Hi Kids!
Today, we celebrate Epiphany. Epiphany is when Jesus was recognized as the Savior through the magi, who are considered the first people to worship him. The magi (or three wise men) probably were men who practiced astrology or magic. The magi heard of Jesus’ birth, so they followed a star from the East to Jerusalem and inquired about him. Watch the story below to learn more.
From the story you just watched, why do you think King Herod was angry when he found out about Jesus’ birth? That’s right! King Herod didn’t want another “king” to compete with him. However, God protected Jesus by sending him a dream to the magi. The magi listened to God and decided not to bring Jesus to King Herod, thus, Jesus would survive to save the world. This goes to show that Jesus, according to God, is greater than any earthly king such as King Herod.
Our faith word for today is Include, and our spiritual practice is community. The magi were unexpected visitors, but they were included in spreading the message of Jesus’ birth. The magi seeked a way to honor Jesus and included others in the good news. What’s important to take away from this story is that God includes all people and that we are called to be in community with all people as well. This week, try to find ways to honor Jesus by doing something to show another person the love of God. You can do this by including others in your prayers to Jesus.
You will have a few options to choose from for today’s activity. One activity is a craft where you’ll make a star out of popsicle sticks in remembrance of the special sign in the sky that led the magi to Jesus. Download/print the craft below (instructions provided).
The other activity is a coloring page of the magi following the star to Jesus. You can download/print the coloring page or you can color the page online. Use this link to get the coloring page: http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/three-wise-men