Freeze! Family Advent Devotion Dec. 20

Gather: Around the Advent wreath and bring your nativity nearby. Light two purple candles and one pink candle. Remember that these are the candles of hope, peace and joy.

Read: Luke 2:4-7 -- Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him, and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Do Together:  Put the manger in the stable. It is hard to think about any baby, and especially Jesus, sleeping in an animal’s feeder. There are some families that don’t have enough money for cribs and other baby things. Collect from your home and friends -- or shop for -- baby items. You can donate them to these families through Project BABIES or another group that helps families.

Discuss:  When Jesus was born, there wasn’t a bed or a crib to lay him in. The baby Jesus was tucked in to a manger. A manger is a wooden box used to hold food for animals to eat. Maybe Mary or Joseph filled it with hay to make it softer. This is a very surprising way for God's Son to be born. It may seem very strange that God's Son was born in a stable and slept in an animal’s food box. The humble way that Jesus was born was the same way that he lived his whole life. Jesus came as a different kind of king -- one who serves people, not things. What ways do you serve people like Jesus?