Christmas Idea: Luke 2:1-20

I'm going to post the plan I have for my children this Christmas Season. In the past, we've done a version of a Jesse Tree leading up to Christmas. I've created a different plan this time based on Luke 2:1-20.

I'll post the general outline below. If you want a copy of the worksheets I have to go along with each day, give me a comment with your email address and I'll send it your way!

This is also where those of us who are doing this together can post comments and ideas to further expand on mine.

Verse per day	Ideas
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.	Word: Census Where is Rome? What is a census? Take a census of our family’s favorite things.
2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)	Word: Governor. Who is our governor? What does he do? Make a Christmas Card for our governor. Trace Indiana
3And everyone went to his own town to register.	Word: Town Learn about our home town. Zionsville. Read a map. Draw a map of our street.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.	Word: Joseph Where is Nazareth? Who is in our family tree? Make a family tree. Make a card for Daddy,
5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.	Word: Mary Mary and Joseph traveling. Transportation, then and now. Write a card for mom, grandmas…
6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.	Word: Birth Send letters to pregnant friends. Look through kids’ baby books, read birth stories.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.	Word: Inn Act it out – no room in the Inn. Making room for Jesus in our hearts. Taking care of a baby.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.	Word: Shepherds What do shepherds do? Play follow the shepherd game w/ rod, make sheep masks Jesus is the Good Shepherd
9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.	Word: Glory, praise and honor to God. Sing praises to God. GLORY – Acrostic Poem
10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.	Word: Joy All the people – everywhere. Pray for those who haven’t heard of Jesus. Do something good to someone to give joy. Go Caroling?
11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord.	Word: Savior What did Jesus save us from? Cross activity. candy canes and tell about red representing the blood Jesus shed and the white being the forgiveness we get because of Him dying on the cross. We have those red beads and white beads that are kind of triangular and they put them on red pipe cleaners and then shape them into candy canes. Or, you could just eat candy canes, etc.
12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."	Word: Sign Read about the signs of Jesus’s birth. Road signs – hunt outside for them.
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,	Word: Angel Praise God. Angel Craft
14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."	Word: Peace How can we be at peace with God? Be Peacemakers
15When 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."	Word: Bethlehem Obedience. What if they had waited? Play Simon Says
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.	Word: Manger Nativity Scene Craft Hurry – play tag or a game where you have to hurry.
17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,	Word: Spread Spread Paint on Paper. Spread Peanut butter on crackers. Tell others about Jesus.
18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.	Word: Amazed Practice telling others what Jesus did. Make a puppet show to share the story of Jesus.
19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.	Word: Ponder How do we ponder about God? Read our Bibles, pray, go to Church, talk with others.
20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.	Word: Praise Write a letter to God, praising Him. Make a rubberband guitar. Play musical instruments in a parade. Go Caroling?