Nativity Story Advent

This is our favorite countdown to Christmas!  Every day, the kids get to add a new character to our nativity scene, while we read a bible verse that tells a bit of the Christmas story.  Lately, we have had fun creating new nativities.

This is the one I made when Isaac was two years old.  I just found clip art online for each character, printed it out, and had it laminated so we could reuse it every year.

I am having Isaac make his own advent this year with his massive Lego supply.

What he has made by December 8: That's Mary and Joseph with their angels talking to the inn keeper, who is saying, "no room!"

And Abby got way creative, trying to use toys we have around the house for the nativity characters.  I'm not sure how I feel about Dopey playing the part of baby Jesus, but she sure had fun with the story, so I'm going to let that one slide.

I am also having the kids get crafty, trying to draw each character each day.
Today they each drew their own Mary.

Isaac's Mary and Joseph

And his angels

Abby's scene (up to December 8th).

Whichever nativity you use, here are some bible verses to go with each character or piece.  We start with #1 on December 1 and end with #25 on December 25.

1. Mary.  Say: This is Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Read: Luke 1:26-27.  
2. Angel.  Say: This is the angel Gabriel who visited Mary.  Read: Luke 1:28-33.
3. Joseph.  Say:  This is Joseph, the husband of Mary.  Read:  Matthew 1:18-19.
4. Angel.  Say:  This is the angel who visited Joseph.  Read:  Matthew 1:20-21.
5. Donkey.  Say:  This is the donkey that carried Mary to Bethlehem.  Read:  Luke 2:1-5.
6. Stable.  Say:  This is the stable where Jesus was born.  Read:  Luke 2:6.
7. Inn Keeper.  Say:  This is the inn keeper that had no room for Mary and Joseph to sleep.  Read:  Luke 2:7.
8. Animal.  Say:  This is an animal that lived in the stable where Jesus was born.  Read:  Luke 2:12.
9. Animal.  Say:  This is an animal that lived in the stable where Jesus was born.  Read:  Luke 1:46-48.
10. Animal.  Say:  This is an animal that lived in the stable where Jesus was born.  Read:  Philippians 2:5-7.
11. Shepherd.  Say:  This is a shepherd, who took care of sheep near Bethlehem.  Read:  Luke 2:8. 
12. Shepherd.  Say:  This is another one of the shepherds that the angel told about Jesus. Read:  Luke 2:9.
13. Angel.  Say:  This is the angel who told the shepherds about Jesus.  Read:  Luke 2:10-12.
14. Many Angels.  Say: These are many angels who praised God when Jesus was born.  Read:  Luke 2:13-14.
15. Sheep.  Say:  These are the sheep that the shepherds watched.  Read:  Luke 2:15.
16. Manger.  Say:  This is the manger where the shepherds found baby Jesus.  Read:  Luke 2:16.
17. Wise man.  Say:  This is a wise man who went to find Jesus.  Read:  Matthew 2:1-2.
18. Wise man.  Say:  This is another wise man who went to find Jesus.  Read:  Matthew 2:3-6.
19. Wise man.  Say:  This is another wise man who went to find Jesus.  Read:  Matthew 2:7-8.
20. Camel.  Say:  This is a camel that carried the wise man to find baby Jesus.  Read:  Matthew 2:9.
21. Star.  Say:  This is the star that guided the wise men to find baby Jesus.  Read:  Matthew 2:10.
22. Gold.  Say:  This is the gold that the wise men brought as a present to baby Jesus.  Read:  Matthew 2:11.
23. Frankincense.  Say:  This is the frankincense that the wise men brought as a present to baby Jesus.  Read:  Matthew 2:12.
24. Myrrh.  Say:  This is the myrrh that the wise men brought as a present to baby Jesus.  Read:  Matthew 2:13-15.
25. Baby Jesus.  Say:  This is the baby Jesus, born so that God could be with us forever!  Read:  Matthew 1:22-23.