Christmas PARTY OUTLINE #CCJ18DCE
ESUS Is the SWEETEST GIFT The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 This event outline is designed for children ages 3 8 and provides ideas for a one-hour event based on the theme Jesus Is the Sweetest Gift. It s perfect for... A children s Christmas party A Happy Birthday, Jesus party The Sunday school lesson for the last Sunday of the year A Parents Day Out event prior to Christmas A Christmas in July day or two of VBS The lesson for fifth Sundays in Sunday school Your midweek Bible club May God bless you as you share the sweetest Gift of all Jesus! 2
Preparation Think about creative ways to decorate your space, incorporating the candy cane theme in your setting. Hang red and white streamers from the ceiling. Or drape lengths of crepe paper over doorways and window openings. Use red and white balloons for a festive feel. Cover tables with white paper and draw candy cane shapes on it. Scatter red colored pencils and crayons on the tables and invite children to decorate the candy cane sketches. Search candy cane decorations on Pinterest to find a variety of decorating ideas. Make your event as elaborate or as simple as you like. The ideas that follow and the Jesus Is the Sweetest Gift items available from CTA are designed to intrigue the children who attend, introduce the Savior to those who don t know him, and encourage faith in the hearts of those who already believe. NOTE: This event outline includes suggestions for crafts, games, snacks, and Bible time. There are too many options to complete all of them in an hour. Choose which to execute, taking into account the size of your group, the children s ages and interests, their background knowledge, skill levels, and the time available. 3
As Children Arrive Position group leaders throughout your welcome area and encourage them to greet families warmly as they arrive. Gather children into groups, four to six children per group. Mix older children with younger ones in each group. That way, experienced children can help the little ones. Or, encourage families to experience this event together, as a family unit. Assign one or two adult leaders to stay with each group throughout the event. As you wait for everyone to arrive, pique the children s interest by using one or more of the options below. Option 1 Teach the following song to the children. The song s repetition makes it easy to sing! You may want to use heavy cardstock and markers to make a large candy cane. Use this visual as you sing. For example, move the candy cane back and forth to keep the rhythm; point to the colors mentioned in the song; turn the cane to show the J for Jesus and then the shepherd s staff. (Sing to the melody of London Bridge Is Falling Down. ) See my little candy cane, candy cane, candy cane? See my little candy cane? Learn its meaning. White is for Christ s purity, purity, purity. White is for Christ s purity. He is sinless! Red is for the blood Christ shed, blood he shed, blood he shed. Red is for the blood Christ shed. On the cross. Jesus is our Good Shepherd, Good Shepherd, Good Shepherd. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. How he loves us! God sent us his sweetest Gift, sweetest Gift, sweetest Gift. God sent us his sweetest Gift. He sent Jesus! 4
Option 2 Duplicate CTA s coloring page from the Resource & Idea Center at www.ctainc.com/free. Scatter crayons on the tables and encourage children to color as you sing well-known Christmas songs and hymns together. Long ago, a candy maker wanted to make a piece of candy that would remind his customers to celebrate Jesus at Christmas. He created the candy cane as his special gift to the Lord. The red stripes would remind everyone of the cost of their salvation that came through Jesus blood. He added the peppermint flavor to symbolize the spices that were gifts from the Wise Men. The candy maker began with white candy that stood for the purity of the Lord. He shaped it like a J for Jesus. When he turned it upside down, he saw it became the staff of his Good Shepherd. Option 3 Tell some Christmas seasonthemed riddles like these: Today a simple candy cane still reminds us to celebrate the sweetest gift of Christmas Jesus! Where does Christmas always come before Thanksgiving? In the dictionary. What does a snowman eat for breakfast? Iced krispies or frosted flakes. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? It s Christmas, Eve! What do you call a snowman in the summer? A puddle. Why is the alphabet shorter at Christmas time? It has noel (no L ). What s red, white, and blue at Christmas? A sad candy cane. Why is it so cold at Christmas? Because it s in Decembrrrr. 2018 CTA. Inc. www.ctainc.com After everyone arrives, it s time to begin the small-group activities. Get everyone s attention and explain that the groups will be moving from one activity to the next. Let them know that you will give a signal (ringing a bell, sounding a whistle, or playing traveling music ) every fifteen minutes to indicate that it s time to rotate. 5
Bible Time Visit the Resource & Idea Center at www.ctainc.com/free to download CTA s free Jesus Is the Sweetest Gift Ministry Message. As you speak the words of this brief devotion, children (and adults, too!) will learn why Jesus is the sweetest Christmas gift. Following the Ministry Message, plan to use one or more of the optional ideas suggested here. As you do so, continue to emphasize the importance of Jesus coming on the very first Christmas. He came to be our Savior. He took all of our sins to the cross. He died for our sins and then he came alive again! Now we can be sure that we are forgiven and will one day live with Jesus in heaven. Option 1 You ll need to make copies of CTA s free, downloadable postcard found in the Resource & Idea Center (www.ctainc.com/free). Separate the cards with a paper cutter. Make a poster detailing your church s Christmas worship schedule, as well as special Christmas events (live nativity, children s program, choir concert). Post this schedule where everyone can see it and reference it while decorating the postcards. Gather crayons, colored pencils, and small Christmas-themed stickers for children to use while decorating the front side of the postcard. Encourage the children to decorate their postcards, choosing one of your church s Christmas events and filling out the back of the postcard with the details. Young children will need assistance writing the event details on the back of the postcard. Encourage everyone to use the postcard to invite someone to an upcoming Christmas s worship service or event. Come and Celebrate with Us! 6
Option 2 Suggest that families or children work together to complete a page or two in the Jesus Is the Sweetest Gift Gospel Fun for Little Ones (Item #CCJ18GF). Option 3 Print copies of CTA s Share the Sweetest Gift Jesus! activity sheet (provided for you at the end of this guide), one per family or per child. Provide Bibles, Jesus Is the Sweetest Gift Jumbo Bookmark and Pen Gift Sets (Item #CCJ18JST), markers, tape, and scissors. Follow the directions provided. 7
SnackTime Fruit Candy Canes Fresh strawberries or raspberries Fresh bananas 1. Slice strawberries. (If using raspberries, leave them whole) 2. Slice bananas. Give each child a small paper plate with several pieces of fruit on it. Tell the children to rearrange the fruit to form a candy cane shape. As they work, review the meaning of the candy cane. 8
Candy Cane Cocoa Small candy canes Hot cocoa mix Hot water A blender Spoons 1. Place small candy canes inside the blender. 2. Invite children to take turns and pulse the blender until the candy canes are reduced to sprinkles. 3. Use spoons to put the candy cane sprinkles on top of hot cocoa. 9
Candy Cane Dessert Cups One Jesus Is the Sweetest Gift tumbler (Item #CCJ18PT) for each child Refrigerated peppermint cookie dough Whipped cream Candy canes Spoons and forks 1. Prior to the event, crush the candy canes and bake the peppermint cookies. Be sure to make the cookies small enough to fit inside the plastic tumblers. 2. As the children arrive at the snack station, give everyone a Jesus Is the Sweetest Gift tumbler. 3. Instruct the children to put approximately one tablespoon of whipped cream into the bottom of their tumblers. Then, they can sprinkle crushed candy canes on top and put a peppermint cookie on top of that. 4. Repeat the layers once more. Then, add a final dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of crushed candy canes. 10
Crafts Invite the children to use the Jesus Is the Sweetest Gift Goodie Bag (#CCJ18TS12) to carry their crafts and other mementos during the event. Build an Ornament One Jesus Is the Sweetest Gift Build-Your-Own-Ornament Foam Activity Kit for each child (Item #CCJ18AK) Permanent markers Follow the directions printed on the activity kit. Suggest that children hang the ornament on their Christmas tree at home or on their bedroom doorknob as a reminder of Jesus love. Be sure to mark completed projects with the child s name. 11
Beaded Candy Cane Ornament Pipe cleaners Red beads White beads Scissors 1. Before the event, knot one end of each pipe cleaner. 2. When the children arrive, show them how to slip one bead at a time onto the unknotted end of the pipe cleaner. 3. Monitor the children to make sure they are alternating red and white beads. 4. When the candy cane is five to seven inches long, tie a knot in the end of the pipe cleaner. (You will need to help young crafters tie this knot.) Use a scissors to trim the wire as close to the knot as possible. 5. Slightly bend the end of the pipe cleaner to create the candy cane shape. 12
Games Choose the game(s) below that will work best in your setting and with the children in your group. Before each game, explain the rules. Also, remind the children that God sent the sweetest Gift to us at Christmas Jesus! Jesus came to save us. He died and came alive again so that we would have forgiveness of sins and eternal life with him! Don t forget the prizes! Check out CTA s website (click on the Children s Ministry link) to find budget-friendly prizes. RingThose Bells! A bag of jingle bells Ten small boxes Wrapping paper Tape 1. Prior to the event, place a different number of jingle bells inside each box. Then, wrap each box with a different type of Christmas wrapping paper, secretly noting how many bells each box contains. 2. To play the game, divide the children into two teams and give each team five boxes. Challenge players to shake the boxes to determine how many bells are inside. Then, ask them to place the boxes in order, from the box containing the least number of bells to the box with the most. 3. Reveal how many bells were in each box, and award prizes to the team with the most correct guesses! 13
Snowball Fight Table Bowl Ping-Pong balls Cotton balls 1. Place the bowl at one end of the table. 2. Form two teams (or have two opponents face off). They should stand on opposite ends of the table. 3. At your signal, someone from the team on the opposite end of the bowl must try to bounce a Ping-Pong ball into the bowl. While he or she attempts this, the other team (standing by the bowl) can toss cotton balls at the Ping-Pong ball to prevent success. 4. Rotate players and teams so all children get a chance to play. Jingle Bell Roll Table Four or five plastic round ornaments A jingle bell, one inch in diameter 1. Place the plastic round ornaments along one edge of the table. 2. Position players at the opposite end of the table. 3. One player at a time will roll the jingle bell across the table in an attempt to knock an ornament off the table. 4. Allow each person five attempts, and then switch to the next player. 14
Candy Cane Race Table Candy canes 2 paper plates 1. Two players will face off across the table from one another. 2. Give each player a candy cane. Pile the remaining canes on the table. 3. At your signal, players will put a candy cane in their mouth and hold it with their teeth hook end extended. They should try to hook candy canes from the pile and place them on their paper plate. No hands allowed! 4. The person who hooks the most candy canes within the time limit wins. Another option: Hook several candy canes on a string tied between two chairs (instead of a pile on the table). Play as directed. 15
Snow Slide Beach towels or scooter boards Candy canes (three for each player) Christmas tree 1. Scatter the candy canes throughout the play area three for each player. 2. Place the Christmas tree at one end of the play area. 3. Give each player a towel or scooter. To maneuver, players can sit or lay down on the towel or scooter. (Caution players not to bump into other players.) 4. The object of the game is to successfully scoot around while gathering three candy canes and place them on the Christmas tree. 5. When the challenge is completed, players will shout, Merry Christmas! 2018 CTA, Inc. www.ctainc.com Permission to make photocopies or reproduce by any other mechanical or electronic means is granted and is intended for use within a church or other Christian organization, but not for resale. #CCJ18DCE Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible. 16
Share the Sweetest Gift Jesus! Look up and read each Bible verse. They will tell you why Jesus is the sweetest Christmas Gift! Then, complete the sentences by filling in the blank space(s) on each candy cane. When you re finished, assemble the carrying pouch and cut out the candy canes. Place the candy canes inside the pouch. Talk with your friends and family. Who needs to know about Jesus, the sweetest Christmas gift? How can you tell them about this good news? Acts 5:31 Jesus my sins. Colossians 3:15 Jesus gives me. He helps me be. Ephesians 2:10 Jesus helps me do. Psalm 119:117 Jesus keeps me. John 10:28 Jesus gives me. Psalm 21:6 Jesus makes me.
The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 FOLD HERE AND TAPE ON THE SHORT EDGES TO MAKE A POUCH C A N D Y C A N E P O U C H