Wednesday, December 24, 2008
24 Days of Christmas Devotionals
So here it is... the big project I worked on this month. Last year I acquired a 3’ tree and made some picture ornaments. This year, I made a bunch of ornaments and created a nightly Christmas devotional that focused on Christ. Next year I hope to have the music and text in binders. Step by step!
Each night, the kids each chose a bell to ring while we sang “Christmas Bells are Ringing.” This was the best way to start because they were always thrilled to ring the bells.
Next, I gave a short lesson with pictures. After that, a child hung the ornament and we sang a Christmas carol. We followed with family prayer and a little treat.
We only missed one night (when we drove to SLC to see the lights on Temple Square). These simple, short devotionals brought the Spirit into our home and helped us to focus on Christ and learn more about Him.
I am very excited about this tradition... and I’m looking forward to how easy it will be next year since the meat of the preparation is done!
I bought a Nativity ornament set from Oriental Trading, and made most of the rest from felt (or had them already).
I will share with you my rough draft from this year, but remember that this is a work in progress! I plan to refine it each year. I have listed extra pictures and resources I used (like flannel board stories) which you may or may not have. But hopefully the main portion of it will be useful to you.
I post it on my Favorites page since I continually add updates.
*see my Christmas Eve entry for the last devotional.
Thank you, Rinna, for your help and inspiration for this project!
Day 1: Jesus’ Pre-mortal calling and the Creation of the World.
Day 5: Abraham (the Abrahamic covenant)
Day 2: The Fall of Adam (need for a Savior)
Day 3: Prophesies of Jesus in the Old World
Day 4: Noah (parallel of Christ and the ark)
Day 6: Isaac - a Similitude of Christ
Day 7: Jacob (Israel) -- I made this ladder from a shoelace.
Day 8: Joseph -- a Similitude of Christ
Day 9: Moses (burning bush) -- the Law of Moses and Christ
Day 10: The Passover and Christ
Day 11: Ruth -- ancestor of Christ; Bethlehem
Day 13: Isaiah (scroll) -- prophesies of Christ
Day 14: Jonah -- a Similitude of Christ
Day 15: Witnesses of Christ in the Book of Mormon
Day 16: Mary: the Handmaid of the Lord
Day 17: Joseph: a Humble Servant
Day 18: Zacharias, Elisabeth & John the Baptist -- prepare the way for Christ
Day 19: The Shepherds; Christ as the Good Shepherd
Day 20: The New Star
Day 21: The Wise Men -- We must seek Christ always
Day 22: Faithful Nephites -- Faith in Christ Amid Persecution
Day 23: The Restoration through Joseph Smith -- blessing of the fulness of the Gospel of Christ
Day 24: Jesus’ Birth
Each night, we learned about a prophet who testified of Christ or was a type of Christ, or something else significant to Christ’s life and mission.
This is adapted from a Catholic tradition: a “Jesse Tree” from the scripture in Isaiah 11:1 “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse...”.
Day 12: King David -- ancestor of Jesus; David and Goliath
Updated posts about these devotionals and ornaments begin HERE.
