WHAT TO DO
Memorize 1 John 3:1.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”

“Angels We Have Heard on High”

Sing or listen to “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Search online for a children’s video of the song or go to the Connected Christmas Playlist.

Verse 1
Angels we have heard on high
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains.

Chorus
Gloria, gloria, gloria, gloria,
in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, gloria, gloria, gloria,
in excelsis Deo!

Verse 2
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heavenly song?
(Chorus)

Verse 3
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing,
come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
(Chorus)

Verse 4
See him in a manger laid,
whom the choirs of angels praise,
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
while our hearts in love we raise.
(Chorus)

WHAT TO DO

Make and decorate Christmas cards for each person in your family, using your own supplies or copies of the Christmas Cards Printable provided. You could even send cards to extended or out-of-town family members. Use the cards to tell them how much you appreciate them and how much God loves them.

SUPPLIES

• Construction paper or plain white paper
• Washable markers, glitter markers
• Crayons
• Scissors
• Glue
• Christmas stickers or stamps
• Envelopes and stamps
• Christmas Card Printable

Quick Option

Ask each person in the family to write or draw a quick note or picture on a self-stick note to give to another person in the family. The notes should be encouraging, letting family members know they are loved by God and others.

SUPPLIES

• Pens or pencils
• Self-stick notes

WHAT TO DO

Play a simple game of God’s Family Guess Who? Provide a dry-erase board and dry-erase markers. Have each family member draw and show a picture of the person who told them about Jesus. Other family members will guess and name the person pictured. (Hint: Don’t assume that the person in the drawing is a member of your physical family; the person may be a teacher, friend, neighbor, coworker, etc.) Offer to help young children with their drawings.

SUPPLIES

• Dry-erase board and dry-erase markers (or sheets of drawing paper and washable markers)

Quick Option

Play God’s Family Charades. Encourage each person to act as the person who told them about Jesus. Other family members will try to name that person.

SUPPLIES

• No supplies needed

WHAT TO DO

Bake a gingerbread family that includes one cookie to represent each person in your family. Use the recipe provided below, your own favorite cutout cookie recipe, or keep it simple with a box mix. Decorate the cookies and enjoy. Talk about what makes each person special. Discuss how it feels to know we all can be a part of God’s family.

Gingerbread Family Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 3/4 cup molasses
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Premade (or homemade) frosting
• Food coloring
• Various candies and decorating supplies (chocolate-coated candies, sprinkles, gumdrops, etc.)

SUPPLIES

• Mixing bowls and spoons
• Electric mixer
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons
• Plastic wrap
• Gingerbread people cookie cutters
• Rolling pin
• Baking sheet
• Oven and oven mitt (grownups only!)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat until light and fluffy (5-7 minutes). Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until easy to handle, about 4 hours or overnight.
3. When the dough is chilled, preheat oven to 350°F. (Grownups only!)
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-inch Cut with floured cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart on baking sheet.
5. Bake until edges are firm, 8-10 minutes. Remove from baking sheet and place on rack to cool completely.
6. Tint frosting with food coloring as desired. Use frosting and various candies to decorate the cookies.

Quick Option

On half sheets of paper (5-1/2” x 8-1/2”), draw a simple outline of each person in the family. (Hint: Trace around gingerbread person cookie cutters to make outlines.) Write the name of the family member below his or her outline. Give each person markers and one of the outlines (preferably not their own) to decorate as a gingerbread person. Display the gingerbread family pictures as a collage.

SUPPLIES

• Half sheets of paper (5-1/2” x 8-1/2”)
• Pencils
• Washable markers
• Reusable adhesive
• Optional: gingerbread person cookie cutters

WHAT TO DO

Encourage each family member to do a chore around the house or an act of service for someone in the family. Or work together as a family to make and take a meal to another family. Let them know God loves them.

SUPPLIES

• Supplies as needed for selected family project