The Christmas Tree Catastrophe

Volume 64, Number 50 Distribute DECEMBER 12, 2020

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©2020Pacific Press® Publishing Association. Please contact your ABC for pricing in Canada. For eBooks, go to 2051151038 Adventist-eBooks.com! The Christmas Tree Catastrophe Katee Amen Author’s note: This story is based on events the time we get a tree,” Elaine whined as from my grandma’s childhood in the 1940s during disappointment filled her voice. World War II. Rebecca and Elaine were very close, and Rebecca hated to see her little sister look so ut Dad, why can’t we go get a Christmas sad. After some thought, a plan started to B tree today?” Rebecca asked, feeling form in Rebecca’s mind. grumpy and annoyed. “Don’t worry, Elaine, we will get our tree “Yeah, we have been waiting so long,” and have it up and decorated before Dad gets Elaine, Rebecca’s younger sister, added. home,” Rebecca said. Dad sighed. “With your mom in the “But how?” Elaine asked. “Dad won’t be hospital, you know I need to go to town home until late, and we have to do all the today. I am hoping that she is well enough chores.” that I can bring her home today. I also need “We are just going to get one ourselves!” to pick up supplies. I won’t be home until Rebecca said enthusiastically. late this afternoon. I need you girls to feed “Get it ourselves?” Elaine asked. “But the cows and collect the eggs. We will try how will we chop it down? And won’t Dad be and cut down a tree tomorrow, OK?” Dad upset if we don’t do the chores? We are too hugged each of the girls. “I hate to leave you little to go out into the woods by ourselves.” alone today, but I have to go.” “I’m ten years old!” Rebecca said with The girls wrapped their arms around confidence. “I’m practically a young adult. their dad and gave him a big squeeze. “We Besides, Dad showed me how to use the saw hope you can bring Mom home today too,” when we were getting firewood last month. He Rebecca said. will be so impressed with us when he comes As she watched her dad drive down home and we have a decorated Christmas tree. the dirt road that led to the main highway, And if Mom can come home today, she will be Rebecca sighed. pleased that we already have a Christmas tree Rebecca and her family lived in the t o o.” country on a farm about 30 minutes from the “But what about our chores?” Elaine closest town. Most days Dad worked at home, asked. “We told Dad we would get them done. tending to the fields, chickens, and cattle that Won’t we be disobeying if we don’t do them?” lived on their land. Their mom, who was a “We will have plenty of time to do schoolteacher, was ill and in the hospital in our chores after we get the awesome tree the nearby town. I spotted this fall,” Rebecca said, trying to Christmas was only two weeks away, and reassure herself as well as her younger sister. despite their constant reminders, their dad Elaine thought about Rebecca’s idea had not had enough time to help them find a some more. She didn’t like the thought of Christmas tree. disobeying, but she trusted her sister. “OK, “Christmas will be here and gone by let’s do it!” she finally replied.

203250_PT.indd 2 9/11/20 2:22 PM When Elaine saw her coming, she asked, “Are you sure about this, Rebecca? Mom and Dad always say that Jesus doesn’t want us to lie or disobey our parents.” Rebecca sighed with frustration. “Don’t you trust me, Elaine?” she asked. Elaine thought for a moment and then nodded her head. “Then trust me when I say that everything will be fine. We aren’t disobeying because they never told us we couldn’t go get the tree ourselves. Plus, when we get back, we will do all the chores that Dad wanted us to do. That way we aren’t lying.” The girls quickly ran to their bedroom “I guess that makes sense,” Elaine replied to put on their warm coats, hats, gloves, slowly. scarves, and boots. Once they were dressed, “Then let’s get going,” Rebecca said, they ran outside. feeling more confident. “Now what?” Elaine asked. It was a beautiful December day. There “Now we need to grab the sled from was just enough snow on the ground to fill behind the house and the saw from the the air with delightful crunching under their shed,” Rebecca replied. “I will grab the saw boots. The trees seemed to sparkle as the sun and meet you by the sled.” hit their snow-filled branches, and the air Elaine nodded her head in agreement. was thick with the smell of fresh pine trees. Rebecca ran out to the shed, excitement As the girls wandered farther and farther and apprehension building in the pit of her from home, the nagging feeling in their stomach. She knew she shouldn’t be doing stomachs disappeared and was replaced with this, but she wanted that tree so badly. After a feeling of joy and happiness. finding the saw her dad had taught her to use, “I saw a tree this fall that I know would she ran back around the house and found her be just perfect,” Rebecca said. “I don’t think sister sitting on the sled. She could see her it is very far away.” sister was also having second thoughts. After walking for about an hour, Elaine

203250_PT.indd 3 9/11/20 2:22 PM started to complain. “I’m tired of pulling this As Rebecca came to the top of one hill, sled,” she said. “How much farther?” she stopped in her tracks. “There it is!” she “Why don’t we take a break from walking shouted. “That is the tree I saw this fall!” and build a snowman,” Rebecca suggested. Both sisters ran down the hill as fast as Elaine’s energy seemed to return as a huge they could, pulling their sled behind them. smile lit up her face. “I love building snowmen!” At the very bottom of the hill, in a small The girls went to work on making their snow-covered meadow, sat a beautiful pine snowman. As they rolled the large balls of tree. It looked to be just the right size with snow and stacked them on top of each other, thick, full branches. they hardly noticed the clouds beginning to “You are right!” Elaine exclaimed. “This cover the sun. They gathered sticks and rocks one is perfect!” to make the arms and a face. “Mom and Dad will be so impressed As they finished adding the eyes and a big with this tree that there is no way they will rocky smile, Elaine took a step back and looked be mad at us,” Rebecca said, trying to sound at their snowman. “He is missing something,” confident. She knew they had been gone she said. “He needs a scarf and a top hat!” much longer than she had expected, and she “Well, we don’t have a top hat, but he can knew they wouldn’t get all the chores done have my scarf!” Rebecca replied, pulling her before her dad got home. “Let’s hurry and scarf from around her neck. cut it down, so we can get it home.” “But won’t you be cold?” Elaine asked. Rebecca untied the saw from the sled. “We will be too busy cutting down our Together they started to cut down their tree for me to notice the cold. We will just perfect tree. But it was much harder than pick it up on our way back,” Rebecca replied Rebecca had thought it would be. The reassuringly. She wrapped her bright-red trunk was thick, and after working for 30 scarf around their snowman, and both girls minutes, they were only halfway through agreed he looked much happier. the tree. “Now let’s get back to finding our tree “I don’t think we can do this,” Elaine before Dad realizes we are gone,” Rebecca finally said. stated as a guilty feeling returned to the pit Rebecca realized Elaine might be right. of her stomach. She also realized that the saw was stuck in The girls gathered their sled and took off the tree and that it was snowing harder and up a hill. As they searched, small snowflakes getting colder. started fluttering down from the sky, and the temperature started dropping. Continued next week.

Published weekly by Pacific Press® Publishing Association, a Seventh-day Adventist 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission. Scriptures marked NCV are taken from Publisher, 1350 North Kings Road, Nampa, ID 83687-3193, USA. Single subscription the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. rate in the United States and its possessions: $39.35 for one year. To other countries: All rights reserved. The Bible picture story (p. 13) is written by Linda Porter Carlyle. The $47.35. All prices at US exchange. Periodicals postage paid at Nampa, Idaho. For Sabbath School lesson (pp. 14, 15) is provided by the General Conference Sabbath School change of address, send both old and new addresses. Postmaster: Send address Department. Illustrations and photos are from Kim and Lars Justinen of Justinen Creative ® (ISSN 0032-8316) changes to Primary Treasure , PO Box 5353, Nampa, ID 83653-5353. Group, iStockphoto, or Getty Images. Credits: Scriptures credited to NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL Emails & letters: [email protected] VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. Primary Treasure ® Editor, PO Box 5353, Nampa, ID 83653-5353. Managing Editor: Anita Seymour All rights reserved worldwide. Texts credited to NIrV are from the Holy Bible, NEW Websites: primarytreasure.com; pacificpress.com; adventistbookcenter.com. Art Direction & Illustration: Kim Justinen, GoodSalt INTERNATIONAL READER’S VERSION®, copyright © 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica. All Copyright © 2020 by Pacific Press® Publishing Association. Printed in USA. Design & Layout: Kristin Hansen-Mellish rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of Biblica. Scriptures credited to Circulation: (800) 545-2449 ICB are quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright © 1986, 1988, 1999, VOLUME 64, NUMBER 50 DECEMBER 12, 2020

203250_PT.indd 4 9/11/20 2:22 PM Christmas Love Baskets Jane Landreth

hy are we taking these stuffed animals to W the church today?” Gracelynn asked as she rode in the car with her parents. “You will see,” Mom said with a smile. Soon Dad parked the car in the church parking lot. When they went inside, Gracelynn saw church members standing around a couple of tables. They were filling baskets with many items that had been placed in the middle of the tables. “Come help us, Gracelynn,” Claire called as she waved at her friend. “Help us fill the baskets with these gifts.” Gracelynn looked at her mom who gave her a nod. “Go and help Claire,” Mom said. “I will take these stuffed animals to the tables.” Gracelynn’s church had decided to put together Christmas baskets for the elderly in their community. They wanted to share Jesus with them. Gracelynn walked to where Claire was standing. “Choose the

203250_PT.indd 5 9/11/20 2:22 PM items you want to place in the basket,” Claire sound inside. When the door opened, Mrs. instructed. “Make the basket look as nice as Rogers stood there leaning on her walker. you can.” “What a welcome surprise!” Mrs. Rogers said Gracelynn looked at the items in the with a smile. “I always enjoy company.” middle of the table. She picked up packages When they were inside, and Mrs. of crackers, cookies, and candy. Then she Rogers was seated, Gracelynn gave her the chose tissue paper, soap, gloves, socks, Christmas basket. paper and pens, hot chocolate mixes, and “What is this?” Mrs. Rogers asked. tea bags. She arranged them neatly in the “Our church made up Christmas basket. Then Gracelynn spied a stuffed baskets,” Gracelynn replied. “We wanted bunny they had brought, and she placed to show our love to others. We also wanted it in the basket. Last, she put in an apple, to share Jesus with you. He loves you too.” orange, and banana, which Gracelynn handed Mrs. Rogers the Pastor Don had contributed. booklet about Jesus. When she was finished, There were tears in Mrs. Mom helped Gracelynn Rogers’s eyes as she looked cover the basket at the gifts that Gracelynn with plastic wrap. and her mom had Then Gracelynn brought. “Thank you attached a big red so much,” she said, bow at the top of dabbing her eyes with the basket. a tissue. “We will take this Gracelyn and one to Mrs. Rogers this Mom visited with afternoon,” Mom told Mrs. Rogers for a Gracelynn. “For now, let’s go while. They told her sit beside Dad. Pastor Don is about how they would going to share a short worship be spending Christmas with us.” with their family in another Gracelynn enjoyed singing state. Mrs. Rogers told them she some of her favorite Christmas hymns. Then would be going to her daughter’s home for Pastor Don read the Christmas story from Christmas. the Bible. “Share with Mrs. Rogers the Bible verse “Jesus loved us so much,” Pastor Don that you learned in your Sabbath School said. “We need to share that love with others. class,” Mom suggested. “Then we must go.” One way we can do that is by taking these Gracelynn smiled. “It’s found in First Christmas baskets to the elderly in our John four, eleven,” she told Mrs. Rogers. “It community. Be sure to take a booklet about says, ‘That is how much God loved us, dear Jesus with you when you deliver the baskets.” friends! So we also must love each other’ ” That afternoon Mom and Gracelynn (ICB). Gracelynn gave Mrs. Rogers a big hug drove to Mrs. Rogers’s house. After they and said, “I love you, Mrs. Rogers, and Jesus knocked on the door, they heard a shuffling does too.”

203250_PT.indd 6 9/11/20 2:22 PM Trevor’s Christmas Surprise—Part 1 Kimberley Tagert-Paul

can’t believe you are almost mine.” Trevor and people at church,” he told his parents. I stared at the shiny new bicycle. “You know you won’t have as much time Exactly two weeks from today, the bike to play on summer break, right?” Trevor’s would be his. He had worked hard to earn dad wanted to make sure he understood. enough money to buy it. He ran a hand over “I know, Dad, but the bike will be worth the sleek blue frame and pictured himself it.” Trevor went right to work. He made up riding down to the beaches of Lake Michigan signs advertising his skills and posted them next summer with the other bicyclists on the on telephone poles. He called people at shoreline road. church. And soon the jobs came in. “That will be the best ride ever,” Trevor “Trevor, would you be interested in whispered out loud. weeding my flower bed?” Mrs. White called “What will be, son?” Trevor’s father asked. one sunny day. “I will pick you up, and you “Riding to Lake Michigan on this bike.” can work this afternoon.” He did a good job Trevor’s smile said all of the rest. pulling weeds and took care not to disturb her His old bike had finally broken at the end beautiful plants. Mrs. White liked his careful of last summer. He had wanted a new one work, so she hired him to mow her lawn too. for months, but with his dad out of work, it Others noticed his hard work and hadn’t been possible. So he repaired his old started hiring him for odd jobs. He weeded one until finally even he had to admit the and mowed, ran errands, and even dusted bicycle wasn’t worth fixing anymore. furniture while Mrs. Wong recovered from “Look at all the gears. I will be able to surgery. There wasn’t anything Trevor climb the hills like all of those other riders I refused to do. see when we drive to the lake.” When he got paid, he put aside his tithe Trevor and his dad had seen the bike and offerings and put the rest in the big earlier in the summer. But when he turned jar his mother had given him. He carefully the price tag over, he saw that it cost a lot of wrote out the amount in his notebook and money. How could he ever come up with the was surprised to see how fast it added up. money to buy it? Now it was almost Christmas. Most of He began praying about it at night as he his jobs had ended, but he still had one more was drifting off to sleep. And that is when he to complete. The Wynns were going away for got an idea. He was sure God had helped put two weeks. They asked if Trevor would feed it in his head. their cat Pumpkin and play with him every “I know. I can do odd jobs for our neighbors day. He was a big ball of orange fur, and

203250_PT.indd 7 9/11/20 2:22 PM he rumbled every time Trevor showed up. “Wow! Forty dollars! Are you sure, Mr. Trevor didn’t mind taking care of Pumpkin Wynn?” Trevor could hardly contain his at all, and the pay would give him just excitement. enough to buy the bike. “Absolutely, son. Merry Christmas, by “I can’t wait. Soon you will be mine,” the way.” Trevor spoke out loud as he ran his hand “Thanks, sir, and to you too.” Trevor over the leather seat. “All my hard work almost ran home. was worth it. Thank You, Lord,” Trevor whispered. Finally, it was the day the Wynns would return home. Trevor bundled up against the cold and walked the two blocks to the Wynns’. One last time feeding Pumpkin. As he rounded the corner, Trevor was surprised to see the Wynns’ car already in the driveway. Trevor knocked politely on the door instead of letting himself in. “Come on in, Trevor. Pumpkin looks like you took real good care of him.” Mr. Wynn smiled down at him. He looked out the door and glanced around. “Did you walk here in this cold?” “Yes, sir. I walked every day. I didn’t want to bother my parents. You know with the price of gas and all.” Trevor stomped the snow off his boots. “Well, I think you are quite the worker. Faithful. That is you, Trevor.” “Thank you, sir. I guess you won’t need me anymore.” “Well, not right now,” Mr. Wynn said, “but if we have anything else come up, we will surely call on you. You did a great job.” Mr. Wynn reached into his wallet and started looking at his bills. “I know we agreed on twenty dollars, but you did such a good job, I want to give you a bonus.” “That is not necessary, Mr. Wynn. I liked playing with Pumpkin.” “A good worker is worth his pay.” Mr. Wynn pulled out two bills and handed them to Trevor.

203250_PT.indd 8 9/11/20 2:22 PM “Mom, Mom!” Trevor burst in the door. special as she could. “Mom, where are you?” “Look how much Mr. Wynn paid me “In here, honey. What has got you so to watch Pumpkin.” He showed her the excited?” His mother called from the kitchen. 20-dollar bills. Trevor could smell wonderful scents “That is great. Does that mean you have coming from the oven. He knew that his enough for your bike now?” His mother’s mother was trying to make the holidays as smile showed him she was happy for him. “It sure does, and I can give extra offerings too.” Trevor was already writing the amount in his notebook. “I can’t believe it. I finally have enough to buy the bike. I’m so happy, Mom.” “You have done well. After dinner, Dad can run you down to the store and help you bring it home.” All afternoon Trevor couldn’t keep his thoughts off the new bike. He knew it would be months before he could ride it, but that was OK. Just knowing it was safely stored in his garage was enough to make him excited. He watched as his mother and sister put up some of the Christmas decorations from last year. They hung the stockings on hooks over the fireplace. Trevor remembered Christmases past when the stockings would be full of wonderful things his parents had gathered over the year. They would probably be empty this year with money being so short. Sarah had asked for only one thing this year: a doll she had seen in a catalog. Trevor knew it wouldn’t be under the tree. That made him sad for her. But Trevor would buy his own present this year—his new bike. “I’m home,” Dad called from the door. The waiting had ended. It was time to go bring the midnight-blue bike home.

Continued next week.

203250_PT.indd 9 9/11/20 2:22 PM Far-Away Friends

“How does it go?” Solly asked. Christmas Kenya sang for them. “Sweet little Jesus Boy, they made You be born in a manger. Around “Sweet little Holy Child, we didn’t know who You were. “Didn’t know You’d come to save us, the World Lord, to take our sins away. “Our eyes were blind—we couldn’t see. Debbonnaire Kovacs “We didn’t know who You were.” The Far-Away Friends are pen pals with “That is really pretty!” Susannah Joseph and Mac. This year the Far-Away Friends exclaimed. will help you understand what your Sabbath “It makes you think, doesn’t it?” Kenya School lesson can mean for you. said. “People never would have treated Jesus the way they did if they had known who He ichael Arthur Patterson raised his hand. was. There are more verses, but I don’t know M The Primary class was discussing their them all. There is a part in the song I really Christmas program, and he had an idea. like, that says, ‘Please, Sir, forgive us, Lord. “Yes, Mike?” Ms. Kimoto said. We didn’t know it was You.’ I think it’s cool, “We could have a musical program with calling Jesus ‘Sir.’ ” a lot of Christmas songs. I could even play Mike caught his breath. He had another ‘Silent Night’ on my recorder. I know it idea. A great, super, awesome idea! “Ms. already, because I have been practicing it.” Kimoto! What if we all choose songs from our “That is a good idea,” Kenya agreed. “People family heritage? Kenya has the song she just like to hear us sing. We like to sing too!” sang, and you could teach us a Japanese one, “We will be just like the angels at and . . . and do you know an Arabic one, Solly?” Bethlehem,” Susannah pointed out. “Yes, I do!” Solly said excitedly. “I think “Well, maybe not quite that good!” Mike that is a really cool idea! Christmas around said with a laugh. the world!” “Some of our songs could be ones that “That is a good name for it. We will everybody knows and can sing with us, and put that in the program,” Ms. Kimoto said. some could be new ones,” Solly suggested. “What is your Arabic song, Solly?” “But we don’t know any new Christmas “It’s called ‘Laylat al-Milad.’ ” He laughed songs,” Matt objected. at the expressions on their faces, and added, “I know a cool one my grandma sings,” “ ‘On the Night of the Birth.’ It goes like this: Kenya said. “It’s really old, but I don’t think “On the night of the birth, hatred is erased. most people know it. It’s called ‘Sweet Little “On the night of the birth, Earth shall Jesus Boy.’ bloom forth. 10

203250_PT.indd 10 9/11/20 2:22 PM “On the night of the birth, war shall be “Well, that is kind of what we are doing,” buried. Mike pointed out. “When we sing Christmas “On the night of the birth, love shall fill songs, we are telling people He came. Some our hearts.” of them really listen. I hope.” There was silence for a moment. “There “Anyway, that song won’t be too hard to have been wars in Arab countries practically learn, because we already kind of know it,” forever,” Solly said sadly, “so even at Christmas, people sing about the end of war.” “Well, that is a great thing to sing about,” Mike pointed out. “Jesus came so we wouldn’t have war anymore.” Matt turned to Susannah. “What are we?” “Mostly Irish, I think. Are there any Irish Christmas carols?” Susannah thought hard. “I know! Mom’s great- grandmother was French. How about ‘Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella’? I don’t know if I remember all the words.” “I know it. I will help you,” Ms. Kimoto offered. So Susannah and the teacher sang, “Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella, bring a torch, come swiftly and run. “Christ is born, tell the folk of the village. “Jesus is sleeping in His cradle. “Ah, ah! Beautiful is the mother. Ah, ah! Beautiful is her Son!” “Wouldn’t it have been exciting to have been a kid in Bethlehem that night?” Kenya asked eagerly. “I would have run from door to door telling people, ‘The Messiah is born! He is here!’ ” “Do you think they would have listened?” Solly asked. “I would sure try to make them listen!” Kenya declared.

203250_PT.indd 11 9/11/20 2:22 PM Susannah said. “We don’t have a lot of time around the group and counted on her fingers. to learn new songs. What about a Japanese “Japanese, Arabic, American, French. What one, Ms. Kimoto?” about you, Mike? This was your idea.” “I know one that should be fairly easy “Yes, what about ‘Silent Night’? ” Ms. to learn. In Japanese, it is called ‘Hitsuji wa Kimoto asked. “I liked the idea of you Nemureri,’ and it goes like this: playing that on your recorder.” “Sheep fast asleep, there on a hill, grass Mike grinned. “That’s perfect! It’s for their bed, all is still. German, and my mom’s grandfather was “Cold winter night, the frost appears, from Germany!” shepherds keep watch by their fire. Everybody laughed, and together they all “Soft there a sound, far, far away. Is it the sang. stream? Winds at play? “Silent night! holy night! “Nay, friends, it is the heavenly choir, “All is calm, all is bright. ringing throughout the spheres.” “Round yon virgin mother and Child, “That is beautiful!” Kenya and Susannah “Holy Infant so tender and mild, said at the same time. “Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in “We could learn that.” Susannah looked heavenly peace.”

Angel Heralds DIRECTIONS: Use the musical symbols to discover the songs that the Puzzle angels sang for the shepherds.

203250_PT.indd 12 9/11/20 2:22 PM Lesson 11, for December 12–18, 2020 Angel Heralds

The shepherds smiled at each other. They yawned in the dark and quiet

night. The sheep lay sleeping safely. The shepherds

were getting sleepy too. Suddenly, the darkness vanished. A shining angel

stood by the shepherds, and the bright light of God’s glory filled the

field! The shepherds were very afraid! “ Do not be

afraid!” the angel said happily. “I bring you good news of great joy!

The Savior has been born this night in the city of Bethlehem. This

is how you will know Him. You will find a baby lying in a manger.”

Then the whole sky was filled with thousands and thousands of angels, who

sang and praised God. “Glory to God in heaven!” they sang.

“And peace on Earth!”

This story can teach me that we worship God when we sing joyful songs of praise.

203250_PT.indd 13 9/11/20 2:22 PM Lesson 11, for December 12–18, 2020*

The Message: We worship God when we sing joyful songs of praise. References: Luke 2:8–15; The Desire of Ages, pp. 43–49. Memory Verse “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news Angel Heralds that will cause great Do you know why many people celebrate joy for all the people” Christmas? What do you think it was like when Jesus was born? We don’t know what it was like, (Luke 2:10, NIV). but we know heaven rejoiced, so much so that the angels came to sing. Perhaps it happened like this . . . “But do you see? Hardly anyone is paying attention,” added another. t’s time! The time has finally come! Jesus is “The priests in the temple continue to I born!” one excited angel bubbled with joy. sacrifice the lambs,” said another. “But I don’t think they know what that means.” “I wish we could tell them that Jesus has been born,” added another angel. “I just want to shout: ‘We have good news for you! Your Savior has been born!’ ” The angel choir knew what they would sing. They were ready to tell the world about Jesus. It was almost time for their special concert. Tonight! Tonight they would sing. And all the world would remember it for years to come. Jesus, the Son of God, had come to this sin-filled planet to be born as a baby. They would tell the world. Angels had been watching people on Earth. They saw the priests in the temple. Those men were supposed to know about the Savior’s birth. Prophets had told about it for years. But those who had studied their prophecies weren’t even thinking about it. The greatest event that would ever happen on

* Note to parents: For an explanation of the distribution dates for Primary Treasure®, go to the parents’ 14 section of our website: www.primarytreasure.com.

203250_PT.indd 14 9/11/20 2:22 PM Earth had taken place. Yet only a few people were even looking for it. No, most people in the temple didn’t remember. Or maybe they just didn’t care. But a few people who lived near Bethlehem cared. At that very time, a few shepherds were gathered on a hillside, watching their sheep. They were among the few who knew it was time for the Savior to come. Soon the command rang out, and the come to Earth. God has sent His best gift angels hurried to take their places. In the to humanity.” On and on, they sang, as they middle of the night, Gabriel* led them to the slowly went back toward the heavens. Still skies above Bethlehem. There they waited stunned, the astonished shepherds watched. while Gabriel spoke to the shepherds. Then Filled with awe, one shepherd finally the angel choir would sing. found his voice. “What are we waiting for?” Suddenly, God’s glory lit up the night. he asked. “Let’s go to Bethlehem to see this The shepherds in the field were terrified! Babe the Lord has sent.” “Don’t be afraid,” Gabriel announced. And they soon left that hillside to go in “I have good news. This very day, your search of the Savior of the world—a Baby, Savior has been born. You will find Him in lying in a manger. Bethlehem wrapped in soft cloths and lying Did you know that the angels are still in a manger.” singing the glory song today? Our hearts can Immediately, the sky was filled with overflow with that joy of worshiping Jesus shining angels. The angel choir joined too. Like the angels, we can worship God in Gabriel, filling the night with the most song. glorious music ever heard. “Glory to our God. The highest glory to Him. Peace has * See The Desire of Ages, p. 780.

203250_PT.indd 15 9/11/20 2:22 PM *PTR201212* PTR201212

203250_PT.indd 16 9/11/20 2:22 PM Get Your Own Primary Treasure Every Week! Fun, true stories about kids just like you! Ask your Sabbath School teacher for your Primary Treasure magazine! FREE DOWNLOADS Ending Soon