milk & honey mamas

Story contributed by Kristen

Shepherds

And that same night, there were shepherds the hillside over, keeping watch over their flocks of sheep. In the dark of the night, the littlest shepherds suddenly woke to find the hillside lit as though by fire. The shepherds gathered together, frightened, until a figure came toward them, walking softly on the grass among the sheep. Everywhere she stepped, the grass lit like a lantern. Her footsteps left a trail of light, shining cheerfully in the dark. The sheep gathered about her, unafraid, and she smiled at the shepherds. 

“Peace,” she said. “Do not be afraid. My name is Gabriel, and I have come to bring you good tidings of great joy.”

The shepherds looked at each other, and at Gabriel, listening intently. 

“Look to the sky,” she said, and lifted her hands to the light of a most glorious star, blazing wondrously in the night sky. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord. Follow the star. It will guide you to a stable where you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.”

And then the angel burst into joyous singing, and the star in the sky seemed to dance and shine all the brighter. 

“Hosanna!” The angel cried, “hosanna! God is with this world, God has not forgotten us!”

And the hillside shimmered with light, and starshine, and music as the sky filled with angels of every color; all dancing, and singing, and twirling with the star to a song of rejoicing. 

The music ringing in their hearts, the shepherds followed the star and found, just as the angel had said, the manger where the baby Jesus slept. He was so small, and Mary so very tired, but the shepherds saw in the family their own faces looking back, and they believed what the angel had said, that God was truly with them. 

And that night, that holy, shining night, all was well. 

Song

Compiled by Caroline

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, The Porter’s Gate

Shepherd’s Song, Josh Garrels 

Silent Night, Paul Zach

Softly, Will Todd, Tenebrae 

The First Noel, BYU Combined Choirs

Poem

Compiled by Caroline

A Christmas Carol

by Christina Rossetti

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone
Snow had fallen
Snow on snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter
Long, long ago

Angels and Arc Angels
May have traveled there
Cherubim and Seraphim
Thronged the air
But only his Mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshiped the beloved
With a kiss

What can I give him?

Poor as I am

If I were a shepherd

I would give a lamb

If I were a wise man

I would do my part

But what I can I give him

Give him my heart

Give him my heart

Art

Compiled by Caroline

Activity

Contributed by Kristen

Light the final candle of advent and choose an activity. See our resources for lots of great ideas!