Three Wise Men – the homemade gift I sent my Nordic friends and family. Three Wise Men – the theme of today's Sunday School party.
As both the Nativity hand-i-crafter and Sunday School superintendent, I researched these star-following visitors of the Christ child.
With those in Scandinavia, I shared the message of the Wise Men's prophetic gifts:
Gold symbolizing His kingship;
Frankincense – His priesthood;
And myrrh – His sacrifice in dying on a cross for you and me.
With our Sunday
School
students,
I
journeyed
another
route.
First baking star-shaped cookies for the children to decorate and eat.
Then
showing
a catchy
animation
from
these
Wise
Men's
viewpoint.
Next holding a "Search –
for the
(64)
Stars"
hidden
throughout
the church;
Followed by a reading of the six Bible verses – one for each color; Plus identifying three stars marked: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.
(Those star holders were crowned and given a tray of small gift boxes to distribute.)
Finally, explaining the gift-box
symbolism.
On the outside:
A metallic bow
to represent
Christ's shining star;
and a Bible verse
to tell
of its leading power.
On the inside:a picture
depicting
the
Wise Men's
visit
to the
Christ
Child;
a few treats reflecting this Bible verse about His qualities:
as a ruler/king – a gold-foil-wrapped chocolate,
as the shepherd – a candy-cane crook;
and biblical stickers for decorating the box.
The dictionary defines "epiphany" as "a leap of understanding." That's exactly what I felt coordinating this event. During my research, shopping and web-surfing, I couldn't understand why I was drawn to certain elements. While folding paper to make the gift boxes, I meditated... Then – in "a leap of understanding" of how individual pieces related to each other – I experienced "Epiphany." This January 6th holiday reminds us to search – as did the Three Wise Men.
