On the First Day of Christmas....

On the First Day of Christmas my good friends gave to me...
A Home Evening for my Family!

If you're like us, it's Monday and you have just realized it is Family Home Evening night.  Well, here's a simple lesson you can throw together to celebrate the reason for the season.

Making our Way to Christ



Preparation: Choose a snack (recipes below) and make it.  Read through lesson so you know what to do.  Cut out stars from yellow paper.

Materials: Nativity with wisemen and baby Jesus, or pictures 
                  Large paper stars, at least one for each member of the family (here's a link to a template:
                   
                  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/stringofstars/Startemplate.shtml
                 
                  Scriptures

Lesson:

Opening Song: Christmas song of your choice from hymnbook/Children's songbook

Opening Prayer: by invitation

Read: the account of the Wisemen travelling to see the baby Jesus in Matthew 2:1-12, or tell it in your own words.  Be sure to emphasize how they followed the star.
    Ask: How did the Wisemen know where to find the baby Jesus?

Application: Place the figures/pictures of the Wisemen and the Baby Jesus a good distance apart in the room.  Give each member of the family a cut out star.  Ask them to draw or write something that will bring them closer to the Savior (reading scriptures, praying, being kinds, etc.  Kids will always think of something).  When they are done, draw attention to the Wisemen and Baby Jesus apart in the room.  Ask each person to come forward and explain what they have written, then place their star on the floor between the wisemen and Jesus.  As each star is placed on the ground, move the Wisemen on top of it.  The Wisemen should make their way to the Savior.  Explain that by doing each of these things we will come closer to the Savior.

Closing Song: With Wondering Awe, Hymns #210 If you don't know this one well here's the link to hear it: http://lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=1&searchseqstart=210&searchsubseqstart=&searchseqend=210&searchsubseqend=ZZZ or

Or, sing "We Three Kings" if you know it better

Closing Prayer: by invitation

Treat: Here's a few easy ideas.  Do what you have on hand:

- if you've already been baking for Christmas, pull something out.  Enjoy Christmas a little early.
- if you read this before you have to be out, stop at the store and grab a package of sugar cookie dough.  Cut into stars and bake according to directions.
- if you have time, make the following:

Stir and Drop Sugar Cookies (super easy and fast)

2 eggs
2/3 cup oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest (I just use a little lemon juice)
3/4 cup white sugar
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2.Stir oil into beaten eggs. Add lemon rind and vanilla. Blend in sugar until mixture thickens.
3.Sift flour, baking powder and salt; stir into wet mixture.
4.Drop by teaspoons about 2 inches apart on UNGREASED cookie sheet.
5.Dip the bottom of a glass in oil then in sugar. Flatten each cookie by gently pressing with bottom of glass. Dip in sugar before stamping each cookie.
6.Bake in preheated oven until the edges are golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove immediately from cookie sheet and cool on a wire rack.

Now, rest easy knowing that you managed to have FHE even during the Christmas rush.  Merry Christmas!