The 12 days of Christmas actually is the 12 days between December 25th and January 6th. It is the Christmastide Season leading into the Epiphany Season.
On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Religious symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas)
1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
It's the Eve of Christmas Eve
To be sung to the tune of "Santa Claus is Comin to Town"
Wipe away your tears, get rid of your fears;
Here's the best news you've heard in years!
Jesus Christ is coming to town.
He's makin' a list in the Book of Life,
That'll be the end of your trouble and strife!
Jesus Christ is comin' to town.
He loves you when you're sleepin',
He loves you when you're awake;
He loves you when you're bad or good,
But be good for Jesus' sake!
Now put on a smile, get rid of that frown,
Spread the "Good News" all around;
Jesus Christ is comin' to town.
At this time of year, many people are thinking about Santa Claus coming to town and thinking about all of the great gifts that Santa will bring them. But the real reason for this season is the celebration of Jesus Christ's coming--and he brings us the greatest gift of all. He brings the gift of God's love. The Bible says, "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." Yes, he loves us when we're bad or good, what a great love that is!
Dear Lord, we thank you for your great love. We thank you that you showed us that love by sending your son, Jesus, to save us. Amen.
Wipe away your tears, get rid of your fears;
Here's the best news you've heard in years!
Jesus Christ is coming to town.
He's makin' a list in the Book of Life,
That'll be the end of your trouble and strife!
Jesus Christ is comin' to town.
He loves you when you're sleepin',
He loves you when you're awake;
He loves you when you're bad or good,
But be good for Jesus' sake!
Now put on a smile, get rid of that frown,
Spread the "Good News" all around;
Jesus Christ is comin' to town.
At this time of year, many people are thinking about Santa Claus coming to town and thinking about all of the great gifts that Santa will bring them. But the real reason for this season is the celebration of Jesus Christ's coming--and he brings us the greatest gift of all. He brings the gift of God's love. The Bible says, "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." Yes, he loves us when we're bad or good, what a great love that is!
Dear Lord, we thank you for your great love. We thank you that you showed us that love by sending your son, Jesus, to save us. Amen.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
His Name Shall Be....
Naming God
Families can make their first ornament at your holiday celebration. Provide them with ideas to create and collect more ornaments at home.
Stuff: 6-inch wooden dowels, linen fabric, permanent markers, fabric glue, yarn, and photocopies of the Names of God reference sheet.
Have family members create an ornament for the name of God, Jehovah Nissi, which means “the Lord is my banner.” Fold one end of the cloth piece over the dowel and secure it with glue. Tie yarn at each end of the dowel for a hanger. Write “Jehovah Nissi: The Lord Is My Banner” at the top of the banner, then have each family member draw a symbol that represents God, such as a rock or a shepherd.
Let’s Talk: Say: The names of God in the Bible reveal God’s character. Take home this sheet to create more symbols that’ll remind your family of how great our God is.
Names of God
El Roi: The God Who Sees
Decoration: A mirror. Add family members’ names to the mirror to remind them that God is always watching and protecting them.
El Elyon: God Most High
Decoration: Dollhouse chairs (sold at local craft or hobby stores) painted gold to remind your family that God is King of the universe.
El Adonai: Master
Decoration: Go to the hardware store as a family and pick out a master key and remember that God holds the key to our hearts.
El Shaddai: God Almighty and Source of Comfort
Decoration: Have each family member make a small pillow. Remember that as our pillows bring us rest and comfort when we sleep, God always comforts us.
El Olam: Everlasting and Eternal God
Decoration: A soft pouch with a rock enclosed to remember that God is our solid foundation.
Jehovah: Never-Changing, Self-Existent One
Decoration: Glue blocks together that spell “I AM” and remember that God’s love is so big it has no beginning and no end.
Jehovah Rapha: God Who Heals
Decoration: Write the name of each family member on a bandage and tie them together with ribbon.
*childrensministry.com
Families can make their first ornament at your holiday celebration. Provide them with ideas to create and collect more ornaments at home.
Stuff: 6-inch wooden dowels, linen fabric, permanent markers, fabric glue, yarn, and photocopies of the Names of God reference sheet.
Have family members create an ornament for the name of God, Jehovah Nissi, which means “the Lord is my banner.” Fold one end of the cloth piece over the dowel and secure it with glue. Tie yarn at each end of the dowel for a hanger. Write “Jehovah Nissi: The Lord Is My Banner” at the top of the banner, then have each family member draw a symbol that represents God, such as a rock or a shepherd.
Let’s Talk: Say: The names of God in the Bible reveal God’s character. Take home this sheet to create more symbols that’ll remind your family of how great our God is.
Names of God
El Roi: The God Who Sees
Decoration: A mirror. Add family members’ names to the mirror to remind them that God is always watching and protecting them.
El Elyon: God Most High
Decoration: Dollhouse chairs (sold at local craft or hobby stores) painted gold to remind your family that God is King of the universe.
El Adonai: Master
Decoration: Go to the hardware store as a family and pick out a master key and remember that God holds the key to our hearts.
El Shaddai: God Almighty and Source of Comfort
Decoration: Have each family member make a small pillow. Remember that as our pillows bring us rest and comfort when we sleep, God always comforts us.
El Olam: Everlasting and Eternal God
Decoration: A soft pouch with a rock enclosed to remember that God is our solid foundation.
Jehovah: Never-Changing, Self-Existent One
Decoration: Glue blocks together that spell “I AM” and remember that God’s love is so big it has no beginning and no end.
Jehovah Rapha: God Who Heals
Decoration: Write the name of each family member on a bandage and tie them together with ribbon.
*childrensministry.com
Monday, December 21, 2009
Counting Down to Christmas .... 3 Days!!
http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/xmas_cnt.htm
Video for your advent viewing... lights!
Give the Gift by Lisa:
Give the Gift of Listening – Really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.
Give the Gift of Affection – Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.
Give the Gift of Laughter – Clip cartoons, share articles, funny stories, and a good joke. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”
Give the Gift of a Written Note – It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or an “I appreciate you” note. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.
Give the Gift of a Compliment – Everyone needs encouragement. Mark Twain said, “One compliment can keep me going for a whole month.”
Give the Gift of a Favor – Go out of your way to do something kind for someone.
Give the Gift of Solitude – There are times when we want nothing more than to have some peace and quiet. Be sensitive to those times, and give the gift of solitude to others.
Give the Gift of a Cheerful Disposition – The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. It’s not hard to be polite and courteous, to say “hello” or “thank you.”
Video for your advent viewing... lights!
Give the Gift by Lisa:
Give the Gift of Listening – Really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.
Give the Gift of Affection – Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.
Give the Gift of Laughter – Clip cartoons, share articles, funny stories, and a good joke. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”
Give the Gift of a Written Note – It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or an “I appreciate you” note. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.
Give the Gift of a Compliment – Everyone needs encouragement. Mark Twain said, “One compliment can keep me going for a whole month.”
Give the Gift of a Favor – Go out of your way to do something kind for someone.
Give the Gift of Solitude – There are times when we want nothing more than to have some peace and quiet. Be sensitive to those times, and give the gift of solitude to others.
Give the Gift of a Cheerful Disposition – The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. It’s not hard to be polite and courteous, to say “hello” or “thank you.”
Friday, December 18, 2009
Count Down
I remember when my sister and I were little. The Friday before Christmas was the best day. It was the last day of school before the big break from school and the count down to Christmas Eve was on. The count down is on. So much to get done before Christmas Eve.
A fun thing to do as we prepare for Christmas:
Edible Manger
Ingredients:
• paper baking cup
• chocolate pudding
• shredded wheat cereal
• pretzel nugget
• mini marshmallows
Directions:
1. Fill baking cup half full with chocolate pudding.
2. Have each child shred one shredded wheat biscuit over the pudding to represent the hay.
3. Place the pretzel nugget on the hay to represent the body of baby Jesus.
4. Top the pretzel nugget with a mini marshmallow to represent the head of baby Jesus.
A fun thing to do as we prepare for Christmas:
Edible Manger
Ingredients:
• paper baking cup
• chocolate pudding
• shredded wheat cereal
• pretzel nugget
• mini marshmallows
Directions:
1. Fill baking cup half full with chocolate pudding.
2. Have each child shred one shredded wheat biscuit over the pudding to represent the hay.
3. Place the pretzel nugget on the hay to represent the body of baby Jesus.
4. Top the pretzel nugget with a mini marshmallow to represent the head of baby Jesus.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Christmas Prayer
Let us give thanks for the Child whom we celebrate this Advent season — the Child who came to earth as an infant, died, and rose as our Savior; and for whose coming again we wait with anticipation and love.
Let us pray . . .
For the children of this world.
For infants who are not held in love.
For children who are abused physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
For the children who live at the Kentucky Home for Children and for children who live in shelters throughout our nation and world.
For children who live in substandard housing, who live on the streets, and in war-torn nations.
For children who are hurting throughout our world and for children who mourn the loss of their childhood.
Let us pray . . .
For the child found in the hearts of the elderly.
For those who wait for human touch and for those who cry silent tears of loneliness.
For those who hunger to hear your word and for those who must choose between going hungry or going to the pharmacy.
For those who have separated themselves from their families and for those whose families have forgotten their elders.
We pray for the elders who still dream the dream of a world where the city streets are filled with God's children playing — God's world of peace.
Let us pray for the child within ourselves — the child who struggles to live out a calling to follow Christ.
Let us pray . . .
For one another, naming one another in our hearts.
For our ministry here at First Church.
For our families, and for those who are dear to us.
We pray this in the name of the Star-Child, the Hope-for-Peace Child, the Christ Child. Amen.
http://www.gbod.org/worship
Let us pray . . .
For the children of this world.
For infants who are not held in love.
For children who are abused physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
For the children who live at the Kentucky Home for Children and for children who live in shelters throughout our nation and world.
For children who live in substandard housing, who live on the streets, and in war-torn nations.
For children who are hurting throughout our world and for children who mourn the loss of their childhood.
Let us pray . . .
For the child found in the hearts of the elderly.
For those who wait for human touch and for those who cry silent tears of loneliness.
For those who hunger to hear your word and for those who must choose between going hungry or going to the pharmacy.
For those who have separated themselves from their families and for those whose families have forgotten their elders.
We pray for the elders who still dream the dream of a world where the city streets are filled with God's children playing — God's world of peace.
Let us pray for the child within ourselves — the child who struggles to live out a calling to follow Christ.
Let us pray . . .
For one another, naming one another in our hearts.
For our ministry here at First Church.
For our families, and for those who are dear to us.
We pray this in the name of the Star-Child, the Hope-for-Peace Child, the Christ Child. Amen.
http://www.gbod.org/worship
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Poinsettia Day
Today is National Poinsettia Day. It is a day when we celebrate the plant and how it helps us connect with the Christmas season. The story of the Poinsettia:
"A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.
"I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro consolingly.
Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.
As she approached the alter, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.
Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.
From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.
Today, the common name for this plant is the poinsettia!"
"A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.
"I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro consolingly.
Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.
As she approached the alter, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.
Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.
From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.
Today, the common name for this plant is the poinsettia!"
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A New Church Year
I want to thank everyone for their help with the children's pageant today and a special thanks to the kids who did an awesome job showing us what the first Christmas was like. I also want to thank everyone who came out for the gingerbread house making and then craft night. We had an awesome time tonight fellowshipping with each other. I saw some pretty awesome houses being built tonight too!
It is officially the second week of Advent. Time is flying by and soon it will be Christmas and then the new year! As we are flying towards a new year I would like for us to dream a little bit. I am looking at the next years calendar and it is full of opportunity. I would like to know what you and your kids would like to see done in the new year and what you would like to not do in the new year. As I say dream big and you never know what might happen ;) Email me your ideas or post them as a comment below.
It is officially the second week of Advent. Time is flying by and soon it will be Christmas and then the new year! As we are flying towards a new year I would like for us to dream a little bit. I am looking at the next years calendar and it is full of opportunity. I would like to know what you and your kids would like to see done in the new year and what you would like to not do in the new year. As I say dream big and you never know what might happen ;) Email me your ideas or post them as a comment below.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Children's Christmas Pageant
This Sunday!!
Both services!!
Kids need to be in the fellowship hall around 8:10 to get their costumes on and to practice for choir. A group of awesome volunteers will lead the children upstairs and then back out after the pageant. We will also get the kids for the second service and take them down to the fellowship hall to get ready again.
Please let Bekah know if you have any questions.
Both services!!
Kids need to be in the fellowship hall around 8:10 to get their costumes on and to practice for choir. A group of awesome volunteers will lead the children upstairs and then back out after the pageant. We will also get the kids for the second service and take them down to the fellowship hall to get ready again.
Please let Bekah know if you have any questions.
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