Thursday 15 December 2011

The Edible Nativity

 This morning was the last assembly of term for me and it was the Christmas assembly, I always find it hard to come up with new ideas year on year, so thought I'd share this with others.

As background prep Lucy and I made and iced a biscuit nativity set with Stable, Star, Shepherds, Sheep, Wise Men, Camels, Baby Jesus in a manger, Mary and Joseph. (You can see a picture at http://twitgoo.com/539ugw)

We started the assembly by talking about What time of year is it? How many days to go?

Then began by asking what do you normally have as a background to the nativity? Stable - produce and set up stable. Who or what is in the stable? Mary, Joseph, Donkey, Baby Jesus, Star, Camels, Sheep, Shepherds, Wise men.

But actually not all of those were at the actual nativity scene - as you talk about them either eat them yourself or give them to a child or teacher to eat:
  • Stable – It wasn't a stable like we think of it but probably a cave in the rock, or a spare room (eat it)
  • The bible doesn’t tell us Mary rode on a donkey (eat it)
  • The wise men don’t visit when Jesus is born but some time later when they are living in a house (eat camels, wise men)
  • And we aren't told that the shepherd bought any sheep with them.
But the most amazing thing our nativity misses, is all the promises that were made about Jesus coming, here’s one: Isaiah 9v6-7 – he will bring peace, he will bring hope, he is God made man come to save us.

That is good news – its why we celebrate Christmas because Jesus is God’s gift to us a gift that brings peace.  Our Christmas can be a bit crowded just like our nativity scene was and the danger is we look at the crowd not at Jesus.  But the Bible tells us without Jesus - God made man come to save us there would be no Christmas, no great news, no happy celebration.

1 comment:

Louise said...

I like it! Can all assemblies be edible? I think it's a possibility for 2012 ...keep spreading the Good News :)