by Courtney Kirk | Nov 27, 2017 | Holiday, Teaching Resources
Kids love parties. They enjoy having fun with friends. So give the children in your church a place to have fun with friends. Throw a holiday party with a message. We always look for teachable moments, don’t we? And we strive to offer something our kids beg to come to and bring their friends. They all look forward to the Christmas party!!
This year, I am throwing A Gingerbread Christmas party for our elementary kids. I searched and searched for a lesson using the Gingerbread man, but could not seem to find what I was looking for. Since I was set on my theme, not sure why because I don’t even eat Gingerbread, I set out to create my own story that brought Jesus to our children using a simple Gingerbread man. I had an idea! The Gingerbread man was going to be our creation. Each child gets a Gingerbread man cookie to decorate. Then, we will gather around in a circle where I will have a large, plain, undecorated poster board gingerbread man. Now for the lesson, that teachable moment. I will decorate him as we go.
First, this a man. I created this man with the finest ingredients and careful attention. I wanted him to be perfect… like God when he created Adam and Eve. He created them perfectly. Let’s give our Gingerbread man eyes, eyes to see when those around us are in need. Then we will give him a smile to share the good news of our Savior. Each hand will get a mitten for serving others. And he will get boots to take him wherever the Lord sends him. And finally the buttons, three, for the Father in heaven who hears our prayers, the Son who came to earth to save us all and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, guiding our ways.
You see, I will share with our kids the amazing gift from God. We are a gift from God, the Bible calls children blessings. And He has given us a gift. The Bible says we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And God didn’t stop there! He gave us His Son to die on the cross, to be our Savior offering us the gift of grace. What an amazing God we love and serve! Each time they see a Gingerbread man, I want them to think of the parts that make up this cookie. The finest ingredients, eyes, a mouth, hands and feet and our God living in us.
For a detailed outline of this holiday party, games and all, email raisekidsforchrist@gmail.com and put “Gingerbread Man” in the subject line.
If you download the party plan, here’s a link to the sticky hands it refers to. (KIDS LOVE THESE!)
Thanks for installing the Bottom of every post plugin by Corey Salzano. Contact me if you need custom WordPress plugins or website design.
by Courtney Kirk | Nov 20, 2017 | Holiday
Let the hustle and bustle begin! Thanksgiving week kicks off the holiday season. As our calendars quickly fill up, we strive to keep ourselves from over stressing and remembering the spirit of the season. This week we begin by focusing on all the things we are thankful for, all the ways God has blessed us. Kids are great this! They are thankful for everything from their toys and bed to their great-great-grandma and every cousin too! I’m sure you’ve tucked your kids in and listened to a few prayers like this.
This year, I am trying something a little different. Instead of starting with turkeys this week and then moving into presents, trees and nativity scenes next week, I’m leaping head on into Christmas with a tree. In our foyer I am hanging a large Christmas tree (made from those big rolls of paper tucked away in the workroom). The star on top reads, “Blessed” and the ornaments are pre-cut for all of the kids to use. Parents are encouraged to bring pictures of their kids to hang on the tree together and talk about what a blessing they are. The other ornaments are for the kids to write down blessings and hang on the tree each week so we can look visually at all of the ways God has blessed us. Under the tree are gifts labeled, “Teaching, Singing, Hospitality.” You get the idea. Then, at our elementary holiday party, we will gather around the tree and talk about our blessings from God, making sure to add Christ and grace as we talk more deeply about that. (Our party theme this year is “A Gingerbread Christmas” which ties in perfectly. More on this later.)
By doing this, we direct our children’s focus on goodness and spiritual thoughts. Especially for smaller churches, this is a great way to show your church members and holiday guests that children are a priority at your congregation. Everyone, well almost everyone, wants to know their church is growing, not stagnant. What better way of doing this than by putting children, the future of the church, right at the front of the building so they all see the tree of children every time they enter the building. If you want more children at your church, parents looking for a church home want to know their kids are not going to be the only ones. Make yours appealing with friends for their kids.
What are some ways you keep children thinking about spiritual things throughout the season? And what are ways you showcase your children?
Thanks for installing the Bottom of every post plugin by Corey Salzano. Contact me if you need custom WordPress plugins or website design.
Kids love parties. They enjoy having fun with friends. So give the children in your church a place to have fun with friends. Throw a holiday party with a message. We always look for teachable moments, don’t we? And we strive to offer something our kids beg to come to and bring their friends. They all look forward to the Christmas party!!