Dec. 17,2017 Birthday Party for Jesus DATE PONDER POINT Christmas Celebration The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. Zephaniah 3:17a THE BIG GOD STORY REMEMBER VERSE Welcome (6 minutes): Begins class creating an inviting atmosphere for kids to feel welcome and to worship in song. Worship & Connect (17 minutes): Establishes community and engages kids, drawing them in and preparing them to hear God s word. The Big God Story (15 minutes): Creates space for children to hear God s word. Small Groups (20 minutes): Kids respond in small groups to what they heard in the Big God Story. Remember Verse & Bless (3 minutes): Allows children to practice their memory verse and be sent out with a sense of peace so they can be a blessing to others. 1
GOAL: Worship & welcome is all about engaging kids and helping them enter into worship, letting them know that class has begun preparing their minds for what they are going to hear. WELCOME - 3 minutes (Host) IMAGE: Welcome We are so glad you are here at Critter Land today. Personalize your welcome. Relate to what s happening such as holidays, school year, church camp, etc. Pique the curiosity about today s Ponder Point/Story, tell a joke, do something to draw in the attending of the kids and mention any announcements! RULES VIDEO: Sherriff Hawk with Kids Church Rules MAIL TIME - 3 minutes (Host) VIDEO: Mail Time Intro IMAGE: Remember Verse The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. Zephaniah 3:17a MOTIONS The LORD your God: Make letter L with right index finger and thumb at left shoulder. Move L diagonally down to right hip. is with you: Put both hands in front of body and pull close to chest. the Mighty Warrior: Make fists and flex to show muscles. who saves: Make fists and fold arms across chest, then open arms. 2
GOAL: Establishes community and engages kids, drawing them in and preparing them to hear God s word. Kids get to participate in various worship elements such as offering, scripture memorization and their curiosity is peaked as they discover what will be in the wardrobe of wonder. WORSHIP - 7 minutes (Worship Leader) If you brought offering, go put it in the squirrel feeder while we worship! VIDEO: (9:00 & 11:30) Emmanuel (10:15) Born Is The King VIDEO: (9:00 & 11:30) Celebrate (10:15) Oh What a Glorious Night (Direct kids to get with their groups and circle up with their small group leader before sitting down) SMALL GROUP CONNECT QUESTIONS - 5 minutes (Host) VIDEO: 4 minute countdown 1. What is your favorite birthday memory? Why? 2. How do you think Jesus and His family celebrated His birthday each year? 3. What has God done in your life that you would like to celebrate? 4. What would you like to thank God for today? WARDROBE OF WONDER - 5 minutes (Host) What sit: 9:00-7 boxes Do Not Open 10:15-7-boxes do not open VIDEO: Wardrobe of Wonder Intro Choose 1 volunteer. Volunteer picks two hats from wardrobe one for himself, one for host. Tell other kids to put on their imaginary thinking caps. Volunteer finds the boxes..set them out on the table for Story teller. ASK: 9:00 7 boxes, do not open, save for Storyteller ASK: 10:15 7 boxes do not open, save for Storyteller 3
Point out that what kids are about to hear is true and is recorded in the Bible. Open your Bible to the passage and leave it open and visible throughout The Big God Story. Invite kids to open their Bibles and follow along as you storytell. Children respond to what the Holy Spirit is teaching them as they reflect on the day s portion of The Big God Story. The Prayer of Release allows children and leaders to pause, be still, and ask God to quiet their hearts and minds. Before you pray, you might ask the kids to hold out their hands, palms up, in a spirit of releasing their worries and distractions in order to better receive what the Holy Spirit might have for them today. Then encourage the kids to quiet their voices, take a seat, and pray with you. The Big God Story: 7 Boxes numbered with Big God Story Pictures inside. STORYTELLING - 15 minutes (Storyteller) Video: The Big Story Intro Today we re going to hear the story of Jesus birthday. Look what I found waiting for us. Refer to the seven boxes on the stage. I think we need some help with these boxes. I am looking for seven special friends to come and help me tell this special story today. (addressing the seven volunteers): Each of you is going to help us tell the story of Jesus birthday by holding up whatever is in the box you open. Are you ready? Children will answer. Let s open box #1. Child opens box and holds up Isaiah puppet. Tech: Cue image corresponding to each box as it s opened. Box #1: Isaiah the Prophet image. A long time before Jesus was born, there was a man named Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet. What's a prophet? Allow children to respond. A prophet is a special person who brings God s message to other people. God told Isaiah that the promised Savior would come to earth one day. Who is that Savior? Allow children to answer. Yes! The Savior who would come to earth is Jesus, God s Son. But He hadn t come yet! Have second volunteer open Box #2: Mary and the Angel image. When it was time for the promised Savior to come to the world, God chose a special young woman named Mary for a very special job. What was that job? Allow children to respond. Yes! She was going to have a baby. She would be the baby s mother. How did God tell her the good news about having this special baby? Encourage children to answer. That s right! God sent an angel to Mary to tell her the good news. The angel said, Do not be afraid! I have good news! The angel told Mary she was going to have a baby, and that baby was going to be Jesus, the promised 4
Savior. Have third volunteer open Box #3: Joseph and the Angel image. Mary was engaged to a man who would soon be her husband. His name was Joseph, and he loved God very much. One night, God spoke to Joseph in a special way. What was the special way God sent a message to Joseph? Children answer. You re right! While he was sleeping, God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream! The angel told Joseph that Mary was going to have a baby, and that baby was going to be God s Son. God had a very important job for Joseph. What was it? Children answer. Yes, Joseph was going to be Jesus father while He was here on earth! Have fourth volunteer open Box #4: Joseph and Mary Traveling to Bethlehem image. Joseph and Mary were traveling to the city of Bethlehem when the time came for Mary to have baby Jesus. But there were so many people visiting Bethlehem that there wasn t any room for Mary and Joseph. The only place left for them to stay was where the animals were kept. And that s where the baby was born. Mary wrapped baby Jesus in cloth and laid Him in a manger. Worship Leader have fifth volunteer open Box #5: Shepherds in Field with Multitude of Angels image. What is a shepherd? Allow kids to respond. Yes, a shepherd is a person who protects sheep and takes care of them. God sent angels to the shepherds and told them they were to go and see Jesus. The angels gave the shepherds very important instructions about how they could find Jesus. What were the instructions? Allow kids to recall and respond. Jesus would be wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. That s right! Sounds to me like the shepherds were invited to a really fun party! Just like we all were invited to celebrate Jesus earlier. But I think there are some more people who will be invited to the party too! Let s check and see what the next boxes have in them. Have sixth volunteer open Box #6: Mary and Joseph with Baby Jesus in Manger image. The shepherds went right away looking for Jesus. When they found Him, he was wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger, just like the angels told them. How cool is that? Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus were there! The shepherds were some of the very first people to see Jesus. I bet they felt pretty special! God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth for us. He wanted us to know Him and to know just how much He loves all of us. Because He came down as a baby, and lived on earth as a man, we know that He loves us very much! Let s see who else is invited to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Have seventh volunteer opens Box #7: YOU image. Friends, you have been invited to celebrate Jesus birthday. Not only have you been invited to celebrate Jesus birthday, but you ve been invited to be a part of God s big story. God s love is so amazing, and His big story is amazing! And you are a part of His big story! That is something to celebrate. God has done so much in this place and in our lives. We re going to keep celebrating by responding to all the things we ve talked about today. Each time we gather to remember and celebrate God, we share in a simple meal or snack. As we do, we talk about God and share stories of His goodness. Today we re celebrating God s goodness in giving us Jesus! 5
GOAL: Kids respond in small groups to what they heard in the Big God Story. Birthday Party SUPPLIES Cup cakes Blind fold Mary Donkey Tape Tape the donkey to the wall. Place a small piece of tape or a glue dot on the back of each Mary. RELATE Welcome children to the game. Write each child s name on a Mary image. Explain how the game is played. Before Joseph and Mary celebrated with baby Jesus, they had to travel to Bethlehem. Mary may have ridden into Bethlehem on a donkey. See if you can help Mary onto the donkey. You ll each take a turn trying to attach a picture of Mary onto the donkey s back. The tricky part is that you ll be blindfolded while you re trying to do it! Oh, and while you re blindfolded, we ll gently spin you around a couple of times, just to make it a little more fun. Then we ll turn you toward the donkey and see how close you can get to pinning Mary right on the donkey s back. After each child has had a turn, have fun seeing where all the Marys were attached. After everyone has played the game, pass out cupcakes and let the kids enjoy celebrating Jesus Birthday! No wonder questions today 6
GOAL: Kids respond in small groups to what they heard in the Big God Story. Candy Cane, Wreath, or Spiral Ornament SUPPLIES Pipe cleaners Beads Yarn RELATE Today we are learning about the real meaning of Christmas. Jesus being born! It is so fun to celebrate Christmas! In keeping with the Christmas Season, We are going to make ornaments to take home and put on your tree or in your room! Show the different shapes of the pipe cleaners and all the kids to choose which one they want to make. Spiral: Pick 2 pipe cleaners. Have the kids place the beads on the pipe cleaners then allow them to wrap the pipe cleaners around a pencil or marker. Twist the pipe cleaners around the piece of yarn. Wreath: Pick 2 pipe cleaners. Place a couple of beads on each pipe cleaner half way up. Add the yarn to one of the pipe cleaners then finish with beads. Twist the pipe cleaners together and circle them up and connect them by twisting both ends together. Candy Cane: Pick 2 pipe cleaners. Place beads all most all the way to the top, add yarn, finish beads. Twist the beaded pipe cleaner with the plain pipe cleaner, form into a candy cane. No Wonder questions today 7
Review the Remember Verse: The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. Zephaniah 3:17a The LORD your God: Make letter L with right index finger and thumb at left shoulder. Move L diagonally down to right hip. is with you: Put both hands in front of body and pull close to chest. the Mighty Warrior: Make fists and flex to show muscles. who saves: Make fists and fold arms across chest, then open arms. BLESSING I d like to pray a special blessing over you. This year you turned another year older. When Jesus was your age, He had birthdays just like you! I give thanks to God for another year of your life and give you this blessing: May you always know that God loves you, and how deep His love is for you. This year, may you have overwhelming peace in your heart, rest in your mind, and health in your body. May you have these things not only today and on your birthday, but every day of your life. VIDEO: In This Life 8
I m still awake. It s almost Christmas morning and the anticipation is more than I can take. The entire month of December has been filled with preparations for Christmas Day. I hear little footsteps coming down the hall, and I realize they re coming into my room. My little brother tries to enter quietly but the door squeaks as he opens it. I roll over and whisper, Domenic! Go back to bed! It s five o clock in the morning! With his very loud inside voice he exclaims, But it s Christmas morning! Wake up! God promised to send a Savior Immanuel, God with us. Our Christmas celebrations are focused on His fulfillment of this promise. I m reminded of the promise Jesus made when He spoke of His return. It s hard for me to fully comprehend all that His return entails. But oh, the celebration! And it won t be for a single day, or for a month filled with pretty decorations and catchy Christmas tunes. No, He will come in all His glory and might and it will be forevermore! Christmas is just a taste of the celebration to come. Natalie Lisk ROCKHARBOR Church Events in the Christmas season haven t always looked like they do today. Before Christmas was instituted, there were several different festivals people celebrated, including winter solstice and other winter festivals honoring pagan gods. People crowded the streets to party in outrageous fashion. To avoid persecution, some Christians were forced to decorate their homes with the icons of the festivals. And some even went so far as engaging in the revelry too. The church began to challenge the pagan traditions by holding services on the 25th of December, and even though this is probably not the day Jesus was actually born, the church decided to celebrate the birth of Christ on this day and declared it to be Christmas. In preparation for the celebration, the early church celebrated Advent. Some scholars believe that in the middle of the fourth century, Constantine the Great built the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, declaring Jesus birthday an official holiday, and Julius, bishop of Rome, set the date as December 25. Christmas was said to have taken on a happier, more celebratory feel and became a time of joyous anticipation. However, its traditions were upheld not by church leaders, but rather those in royal or political power. It wasn t until the late 1800s that the celebration of Christmas began to resemble today s. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens introduced many of the qualities we associate with Christmas: family, charity, hope, and love. Christmas evolved from a holiday characterized by drinking and riots into a day of family, giving, and worship (Collins, p. 18). While always incorporating celebrations, today Christmas is observed by Christians all over the world as a time set aside to remember the birth of Christ and marvel at the wonder that God became flesh in order to provide the way for us to be in relationship with Him forever. 9
Christmas time is here We ll be drawing near Oh, that we could always see Such spirit through the year Oh, that we could always see Such spirit through the year. Christmas Time Is Here (written by Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas) The day Jesus Christ was born, the world was given a holy and precious gift. God came near and stayed near. When Jesus returned to be with the Father, He left us the Spirit of God to dwell within and among us so that His light would continue to shine in this world. All who embrace Him can know the hope and joy of His salvation. Take a look at your own Christmas traditions. What s one thing you do, or participate in, each year that allows His Spirit to fill you with joy and peace? How can this be replicated throughout the year? How can you invite others into the celebration to share the joy He brings? Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4). 10