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25 simple ideas for experiencing

and sharing Christmas joyfor Family and FriendsA Christmas-Activity Calendar

MWS, 0-5 post:“TinyBibleTreasures:JesusIsBorn.” WillbepostedonNovember22nd.

MWS, Level 2 post:Telluswhatyou’llbe

doingthisChristmas.Readaboutwhatotherswillbedoing.Exchangesomefunideas.

MWS, Level 2 post:Readstory,“Roshna’sGifttoGive.”WillbepostedonDecember10th.

Christmas promises.TheChristmasseasonisatimewhentheworldcelebratesJesus’birth.If your

familyhasthoughtof waystosharetherealmeaningof Christmaswithothers,askJesustogiveyouspecificChristmaspromisesthatyoucanclaimforboldnessandthebrightnessof Hislovetosharewithothers.

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12 MWS, Level 1 post: “TheIntriguing

Storyof theFirstChristmas,PartOne.”WillbepostedonDecember8th.

MWS, 0-5 post: “Carina’sChristmasPlay”—story,audio,

andcoloringbook.WillbepostedonDecember6th.

11 Christmas is about giving.Duringmealtime,orsome

othertimeof familydiscussion,talktogetheraboutwhatgiftsyouwouldliketogiveJesusthisChristmas.

Next,writetheseideasdownonpiecesof papers,andplacethesepapersinanenvelopeonyourChristmastreeorinsomeotherprominentplace,so youcanremindyourself of the ideas throughout theChristmasseason.

Christmas kindness thermometer.Onameter-longpieceof paperdrawathermometer.Divideitintofour

sections,anddrawthinlinestodivideeachof thesesectionsinto10.Labeleachof thefourmainsectionsfrombottomtotop:cold,warm,hot,andsizzling.Youcandecoratearoundyourthermometerwithpicturesandillustrations.Duringthemonthof December,eachtimesomeonedoesakinddeed,coloronelittlesectiononthethermometer.MakeitagoaltoreachthetoporashighaspossiblebyChristmasDay.

Hot or ice-cold chocolate and the Christmas tree.

Makehotorice-coldchocolateorherbaltea,andaskeveryonetobringhisorherfavoriteChristmasstoryorChristmascarol.SitaroundyourChristmastree,andsharetheChristmasgoodies.

1 MWS, Level 2 post:CanyoucrackourChrist-mascode?WillbepostedonDecember5th. Christmas lights.Pileinthecaroneevening

andtakeintheviewof thebeautifuldecorationsandChristmaslightsinyourneighborhoodora

nearbyarea.Orif you’relivinginanareawithoutalotof Christmasdecorations,turnonthelightsof yourChristmastreeordecorationsandenjoythewarmglowinthecomfortof yourhome.

Christmas card writing.Asafamily,writeupa

listof thoseyouwanttosendChristmascardsto.Putyourheadstogethertocomeupwithaunique,creative,andperhapsevenanartisticChristmasgreetingfromyourfamilytoyourfriends.

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MWS, Level 1 post:“TheIntriguingStoryof theFirstChristmas,PartThree.”WillbepostedonDecember22nd.

Christmas prayer.Writealistof people

youwanttoshareJesus’lovewiththisChristmasthroughkinddeedsandkindwords.Thenprayforopportunitiestodoso.—Andbereadywhentheycome.

Bringing Christmas where there is no Christmas. Dosomeresearch,and

findacountrywherethemajorityof thepopulationhaveyettohearof Jesus,andpraythat

JesuswillorchestratewaysforthepeopletheretocometoknowHim.

MWS, Level 2 post:Canyoufillout“TheMammothChristmasCrossword”?WillbepostedonDecember18th.

MWS, 0-5 post: “AsLittleOnes,”story,

audio,andcoloringbook.WillbepostedonDecember13th.

What’s your favorite?Foratimeof familydevotions,

readuponthehistoryof yourfavoriteChristmassong.Singand/orlistentothesongsthatyoureadabout.

Christmas meditations.Christmascanbeabusytime,andit’s

easytoforgettherealmeaningof andreasonforChristmas.DecideonaneveningforChristmasmeditations.Meditateonsomeof thefollowingthoughts:eImaginewhatitwouldbe

liketospendadayinheavenwithJesus.ThinkaboutthemanyfunthingsyouwoulddotocelebrateHisbirthdaytogetherwithHim.

eThinkaboutwhatitwaslikewhenJesuswaspreparingtocometoearth.WhatdoyouthinkweresomethingsHemayhavedonebeforeleavingheaven?

Christmas cookies + caroling.

Bakeabatchof cookies;youcanlistentofavoriteChristmascarolsasyoudo.Placethecookiesinniceplasticwrap,orinsomeotherfestivepresentation,andspreadChristmasjoybygivingyourneighborsaChristmascookies+carolingexperience.(Itmighthelptocallyourneighbors,orthoseyou’llbecarolingtoinadvance,sotheyknowtoexpectyou.)

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Spreading Christmas blessings through your

prayers.Askfriendsandfamilywhattheyneedprayerfor,andsendupChristmasblessingsforthemthroughyourprayers.

Red or green Christmas praises to the King.Havea

funtimeof ChristmasthanksgivingbythankingJesusforyourfavoritefood,place,orthingthat’sredorgreen.Articulatewhyit’safavorite.

The Christmas story.Pullout

thefamilyBible,orachildren’spictureBible,andreadLuke1:5–2:39orMatthew1:18–25.YoucouldsupplementthisbywatchingtheNativityscenefromJesus of Nazareth,The Nativity,oranothermovieof Jesus’life.

Christmas across the globe.Learnabouthowother

countriescelebrateJesus’birth.Talkaboutwhatyouwoulddoif youwerecelebratingChristmasinanothercountry.ReadActivatedarticle,“JoytotheWorld.”

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MWS, Level 1 post:“TheIntriguingStoryof theFirstChristmas,PartTwo.”WillbepostedonDecember15th.

Illustrations and design by Sabine Rich.Authored by R. A. Watterson. Copyright © 2010 by The Family International