The celebration of Epiphany honors the visit of the Magi, who represent God’s revelation of the Messiah to the gentiles. Of course, a key highlight of this story is how these “wise men” found Jesus by following a remarkable star in the heavens. The crafts here pay homage to that star, and to Christ, the real star of our lives. A decorative ornament and faux “stained glass” use the shape and sparkle of stars, while a “telescope” provides opportunity to look up at the sky, and also doubles as a noisemaker.
Verses or Captions to Consider…
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. -Matthew 2:10
And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. -Matthew 2:11
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. -Psalm 19:1
Look up to the sky…God’s hand at work!
Stars guide the way…God’s word guides our way!
Shine with the light of Christ!!!
Jesus is the real STAR of Christmas!
Craft one: “Stained glass” Star decoration
You will need:
- Construction paper or cardstock
- Wax or tissue paper
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- String or pipe cleaners
- Crayons or markers
- Stickers or other decorations
Procedure:
- Draw a large star on a piece of construction paper or cardstock. Draw another straw (smaller) within the large one.
- Carefully cut out the large star. Cut the smaller star out from it.
- Glue the star onto wax paper or tissue paper. Trim the edges.
- Add extra decorations such as glitter, stickers, and verse captions. If desired, attach a string or pipe cleaner to hang the star. Admire the sunshine coming through and enjoy!
Craft Two: Stick Star Ornament or decoration
You will need:
- Popsicle sticks
- Glue
- Markers or crayons
- Stickers, glitter, or other decorations
- Pipe cleaners or string
Procedure (use one of these ideas or adapt and do others):
1. Decide how you prefer to decorate your “clock plate.” Add cut paper “hands” and other embellishments as desired.
2. Add labels, captions, and decorations with markers or crayons.
3. As best suits your needs, add on stickers, eyes, or other décor to create a clock feel. Emphasize the point that the clock decoration reminds us to wait for Jesus.
4. If you wish to hang up the clock, add a string or pipe cleaner to the back side of the plate.
Craft Three: “Magi Telescope” (also noisemaker)
You will need:
- Paper or cardstock
- Scissors
- Markers or crayons
- Ribbon or Pipe Cleaner
- Tape, glue, or staples
- Stickers or glitter
- Wax paper (optional)
Procedure (use one of these ideas or adapt and do others):
1. Decide how you prefer to decorate your “clock plate.” Add cut paper “hands” and other embellishments as desired.
2. Add labels, captions, and decorations with markers or crayons.
3. As best suits your needs, add on stickers, eyes, or other décor to create a clock feel. Emphasize the point that the clock decoration reminds us to wait for Jesus.
4. If you wish to hang up the clock, add a string or pipe cleaner to the back side of the plate.