Preparing for a Christ-Centered Christmas

We had the opportunity in November to hear from wonderful Relief Society sisters with thoughts and ideas on how to have a Christ-Centered Christmas. I'm going to spotlight them and their ideas on our next couple of blog entries as we get ready for this wonderful time of year.

Our first entry comes from Wendy Gagnon:

David O. Mckay: “No worry or anxiety over the choosing and giving of gifts; no enjoyment of holiday feasts; no decorations however modern or attractive; no social parties however jovial, should ever overshadow the fact that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ who came to give life, light, and peace to all mankind, and who marked the way by which these eternal blessings may be obtained. Let us ever remember that ". . . God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16.)

Christ Centered FHE/Activity Ideas:

Santa/Jesus

http://www.latter-dayhomeschooling.com/2010/12/christmas-in-book-of-mormon-fhe.html

Symbols of Christmas

http://www.jennyphillips.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/FHE-Lesson_Symbols-of-Christmas.pdf

Go Fish Nativity Game

http://lds.about.com/od/familyhomeeveninggames/a/fheg_christmas.htm

Options for any ages:

http://www.latter-dayhomeschooling.com/2010/12/christmas-in-book-of-mormon-fhe.html

The BIG picture of Christmas:

http://www.jennyphillips.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/FHE-Christmas-Lesson_The-Big-Picture.pdf

Christmas Devotional Book

http://www.scribd.com/doc/24391620/Christmas-Eve-Devotional-Book

Christmas Symbol Lesson TEACH THE CHILDERN, flannel board pieces, a manger scene shadow box

http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com/2009/12/true-meaning-of-christmas-fhe-lesson.html

Read THE LIFE OF OUR LORD by Charles Dickens

Advent Calendar of service or activities

Christmas story party 

* Money for Others

give each person in the family a small sum to be used to bless the life of someone else when they find him/her in need.  Rules:  can't spend it on someone we know or on ourselves.  Follow the Spirit in knowing who to share it with.  . . . One year one person tucked the cash in the shoe of a homeless person as he slept  (his shoes were by his box).  Another gave it to a man pleading for change.  Another sent it to the church's missionary fund.  One paid for the groceries of someone in line who didn't have enough cash for her needs.  The goal is to get each of us to really notice others and become aware of other's needs and where we can be of some small assistance.

* Gifts for Others

    Offer gifts to various charities in the “receiver’s name “and let them friends/family know where the $ went.

* The Good Deeds Manger

    For each good deed someone does quietly, secretly, to those in the family and outside the family throughout December, a piece of "straw" (we use raffia) is added to the manger.  The idea is to show love to others as Christ would with the goal then being to make the manger soft and full of sweet good deed straw to welcome Him as at His birth.   Get the manger out at the first of Dec. and check how the fullness is progressing at each FHE through the month.  Perhaps on  Christmas Eve, you can evaluate the offerings and share a special experience from doing those good deeds and thus preparing for the celebration of Christ’s birth and life.

Alma 37:6

 Now ye may suppose that this is a foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.