Advent 4

Today we continued decorating the Christmas tree while remembering to keep Christ the focus of our decorating.

We sat in the kitchen listening to Christ centered Christmas carols while creating the nativity out of clay.

Once the ornaments were molded by our hands (which reminded us of when God created Adam and eve in the Garden of Eden) we baked them in the oven.

After the ornaments were finished baking they were carefully hung on the tree for all to see.

First we have the gentle donkey that carried Mary to Bethlehem. (This is actually not noted in scripture. Mary could have walked for all we know. But history shows that the donkey was a common mode of transporting things during this time. So from this Man kind has decided that this is how she traveled.)

Luke 2

⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them

Luke 2

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

^{Mark 2}

^{Magi^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]}from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”...}

¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Sing Praises to Your King!

Melissa