Before today’s part of the story, an angel told Mary she would give birth to God’s Son. Mary also learned that her cousin Elizabeth was expecting a baby. Excited to share this news, Mary went to visit Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby leaped for joy inside her. Elizabeth said, “Why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord would visit me?” She knew this was a sign that both of their children were special gifts from God.

Mary and Elizabeth encouraged each other as they prepared for their lives to change. Just like them, we can support one another and share God’s joy.

As we prepare for Christmas, remember that it’s not just about presents. It’s about celebrating Jesus, the greatest gift from God.

Things are getting exciting for our kids as Christmas approaches! There’s so much to do, and we’re preparing for a special season.

As we begin Advent, we learn about Elizabeth and Zechariah. They were an older couple with no children, and they thought they were too old to have a baby. But one day, an angel appeared to Zechariah with amazing news—he and Elizabeth would have a son! The angel said their baby would be named John and that he would grow up to help people get ready for Jesus.

Zechariah was shocked and had a hard time believing the angel. Because of his doubt, the angel told Zechariah he wouldn’t be able to speak until the baby was born. And that’s exactly what happened! When their son, John, was born, Zechariah’s voice returned, and he praised God.

This story reminds us that God has a plan, even when it seems impossible. John the Baptist grew up to prepare people’s hearts for Jesus, and we’re reminded to do the same as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Our kids are also working on a special Christmas surprise for you. We hope to see you all in church this Sunday!

This Sunday, we learned about Daniel, a young man who lived during the Babylonian Exile. This was a time when the Jewish people were taken to live in a foreign land with different cultural and religious practices. The ruler of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar, chose some young Jewish men to be trained to serve in his palace. This may have been a way to encourage the Jewish people to be loyal to Babylon.

Daniel was one of the young men selected, but because of his strong faith and commitment to God’s laws, he refused to eat the king’s food, which went against Mosaic laws. Even though this was a risky choice, Daniel stayed faithful to God and still excelled in his training. Because of his wisdom and understanding, Daniel was chosen by the king to be an advisor and interpreter of dreams. He served the king for many years, providing guidance and insight.

Like Daniel, we may not always get a thank you for the good we do, but that doesn’t mean our efforts don’t make a difference. Our faith in God and the wisdom we share can be a blessing to others.

Will you be like Daniel and join us in church? We need your help with our Christmas program! There’s a wonderful program planned for everyone, and we’d love for all of our youngsters to be part of it.