The Nativity Quilt by Seekers Children and Friends

December 23, 2007

During Advent, the children at Seekers Church made an alphabet quilt that tells the story of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The children who made the quilt were Brittany, Beatrice, Julian, Kemonie, Oslin, Henry, India, Makayla, and Tommy. They had help from Jean Adams, Leslie Smith, Sharon Lloyd, Trish Nemore, Brenda Seat and other Seekers. Lauren and Marian Seat lent a hand as well.

On the last Sunday of Advent the new quilt was hanging in the sanctuary, and our worship focused on the story of Jesus’ birth, told to us by our children as they recited this alphabet.

A IS FOR .. ANGEL

Angels are god’s messengers. Angels begin the story of Christmas, just like "a” begins the alphabet. The story begins as the angel Gabriel announces to Zechariah that "john" should be the name of the one who is to prepare the way for Jesus.

B IS FOR … BETHLEHEM

The angels announced that Bethlehem was the city where the baby was to be born. God’s prophets had said for many years that Bethlehem was to be the messiah’s birthplace.

C IS FOR … CANDLE

Candles are one way to have light in the darkness. Just one candle can light the way for many people.

D IS FOR … DONKEY

Legend tells us that Mary rode on a donkey. It seems believable that the donkey would bring the messiah’s family down the dusty path to Bethlehem.

E IS FOR … EVERGREEN

An evergreen never loses its leaves or needles like other trees do. Just as the story of Christmas never loses its power to excite and enliven us.

::: SING “O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM”

F IS FOR … FATHER

Jesus had an earthly father named Joseph. Joseph was of the house of David. Father Joseph must have been a loving, caring parent if god chose him to be the one to care for Jesus.

G IS FOR … GIFT

The best gifts are usually surprises all wrapped up and meant just for us, just like the greatest gift of all given that first Christmas.

H IS FOR… HEART

Usually we receive gifts with our hands, but the best Christmas gift is received in our hearts. That is where joy can be found.

I IS FOR … INN

The doors to the inn were closed to Joseph and Mary because there was no room. Bethlehem was crowded with travelers. Sometimes our hearts get crowded, too, with all the busy Christmas activities. So we must remember to make room in the inn of our hearts.

J IS FOR … JESUS

At last Jesus was born. How wonderful new babies are – small and helpless and warm. But this new baby was even more wonderful because Jesus came to show us the love of god.

:::SING “SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT

K IS FOR … KING OF KINGS

Jesus came to be king. Earthly kings and queens are born into royal families. Jesus was born into a carpenter’s family in a lowly stable, and yet he was born to be king of kings because god sent him to earth.

L IS FOR … LAMB OF GOD

Although Jesus is our king he didn’t come to be proud and distant from us. Jesus lived as the Lamb of God – gentle, humble, and willing to sacrifice himself.

M IS FOR… MANGER

Jesus was wrapped in strips of clean cloth and placed in the manger or feeding trough. That kept him safe and warm and up off the floor.

N IS FOR … NATIVITY

Nativity means "birth." When you see the nativity scene, you are seeing the surroundings and all of the people in the story of Jesus’ birth. The nativity helps us remember how special Jesus is and how the story of his life begins.

0 IS FOR … ORNAMENTS

Ornaments also remind us of special occasions. Ornaments also catch the light and reflect it and help make the tree more beautiful. We can be god’s ornaments, catching the light of Christmas and reflecting it to the world.

P IS FOR … PEACE

On the first Christmas the angels sang of peace on earth to those of goodwill. A symbol of peace is the descending dove. If we open our lives and become very still before god, peace will come to us because god has given us Jesus, the prince of peace.

:::SING “HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING”

Q IS FOR .. QUESTION

Probably there were many questions in the minds of the first Christmas visitors. The shepherds wondered at all they had seen and heard. We probably need to ask some questions too. Who is this Jesus? What does he mean to me?

R IS … REVERENCE

To be reverent is to show deep respect and love. When we come to understand the meaning of Christmas and the great gift of god’s love, then we begin to recognize the reverence we can have for god and for god’s world and the people Jesus came to save.

S IS FOR… STAR

The light of the star of Bethlehem told all who looked for it where they could find Jesus. In order to see the beauty of the night sky, we must look up. God still lights our way to Jesus. We must look up and be ready to follow.

T IS FOR … TIDINGS

Tidings are special announcements of news. In Jesus’ time announcements often began with a trumpet blast to get everyone’s attention. The announcement of Jesus’ birth was begun with an angel chorus that certainly got the shepherds’ attention.

U IS FOR … UNTO YOU

The tidings of great joy are still brought unto you. The shepherds were just the first to hear. Sometimes even though we have heard the Christmas story before, for the first time we realize that Jesus came for us – for you and for me.

:::SING “GOOD CHRISTIAN FRIENDS REJOICE”

V IS FOR… VIRGIN MARY

The Virgin Mary was just a young girl when she became the mother of Jesus. She must have been a very special girl for god to choose her to care for Jesus.

W IS FOR… WISE MEN

The Wise men were kings from the east. They traveled a long way following the star that led them to Jesus. They brought Jesus gifts – gold and frankincense and myrrh – because they recognized his importance, and they show us that Jesus was sent for everyone no matter how different or far away.

X IS FOR … CHI RHO

One of the early symbols for Jesus was the chi rho, the first two Greek letters of the word, "Christ." The chi looks like an X. That is why you sometimes see the abbreviation X-mas, because the X was the first letter of Christ. Long ago when many people could not read or write, they would sign an X in place of a signature because it was considered a holy symbol and meant you would keep your promise.

Y IS FOR… YULE LOG

Because Christmas celebrates god’s light coming to the world, a Christmas fire was once considered very special. People would find a large log that would burn all night Christmas eve. That log was called the Yule log. Each Christmas a small piece of the yule log was saved to help start the first one the next Christmas.

Z IS FOR … ZECHARIAH

Zechariah was an old man and didn’t believe that he was going to have a son, so the angel told him he would not talk again until john was born. When Zechariah saw the promise come true, he opened his mouth to praise god! We are sometimes like Zechariah, unable to believe that god can do marvelous things for us. But when we experience the birth of Jesus in our hearts, then we begin to want to share the glad tidings that god is love is here!