Images of Christmas

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Images of Christmas
Childrens Church Program Teachers Manual
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WEEK 1 Candy canes WEEK 2 Bells and candles WEEK
3 Garlands, wreaths and chains and holly WEEK 4
Stars WEEK 5 Gifts
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Images of Christmas
For the next 5 weeks we will be learning about
the stories and customs surrounding some of the
common Images of Christmas - the festive
decorations and pictures seen on Christmas
cards. We will be hearing the story of the Birth
of Jesus. We will be compiling a book which can
be given as a gift or kept by the children so
that they can tell others about the true meaning
of Christmas.
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CANDY CANES
Talk to the children about their week and pray
about any concerns. Take up offerings Note that
now we are in the fourth term and there are only
a few weeks until Christmas. Tell them that we
are going to learn about the story and customs
behind some of the decorations and pictures we
see at Christmas time Tell the children that for
the next few weeks we will be making a booklet
which can be given as a gift or kept by the
children Tell the story of the Candy Cane Read
the first part of the Christmas story - the visit
of the angel Gabriel to Mary Do the
colouring/craft activities Make sure the children
write their names on the back of each page.
Collect the pages so that they can be collated
for the booklet Make a circle and Play Candy Cane
Game Still in the circle pray for the week ahead
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The Legend of the Candy Cane According to
legend there was a candy maker who wanted to
invent a candy that was a witness to Christ.
First of all, he used a hard candy because
Christ is the rock of ages. This hard candy was
shaped so that it would resemble a J for Jesus
or, turned upside down, a shepherds staff. He
made it white to represent the purity of
Christ. Finally a red stripe was added to
represent the blood Christ shed for the sins of
the world, and three thinner red stripes for the
stripes He received on our behalf when the Roman
soldiers whipped Him. Sometimes a green stripe is
added as a reminder that Jesus is a gift from
God. The flavour of the cane is peppermint,
which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is in the mint
family and was used in the Old Testament for
purification and sacrifice. Jesus is the pure
Lamb of God, come to be a sacrifice for the sins
of the world. So, every time you see a candy
cane, remember the message of the candy maker
Jesus is the Christ!
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CANDY CANE GAME
Make a small cardboard square with a candy cane
taped to it for each child and make a few extra
in case of visitors Write one childs name on
each square and punch a hole in the cardboard big
enough to fit over the hook of a candy
cane Children sit in a circle on the floor with
all the cardboard squares in the centre of the
circle. They take turns in hooking their own
square with a candy cane. This illustrates that
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who came to save each
one individually. The children take home the
square and eat the cane they used for the game.
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Here are the stories and meanings behind some of
the popular images of Christmas
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BELLS AND CANDLES
Talk to the children about their week and pray
about any concerns. Take up offerings .Remind the
children that for the next few weeks we will be
making a booklet which can be given as a gift or
kept by the children Tell the stories of the
bells and candles Sing the Bell carol using the
instruments. Read the second part of the
Christmas story - the birth of Jesus Do the
colouring/craft activities Make sure the children
write their names on the back of each page.
Collect the pages so that they can be collated
for the booklet Make a circle and pray for the
week ahead
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Bells Just as lost sheep are guided to safety by
the sound of the bell, it continues to ring today
for all to be guided to the fold. Follow the true
Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep." Bells
have also been used to announce news and the
Birth of Jesus is The Good News. Paulinus,
Bishop of Nola in Campania was the first to
introduce bells into Christian worship around
A.D. 420. Bells say Come and worship!
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Candles Candles remind us that Jesus is The
Light of the World. The glow of the candle also
represents how man can show his thanks for the
gift of Jesus by following in Christ's footsteps,
to go about doing good. They remind us to let
our light shine before men so that all may see it
and glorify God. This is what is symbolized when
the twinkling lights shine on the tree like
hundreds of bright, shining candles, each of them
representing one of God's precious children,
their light shining for all to see."
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GARLANDS, WREATHS, CHAINS AND HOLLY
Talk to the children about their week and pray
about any concerns. Take up offerings Remind the
children that for the next few weeks we will be
making a booklet which can be given as a gift or
kept by the children Tell the stories of
garlands, wreaths, chains and holly Sing The
Holly and the Ivy Read the third part of the
Christmas story the shepherds Do the
colouring/craft activities Make sure the children
write their names on the back of each page.
Collect the pages so that they can be collated
for the booklet Make a circle and pray for the
week ahead
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1. The holly and the ivy,Now both are full well
grown.1Of all the trees that are in the
wood,The holly bears the crown. ChorusOh, the
rising of the sun,The running of the deer.The
playing of the merry organ,Sweet singing in the
quire.2 2. The holly bears a blossomAs white as
lily flowerAnd Mary bore sweet Jesus ChristTo
be our sweet Saviour. Chorus 3. The holly bears a
berryAs red as any bloodAnd Mary bore sweet
Jesus ChristTo do poor sinners good.3 Chorus 4.
The holly bears a prickleAs sharp as any
thornAnd Mary bore sweet Jesus ChristOn
Christmas day in the morn. Chorus 5. The holly
bears a barkAs bitter as any gallAnd Mary bore
sweet Jesus ChristFor to redeem us all.
Chorus 6. The holly and the ivy,When they are
both full grown,Of all the trees that are in the
wood,The holly bears the crown. Chorus 7. The
rising of the sunAnd the running of the
deer,The playing of the merry organ,Sweet
singing in the choir. Chorus
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The Christmas tree. Green is the second color of
Christmas. The stately evergreen with its
unchanging color represents the hope of eternal
life in Jesus. It's needles point heavenward as a
reminder that man's thoughts should turn
heavenward as well. WreathsWreaths made of
fresh, fragrant greenery and tied with a bright
red bow. "The bow reminds us of the bond of
perfection which is love. The wreath embodies all
the good things about Christmas for those with
eyes to see and hearts to understand. It contains
the colors of red and green and the heaven-turned
needles of the evergreen. The bow tells the story
of good will towards all and its color again
reminds us of Christ's sacrifice. Even its very
shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the
eternal nature of Christ's love. It is a circle
without beginning and without end.
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STARS
Talk to the children about their week and pray
about any concerns. Take up offerings Remind the
children that this year we are Remind the
children that for the next few weeks we will be
making a booklet which can be given as a gift or
kept by the children Tell the stories of
stars Read the fourth part of the Christmas
story the Wise Men Do the colouring/craft
activities Make sure the children write their
names on the back of each page. Collect the pages
so that they can be collated for the booklet Play
the shooting and falling star game Make a circle
and pray for the week ahead
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The StarThe star was the heavenly sign of
promise. God promised a Savior for the world and
the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that
promise of the night that Jesus Christ was born.
God always fulfills His promises and wise men
still seek Him.
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Make a star mobile
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The Star of Bethlehem
No one knows the year in which Christ was born,
although the solution may be at hand. The "star"
might have been an unusual set of planetary and
stellar conjunctions culminating in a spectacular
close approach of Jupiter and Venus. Research is
being carried out at Griffith Observatory
California. http//www.griffithobs.org/giftCmasint
ro.html
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GIFTS
Talk to the children about their week and pray
about any concerns. Take up offerings Tell the
children they will be finishing off their
booklets this week Tell the stories of
gifts Talk about the Christmas story and the
true meaning of Christmas Do the colouring/craft
activities and make up the childrens booklets
They can take them home this week. Make a circle
and pray for the week ahead
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