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| Photo Credit: freefoto.com |
We begin this week's Advent with a recap of The Prophecy Candle ~ The First Week of Advent, The Bethlehem Candle ~ The Second Week of Advent, and The Shepherds Candle ~ The Third Week of Advent.
The Kings’
Candle
(The Fourth Week in Advent)
Grandfather: “Jesus
said, ‘I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Grandchild: Light
the fourth red candle and ask,: Why do we light four candles?
Grandfather: The first
candle is a reminder of the light of hope of the prophets. The second candle is
a symbol of the light and warmth Joseph and Mary found in the stable. The third
candle reminds us of the great light and joy which surrounded the shepherds at
the announcement of Jesus’ birth. The fourth candle reminds us of the light of
the stars in the sky which guided the Wise men to Jesus and which keeps watch
over us by night.
Let’s read the story of the birth of Jesus as Matthew
wrote it.
Adult: “The
birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been
engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was
pregnant by the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and
not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But
after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to
him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as
your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She
will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save
His people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken
by the Lord through the prophet: ‘See, the virgin will become pregnant and give
birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel,’ which is translated ‘God is
with us.’ When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had
commanded him. He married her but did not know her intimately until she gave
birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-24)
Adult: “After
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from
the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been
born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship
Him.’ When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem
with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and
asked them where the Messiah would be born. ‘In Bethlehem of Judea,’ they told
him, ‘because this is what was written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in
the land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah: because
out of you will come a leader who will shepherd My people Israel.’ Then Herod
secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child.
When you find Him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.’
After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they
had seen in the east! It led them until it came and stopped above the place
where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond
measure. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and
falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures
and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned
in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by
another route.” (Matthew 2:1-12)
Everyone sing: We
Three Kings
We
three kings of Orient are:
Bearing
gifts we traverse afar
Field
and fountain, moor and mountain
Following
yonder star.
O
star of wonder, star of night,
Star
with royal beauty bright,
Westward
leading, still proceeding
Guide
us to thy perfect light.
Grandfather: Father,
when we think of Christmas we think of love and lights and gifts and happy
times. But most of all, we think of Jesus, born in a manger and grown up as a
loving teacher. Help us to live the way Jesus teaches us so that we may show
the real meaning of Christmas.
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