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You are here: Home / Archives for Christmas

Christmas

Illustrated Nativity Figures: Get Creative with Life-Size Nativity Figures

Adam Walker Cleaveland 3 Comments

Here at Illustrated Ministry, we love the creativity of our customers and our community. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again and again: some of our best product ideas have come from our customers. Some of these include backpack tags, the inspiration for creating Compassion Camp, and our Illustrated Nativity Sticker Sheets, to name a few. We are delighted when customers reach out to us with fun ideas.

Last year, we received a phone call from some friends at Saint John’s United Methodist Church (Austin, Texas), and they had a fun idea.

They loved our illustrated figures in the shadow box activity from An Illustrated Advent for Families: In Light & Darkness.

Nativity Figures

But those figures were a little too small for their idea. Our friends wanted life-size figures.

Life-size? Could we do that?

Sure!

When we asked them for more details about their project, they told us how they wanted to use the Godly Play Christmas Eve story in their worship service, but knew they needed the pieces to be large enough for the whole congregation to see the story well. With 300+ people in attendance, they wanted each of the nativity figures to be visible in all areas of the sanctuary.

They reached out to see if we would work with them because they love how our art allows for imagination and inclusion and looks mature enough for everyone in their sanctuary setting to enjoy.

And we were delighted to help.

Creating Life-size Nativity Figures

We all worked together to figure out the characters they needed, and then we created life-size digital images that could be used in their Christmas Eve service. The results were truly breathtaking.

Nativity Figures Holy Family

Nativity Figures Magi
Nativity Figures Magi
Nativity Figures Cow
Nativity Figures Holy Family
Nativity Figures Sheep Angel

These Illustrated Nativity Figures are now available in our store here, and we asked our friends from Saint John’s to give us more details about the supplies they needed and the steps they took to pull off such a fun idea!

We’re providing these digital Nativity figures to you, but in the end, how you choose to use them is entirely up to you! We CAN’T WAIT to see all of the creative ways you find to use them.

Below you will find their supply list and the steps Saint John’s took to make their Illustrated Nativity Figures.

Don’t have time to read this all right now? Click here to download a PDF version of this post, which includes the supply list and steps for creating your own life-size Illustrated Nativity Figures.

Supply List

  • Illustrated Nativity Figures: Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, cow, sheep, donkey, camel, three shepherds, teen shepherd, angels, magi, stars, and the “Emmanuel” banner. The tallest pieces might be around six feet tall.
  • White Duct Tape: Use to attach the stands (made from large scraps of the foam board)
  • PVC Pipe: cut to 6′–8′ (these heights depend on the specific needs for your setting)
  • PVC Pipe connector
  • Flange
  • Plywood: One 8′ x 4′ piece of plywood cut in half to make two 4′ x 4′ pieces
  • Eight screws (four for each stand)
  • Screwdriver
  • Hot knife

Steps for Creating your Characters

Get Your Life-size Figures Printed

Having the digital images printed out on foam core boards at a place like FedEx/Kinkos will give you the smoothest finish and look. Another option is to print characters and designs out on large poster paper, and then glue them to insulation foam board with adhesive spray. This is less expensive but doesn’t give the same smooth finish as having a print shop directly print onto the foam core board.

Picking Up Nativity Figures
Picking up Illustrated Nativity Figures
Unpacking Nativity Figures
Unboxing Nativity Figures

Cut out Characters

Cut out the character along the inside of each poster’s dotted cut lines using a hot knife—the dotted lines are about an inch from the characters’ solid outline. The hot knife can be tricky to find the right temperature without burning the board, so practice on a scrap area of the board before starting. When using the hot knife, please make sure you are in an open space—either outside with an electric outlet or in a garage with the garage door open. The hot knife gives off smoke and an unpleasant smell, so a well-ventilated area is essential. As you cut, try to keep your scrap pieces large and make sure to save them. These can be used to build the stands and add structural support to the “floating” pieces.

Nativity Figures
Nativity Figures after they’ve been cut

Paint Characters

After cutting out the characters, you may decide to paint a portion of them (i.e., the magi’s gifts, the angels’ halos, the shepherds’ staffs, etc.) to help make them ‘pop’ and give them some extra dimensions. They used acrylic paint and made sure not to saturate the paper thoroughly. One coat was sufficient.

Painting Nativity Figures
Painting the Nativity Figures
Painted Holy Family
Some of the characters painted
Nativity Figures Joseph
Joseph

Make Stands

They then used the scrap pieces to make stands. They used different sizes and attached those pieces with white duct tape to each character’s back to make the “L” shaped stands. Finding the right angle and stability for each piece takes a little trial and error.

The star and the angel needed to be higher than all the rest, so they attached those with PVC pipes, a PVC connector, flange, plywood, and screws. They had a hardware store cut the plywood and the PVC pipe to the sizes they needed. (The plywood was about a 4′ square, and the PVC pipes were between 6′–8′ for them. Adjust accordingly for the height needed for your space.)

They screwed the flange down in the middle of each plywood board, using four screws on each flange and board. On the backs of the angels and the star, they taped scraps of the foam board to add structural support (using lots of white duct tape). Then they taped the PVC pipes to the backs, after evaluating and adjusting the height of each one.

Nativity Figures Stands
Making stands for the characters
PVC stands for characters
PVC stands for characters

Plan Placement

Before their Christmas Eve service, they placed all of the pieces on the “set.” They then put small pieces of blue tape on the floor to mark where each nativity figure would go. They rehearsed with their set crew, starting first with all the pieces in their final placement to see where everything needed to be placed. Then they rehearsed with each of the pieces in their “off-stage” places, and they practiced putting them in place with the timing of the readings.

They made their idea come to life and added each “character” to the set as they read through the Godly Play story. Using the intentional and slow movement from Godly Play, their “set crew” (including youth) walked each character on the set slowly so everyone could watch the placement.

Your Projected Costs

Check with your local printer for costs of printing the digital images, and check your local hardware store for prices of the supply list items.

Ideas for Using Illustrated Nativity Figures

We are so excited for you to start imagining and making fantastic creations with these Illustrated Nativity Figures. Here are a few photos from customers who have used our Illustrated Nativity Figures:

Illustrated Nativity Figures
Illustrated Nativity Figures
Illustrated Nativity Figures
Illustrated Nativity Figures
Illustrated Nativity Figures

We know you will have more ideas, but here are a few ways you could consider using these Illustrated Nativity Figures:

  • Create a brand-new nativity scene to go outside your church. We all know the look of the ‘traditional’ Nativity scenes, and perhaps your church is ready for a new, modern, Illustrated Ministry-designed Nativity Scene.
  • Have children, youth, or even individual families, agree to help paint and decorate one of the Illustrated Nativity Figures.
  • Consider setting them up in your church’s parking lot and doing a drive-thru experience. Create a liturgy or set of readings that families could do together as they drive past each of the Illustrated Nativity Figures.
  • Are you looking for new graphics for your Advent/Christmas worship bulletins? Or perhaps you could use them for slides, or even include them on Zoom backgrounds while you preach?

Nativity Figures in Bulletin

There are many ways you can use these in your ministry, especially when we’re all needing to rethink and reimagine what Advent and Christmas look like during a pandemic.

Click here to download a PDF version of this post, supply list, and instructions to share it with friends and colleagues in your community.

6 Ways to Welcome Visitors at Your Church This Christmas Eve

Alissa Ellett Leave a Comment

Welcoming visitors effectively to church on Christmas Eve takes a good deal of forethought and a multi-faceted approach. Here’s our list to help you!

christmas eve visitors 101

During the holidays more visitors come through the doors of the church than any other time of the year. It’s a great opportunity to welcome them with greater intention.

We’ve put together a list of five easy ways to help newcomers feel cared for and acknowledged.

We hope our ideas help to create a culture of welcome and hospitality within your community this season and throughout the year.

How are you welcoming newcomers this Christmas Eve? Tell us in the comments below!

christmas eve 2013

Have name tags. On a table near the entrance to the sanctuary, set out name tags and markers. Calling each other by name creates a sense of community and belonging. This helps visitors as well as those who’ve been in the pew for decades.

Make clear what your church stands for. Put in writing what your mission statement is and how your church includes the marginalized. This is important in order for all of us to feel safe and know if we’re a part of the faith family.

Say hello, Pastor. If a personal greeting from the pastor isn’t possible, create a team of leaders who keep an eye out for those who are new. Don’t assume it’s someone’s first time; it might not be. If you say something to indicate you think it’s their first time when it isn’t, things get awkward for you and them. Say hello, tell them you’re happy to see them.

christmas eve 201

Have quality refreshments. This goes for any worship service, in my opinion. If you have yummy stuff out, make it good. Most people have become familiar with boutique coffee and high-quality bakes. So, throw out the coffee in a giant can that goes beyond earthiness into muddiness. Also, offer tasty allergy-free options, too.

Additionally, think of families who would rather not have their kid on their way down from a sugar high as they drive home. Perhaps put out some festive cranberry granola instead of sugar cookies, for example.

Provide information for biblical passages. When reading scripture, describe where the text is located in the Bible. Additionally, give context for the passage. Consequently, people are more likely to feel there isn’t insider knowledge they don’t have. This is helpful for all of us, whether newcomers or long-time members.

Leaders, introduce yourselves up front. Have those who are up front speaking in any capacity give their name and role in the church. Do this whether the person is giving announcements, singing, or preaching. This helps visitors get to know who’s who. And it makes getting involved easier for them, too.

christmas eve 202

Hospitality as Community Culture

Welcoming visitors to church is more than checking boxes. Hospitality is for all of us. When we live out our faith through care with intention, we actually help those who are already regular attendees feel more connected, too.

Furthermore, we communicate our common humanity, our personhood as individuals, and worthiness as children of Creation. We hope you discover ways to welcome visitors to church this Christmas Eve as an expression of your unique faith community and continue them the whole year through.

Do you have more ideas? How are you welcoming visitors this Christmas Eve? Don’t forget to share with us in the comments!

Tell Kids the Truth About Santa Claus This Christmas

Alissa Ellett 9 Comments

Santa Claus is a mythical man who has even more gifts to give than his story has ever told us.

santa claus 101

That jovial and magical man who adores reindeer and arrives amidst the sound of sleigh bells. He hails from the North Pole where elves have been toiling away on presents just for us.

These stories create wonder and excitement. And they’re a major part of the fun for many of our families at Christmas time.

But, do you ever wonder if there’s more to the story? Or ever questioned how we got from Jesus’ day of birth to a man descending chimneys with presents. Read on, ’cause I’ve got some really cool stuff to tell you about Santa and it’s only gonna make this Christmas even more meaningful.

FREE SAINT NICHOLAS COLORING PAGE: Download a free coloring page that highlights Saint Nicholas’s life. Click here to access the downloadable PDF.

How do you talk with the children in your life about Santa Claus? We’d love to know in the comments below.

santa claus 107

Historical Roots of Santa Claus

280 A.D.: A boy named Nicholas is born in modern day Turkey. He later becomes a monk known for piety and generosity, giving away all his inherited wealth and traveling to help the poor and sick.

1300: By the Renaissance, he was the most popular saint in Europe, especially in Holland. The Dutch Sint Nikolaas is shortened to Sinter Klaas, and in English that’s… Santa Claus!

He was celebrated in the Church for generations on December 6th, the anniversary of his death, and became known as a protector of children and sailors.

1780s: Santa Clause comes into American culture when New York newspapers report Dutch families celebrating his death in the streets.

Early 1800s: St. Nick is named New York’s patron saint.

1820s: Shopping and gift-giving become a popular way to celebrate Christmas.

1822: An Episcopal minister writes a poem for his daughters that creates the reindeer-loving, sleigh-riding, gift-giving Santa we know today. This poem later becomes known as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

1881: An illustrator draws a picture of a North Pole-hailing, jolly, rotund man he calls Santa Claus. Santa is complete with a fur-trimmed suit, wife, workshop, and elves.

Department store and advertising executives took it from there. And here we are!

santa claus 102

Santa Claus and Baby Jesus

So, Sint Nikolaas wasn’t associated with Christmas at all for hundreds of years. But, as time passed, a three-stranded braid of Santa Claus, Jesus’ birth, and commercialism came together to create the Christmas celebration we know today.

Since Saint Nicholas’ feast day was so close to Christmas it’s easy to make the connection. Also, his life was one that speaks to Christ’s legacy on Earth, dedicating his life to helping the marginalized.

So, is this conflating of myth, culture, and history bad? Nope.

Life always informs theology. Therefore, faith without the blending of ideas with culture and truth is simply impossible. There’s no such thing as pure religion anywhere in the world. Religion is essentially the blending of broad culture, faith experience, and theological reflection.

Consequently, we have things like the Easter Bunny, egg hunts, clergy robes, rosary beads. At Christmas, it’s Christmas trees, twinkle lights, stockings, presents, and Elf on a Shelf.

The historical evolution of the Santa myth and its significance is a great example of this blending. We have collectively found ways to bring this monk-turned-mythical-creature into the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

santa claus 106

The Legacy of Santa Claus

The fanciful stories we tell of reindeer, sleigh bells, the North Pole, elves, and the wonder they create in children’s hearts and minds, is a major part of Christmas fun.

But, Santa was also a real guy with a lot to tell us about living beautifully. When we know the history, Saint Nicholas’s life is filled with stuff we’d love our kids to know and practice. So, how can we teach our kids this man’s amazing legacy?

santa claus 104

Enriching Christmas for Children

Consider sharing with your children that Santa did some pretty spectacular stuff without any magic required.

He lived his life as an act of worship to God. Saint Nicholas shifted his focus to what God was up to and used his life to take part in that beauty. As a result, he lived his life as a song of thanksgiving.

A question we might ponder: When are we pointing out to our children God’s beauty all around and within them?

He lived his life in service of others. Saint Nicholas traveled the countryside helping the sick and poor. For example, he gave dowries to a family on the brink of selling their three daughters into prostitution.

A question we might ponder: How might we model for children the use our lives and resources to help those marginalized in our communities?

He was fueled by his faith. Saint Nicholas’s relationship with God energized him. As a result, he was filled with love and stamina to bring God’s healing into places of fear and pain.

A question we might ponder: What practices are we teaching our children that help them connect to God?

He lived with generosity. Saint Nicholas gave away all his inherited wealth to help others. His acts of generosity can inspire us to give freely.

A question we might ponder: How are we inviting our children to live generously through giving to others?

santa claus 103

However you handle the Santa story, have fun imagining ways to infuse your celebration of Saint Nick with the richness of this amazing monk’s life.

All of us at ICM hope your Christmas is infused with beauty that inspires you and yours to live in the abundance of God’s wonder, celebrating the birth of Christ, and those whose lives have told the story of Jesus’ legacy.

And, in the comments below, don’t forget to tell us how you talk with children in your life about Saint Nicholas!

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