Simple Sunday Christmas Party

This is a plan for a very simple Christmas Party the Sunday before Christmas Eve. In our church we hold a service on Christmas Eve, and we do not have a gathering on the Sunday following Christmas Eve as we encourage people to stay home, be with family and friends and neighbors.

Arranged by Teresa Klassen

PARTY PLAN

1. Start by welcoming the kids (3 minutes)

2. Christmas Quiz (see PDF — we have included the answers on this one) (10-12 minutes)

PDF: CHRISTMAS QUIZ – TEACHER’S COPY

PDF: CHRISTMAS QUIZ – STUDENTS COPY

Teacher says: I wonder how well you know the Christmas Story? We are going to break off into a few teams (make sure there are no more than 10 children in a team. Less is better, so have your leaders lead smaller teams). Whoever gets the most answers right in the time I give you will get the FIRST PRIZE — but everyone will get a little prize. Some treats you can have when you are ready to leave later.

• Have everyone break off into groups with a leader in each group and then work through the Christmas Quiz (attached). Time them for about 8 minutes. If that is too short, then give them a little extra time, but not too much more!
• Mix the kids up so there are older and younger kids in one group. Some of the questions are really easy, and some are tough.
• Leaders — don’t help the kids…don’t give hints…if they don’t know the answer, have them make a wild guess!!
• PLEASE WRITE DOWN ALL THEIR ANSWERS AND GIVE TERESA THE SHEETS AT THE END — WRITE DOWN AS MANY ANSWERS AS YOU CAN, INCLUDING THE FUNNY ONES. (I made a little display of the answers for our kids website)

First prize: suckers you can give the winning team at the end
Second prize: everyone gets one of the wrapped candy slices

3. Tell the Christmas Story (using flashcards provided) (10-12 minutes)

You can make your own flashcards, or you can get permission from the author of the bricktestament.com and print off some of his fun lego pictures (look under New Testament, Life of Jesus…you will have to choose ones that you feel are suitable. Not all the pictures always represent the best view of our faith, but most of it is very helpful)
4. Make the Christmas Craft (10-15 minutes)

It is a little Christmas decoration they can decorate. Make sure you use the scrap paper to set the decoration on and write their name on the scrap paper, set aside on the shelf.

I wrapped blocks I found at the Dollar Store in brown paper, and hot-glued a little red ribbon loop on top and then provided lots of messy glitter and stickers and felts for the children to use to decorate these.

5. Play a fun little game to get the wiggles out (5-10 minutes)

• This is a relay race. Divide the kids in two or three teams
• Smear some Vaseline on the ends of their noses (I know, they will think it is gross…that’s the fun of it!)
• Then explain that they have to stick a cotton ball (a snowball) on the end of their nose and run to the other end, take the ball off and put it in the paper bag. The first team to use up all their cotton balls, wins! (no prize for this one though). If you want to make this more difficult (if the children are older) you can tell them they can’t use their hands to get the “snowball” off!!
• There will be some kleenex that they can wipe their noses off later

6. Now the kids can settle down and you can play the Christmas movie (35 minutes)

Provide some pop-corn twist snacks and some juice.

We used the DVD from the Read & Share DVD series; the Christmas movie. It is very well done and very accurate.

A Very Simple Christmas Sketch

Family Pictures – Christmas 2010

(A Little Christmas Sketch For Little People)

• This is a VERY simple Christmas Feature to include children as a part of a Christmas Service.
• You can expand the cast, but this one only needs around a dozen children and an adult (or teen) narrator.
• There are NO lines to memorize
• You can even simplify what I have here but this is what you will need for the play

YOU WILL NEED:

1.     Photos that you take a few Sundays before the event of children posing for the powerpoint photos near the front end of the play (I will try to post some so you get an idea how we did ours).

2.     A Polaroid frame you can use for the “live” photos – we made a frame with some light inexpensive wood and then stapled cardboard to it, that we painted white

3.     Some simple props made out of cardboard that you can paint

4.     A keyboardist and some simple sounds recorded on an iPhone or CD or…

THE “SKETCH”

Narrator’s Introduction: This year we did what we have done so many times before, we took a family picture. It seems like such a simple thing to do, but it is ridiculously difficult. This year I gave everyone fair warning: at 1:00 p.m. on Monday afternoon you better all be good looking because we are taking a family picture.  Monday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. it was pouring rain.  But I didn’t give up. We waited that rain out and when it was down to a drizzle we snapped as many photos as we could and…well…with a little photo-shopping, it is what it is. (You can show some blooper shots of failed family pictures shot and then your final family shot if you like).

Why do we want to capture things in photographs? I guess we want to hold onto those moments, to remember, to reflect…

I wonder…as Jesus looks back at all the time that has gone by, from the beginning of the world until now, what are His standout moments?  If He were to pull out the Polaroid’s, which ones would make him smile?

* Photos on powerpoint that look like Polaroids with kids reinacting scene…you can use children of any age. Just have them pose and then photoshop to add to the scene, child-like drawings to create the photo. See our sample.

(Photo One) Adam and Eve – in the beginning of course (Adam and Eve, big grins) when everything was perfect and new and full of possibility.

(Photo two) – Some photos aren’t as great as others. But the reality is…this was a pretty big moment in human history; one really bad decision (picture of Eve considering the snake up in the tree)

(Photo Three) – Every photo album has its crazy photos. Can you imagine the ark…close quarters for months on end…it was pretty…”wild” (we had children pose and then we drew in animal attributes, drew in an ark etc)

(Photo four) People seeing the rainbow for the first time…now that was a moment for God to show off his artwork wasn’t it? (child looking up at a rainbow that you draw in)

(Photo five) Joseph and his fabulous colorful coat. The story of Joseph was one of those suspense stories where you think things will never turn out…and then they do! (Child arms out, thumbs up…showing off the amazing coat you draw in)

(Photo six) Moses and the burning bush? He was just walking along on an ordinary day and then God capture this scene with the burning bush(child kneeling, warming hands…draw in burning bush)

(Photo seven) David & Goliath. This one definitely would be in the album…remember David yelling, “You come at me with sword and spear, but I come at you with the power of God!!” Yeah, that is definitely a keeper. (we used a preschooler and a really tall young man, in the shot you only see legs and then the little kid sitting on the floor with a drawn in slingshot and bag of rocks)

(Photo eight) Those first glimpses of the promised land? You know when you have waited and waited for something and then you see it. Who wouldn’t snap a picture? (group of kids, excited, hands to eyes as if searching…and a picture of milk and a picture of honey)

(Photo nine) Jonah and the whale? Wait for it….wait for it…God sets up the perfect shot and there it is…Jonah thinks he is a goner and then God does what only God can do. (Child puffing out cheeks and holding nose…draw in bubbles and a huge fish lurking behind him)

Polaroid frame is moved onto the stage. Scenes are formed behind this frame….as “frozen shots”

Jesus could have loads and loads of photos to scrapbook but I am thinking one of his favorite pages would have to be the Christmas one…because it would be the first time people would meet Him face to face.

• We used gentle keyboard music behind the sketch from this point on, just to mask “dead spots”. When the actual scene would freeze, we would switch to music, or to a recorded sound that fit the particular scene.
• We used a bell on stage to indicate the end of a scene…narrator did this.

Live Photo 1:

Music: Something ethereal

Props

• Ladder
• Large Flashlight
• Cardboard cutout of window (curtains etc)

Stage Hand Stage hand 1: Up on ladder, shining down flashlight

Stage Hand Stage hand 2: Hold window in front of her, beside Mary,

Mary: Kneeling and praying

Narrator:                                    This would be the first photo capturing the moment. It all started when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary saying,

“Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! You have found favor with God! ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High…

Narrator slows: …his Kingdom will never end!” (“ding!”)

(Scene change: Mary Stands, moves forward, and turns around…Stage hand 1 puts flashlight behind curtain and carries ladder down. Stage hand 1 moves to right side of stage near curtain ready for his next prop. Stage hand 3 is standing there too. Joseph enters…Stage hand 2 grabs the “what”)

Live Photo 2:

Music: impending music (Jaws-like)

Props:

• Voice balloon: “What?!?”

Stage Hand Stage hand 2: Stands outside of frame and holds up voice balloon saying                                                 “What”

Joseph: Looks shocked

Mary: Looks like she is explaining

Narrator:                                    This frightened and confused Mary, she was engaged to be married to Joseph.

Here we see Mary telling Joseph the news  that she would be having a son and that he would be called the Son of God. Can you imagine?

Narrator slows: God couldn’t have picked a more unusual way to have                                                             His Son come into the world. (“ding!”)

(Scene change: Mary moves behind curtain and takes voice balloon with her)

Live Photo 3:

Music: Lullaby

Props:

• Pillow and blanket

Stage hand Stage hand 1: Grabs pillow from behind the curtain and holds it behind                                                             Joseph’s head

Stage hand Stage hand 3: Grabs blanket and holds up one corner and gives Stage hand 2                                                             the other. Holds blanket in front of Joseph

Stage Hand Stage hand 2: Stands outside of frame and holds up other corner of                                                             blanket

Joseph: Appears to be sleeping, hands behind head. Serious face

Narrator:                                    God knew the whole idea would scare Joseph too.

So he appeared to Him in a dream and said, “It’s all good Joseph. This is my idea. (Joseph smiles in his sleep)

Narrator slows: The baby will grow up and save people from all their                                                             sins.”  (“ding!”)

(Scene change: Stage hand 2 steps back, taking props with her and putting behind screen. Stage hand 1 moves to right. Stage hand 3 moves off stage to help Picketer 1 and Picketer 2 move into the frame Stage hand 2 stays where she is just to help Picketer 1 and Picketer 2. Stage hand 3 helps the boys stand still but stays out of the frame)

Live Photo 4:

Music: Newscast music, voice in background “Everyone’s heading home…meanwhile, there’s a lot of controversy about the new tax…should Caesar have held a referendum first

Props:

• Picket signs (our signs said, “No H.S.T.” which was a controversial tax in British Columbia at the time this was written), kept by the chairs. Kelsey will help boys get ready

Stage hand Stage hand 1: Moves back to right

Stage hand Stage hand 3: Moves down to guide boys up

Stage Hand Stage hand 2: Stands outside frame

Joseph: Moves behind curtain to where Mary is

Picketer 1 and 2: Move into frame with picket signs

Narrator:                                    There are more photographs to look at. Mary is now  pregnant and something happens. The Government in  that time declared that all the world should be taxed

Narrator slows: This meant Joseph had to pack up and head to his home                                                             town in Bethlehem. (“ding!”)

(Stage hand 3 moves boys off stage and back to their seats)

So that’s where he and Mary went.

Live Photo 5:

Music: City noise…leading to sheep noise

Props:

• “Bethlehem Inn: Rest With The Best”
• “Bethlehem Stable: Sleep With The Sheep”
• Manger with baby in it

Stage hand Stage hand 2: Holds Sign “Bethlehem Inn: Rest With The Best”

Stage hand Stage hand 1: Ready to help with Innkeeper if necessary.

Joseph: Comes out from curtain

Mary: Looking at Joseph with that “told you so” look

Joseph: Looking sheepish

Innkeeper: Pointing out back

Narrator:                                    When they arrived in Bethlehem the city was busy.   There were people everywhere. Joseph and Mary went  to Inn after Inn and could not find a place to sleep.    Finally, one of the Innkeeper’s offered an unusual solution…they could sleep in the Stable he had   out back.

(Stage hand Stage hand 2 quickly changes sign to: Bethlehem Stable: Sleep with the sheep. Thought Bubble goes away. Mary and Joseph stay in their pose. Stage hand 1 grabs the manger prop and sets it in place where Innkeeper was standing. Innkeeper leaves the stage)

Narrator slows: It was warm-ish and there was lots of hay they could                                                             sleep on, so that is where they went (“ding!”)

Live Photo 6:

Music: Twinkle, twinkle little star…

Props:

• Manger with baby (already on stage from last scene…move it into foreground)

Stage hand Stage hand 1: Move manger into foreground

Joseph: Looking at the baby

Mary: Holds baby in her arms

Narrator:                                    That night…Jesus was born.

No big announcements. No fanfare. Just a quiet moment that would profoundly change all of human history.

Narrator slows:                        Quiet…well…kind of. (“ding!”)

Live Photo 7:

Sound: Crickets

Props:

• Manger with baby (already on stage from last scene…move it into foreground)
• Stool 1 and Stool 2

Stage hand Stage hand 1: Move manger behind curtain. Moves back to right

Stage hand Stage hand 2: Move stools onto set, foreground; holds up Stars

Stage hand Stage hand 3: Puts feed bags on stools; Stars

Mary: Moves behind curtain

Joseph            : Moves behind curtain

Shepherds & Sheep:                        Move onto stage – little guys sit on stools with Big Shepherd (we used a young adult, since we had so man young ones on stage) in the                                                             middle. Shepherd 2 and 3 stand behind sheep. All with big  grins.

Narrator:                                    God couldn’t contain his excitement so he found some    people – not kings or queens or prime ministers or  business owners or dignitaries –

Narrator slows: blue collar shepherds working in the fields with their                                                             sheep (“ding!”)

Live Photo 8:

Music: Hallelujah chorus

Props:

• Second Polaroid frame * Optional. You can also just have the angels appear on stage without a frame.  The Shepherds and Sheep stay in the original fram.e
• Angel prop signs

Stage hand Stage hand 1: Moves second Polaroid frame into place. This one has a                                                             bit of a cloud frame. Stage hand 1 holds one side

Stage hand Stage hand 3 Holds other side with his free hand

Shepherds: All look super shocked and amazed

Angels: Move into place, holding their angel signs. Big smiles.

Narrator:                                    God did what only God could do – he filled the sky with   angels which completely freaked out the shepherds

The angels smiled and said

“Don’t be afraid. We are bringing good news to you that will soon mean great joy for every person on earth. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem. You will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.

Live Photo 9:

Music: away in a manger

Props:

• Second Polaroid frame
• Angel prop signs

Stage hand Stage hand 1: Removes second Polaroid frame

Stage hand Stage hand 2 Helps little sheep find their moms

Stage hand Stage hand 3: Moves manger back into foreground

Shepherds: Move a little to the right side to allow Mary & Joseph to                                                             come to the other side. Shepherds are looking into  manger

Mary & Joseph: Moves to the left side smiling, looking at shepherds

Wise men crowns: Are in the manger

Narrator:                                    Ah yes, in this photo we see the shepherds worshipping    Jesus. They ran as fast as they could to get there…to be   the first people in history to lay their eyes on Jesus.

Narrator slows: Later, of course, others would see Jesus as well…(“ding!”)

Live Photo 10:

Music: something eastern

Shepherds: switch to wise men – just put crowns on overtop shepherd                                                 headdress

Narrator: The Bible tells us that there were three wise men, or  Kings, that came from the East to see Jesus. They had seen a special star pointing to where he was and this led them to Jesus.

Narrator slows: They brought him special, meaningful gifts. (“ding”)

Live Photo 11:

Music: warm background,

Shepherds: Back to shepherds

Narrator:                                    But for now …

…It was just the shepherds and Mary and Joseph in the stable.

If God had a photo album, would he pause here? He knew what all of this would mean

Narrator slows: …but would people get it? (“ding!”)

Live Photo 12:

Music: Jesus loves me

Shepherds: Leave stage

Stage hand Stage hand 2: Verse canvas hangs behind Polaroid frame

Stage hand Stage hand 3: Verse canvas

Mary:                        Stands by Narrator, ready to read verse

Narrator: Would people understand that because of Jesus they   could finally have a way back to a close and intimate   relationship with their heavenly Father?

Mary reads: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his   only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish  but will have everlasting life.

Christmas For Preschoolers (Sunday School Lessons for Children)

Date	Class	Scripture	Theme
Dec 19, 2010	Preschool	Matt. 19:14	Christmas

Written/Arranged by Teresa Klassen

1. Welcome

Have the children do this with you

a.     One, two three — Jesus loves me

b.     Look and see — Jesus made me

c.      From the beginning to the end – Jesus is my friend!

2. Bible Story

Read the story from First Steps Bible, page 198, “Something Good To Tell  You”

3. DVD

Show story: “Jesus is Born”

4. Simple Craft

Christmas Star Ornament.

o   We will have cutouts of stars the kids can decorate

o   We will have red pipe-cleaner that you can put through the hole and make into a loop (to hang on a tree)

5. Snack

Maple cookies

6. Bible Verse

Give each child a stuffed animal

Teacher says: Aren’t stuffy’s nice to hug?  It just feels so good to hold them             tight. Doesn’t it? Let’s give our stuffy’s a hug!

When we want to give our mom or dad a hug, that feels good too doesn’t it?             They say, “come to me” and they squeeze us nice and tight just like we are             hugging our stuffy’s.

Do you know what? Jesus loves us like that too!  Whenever a child wants to  see Jesus, He says, “Come to me!” and picks them up and hugs them, just like you are hugging your stuffy.

You make Jesus smile!

The Bible says that Jesus always has time for children and He always says,  “Come to me!”

7. Help me tell the Christmas Story

• Use the little nativity set to tell the story
• Sit on the floor and have the children help you.
• Give them each a piece and tell them who each person is (“This is Mary” “This is Joseph”)
• When you talk about their character, have them hold it up…

Teacher says: This is a special story….

1.     God told a special lady named Mary that she was going to have a baby and she would name Him Jesus – can you hold Mary up?

2.     But Mary and Joseph – let’s hold up Mary and Joseph now – had to go to a little town named Bethlehem first…can you make Mary & Joseph walk on the floor?

3.     Now they are in Bethlehem. But there is no room for them in any of the hotels. Let’s all look sad for Mary and Joseph. Where will she have her baby?

4.     There was a barn called a “stable” that they could sleep in. There were also animals in the barn like sheep and cows and horses. Can we make a sheep sound? Can we make a cow sound? Can we make a horse sound?

5.     There Mary had the baby – can you hold up the baby? What did they name Him? (Jesus!)

6.     Shepherds in the fields nearby came and  saw the baby and they worshipped him…

8.     Song and Actions

Stand up with the kids and sing the following…

“Away in a Manger” (I will see if I can provide a CD you can sing to)

Words are:

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

9.         Whose Birthday Is It?

• Have a simple question answer time where they children can shout “no” or “yes”

Teacher says: Christmas time is somebody’s birthday party.

Is it your birthday party? (NO)

Is it Santa’s birthday party? (NO)

Is it Frosty The Snowman’s birthday party? (NO)

Is it Jesus’ birthday party? (YES)

You’re right…it is Jesus’ birthday!!

10.         Play time, and clean up with the children

Take the time to sit with the children, talk with them, play with them.

Jesus Is Loving! (Preschool) (Sunday School Lessons for Children)

Date	Class	Scripture	Theme
February 14, 2010	Preschool	Mark 3:1-6	Man With the Withered Hand

By Karleigh Neufeld

Little Things To Do

1. Free Time

Enjoy a little play time with the children at the front end to get to know them

2. DVD

Use the Read & Share Bible DVD series and pick one of the stories about healing

3. Bible Story Time

Use a children’s Bible to tell the story of how Jesus healed the man with the withered hand

4. Simple Music

Head and shoulders, Jesus loves me

5. Valentine to Jesus

Help the children make a valentine for Jesus, thanking him for being so loving to all people

6. Snack

7. Bible Memory

“I am the truth”

Write these words on hearts and put them on the wall. Have the children stick heart stickers on them and talk through each one “I…am…the…truth!”

8. Simple craft

Use sheets of paper with the picture of a child on it. Use gauze, bandaids to stick on them to make them feel better (do this while talking about how Jesus loves us and Jesus can also heal us!).

9. Prayer

Pray for the children

10. Colouring sheets

Provide a colouring sheet of Jesus showing love to the world

Clean up

I Love Mommy (Preschool) (Sunday School Lessons for Children)

Date	Class	Scripture	Theme
May 9m 2010	Preschool	Proverbs 23:25	I Love Mommy

By Karleigh Neufeld

10 Little Things

 

These can be done in any order. You can use all of them, or a few of them depending on the attention span of the children that morning.

1. Free Time

Use this time to play with the kids and get to know them

2. Story Time

Find some good story books in the library to highlight the relationship between mother and child.

3. Activity: Game

From http://sunday-school-fun-zone,com/freelessons/mother’sday.html

Mother’s Day Activity – Rhyme with actions “Who Tucks Me In?”

4.  Song

To the tune of “B-I-N-G-O”

Do the actions for each letter – M is two arms making the shape of an M over your head, O is two hands making a circle over your head, Y is two arms outstretched beside your head

“There is a lady in our house and Mommy is her name-o

M-O-M-M-Y

M-O-M-M-Y

M-O-M-M-Y and mommy is her name-o

I love her, and she loves me and mommy is her name-o

M-O-M-M-Y

M-O-M-M-Y

M-O-M-M-Y and mommy is her name-o

I think my mom is the best and mommy is her name-o

M-O-M-M-Y

M-O-M-M-Y

M-O-M-M-Y and mommy is her name-o

5. Snacks

6. Bible Memory

“Teach me, O Lord, to follow your directions” Psalm 119:33

Have the kids walk the path marked with arrows made out of construction paper marked on the floor. Each arrow will be one word of the verse. Have the kids walk through the path saying each word as they go…they will need to be prompted as they can’t read or even speak that well sometimes! Just repeating it over and over is the most important. And continue this until they have lost interest.

7. Craft

Butterfly magnet clothespin

Materials:

• Clothespins
• white coffee filters with poem printed ont he sides where the wings are going to be
• stickers
• felt markers

Instructions:

Prewrite the names of each child on the back of the clothespins. There will already be a magnet onthe back so write it somewhere under that. Have the children colour the coffee filter with markers and decorate with stickers. Place the coffee filters in the clothespins by scrunching up the middle and sliding the coffee filter through until it reaches the middle and looks like a butterfly. The poem should show on the wings…

“Butterfly, butterfly, fly to my mother. Whisper so softly how much I love her!”

8. Prayer

Pray for the children

9. Colouring pages

Print out a little colouring sheet, or use a colouring sheet that turns into a book about mommy

10. Clean up together!

Jesus Loves The Little Children (Preschool) (Sunday School Lessons For Children)

Date	Class	Scripture	Theme
October 17, 2010	Preschool		Jesus loves all the little children of the world

Written/Arranged by Teresa Klassen

1. Three Things We Know!

• One, two, three (count with your fingers) Jesus loves me (on the word “love” draw a heart over your heart)
• Look and see (turn around) Jesus made me (point to yourself with your thumbs)
• From the beginning (stretch your hand out far to the left) to the end (stretch your hand far to the right) Jesus is my friend (give yourself a hug)

2. Bible Story

From the First Step Bible page 364

“Come Close, Little Ones”

3. DVD

Jesus Loves Children (Read ‘N Share, Volume 1, Story 12)

4. Craft

There will be a half page with three columns

Title: Three Things I Know!

• Column 1 — One, two, three — Jesus loves me
• Column 2 — Look and see — Jesus made me
• Column 3: From the beginning to the end — Jesus is my friend

Children will glue a picture on each column

5. Singing

“Jesus Loves The Little Children”

Purple CD “Favorite Bible Songs” (by Wee Worship) Disc 1, song 7

6. Game

• Have the children sit in a circle.
• Have one child hold a heart and pass it to the child to their right and say, “Jesus loves you”
• Do this slowly, and then do it a little faster and faster

7. Snack

• Heart cookies
• Remind the children that a heart reminds us about love and Jesus loves us!

8. Jesus Knows My name

• Have a picture of Jesus on a poster with Jesus saying, “I love you”
• Help the children write their name
• Then put their name in Jesus’ arms

9. Jesus loves all the little children of the world!

• Flashcards of children from around the world
• The teacher says, “This child is from (Africa, for example). Her name is _______. Does Jesus love ______?”
• Children say “Yes!”
• Teacher affirms, “Yes, Jesus loves __________”

10. Bible verse

“God is love!” 1 John 4:8

Clean up together

Enjoy playing together!

LESSON CHECKLIST:

1.     Bible

2.     CD with song

3.     Heart shaped cookies

4.     Craft main page with title and sub-titles

5.     Craft pictures x 3 kinds

6.     Heart for game

7.     Poster with Jesus holding out his hands

8.     Strips of paper where children can write their names (with help)

9.     Flashcards with pictures of children from around the world. On the front = picture. On the back, name of the child and country they are from

Good New! (Preschool) (Sunday School Lessons for Children)

Date	Age-group	Scripture	Theme
Oct. 3/2010	Preschool	Acts 2:14-36	Good News!

Written/Arranged by Teresa Klassen

1. Free Time

Just play with the children and enjoy getting to know them

2. Kid’s Speak

Teacher asks the children: “What are some things that make you happy?”

If the children don’t know how to answer, then ask them…

• Does it make you happy when you have to clean up a very messy room (nooooo)
• Does it make you happy when you get to eat ice-cream (yes)
• Does it make you happy when you have to go to bed early (nooooo)
• Does it make you happy when you get to play outside on a sunny day (yes)
• Does it make you happy when you are feeling sick (nooooo)
• Does it make you happy when it is your birthday (yes)

Teacher says: Some things don’t make us very happy: this is bad news

Some things make us very happy: this is good news!

3. Good News! – Poster Activity

• We will have a poster of Good/Happy things.
• We will have smiley faces that say “Good News”
• Have the children glue a Happy Face on every poster picture
• When the put the picture on the poster have them say, “Good News!”

4. Jesus’ Good News

We will have flashcards with the following little truths from the Bible

1.     When Jesus made the world it was perfect, and we were best friends with Jesus. That is how Jesus wanted it to be!

2.     But sometimes we do things that are naughty, right? Sometimes we don’t share. Sometimes we don’t listen to our mommy’s and daddy’s, and this is wrong. This is what people do sometimes. We do things that are wrong.

3.     When we do things that are naughty, this is called sin.  When we sin it makes our hearts are all dirty and black.

4.     When our hearts are all dirty and black with sin it makes Jesus sad. Our sin pushes Jesus away. He loves us and doesn’t want our hearts to be black with sin. He wants to be our best friend.

5.     When we say sorry to Jesus He forgives us.

6.     When we say “I am sorry” to Jesus he makes our hearts clean again

7.     When Jesus says he will make our hearts clean, this is very, very good news and it makes us very, very happy!

5. Sing

Sing  “Jesus Loves Me” along with the CD/DVD

6. Good News-paper

This activity uses the Bible. There will be a “newspaper” inside the Bible.

Teacher says: Do you know how your mommy and daddy sometimes read the newspaper (show the children a newspaper). This paper is full of news about what is going on in the city where we live.

The Bible (show them a Bible) is full of news too.  It is full of very good news!

(Pull out the “Newspaper” from the Bible) Look…this news from the Bible says, “Good News” (show the children the big front headline of the paper that says “Good News”) This says, “Good News” can you say that with me?

Let’s open up our paper and see what the Good News is…

Front of the paper says: Good News

Inside Left says: Jesus loves you!

Inside Right says: Jesus loves me!

7. Craft

Make a “Good News-paper” with the children and have them practice telling it to the class.

• We will have a big piece of paper folded in half.
• We will have 3 other pages that you can glue onto this – one on the front, and two in the middle

Front of the paper says: Good News

Inside Left says: Jesus loves you!

Inside Right says: Jesus loves me!

8. Snack

Pray with the children before you have your snack and thank Jesus for the Good News that he forgives our sin and makes our hearts clean again!

9. Bible Memory

“Jesus is the light of the world”

• Jesus is: point up

• The Light: make your finger like your candle and your other hand like a flame (explain that it is a candle/light)

• Of the world: make your arms like a big circle, like the earth

10. Clean up, Clean up

Have the children help you tidy up the room