Christmas Flash Mob by Journey of Faith at South Bay Galleria

Click here.

Thank you Sarah Paul for sharing!

A Christmas Devotional Challenge by Dannette McKellar

“When
the
Son of Man
comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit on his glorious throne.
All the nations will be gathered before him,
and he will separate the people one from another
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Matthew 25:31-33

Warm milk in a baby bottle is the ticket to popularity at Grant’s Farm, a St. Louis family attraction ... if you are brave enough to pass through the turnstile into the fenced area.  That’s where demanding baby goats crowd around you, stomp on your feet, tug at your clothing, and head butt your arms.  Pushing each other out of the way, they greedily clamor for the ultimate prize: sucking milk from your baby bottle.

That image appeared when I read Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats, and I wondered: Am I a sheep or a goat?  This time of year, crowds and holiday stress have a way of bringing out the goat in me.  It’s easy to become a goat when I’m in a hurry ... when I’m working my way through crowded stores trying to find everything on my list ... when I’m stuck in miserable traffic.  Unfortunately, being a goat means I’m focused on myself: what I need to do and where I need to be. 

My challenge this Christmas season is to be less like a goat so others can see Christ in me and in Christmas.  Will you take the challenge with me?

Submitted by Dannette McKellar

Nativity-Centered Family Fun and Learning for All Ages

Looking for a FREE activity in which people of all ages can enjoy and participate? Then, save the date for the weekend after Thanksgiving. This past Thanksgiving weekend 2011 marked the fifth year of the annual Scenes of the Nativity event hosted by St. Joseph's in Cottleville, Missouri.  More than 250 Nativity scenes of various sizes and origins were on display in St. Joseph's school cafeteria.  This included designs spanning the traditional to the unique with use of materials from around the world.   

Carved from the Ash at Mount St. Helens

Nativity Created out of the Actual Story of the Birth of Jesus

While viewing the Nativity scenes, an accompanying scavenger hunt list was distributed at the entrance encouraging cooperative learning among visitors and strangers.  Following a group of high school students, our group- a couple, two children, an uncle, and a grandma- assisted them in finding the turtle in the Precious Moments Nativity while they gave hints as to the location of the Nativity scene constructed of corn husks.

After walking through the numerous rows of tables displaying the Nativities, a photo opportunity presented itself at the conclusion where visitors themselves became a part of the Nativity, thus experiencing the story of the birth of Jesus.

In addition, there was a craft area where children could create their own Nativity scene, listen to stories, play games, and have yet another photo opportunity. 

Submitted by Courtney Winkler