Treasured Memories and Traditions

 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you (1 Thessalonians 3:6-7).

Why are You Thankful?

Why not take the letters THANKSGIVING or CHRISTMAS as your family gathers during the holidays and brainstorm words that share why you are thankful? Write the letters down the side of the page.

Here are two examples:
T=Our family is thankful for times to talk together, teachers who tell us about Jesus, tasty turkey, the thief on the cross that came to faith in Christ, that we trust Jesus for our salvation, and that the tomb is empty!

H=That God knows each hair on our head, for ham, for hands that serve each other, for happy times together, the plentiful harvest, healing, that we can hear the word, heaven, helpers, hope, home, and the High Priest, Jesus.

A Thanksgiving Tablecloth-A Treasured Memory

Another activity for families with children is to put a cloth or plastic tablecloth on the table or floor and allow the children and adults to draw a picture of why they are thankful for family and faith. Make sure you write their name and the year next to the picture. Allow them to explain their picture to the family. Reuse the tablecloth each year. It will become a treasured memory.

Potato or Apple Turkey Centerpiece or Favors

Here is a project that you can allow little hands to do on Thanksgiving Day or in preparation for the Thanksgiving dinner. Use them as the centerpiece for the table or as a favor for each place.

Materials:

• Large brown potatoes or apples
• Toothpicks
• Assorted fresh and dried fruits, nuts, vegetables
• Mini pretzel sticks and twists, for decorating
• Black and green olives
• Peanut butter
• Googly eyes

1. To stand each potato or apple upright, create a tripod by pushing three toothpicks into the bottom, leaving 1/2 inch protruding.
2. Designate the top of the potato/apple as the head, or attach a separate, smaller potato/apple head with toothpicks.
3. Put out an assortment of things to decorate them with, such as:
   Feathers: carrots, bell peppers, summer squash, cut into long strips
   Wings: Wedges of red onion, apple, and orange peels
   Eyes: raisins, dried cranberries
   Wattle: wedge of red pepper or radish
   Beak: cashew or almond, or tip of a lemon
   Feet: carrot slivers or pretzels.
   Note: Children will need supervision by adults.

Organize a Birthday Celebration for Jesus

Invite several families and friends to a birthday celebration for Jesus at your home or congregation. Ask those that attend to bring an unwrapped gift which will be donated to a prisoner's child, a Seminary student's child, or another Christian ministry that gives gifts to children during the holidays.

Why not create your own wrapping paper at your celebration! Using butcher block paper create potato printing or decorate the wrapping paper with fingerprint art using a stamp pad. Magic markers and crayons can also be used.

Encourage families and groups to work together. After you've completed the wrapping paper invite guests to create a homemade card to put inside their gift. Remind them that the child who receives the gift may not know the Lord. Think about ways your card can communicate God's love.