FAMILY NEWSLETTER NOV 24 - DECEMBER 15

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Cornelius Allen
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Through the story of Christmas we are reminded of the following creed: I believe that Jesus was born of Mary During this rotation, children will be exploring: The Christmas story as told in the

1 CHRISTMAS FAMILY NEWSLETTER NOV 24 - DECEMBER 15 THE CREEDS OF OUR FAITH This year on Street 2:52 we want to teach children about some of the important fundamentals of the Christian faith. Each story we learn throughout the year will help to teach key aspects of the Christian faith. The Apostle s Creed helped to form the outline for this year. Through the story of Christmas we are reminded of the following creed: I believe that Jesus was born of Mary During this rotation, children will be exploring: The Christmas story as told in the gospel of Luke Mary s perspective of the story and how she responded to God s call on her life Their own personal response to God sending His son How Mary magnified God and how we can magnify God this christmas We know that most kids have heard the Christmas story many times. We hope that we can teach it in such a way that children are drawn back into the wonder and excitement of realizing how God sent his son to come and rescue the world. Have a question? Want to volunteer for an upcoming rotation? Want to make a suggestion? Get in touch with the Street 2:52 leadership team: street252@zbcc.ca STORY IN FOCUS: Luke 1-2 MEMORY VERSE We encourage families to make scripture memorization a priority in their faith journey! Consider implementing an incentive program as a family to encourage your children in their memorization journey. This can be as simple as a sticker chart or even include prizes or special family activity rewards. But the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ~Luke 1:30-31 FOOD ALERT Listed below are the foods that will appear during this rotation. If your child has allergies, sensitivities or restrictions, it is the parent s responsibility to provide an alternative food option. If you have any further concerns please talk with Andrea or Marla at least one week prior to the session of concern. KICK-OFF (Nov ) Kids will be eating a variety of small snacks while they listen to a story. The snacks will help to symbolize parts of the Christmas story. Strawberries, Pickles, Marshmallows, Candy Canes, Angel Food Cake, Green Pepper & Pretzels

2 BIBLE STORY BACKGROUND PARENT STUDY GUIDE: Read through Luke 1:26-2:21 Make your own study notes as you read Consider how the story relates to the statement of faith - I believe that Jesus is born of Mary Ask reflection questions such as: Why is it significant that Mary was Jesus mother, who is God showing himself to be in this story, how am I to respond? Consider digging deeper by accessing commentaries online STORY BACKGROUND: Can you envision the scene at the manger? We ve all heard about it so many times: a new family finds themselves in primitive surroundings, in a stable (really a cave), where animals find refuge. In the center of focus stands a feed trough filled with spiky straw and with a bundle of a baby, a special baby, our Savior Christ. Can you imagine the emotions? Joseph, likely feeling stunned as most first fathers are! Mary, Jesus mother, relieved that her baby has finally come. Can you picture Mary, choosing this moment of quiet to ponder, to think quietly about all that has happened? With perhaps a bit of amusement, she recalls her emotions on the day when this journey started -- the day an angel visited her. ENCOUNTERING THE DIVINE Who wouldn t be frightened to find himself or herself suddenly in the presence of an angel named Gabriel, especially when Gabriel announces: Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you (Luke 1:28b). Such an announcement indicates the reception of favor or grace from God; in essence Mary was blessed. This might seem at first glance to be an admirable position to be in until we consider that to be blessed does not mean a guaranteed carefree life. Blessings can come in packages that we may not want to open. Gabriel s next intonation is meant to set Mary at ease, if quietude can be found in such circumstances. In Luke 1:30 we find Gabriel announcing: Do not be afraid, Mary. Luke tells us that Mary was much perplexed. And so Mary s mode of continual pondering begins, as Mary wonders about the meaning of such a strange salutation. How do we respond to God s revealing Himself to us through the birth of His son? What message does He bring to us? What response does he request of us? WHO WAS MARY? Let us step-back a moment and consider what we know about Mary. She was likely poor and lived in Galilee, a region of the Roman Empire, in a town called Nazareth. We are also told that Mary was engaged to Joseph which means she could have been a young teenager -- as young as 12 years old, as this is the age at which young women were eligible for betrothal. Engagement or betrothal was considered, at the time, a sacred and binding agreement (Barclay). Legally, a marriage became established as of this engagement. The betrothal period lasted about a year prior to the actual wedding. During this time the bride-to-be would live at her parent s home. This is probably where Mary was when she encountered God s messenger. Gabriel has already frightened Mary. Now the angel caused need for further deliberation, with the disclosure of a miracle in the making: she would become the mother of the Messiah. You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus (Luke 1:31). THE ANNUNCIATION Gabriel s announcement is often referred to as The Annunciation from the word annunciate which means to announce. The Annunciation to Mary is not the only biblical proclamation regarding a coming birth. Annunciation stories also appear in Judges 13 (regarding Samson), Genesis 18:10-14 (Isaac), Luke 1:11-20 (John the Baptist), and even a second annunciation regarding Jesus to Joseph (Matthew 1:20-21). The purpose of an annunciation is to declare something vital about the identity of the child (Culpepper). And great will this child be: He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:32-33). MORE PONDERING As Luke tells the story, it appears that Mary was instantaneous in her reply with a question about how this miracle could be possible. It is likely however, that Mary mulled over Gabriel s revelation of God s plan, even if only for a short while. Imagine being told that your offspring would be divine! Here are points that Mary could have pondered: Mary was a devoted Jew so she would have known of the yearning for the promised Messiah. Indeed, every Jewish girl dreamed of being the Savior s mother! (Kraft) Gabriel had told Mary that her child would be named Jesus. While Jesus was a common name at the time, everyone was cognizant of the meanings

3 in a name. Jesus meant the Lord saves. This child would be the Savior! Mary knew Old Testament scripture. (She likely knew some of it by heart, as we will see by what she will later sing in her Magnificat.) Mary would have recognized the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign, Look the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. MARY S QUESTION & GABRIEL S REPLY Mary responds to Gabriel s announcement with a how question. Her question should not be seen as expressing a doubtful attitude (as Zechariah s was in his encounter with Gabriel); her question was asked in wonder-filled faith (Guzik). It is like she is saying: Wow! That s amazing! How will it happen? (Wilson, ) Gabriel replies to Mary s question with the explanation: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. (Luke 1:35). This verse describes the mystery of God becoming human. MARY ACCEPTS Mary has encountered the divine and now has been asked to become a part of God s plan. What did Mary s thoughts likely include? Nix the approach of: It sounds like too much hassle. I ll take the easy way out. Fears about explaining her situation to Joseph and to her family? Nope, would not stop her. According to Guzik (2006) she agrees to receive a pregnancy that will be seen as suspicious, and this in a culture that had a death penalty for adultery (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). MARY MARVELS AND MAGNIFIES Gabriel s hint about her cousin Elizabeth prompted Mary to seek out comfort and support from her kinswoman. On her way there she likely weighed exactly how she might explain her news to Elizabeth. Imagine Mary s surprise upon her arrival: Elizabeth already knew! (Informed by the Holy Spirit.) Elizabeth encouraged Mary s faith, confirming for Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah. When Elizabeth heard Mary s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? (Luke 1:41-43) How better to react than to sing praises of God! Mary s song is often called The Magnificat from the Latin translation of the first lines. It is here that we see Mary s knowledge of scripture; it is saturated in the Old Testament (Barclay) and in every line there are echoes of the Scriptures of Israel (Culpepper). It also parallels Hannah s song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Mary sang: My soul magnifies the Lord (Luke 1:46). To magnify means to praise God. Isn t it interesting that it also means, to enlarge? We are familiar with a magnifying glass that amplifies something, but what actually gets magnified? Not the object being viewed, but our perception of it. Perhaps Mary had suddenly come to realize what Gabriel had told her: God has decided to bless you! (Luke 1:28b). Mary s perception of God was magnified and she needed to sing about it! How might we ponder the Christmas story in a new way? How might we magnify God this Christmas season? What mission can we accept to help others encounter Jesus? She didn t ask for a sign but the angel Gabriel gave her one: her way-past-the-child-bearing-age cousin, Elizabeth, was expecting a child. Gabriel s words (worth memorizing): For nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:37). Still, it was a stretch of faith for Mary. We clearly see her humble, accepting heart in her response: Then Mary said, Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word (Luke 1:38). Think about this: How might God be attempting to reach each of us? What sort of emotions will we experience when we hear God s plan for our lives? What would it take for us to respond to God the way Mary did?

4 ROTATION SCHEDULE IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Attending both the and workshops is the best way to get the full Street 2:52 experience. This is ESPECIALLY TRUE for the next 4 WEEKS. As you can see in the schedule below, the next four weeks include pageant preparations (costume fittings/practices) and a Mission Possible special event that stretches over both of the morning workshop times. Don t miss out! PRESCHOOL KINDERGARTEN GRADE 1-3 GIRLS GRADE 1-3 BOYS GRADE 4-6 NOV 24 PALESTINE PRODUCTIONS NOV 24 PALESTINE DEC 1 DEC 1 (Palestine Productions) (Palestine Productions) MISSION POSSIBLE EVENT MISSION POSSIBLE EVENT DEC 8 DEC 8 (PALESTINE PRODUCTIONS) PALESTINE PRODUCTIONS DEC 15 & (Palestine Productions) CURRENT VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE Bible Times Square Marla Jongedyk Thou Art Studio Stephanie McKinnon/Sunja Kahler Loaves & Fishes Cooking Company Steph McKinnon Soul Station (Grade 1-6) Ernie & Sandy Schrieber Soul Station (Preschool - Kindergarten) Jennifer Winters Fishermans.Net Andrea Anderst Kick-Off Andrea Anderst, Darren Neiman, Jaclyn Hotz Gospel Street Boardgame Chris Weston Preschool Buddy Ruth Lafleche & Brittany Weston Hall Monitors Miranda Lee & Lucy Adamson

FOR THE PARENTS SPOILER ALERT!!!! We thought you might enjoy knowing more about what your children are learning at Street 2:52. Here s a little peek at their workshops.

5 FOR THE PARENTS SPOILER ALERT!!!! We thought you might enjoy knowing more about what your children are learning at Street 2:52. Here s a little peek at their workshops. You may want to keep this out of sight from your kids if they enjoy a surprise on Sunday mornings. Palestine Productions The Kick-off Event includes a dramatic story that helps children understand all of the emotions Mary went through during the first Christmas. This story also helps us to understand why Jesus came to earth by making the connection of His birth to His death/resurrection. Thou Art Studio Young children will explore the Christmas story through the use of flannel graph type story and kids make story magnet kits to colour and take home. Older students will focus on the scripture that teaches us that Mary magnifies God and children will make magnets to reinforce the meaning of magnify. PALESTINE PRODUCTIONS - Students experience the Christmas story visually through a movie. SPECIAL EVENT MARY: MISSION POSSIBLE This year our Christmas lesson will include a 3-workshop themed lesson focusing on God s great mission to send His son and they are learning it with a creative twist. Instead of Mission Impossible, think Mission Possible with students engaging in special agent activities! The three workshops in this lesson series are as follows: MISSION POSSIBLE - Bible Times Square Children will participate in an obstacle course that explores the mission that Mary was given and how she chose to accept it. MISSION POSSIBLE This lesson provides a brief overview of the Christmas story by placing the story details onto a map of Israel during the time of Jesus birth. Children will have a chance to explore geographically where the story takes place and also connect these locations to other Bible stories. MISSION POSSIBLE Children will begin to think about their own mission to follow and serve God as they pose for a special agent photo and fill out their own special agent folder. CHRISTMAS PAGEANT SUNDAY, DEC 6:00 PM DESSERTS & FELLOWSHIP TO FOLLOW NOTE TO PARENTS: All practices and preparations will take place on Sunday mornings. See the Street 2:52 schedule for more details. If you have any questions please contact Debbie

FAMILY NEWSLETTER OCT 20 - NOV 17, 2013

CREATION FAMILY NEWSLETTER OCT 20 - NOV 17, 2013 THE CREEDS OF OUR FAITH This year on Street 2:52 we want to teach children about some of the important fundamentals of the Christian faith. Each story we