1 Christmas Jesus is coming. Sample

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1 Meet Reese Reese is four and a quarter years old. His mum is white and his dad is black. He doesn t have any brothers and sisters but he lives near his cousins, Liam and Lucy. He often plays with them, but his best friend is Krista. He has many friends including the boys and girls he meets at nursery each morning. His family love Jesus and often read the Bible and talk with od. They go to church where Reese s special friend is Fred. Fred used to be a postman and lives on his own, next door. He often comes for his dinner on a Sunday. Fred tells Reese some great postman stories! Reese has the same grandma and grandad as Lucy and Liam. But Reese s other grandma lives in New York. Reese hardly ever sees her, so he takes extra special care in sending her a Christmas present. Reese is getting more and more excited about Christmas. It is the best time of year! Have fun with him as Christmas is coming! Hello! I m Tiddly Tess. Look for me as you read this book! 5

2 1 Christmas Jesus is coming The baby is coming! Reese loves going to Tumbletots every Tuesday afternoon, running around, climbing and jumping. Krista goes too. One day, Krista told him something very exciting. My mum s going to have a baby, she whispered. That s why she s so fat. Reese couldn t wait to tell his mum. Krista s mum is having a baby, he told her while they were having tea. Mum smiled. A long time ago, she said, a man called Isaiah told people some important news, just like you ve done. He said, A young woman will have a special baby. He will be called Immanuel. That s a funny name! giggled Reese. It means od is with us, Mum said. The people had to wait hundreds of years. Then, like Isaiah said, a baby came from od. The baby was Jesus. We re getting ready to remember Jesus birth, soon. Christmas is coming! Pray Jesus, help me get ready to remember your birth. 6 Matthew 1:18 25

3 2 Christmas Jesus is coming What s his name? At nursery, Reese practised writing his name. What would my name have been if I had been a girl? he asked Mum as they walked home. Jennifer, Mum said. Choosing a name for a baby is difficult. Jesus mum and dad didn t have that problem. Joseph had a dream. An angel told him, Call the baby Jesus. It means someone who rescues. Reese frowned. It seemed hard to understand. If you fall in the swimming pool and can t swim, Mum said, you need someone to rescue you. They will jump in and swim with you to safety. It s like that with Jesus. od sent him to this world. He wants to take hold of us by the hand and help us to safety. The safest place in the world is close to od. Jesus helps us to come close to od. Pray Thank you od that Jesus came to show us that we can be od s friends. Matthew 1:

4 Make your own Advent ring Advent means coming. The four weeks leading up to Christmas are a time to remember Jesus first coming and think about him coming again one day. Many families use an Advent ring to help them. Cut three medium-sized potatoes in half lengthwise. Put five of these pieces cut-side down. Cut out a candle-sized hole in each. Cover the potatoes with silver foil. Push a long candle into each hole. Cover the lid of a large biscuit tin or shoebox lid with foil. Arrange four candles in a circle with one in the middle. Fill the space in the lid with (fireproof) decorations tinsel, baubles, stars. Light the first candle every day during the first week of Advent and sing the first verse of the song on page 11. Light two candles in the second week, singing the first two verses of the song and so on. On Christmas Day, light all five candles, the central one celebrating the arrival of Jesus! 8

5 3 Christmas An angel comes to Mary The angel comes Reese was making chocolate cookies. He stirred so hard that the mixing bowl rolled onto the floor. But the mixture was so sticky, nothing oozed onto the floor! I think Mary was doing something ordinary like cooking or cleaning when an angel visited her, Mum said. The angel had an amazing message from od. Listen to what he said. Mum opened up her Bible. Don t be afraid! od is pleased with you and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. od s messenger, the angel, could talk with Mary whatever she was doing. And it was an extraordinary message that the angel gave Mary. You know, Reese, we can hear from and talk with od whatever we re doing, cooking or playing or In the bath! laughed Reese. Pray What are you doing right now? oing to bed? Eating breakfast? Thank od that he wants to talk with us whatever we are doing. Luke 1:

6 Baby born in Bethlehem Beth Ba - by born in - le - hem, Beth - le - hem, 7 Ba - by born in C Beth Ba - by born in - le - hem, Born Em on Christ -mas Day C C Born on Christ -mas Day. Wise men bring their gifts to him, Wise men bring their gifts to him, Wise men bring their gifts to him, Born for you and me, Born for you and me. 11