Christmas is a wonderful time for family and friends to gather together create memories, eat lots of food, enjoy old traditions, create new traditions, and exchange gifts. And while all of these are wonderful things, the true meaning of Christmas, the reason for the season is Jesus! Jesus, Immanuel God with us, came to earth. God with us entered the world as a newborn baby, born amongst the hustle and bustle of a census. His parents ordinary and perhaps even unexpected. It is a beautiful story of love!
This year as you exchange gifts, I invite you to start a new tradition. This can be done with one gift or each person can bring a gift. Gather in a circle and assign one person to be the storyteller. This is the story of the wisemen seeking the star and finding the greatest gift of all. Each time the storyteller says the word right or left, pass the gift(s) in the stated directions. When the story is over, open the gift(s).
My hope for you and your family is that amongst the fun there is a time of reflection as the Christmas story is told. Perhaps after the game you can even stop and ask some questions. What did you hear? What do you think it would have been like to be the wisemen? What does the Christmas story mean for all of us?
So Merry Christmas to you all! As you open presents this year, may you reflect on the presence of Jesus, Immanuel God with us!
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Wisemen Right Left
By: Angela O’Neill
Come gather together right here right now.
Let me tell you this story of wisemen and a star
They left on a journey
They followed right after a star
Knowing it was the right way
No matter if it left them journeying far far away
So let us leave right away
Follow their steps left and right
And see just what they found
Right there
On that blessed night
Some would call them wisemen
And they would be right
Some will call them magi
Who left to follow the star that night
So right here right now
What is left to say
I think we should know who we are speaking of right here today
The magi, the wiseman
That is a right description
They left from the East
Followed the one right star
A star that carried a story that had been left for them, was now right in their sight
Imagine the awe left right there in their hearts
As they saw this star they had heard of
right in front of them that night
RIght now their journey starts
So they followed this star
They left for the journey
Right then do you think they knew
How their lives would be left
How their hearts would right there be changed
Left in awe at what would be right before them
They journeyed and journeyed
Followed left and then right
Eventually they found themselves
Right there in the palace of Herod
Left with him
To talk of the star
Right there, in front of them that night
Herod feared what this all might mean
Would he be left throneless
So with a hidden agenda
He told the wisemen
To continue right on their journey
Find this baby king
So they left
They followed the star
To a young Jesus
This child king
Right there
Under the star
Left in awe and wondering
Did they know when they left
That this would lead them right to
The king of kings
When they saw him, right there
They adored this young child king
They offered gifts
Left them right there for him
And while they were right there
They simply adored him
Now these wisemen were smart
After all, they are wise, RIght?
And they knew not to go the same way home that night.
When the left they left a different way
So as not to lead Herod the king to the baby the right way that night
So what can we learn from what these wisemen left
Seek this treasure Jesus
He is all that is right
He is all that is good
So today and everyday right where you are
Come adore this king
Who left heaven
God with us
The treasure
They found, when they left on a journey
Followed the star right where it shone bright
Which led them right to the king of kings
Left them in awe that night.