Children’s Program, Dec 15, 8:30 & 11am

This week’s Advent story from Luke 2:8-12, emphasizes is the grand announcement of the Messiah’s birth… to shepherds!? It is rather interesting to consider who it was that first heard the news—those considered lowly shepherds. After receiving a blessing in the worship service, the children leave for their activities.

In Biblical times, tending flocks was far from glamorous, and in some ways could even be used as a detestable punishment. Shepherds were often considered unclean and could not go through with the usual temple procedures, even if they were caring for the very sacrifices that were to be used in temples. Their work could be tedious and tiresome, and they were very lowly commonplace people. But God specializes in reaching out to the lowly commonplace types. He did one dark night in Bethlehem, sending singing angels not to priests or palaces but to pastures.

Each Advent candle is laden with significance and also has a special color associated with it. Three of the candles are purple, and there is a white one at the center to represent Christ. This week, though (the third Sunday in Advent), we light a pink candle, in honor of the shepherds who heard the good news of Christ’s birth from the angels and ran to visit Him and share the word. Why pink? According to some customs, priests would give out a pink rose during Lent to lighten the mood during the somber season. Advent has been know to be contemplative and grave, so in order to infuse it with life, church leaders began using the pink candle to signify love following the tradition of the rose… or as the story goes.

Join us for Sunday school at the 8:30 service in Pope Hall or the 11:00 service in the sanctuary.

If you have any questions, contact our Family Ministry Director Jen Black.