I remembered doing an edible nativity during an Advent Workshop over fifteen years ago, but when I went back into my archives, the book was both long gone and out of print. Everything that I could find on Pinterest was full of sugar/candy or had food that didn’t really taste good together, so I put on my creativity cap and came up with my own. It turned out really well, and was received with enthusiasm by the children and youth in Sunday School last Sunday, so I thought I would share it with you.
The star ornament was a large wooden star that my husband cut small holes in for hangers using the drill press. We used a yarn needle to string yellow embroidery floss through the holes beforehand. Learners colored the star with yellow marker, crayon, or colored pencil. Then, they stuck a small glitter star sticker (also made of wood) to the center of the larger star, and voila! a super easy ornament for the tree (and our nativity sets).
Print the pdf by selecting “Print both sides” and “flip on the long edge.” it makes a little leaflet with the picture on front, story inside, and instructions/ingredients on the back. May this activity bless you and your family as you seek to dwell more deeply in the story of the birth of Jesus!
You might think you know the story of Christmas from the Bible, with shepherds and angels, and Mary and Joseph, with wise men and a baby in a manger. But do you know the WHOLE story? Do you know about John the Baptist’s dad, Zechariah, and how he didn’t get to talk for the whole nine months before his son’s birth? Did you know about Mary’s questions for Gabriel, and her part in agreeing to God’s plan? Did you know that Simeon and Anna waited their whole long lives for Jesus, and were almost as excited as the shepherds to meet him? This daily devotion book introduces a deep dive into the WHOLE story of the birth of Jesus, from beginning to end. It begins on Christ the King Sunday and ends sometime toward the end of January. It is a lot longer than the typical Advent and Christmas season, but, over time, helps people of faith to really soak in the whole story and how the story we know connects the the wider story which includes people of all generations, genders, and socio-economic statuses. It is truly a story for all of us.
When our children were little, we wanted them to learn the story of the birth of Jesus in a tactile way. We had a beautiful Demdaco nativity set, but were very unwilling to let them touch it, let alone interact with it. Our Fisher Price set wasn’t exactly something we wanted to set up on the mantlepiece. How to make something that was beautiful and still touchable by our youngest? In this way, the Please-Touch Nativity project began. Made with figures that children and family members could color pasted to chunks of sanded 2 by 4, and a barn designed by my husband, Patrick, it is accessible to everyone. Here is one of the pics of our finished product:
These nativity sets have been a huge blessing to those who make and receive them. We treasure the one in the picture, which my family made when our kids were 2 and 5. Another family colored one over the Thanksgiving holiday for a new baby in the family. Parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents each took a character to color and put their name and date on the bottom of the finished blocks. This child has grown up with a Please Touch Nativity created by some of the most important people she will ever be surrounded by; what an amazing blessing! Are you ready to create your own? See what you need, along with other companion resources, below.
Print the PDF file on regular copy paper, making sure that you have the orientation as “landscape” and the “scale to fit” box unchecked.
Coloring utensils
Scissors
1- 8 ft. 2 x 4 cut into 12- 7 in. sections
(glue 2 together for donkey)
(cut one into 3- 2.25 in. sections for 2 sheep and 1 star)
Sandpaper
Wood stain (if desired)
Mod Podge
1 in. foam paint brush
A stable (contact me at pstrsipes@aol.com for the plans for this)
Once you have made the original set, you could also expand it to match the Jesus’ Birth A to Z Lectionary. This expanded set includes Zechariah, Elizabeth and baby John, Simeon, Anna, King Herod, and the Innkeeper. Find the expanded set here: Please Touch Nativity Expansion Set
May this Please Touch Nativity be a blessing to you and your family during this season of waiting in hope and celebrating in joy.
This year during Holy Week, I am in the odd position of being a full time parent while my husband is serving as a full-time transitional minister in a congregation. Our roles are reversed! This gives me the opportunity to spend a lot more time with my children, and we thought that we would take advantage of this with some special plans for Holy Week. I am totally aware that most families will not want to take part in all of these activities, but I am hoping that our celebrations will inspire your own.
Wednesday of Holy Week: Passover
Holy Week is a great time to review the story of the Passover, since that is the holiday which Jesus was celebrating with his disciples on Maundy Thursday. Over the years, we have celebrated Passover in many ways, from a whole congregational celebration to a simple meal at home. This year, we are planning a modified Passover meal and activities.
Story: We will read the story of the Passover from the DK Children’s Illustrated Bible. They are the stories titled “The Tenth Plague” and “The Crossing of the Red Sea.” Our family knows the story of the Exodus quite well; if yours is less familiar, you might want to start earlier in the story with “Moses is Called by God,” “Moses Warns Pharaoh,” and “The Plagues of Egypt.”
Meal: There are specific elements to the Passover meal which we will have on a plate in the center of the table, on good dishes, with candles. We will also eat them as our main meal for the evening. Our menu includes roasted chicken (zaroah), veggie tray (karpas), Romaine lettuce salad with Honey Mustard Dressing (maror), hard-boiled eggs (beitzah), Apple Crisp (haroset), pita bread (matzah), and sparkling grape juice. I learned more about what goes on a seder plate and why here: http://haaretz.com/israel-news/what-is-a-seder-plate-1.5244183
Song: Our family knows the song “Pharoah, Pharoah” from camp, and it works great for telling the story of the Exodus, so I am sure we will sing a few verses. You can find it here: https://youtu.be/Oh_YlkgowHQ
Movie: Our favorite movie about the Exodus is the 1998 animated film “The Prince of Egypt.” We own it on DVD, but you can also rent it on various streaming platforms. It will be a great way to end our evening.
We will also plan to wash one another’s feet, which is a custom we have had for many years. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, and asks us to show our love to one another in this same way. Depending on how the evening goes, there might also be time for pre-Easter pedicures!
Mary Dean Draws has a ton of free coloring pages for Good Friday, but this is my favorite one.
Our church does a Tenebrae service for Good Friday. One of the main actions is to extinguish each of 7 candles during the course of the service. I plan to round up 7 candles for our children to take turns extinguishing as we participate in the service from home.
I don’t usually pay for coloring pages; I am used to making them for myself. These are totally worth it, and give you a whole season in one file.
To make this service a bit more interactive for our children, I plan to dig out some noisemakers for the occasion. We are at home, so there is no one to disturb, right? Every time we hear the word “Alleluia!” we are going to make some noise! We will round out the celebration with Easter baskets and a holiday feast! Dessert will definitely be the empty tomb rolls that we always make for Easter. You can find the recipe here: http://pleasegivepeasachance.blogspot.com/2010/04/empty-tombsresurrection-buns.html
A blessed Holy Week to you and yours. I pray that our plans spark some ideas for your own celebrations.
This year, our family is worshipping from home on Sunday mornings with our home congregation. Each Sunday, we prepare Communion, light a candle, grab our coloring sheets and colors, and make our favorite hot beverages before worship. I thought that during Lent, it would be good to dig out a practice from a few years ago, Lent in a Dish, and begin our worship preparation each week by adding something to our dish until we reach the joy of Easter. We will keep it in the living room, where we worship, and it will help us to remember our Lenten journey each time we gather there, no matter the purpose.
Gathering Prayer: (Do this prayer repeat-after-me style) Dear Jesus, we thank you for time to feed our faith as a family, and time to learn about Jesus in the wilderness. Help our time to be a holy time. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Discuss as a family: Have you ever been tempted to do something you shouldn’t? Tell the story. Have you ever been able to resist temptation? How hungry do you think Jesus was?
Song: I Want Jesus to Walk with Me This is my favorite Lent song for kids. It gets the somber mood, but has a way to get the wiggles out. We held hands and walked in place while singing. Enjoy!
This week, we need the dish and sand (and a pencil or stick).
We are using glass pie plates for our dishes, because they can be used for other things once Lent has concluded. Pour sand into each dish and allow your kids to make pictures in the sand with the eraser end of a pencil. Some suggestions include hearts, crosses, spirals, or hand prints. You could also ask your kids to tell the story of Jesus in the wilderness using the sand. We did this in the kitchen, because sand did kind of go everywhere. After they have had some time to play, remind them that this dish is going to have something added to it each week to tell the story of Lent. Place the dishes in a place where your family can see them over the course of the week. Ours will be in the living room on a shelf, which is where we gather to worship from home. You might choose to add your Jesus figure as well, either a wooden figure or one made from a brown pipe cleaner, to remind you that Jesus was in the wilderness.
Thanks for your commitment to faithfully feed your family’s faith! I hope that this time was holy time for you.
Closing Prayer: (Do this prayer repeat-after-me style) Dear Jesus, we thank you for this time to learn about Jesus in the wilderness. Lead and guide us in the times when we are tempted to always follow you. In your name we pray, Amen.
Join us as we explore the ENTIRE story of Jesus’ birth from A to Z. This 8 week daily devotion resource helps you to put the story of Jesus’ birth, which we all know and love, into the context of the whole story. It includes all of the amazing humans who anticipated, celebrated, and even threatened, Jesus’ birth.
Dear Jesus, it is good to know that when we are tempted, we are not alone. Help us to turn to you when we are tempted to turn away. In your name we pray, Amen.
Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
QUESTIONS:
Have you ever been really hungry? What was that experience like? How did it feel once you were full?
Have you ever been tempted to do something that was dangerous? Did you do it? What was that experience like?
Have you ever wanted to be in charge? What was that experience like? When you were in charge, did you use that power for yourself, or others?
What is it like for you to know that Jesus was a real human, who was tempted like we are? What does it mean to you to know that Jesus resisted temptation so that he could fulfill his plan to save us, and not take the easy way out?
Dear Jesus, we thank you for being our light in the darkness, our friend on the road, our leader and guide. Help us to come and follow you, all the way to the cross and beyond. In your name we pray, Amen.
1Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
QUESTIONS:
Have you ever been up on a mountain or gone camping? What was that experience like?
Why do you think Jesus chose these three friends to see this vision? Why do you think Jesus chose to reveal himself in this way?
Are you good at listening or not? Why or why not? Why do you think God asks the disciples to “Listen to him”? How do we listen for God?
Every once in a great while, I decide that the Gospel for the week is more appropriate for adults than children. Matthew 5:21-37 is one of those times. Instead, I chose to use the same theme of the Love Commandments from Matthew 22:34-40, and will expand upon this during my children’s message this week.
PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, we thank you for your unconditional love. Help us to return that love, with all our hearts, souls, and minds. Teach us how to love our neighbor as ourselves. In your name we pray, Amen.
34 When the Pharisees heard that [Jesus] had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
QUESTIONS:
Have you ever been tested, or asked a question meant to trick you? What was that experience like?
What does Jesus say is the greatest commandment? What are some ways that you could work on keeping this commandment?
What other commandment does Jesus lift up? What are some ways that you could work on keeping this commandment?
Dear Jesus, we thank you for salt and light. Help us to be flavorful seasoning in the world, and to reflect your light to those we meet. In your name we pray, Amen.
Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
QUESTIONS:
Why do you think Jesus compares us to salt? What is food like when you have too much salt? Too little? Too much?
Why do you think Jesus says that we are the light of the world? What happens when you turn on a light in a dark room?
Who, in your life, needs more salt or light? In what ways can you be with them?
Family God Time 
