Children's Worship Update -- Unit 2 and Christmas Lessons

Last Sunday the children finished Unit 2 in the Children’s Worship classes.  Here is a recap of what the children learned in their classes.


Preschool

Joseph Helps His Brothers
Moses: From Basket to Palace
Moses: Exodus
Moses: Manna in the Desert
Joshua and the Tall Wall
Hannah's Prayer
Samuel Listens

In the Preschool class, the children learned how Joseph helped his brothers during the famine and how God provides us food.  They continued to learn how God provides as they learned about Moses from his birth to leading the Israelites out of Egypt and through the desert.  You can help your children remember the stories of Moses at dinnertime when they thank God for being powerful and providing food for them as He provided for the Israelites in the desert.  The class marched around as a class just as Joshua and the Israelites marched around Jericho until the walls fell down.  In the last two lessons, the children learned that God listens to their prayers and God can speak to them.  Help your children to pray to God each day and remind them that God speaks to us still through the Bible.


Kindergarten & 1st Grade

Jesus Changes Paul
Jesus Keeps Paul Safe
Jesus Helps Paul Escape
Jesus Keeps Everyone Safe
Jesus Helps Paul in Malta

In Unit 2, the Kindergarten and 1st grade class focused on working for God. After encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul was a faithful servant to God and shared the good news of Jesus with everyone.  During this lesson, the children learned how Jesus loves everyone, even his enemies.  They continued through the Unit to see the different ways that Jesus cared for and loved Paul and kept him safe, which allowed Paul to love and care for others.  They were encouraged to be missionaries to others, pray for the sick people that they know and trust in Jesus.  You can continue to encourage your children to use the example of Paul in how they interact with others around them.


2nd & 3rd Grade

The Tallest Tower
Abraham and Sarah Believe God's Promises
God's Promise Comes True
Isaac and Rebekah
Jacob Steals the Blessing
God Blesses Jacob

The 2nd and 3rd Grade class continued their lessons through the book of Genesis in Unit 2.  They learned to identify some of God's promises to us through the stories of Abraham and Sarah and Isaac and Rebekah.  They also identified ways that God answered prayers and continues to answer prayers.  You can continue to talk with your children about how God answers prayer, but sometimes it is not in the timing that we are expecting.  In the story of Jacob, the class learned that God is always patient with us and loves us, even when we sin.  God proves that through blessing Jacob with a family and flocks despite Jacob's sin.

Christmas Lessons

During the next few weeks, all the classes will focus on the Christmas story from Luke 2.  They will celebrate Jesus' birth and talk about how the angels told the shepherds of the Savior.  The December Bible verse, Luke 2:13-14, is a great way to remind your children of the angels' message.

Advent Ideas: Fun Activities

If you have already decided on the devotional that you will do with your family this year, you may find that these Advent ideas are a fun way to celebrate the season with a twist.  Just as a disclaimer, they are not all centered on the birth of Jesus like the other ideas have been, but they are ideas to show love to others this season in addition to the devotions you read with your family.

Peppermint Plum created this list of symbols to show the meaning of Christmas in the different ways that we decorate and celebrate.  There is a printable version of the chart above on the blog.  You could go through all of the symbols in one sitting or spread them out to discuss one every 3-4 days.




For those of you with future actors in your family, I found this adorable Christmas skit at Christianity Cove that doesn't require very much preparation or practice at all.  Your children can perform for your families on Christmas morning.





Thirty Handmade Days decided to do an Advent Blessings Jar one year.  Instead of doing activities, you write down 25 blessings that are often overlooked and that are countable.  For example, the author has ceiling fans, ways to cook food, bathrooms, etc. and she wrote them onto popsicle sticks.  Each day, you choose a stick and count how many of that item you have in your home and then collect pennies, nickels or dimes in that amount.  At the end of Advent, you donate the money collected to the charity of your choice.  Check out the blog post for a more detailed explanation.



Another way to love others is to follow an Acts of Kindness Advent calendar.  Coffee, Cups and Crayons has created two printable calendars for 2017.  You could also turn your Elf on the Shelf into a Kindness Elf like Anna did from The Imagination Tree.  She has the Kindness Elves deliver an idea for a random act of kindness each day.



All of these ideas should not replace the devotionals and scripture that teach us about the coming of Jesus.  They are other ways to prepare for his arrival that help us to think of others during the Advent season.  I pray that you and your family are able to find the traditions that fit your lifestyle and best suit your family to celebrate this year.

Advent Ideas: Devotionals & Bible Reading Plans

In continuation of the theme of Advent preparation, I have gathered some daily devotional or bible reading plans that do not have crafts or activities attached to them. I have included books and plans for children, families and just adults.

In searching for these devotionals, I came upon an article that reminded me that recognizing the season of Advent forces us to step back from the busyness of daily life and the craze of materialism and consumerism that surrounds us. It is a time to stop and prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus with joyful anticipation. I pray that you are able to take some time this Advent season to prepare your heart for the celebration of the arrival of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones is a great resource for children in Preschool and Elementary School. The way the book is written “every story whispers” the name of Jesus so naturally the stories lead up to the birth of Jesus. Various bloggers have posted the list of Advent readings from The Jesus Storybook Bible and I was able to find this printable version created by Ariel Booker.

I also found this fun Bible reading plan from Crafting the Word of God that you can cut apart and tape back together for each day of Advent. There are 25 days of readings, with the birth of Jesus occurring on Day 19 so you can use it after Christmas too. It only has one or two verses listed each day, which would be better for younger children. I will distribute copies at church or you can print a copy here.

For families with children who are a little bit older, I recommend Behold the Lamb of God by Russ Ramsey. This book is a narrative that tells the story of the coming of Christ broken into 25 days. Jonathan Rogers, author of The Charlatan’s Boy says, “Ramsey brings to life the story that brings us to life.”

Written for families, West End Presbyterian Church offers the 2017 Advent Project – A Manger Scene. You can subscribe to receive the blog daily, which will offer a small ornament to decorate or color and the daily passage to read and discuss with your family. I know I said there were no crafts....but if you choose to use the ornaments, you can either hang the ornaments on your own tree or you can print The Manger Scene before Advent begins to affix the ornaments to.


For adults, the Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts at Biola University has an Advent blog that begins on December 3rd and lasts through January 6th. The Advent Project offers scripture, devotionals, art, video and music. Click the link to subscribe to receive the daily entry.

Advent Ideas: Jesse Tree and Truth in the Tinsel

Advent begins Sunday, December 3rd this year.  There are many different ways to celebrate Advent and countdown to Christmas, but it is important to also teach our children the reason that we celebrate this season.  My kids have been asking why the stores don't decorate for Thanksgiving and go straight to Christmas so I tell them that people focus on Christmas because they buy a lot of gifts.  I don't want the consumerism to be the focus of Christmas for our family though.  I want the traditions that they remember with our family to focus on Jesus.

Over the next few weeks, I will be posting some ways to focus on Advent this year with your family.  There are all kinds of calendars, activities, and countdowns available (thanks to Pinterest!), so I have chosen some that range in commitment from minimal to lots of preparation.  I hope that you can find one that fits into your family's traditions.

Several years ago the Grace Kids Team made a Jesse Tree that had magnets to attach with a devotional for each day.  Most of the devotions came from the book, The Advent Jesse Tree by Dean Lambert Smith, and some were from other resources.  If you have lost your devotions to go with your Jesse Tree, you can find the devotions at the Reformed Church of America website.  You can also purchase The Advent Jesse Tree book at a discounted price of $6 at the Resource Table at church.

Another creative way to use the Jesse Tree is to make ornaments for each of the days.  Carisa Hinson from 1+1+1=1 has created an eBook and printable ornaments that she hangs on a miniature tree as she reads through the devotions each day with her family.  Blessed Beyond a Doubt compiled a bunch of DIY and other printable ornament ideas that different bloggers have created over the years.

Another great devotional geared towards preschool-aged children is the Truth in the Tinsel.  The ebook costs $9.99, but it includes 24 devotions, crafts and conversations to walk you through Advent with your children.  There are options to do the devotions every day or a plan that only cover 6 days of the Advent season.  

Stay tuned for more advent ideas to come...

New City Catechism

The New City Catechism is a great resource for teaching your children about the core doctrines of the Christian faith.  The New City Catechism website and app offer scripture, commentary and prayers to use for adults and children.  You can set the app to be in the child or adult mode.  In the child mode, the catechism answer is more precise for younger children and there are songs for each of the questions and answers.  Check it out!

Operation Christmas Child

Samaritan's Purse

Operation Christmas Child

We are collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child again this year.  You can pick up the shoeboxes at church on the Resource Table.  There are also brochures that give tips and instructions for packing the shoebox.  The Samaritan's Purse website also gives many helpful tips.

There are some changes this year to keep in mind:

1) The cost to ship each box is $9.  You can pay online here and track your shoebox to find out the country where your shoebox will be delivered.  You can also include cash or a check inside of your shoebox.

2) Due to changing custom regulations, you cannot include candy or toothpaste any longer.  You may not include any food or liquids either.  Please use the packing suggestions for some great ideas.

We will collect shoeboxes at church until Sunday, November 19th.  If you are interested in helping to deliver shoeboxes after Sunday Communities that day, please email Christy Villhauer.

Hope for the Home Parenting Seminar

Hope for the Home Parenting Seminar

Don't forget about the Hope for the Home Parenting Seminar on Saturday evening, November 4th from 5-7pm at New Highland Baptist Church.  Chris Cartwright will lead a session that explains how and why to use the New City Catechism with your family.  We will serve pizza to parents and children from 5-6pm and have the seminar from 6-7pm with childcare provided during the seminar.  It will only cost $10 per family for pizza and childcare.  RSVP here!!

Also if you haven't gotten your copy of the New City Catechism, look for it on the Resource Table at church.