AWhen I was five years old, I played the role of an angel in a Christmas play at my church. I had friends in my Sunday school class who got to play important roles, such as Mary, Joseph, shepherds and the Three Wise Men, but there was only one angel and I was chosen to play the part.
I wore a white dress, wings and a halo, and I delivered the line, “God can do all things.” I had to practise saying it just right, and I was nervous to say it in front of a big crowd on Christmas Eve.
At the time, I didn’t realize how important this role was. Now that I am older and I know more about the Bible, I know that the angel had a big part to play. You can read all about it in this issue of Just for Kids.
Your friend, Abby
ISSUE49 An Angel Appears
to Mary
• Paper plates
• Scissors and glue
• Markers or crayons • Hole puncher
Pipe cleaner
How to make it:
1. Use markers or crayons to draw an angel’s face on the front of a paper plate.
2. Cut another paper plate in half to create wings for the angel.
3. Glue the wings on either side of the angel’s face.
4. Use a hole puncher to create a hole at the top of the angel’s head. Then, create a halo using a pipe cleaner. Attach it through the hole.
young woman named Mary was alone in her room. Suddenly she saw an angel right in front of her. The angel said, “Greetings! The Lord has blessed you and He is with you.”
Mary was confused, but the angel told her not to be afraid because God was pleased with her. He chose her. “You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. Name the baby Jesus. He will be great, and people will call Him the Son of the Most High.”
“How is this possible?” Mary asked. The angel replied, “God will make it possible.
God can do all things.”
Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!” Then the angel went away.
Afterward, Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. When Mary arrived, Elizabeth cried out in a loud voice, “God has blessed you more than any other woman. And God has blessed the baby which you will give birth to. You are the mother of my Lord. You are blessed because you believed what the Lord said to you would really happen.”
Source: ministry-to-children.com
How do angels
greet each other?
“Halo!”
Word Search
Do you know why we celebrate Christmas? As fun as it is to sing carols, eat festive dinners, drink hot chocolate and give presents, the real reason that we celebrate Christmas is because it is the day that Jesus was born.
Just like you and me, Jesus has a birthday that comes around every year. He was put on earth to teach people about God, love others, give hope and save us from our sins. His birth is so important that we celebrate it every December. You can read about the day He was born in this issue of Just for Kids.
How are you celebrating Jesus this year?
Your friend, Abby
ISSUE50
Find 5 Differences
Jesus Is Born
Long ago, the ruler of the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus, said, “Everyone go to your hometown and register. I want to know how many people I rule over.” A man named Joseph and his fiancée, Mary, had to obey, even though it meant travelling many days on dirt roads. Mary was soon going to have a baby, who was God’s Son.
When they arrived in Joseph’s hometown, Bethlehem, there was no place for them to stay except a stable. While they were there, Mary’s baby was born. She named Him Jesus, laying Him in a manger for His bed.
That night, God sent angels to tell some shepherds in a nearby field that Jesus had been born. “Glory to God in the highest,” they
sang. The shepherds were excited and hurried to see the new baby.
Later, some men who studied the sky came to see Jesus. They followed a special star that guided them to where Mary, Joseph and Jesus lived, and gave Him precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
You can read the whole Christmas story in the Bible in Matthew 1:18-2:12 and Luke 2:1-20.
Luke 2
, J e sus! Draw a birthday card for Jesus or write Him a special message.
Q: Why was Jesus born on earth?
God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to earth to show us His love and to teach us about God’s promises. When Jesus died on the cross and came back to life, He saved us from sin by proving God’s love to us.
Q: What happens when you believe in God?
When you believe in God, you will be happy and joyful. You will feel peaceful and hopeful. The Bible says that those who believe in God will have eternal life because He welcomes us into heaven to live with Him.
Hi kids!
It’s almost Christmas Day! I bet you are getting excited. I know I am. It is always so nice to share Christmas with friends and family, give presents, sing carols and eat delicious festive foods. But can you imagine how exciting it was when Jesus was first born on Christmas Day?
In this issue of Just for Kids, you will read about the very first people to learn about Jesus’ birth. God sent an angel to a group of shepherds and told them the good news. Then they travelled to Bethlehem to visit Him. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas filled with joy, love and excitement.
Your friend, Abby
Christmas Scramble
Unscramble these festive words.
Shepherds Visit Jesus
Agroup of shepherds were taking care of their sheep in a field the night Jesus was born. Suddenly, an angel appeared to them. The shepherds were scared! But the angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news. It will bring great joy for all the people. Today, a Saviour has been born. He is the Lord.”
To prove that he was telling the truth, the angel said there was a baby in a manger in the town of Bethlehem. Then, more angels came down from heaven to sing praises to God. “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth,” they said.
After the angels left, the shepherds travelled to Bethlehem to see Jesus with their own eyes. When they got there, they found Mary and Joseph, and baby Jesus, lying in the manger, just as the angel had said. After seeing Him, the shepherds went to tell others what had happened. What the angel said was true! They then returned to give glory and praise to God just like the angels had done.
Connect the Dots
Did You Know?
Candy canes are a favourite Christmas treat that have been around for a long time. It is believed that they were first made in Germany more than 350 years ago. A choir teacher asked a candy maker to create a new peppermint sugar stick to resemble the shape of a shepherd’s hook. Then, he gave them to the children at his church to enjoy, and as a reminder of the shepherds who visited Jesus on the night He was born in Bethlehem.
Colour the Shepherd
TicTac Toe
Hi kids!
Did you have a good Christmas? The days that follow Christmas can go by in a blur as we take a break from school and work, spend time with family and friends, play with new toys and gifts, and eat lots and lots of leftovers. Then we will celebrate the beginning of 2025 on New Year’s Eve.
In the days after Jesus’ birth, the Three Wise Men came to visit Him. When they saw Him, they bowed down and worshipped Him. They brought Him three special gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. You can read more about the Wise Men in this issue of Just for Kids.
Even though the celebrations of Christmas are coming to an end, we don’t have to stop celebrating Jesus. We can worship Him every day.
Your friend, Abby
Help the Wise Men follow the star to Jesus.
Match each item to the correct shadow.
The Wise Men Visit Jesus
Matthew 2:1-12
WWise Men Word
Scramble
Unscramble these three gifts that the Wise Men brought Jesus.
ECNKIRAENFNS
Answers: myrrh; gold; frankincense.
hen King Herod heard that Jesus had been born, he was very upset. Priests and teachers told him that Jesus was going to be a ruler of the people, but King Herod wanted to be the only ruler. So, he secretly called for the Wise Men and sent them to Bethlehem. “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report it to me,” he said.
The Wise Men listened to the king and went on their way. They saw a star in the sky that led them to Jesus. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy.
The Wise Men went to the house and saw Jesus with His mother, Mary. They bowed down and worshipped Him, and gave Him presents: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
But God warned them in a dream not to go back to King Herod because he had bad intentions. So they left and did not return to King Herod.
52-12/28/24
Just for Kids is a Ready to Explore
Five Ways to Celebrate God This Week:
1. Pray—think of three things to thank Him for.
2. Tell somebody about Jesus and the meaning of Christmas.
3. Go to a service or kids’ program at church.
4. Sing a song about Jesus.
5. Read your Bible or Just for Kids to learn more about God.
