Object: A holly wreath

Good morning, boys and girls. Before we get away from Christmas, there is one thing more we need to consider. Christmas is the birthday of Jesus. Jesus is sometimes called "the King of Kings." That is because he is greater than any king. Did he live like a king? (Let them answer.) Was he born in a palace? Did he have royal robes? Lots of servants? Did he wear a crown? Well, he DID wear a crown once. It was right before they crucified him. Does anybody remember what kind of crown he wore? That's right. It was a crown of thorns. Now why are we talking about the crown of thorns? It is because there was a legend that the crown of thorns was made of holly. I have with me a wreath. What kind of wreath is this? It is a holly wreath. The holly wreath is supposed to remind us of the crown of thorns Jesus wore when he died for our sins. Jesus was a very special kind of king, wasn't he? He wasn't a king who surrounded himself with vast riches and many servants. He was a king who surrounded himself and us with love. The holly wreath reminds us that he loved us enough to give himself in our behalf.