isaiah 53 Romans 6:23 Ephesians 1:7 Hebrews 9:22 to feast on his sheep. Often bandits would try to steal sheep. The shepherd was responsible for keeping predators and bandits at bay. In fact, a good Lest We Forget.... shepherd was willing to put his own life in danger to protect his sheep. This nameless candy maker began making candy canes as special Christ is called the Good Shepherd. He provides everything we need. Christmas treats for his children, friends and local shopkeepers. Since Without him, we could not survive. He also protects us and guides us where that time, however, the candy has become known as the candy cane. we need to go. He also laid down his life for us, His sheep, who had wandered The story of its creation has been lost to tradition and mass production, away from Him. He gave up His life so that we might live. and it is now available in many different colors, shapes, and sizes. But we don't have to forget! Psalm 23 John 10:11, 14-15 I Peter 2:25 We encourage you as a family to share with others the meaning of White: A Symbol of Purity the candy cane. Use it as a witnessing tool to spread the good news of It was not until the 1920’s that the candy cane’s more recognizable red and Christmas. May your Christmas be filled with joy, peace, and love as you white stripes and peppermint flavors were added. A candy maker wanted celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com TruthQuest®All | 2005 www.truthquest.net| Ministries. rightswww.truthopolis.com reserved. to make a candy that would be a witness, so he created the Christmas candy ©