Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.... And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Have you ever taken a long trip and you stayed away from home a long time? Do you remember how good it felt to get back home, to be in your own bed, to play with your own toys and to see your friends? Jesus may have been too young to remember what it was like back home when he left, but I am sure his father and mother were eager to go back home. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him it was time to leave Egypt and to go back home to the land of Israel. The mean king who wanted to hurt Jesus was dead and it was now safe to go home. Jesus and his parents moved to a little town called Nazareth in the land of Israel.

All participants need a small suitcase (the ones on rollers would be fun!) A large bag will work if you do not have enough suitcases to go around. To play each participant will go to his or her room and select 6 items to take on a pretend trip. These should be items you would really take on a trip. To continue the game, meet with the other participants in the living room after you have filled your suitcase with 6 items. To play, sit in a circle with your suitcases at your side. Next take turns moving clockwise guessing what is in any participant’s bag. Only one guess is allowed each turn. Each person is allowed 10 guesses. Each time an item is guessed it is taken from the bag and placed in front of the player. A scorekeeper should count the number of correct guesses each player gets correctly. The one who gets the most correct guesses wins.

While everyone is still seated in a circle, have everyone to think of one of the places Jesus has lived so far in the lessons we have studied. Participants can think of Bethlehem, Egypt, Land of Israel, Nazareth, house or stable. Explain to your child before the game starts that Bethlehem and Nazareth are cities. Egypt and Land of Israel are countries. The object of this game is to try to guess another participant’s place by asking Yes and No questions. Choose a person who will begin. The first player asks the person to his left a yes or no question. Each player gets one question and one guess per round. The winner is the person whose place is the last one guessed. If the place of the player next to you has been guessed then proceed to the next player to the left whose place has not been guessed when taking your turn.

1. In today’s lesson Jesus had a dream.

2. An angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph.

3. The angel told Joseph to take Jesus to the Land of Israel.