Hi friends!

I’ve really been trying to spend more time this year on incorporating new traditions into our lives that will help us bring more focus back to GOD and to JESUS, especially during this time of year. I haven’t been great about posting all of the things we’ve been doing but I do try to give an overview of what we’ve been up to. One thing we want to try this year is a ‘Bethlehem Dinner’. I have also found similar meals labeled ‘Shepherd’s Night’.

Holy Days vs Holidays

Can you imagine what that trip to Bethlehem must’ve been like for Mary and Joseph? I can’t even begin to imagine the mixture of emotions that they were experiencing but we can try to recreate a simple dinner to commemorate that special occasion.

I would one day love to be able to create a walk-through Nativity in our yard/gardens to help others experience what it might’ve been like back then… maybe have a simple dinner like this one set up as well… wouldn’t that be so special?

Our 1st Shepherd’s Dinner

Here is a quick overview of what we plan to do:

MENU

• Baked/Smoked Fish or Turkey/Chicken/Lamb
• Boiled eggs
• Flat Breads, crackers
• Goat/Feta Cheese (maybe some other cheeses as well)
• Summer Sausage, cold meats
• Olives
• Fruits including Figs, Pomegranates, Dates, Grapes, etc.
• Cucumbers, carrots, etc.
• Hummus
• Lentils
• Almonds, Pistachios, or other nuts
• Honey
• Baklava
• Sparkling Grape Juice or Wine
• Other simple finger foods

READ/LISTEN

• The Nativity Story Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 2:1-12

MUSIC

• Mary, Did You Know?
• When Joseph Went to Bethlehem
• O Little Town of Bethlehem
• Silent Night

VIDEOS/MOVIES

• The Christ Child on YouTube -or-
• The Nativity Story on YouTube

We plan to do our dinner on the 4th Sunday of Advent and we hope to incorporate the lighting of the candles into the dinner and then eat by candlelight without using any utensils… this should be interesting. I think we will sit at the table but it might be nice to eat outdoors or on the floor… we may try to do one of these options.

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Embracing New Family Traditions

Do you or anyone you know celebrate anything like this? What other things would you include in a ‘Bethlehem Dinner’?

We pray you have a very blessed Christmas!

I will update this post, if we get to take pictures of what we do 🙂

Here are some examples of dinners I have seen on YouTube:

Bethlehem Dinner Christmas Eve

Bethlehem Dinner SDA Church