FUNKY POLKADOT GIRAFFE

Monday, December 5, 2011

Picture a Christmas: A Christmas Lesson



This year it was my turn to teach the Christmas lesson to all the Young Women at church.
I worried for weeks about what to do, and then one evening I realized I wanted to use the
theme "Picture a Christmas" from the LDS Children's Songbook. One Christmas was I
was about 9 years old - I'm guessing - Christmas fell on a Sunday and I sang it for
sacrament meeting and then I sang it for the children at juvenile hall.
I've been in love with the song ever since.


So I asked my friend Leilani and her beautiful girls to open my lesson
by singing "Picture a Christmas". My friend plays ukulele and they all sing beautifully.
Leilani writes her own harmonies, so the song was gorgeous.

Then I shared the quote by Elder Neal A. Maxwell,
"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!"

And then proceeded with the following activity/experience that I found on Sugardoodle.net.
I used my favorite Nativity that my Grandma Meyer gave me.
It is truly a treasure. I wrapped each piece individually and placed them in a large basket.


I had each girl take a gift from the basket, and we opened them in the order below.
I created the cards using some of text from the lesson on Sugardoodle and the digital
scrapbook kit by Jacque Larsen.









After the Shepherds my friend Jen and I sang
"Were You There" by Natalie Sleeth.









After Joseph I read an excerpt about Joseph
from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk -
"Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come from a Store."
Then I played for them a recording of the song
"Guard Him, Joseph" by Sally DeFord.



After Mary I read I read an excerpt about Mary
from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk -
"Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come from a Store."



After we opened Baby Jesus I shared this video.

I ended by bearing my testimony of the divinity of the Savior and my gratitude for His life,
his sacrifice, and his resurrection. I shared my gratitude for His mother and surrogate
father, for their sacrifice and strength.

I reiterated the quote by Elder Neal A. Maxwell,
"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!"

And challenged them to make room for Christ in their lives this Christmas season.
I gave them a pillowcase to remind them that when they go to rest their head, that
Jesus had no place and to give Him a place. I also printed a set of the cards for them so
they could use them with their own families.


20 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh, how fabulous! Way to go mama!

Unknown said...

I love this! I am going to use it as our FHE lesson tonight. I hope that's okay! :)

~Nat

P.S. Are you Christa's sister in law?

Kimberly T. said...

This is a great idea! I always struggled with coming up with something different to do for that lesson. I love the cards you made!!

Mynn xx said...

Ooo! This is amazing! Thanks so much for sharing!!! :)

Tasha said...

What a great lesson. I will be pinning this for the future if I ever need a lesson like this. I really love what you did.

Kristin said...

I love this! So wonderful!

Ticey said...

I have been stressing for weeks now on what to give my young women Christmas lesson on - this is exactly what I am looking for! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing!!

Bush Family said...

I came across your blog and love this idea! Could you email me a copy of the cards to use? bushdsbush@aol.com

Bush Family said...

I came across your blog and love this idea! Could you email me a copy of the cards to use? bushdsbush@aol.com

Unknown said...

LOVE this lesson! Thank you for sharing.

caseyandandrea said...

Hi! I love this idea for a lesson! I'm going to try and do it for my lesson next Sunday. But for some reason I'm unable to view the video you used. Could you please let me know via here or email which one you used? Also i would love the link to the cards you used as well! Thank you!

Unknown said...

This is fabulous could you tell me what video you used at the end of the lesson I can't get it to work. kawneej@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Hi! I love this and want to use it in my YW lesson on Sunday. I also can't get the video link to work, can you tell me what it is?
kriddle10@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Hi! I love this idea, and want to use it for my YW lesson on Sunday. I also can't get the video after baby Jesus to work, can you tell me what it is so I can find it? Thanks! kriddle10@gmail.com

Lori said...

Do you still have the cards?? I would love to print them out and use them for our RS activity

Mary said...

I would love to have the cards. To use them in our branch. Let me know if I could print them?
Thank You

Elder Johnson said...

Can I get a copy of your cards in PDF or JPG format? I would love to use them this Sunday. This is a great lesson! Thank you!

bjfontenot5 said...

I would like a copy of the cards also. This is such a great lesson!

bjfontenot5 said...

I would like to get a copy of the cards also this is a wonderful lesson!

Unknown said...

I am so touched by this lesson. Could I get a link for the cards and what the video was. Thanks so much for sharing such a beautiful message


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