Christmas Quotes

"The only person in history who was able to choose where to be born, chose a stable."

"Caveat Retailus: Shopper Beware!"

At a nativity play, all was going well until the angel appeared and told the little girl playing mary that she was going to have a baby,
 "But how can that be," said Mary, "Since I am a Viking?"

" A baby first laughs at the age of four weeks, By that time his eyes focus well enough to see you clearly."

"When I was a child, I was so fat I was the one chosen to play Bethlehem in the school Nativity play."

Nazareth: A man from Nazareth was despised in Jesus' day. It was an obscure town from which no good was thought to come, situated in "Galilee of the Gentiles". The Roman garrison in charge of Gallilee was housed there. The people of Nazareth had constant contact with people from far away so that news reached them quickly. The people of Nazareth had an attitude of independence that many Jews despised.
Nathaniel commented, "Nazareth! Can any thing good come from there?"

"Who likes a party?" Presents are wrapped in paper printed with creative designs. The wrapping paper is not meant to sit in a cupboard out of sight but be on display covering the gift inside. As the gift is opened the paper is torn...
Jesus the baby, wrapped in a manger
Jesus on the cross- the Saviour torn for our sins so that the best gift, salvation is opened and available to all.
What a party! Will you be there?

Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star

(Twinkle Twinkle Little Star tune...)

Twinkle twinkle Christmas Star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Lighting up the Christmas sky
Star of hope, star of love
Twinkle twinkle from above.

Twinkle twinkle Christmas Star
How I wonder what you are
Shine on meadows, shine on sheep
Shine on shepherds as they sleep
Wake and see a light so bright
What is happening tonight?

Twinkle twinkle Christmas Star
How I wonder what you are
Shine on angels as they sing
Can you hear they news they bring?
"Born this night-oh what a joy!
God's own Son, a baby boy!"

Twinkle twinkle Christmas Star
How i wonder what you are
Shine on Joseph, Mary too
Shine & shine the whole night thru
Oh now watch, see them lay
Baby Jesus on the hay.

I love the stars that twinkle bright
I love the stars on Christmas night
Christmas night is for me too
Jesus came for me, it's true
Thank you God for what you've done
Thank you God, for your own Son.

Two Sock Puppets sing another Christmas Song

Christmas Interactive Story for Children

Check out this Christmas interactive story for children aged 4-12. It would be suitable to be used in a school, Sunday School or family setting.
Christmas Interactive Story

YouTube Christmas Videos

 The Nativity Factor
The Christmas Story
A kid's view of the Christmas Story
Bethlehemian Rhapsody
Lego Christmas

Christmas Activities

An interactive series of activities on Christmas for school children.
check it out here - http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/re/b-dag/ngfl-container/re-unit1-en.html

Fresh Christmas Resources for Children's Ministry

Here are some great ideas re possible Advent/Christmas activities for your context…
Bible Society Seeds Christmas Issues
Christian Playgroup Storytime Christmas Surprises 

From the Uniting Church in South Australia…
 
Adorable Multi-Age Worship Resource

Summer Sundays and Celebrate Jesus 

From Barnabas November eNews
A Sheep's Tale
Christmas Story Beads
Christmas games - activities for a children's or all-age session
Church-sized Christingles - get everyone involved in a twist on this traditional service
Christmas - Have I got good news for you! -the Bible in TV programmes
Operation Christmas Child - a reflective story
Packing up Christmas - some games that tell a story
Presenting the Christmas message through sounds
Seasonal Shopping - an all-age nativity sketch
Multi-Age Advent - an Advent service focusing on John the Baptist's prophetic ministry.

 
 

Handprint Angel Craft Activity

Scripture Union (UK) have some Christmas resources for young children at their  Tiddlywinks website.

Check out the Handprint Angels and the  Nativity colouring page.

Nativity Plays

At a nativity play, all was going well until the angel appeared and told the little girl playing Mary that she was going to have a baby.

“But how can this be,” said Mary, “since I am a Viking?”

Free Nativity Play

Christmas Skit

Christmas Plays

Christmas Around the World Drama

Christmas is Coming PDF booklet

Nativity Play

Open House Nativity Play

The Nativity Story - Animated Christmas Nativity Story

Free Nativity Photos

Click to enlarge photos

Christmas Drama

You may have heard of the Christmas play where the little children dressed up as little angels, shepherds, wise men and the other characters of Christmas.
The highlight of the Christmas play was to show the radiance of Jesus. An electric bulb was hidden in the manger. All the stage lights were to be turned off, leaving only one light in the manger.
At the appropriate time, all the lights went out.
Even the manger light.
The silence was broken when one of the shepherds loudly whispered,
"Hey, you turned off Jesus! "

Christmas is Really For the Children

Christmas Is Really For the Children

Christmas is really
for the children.
Especially for children
who like animals, stables,
stars and babies wrapped
in swaddling clothes.
Then there are wise men,
kings in fine robes,
humble shepherds and a
hint of rich perfume.

Easter is not really
for the children
unless accompanied by
a cream filled egg.
It has whips, blood, nails,
a spear and allegations
of body snatching.
It involves politics, God
and the sins of the world.
It is not good for people
of a nervous disposition.
They would do better to
think on rabbits, chickens
and the first snowdrop
of spring.

Or they'd do better to
wait for a re-run of
Christmas without asking
too many questions about
what Jesus did when he grew up
or whether there's any connection.

Steve Turner

(c) Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge..

Sharing the Christmas Story With Preschoolers (ages 2-4)

Sharing the Christmas Story with Preschoolers

In preparation to tell the Christmas story.

1. Be reminded that God’s Son Jesus came to earth as a little child to rescue humankind from their sins and to bring people back into relationship with God the Father for eternity. (John 3:16) Emphasize to your child that Jesus is a very special person. God’s Son. We can know and love him, thank him, sing songs to praise him. Jesus came to help us know what God is like.

2. Consider the age and stage of development of preschoolers. Also consider how children of this age group experience God and how they best learn. Any sharing of the Christmas story will be more effective if these factors determine your choice of story or approach.

Note particularly that the focus on faith development at this age is on experiencing the awe and wonder of God.

Children of these ages are literalists so be careful that you tell make clear what is the truth from the Bible and what is just a made up story.

Children of this age won’t remember all the details or the order of the shepherds, wise men, Mary & Joseph going to Bethlehem etc. The atmosphere of expectation, surprise, joy, peace, celebration are things that they will be able to identify with. Pray often that God will help your child trust him and love him.

Let your children see you read the story from a children’s Bible. Talk about how great it is that God has given us this special book so we can learn more about him.

The parent’s attitude to the sharing of the story will be a powerful communicator at this age. If the coming of Jesus as God’s Son into the world is important and wonderful to the parent then this will be seen by the child. There is the danger that children will rather hear their parents griping about Christmas- costs, advertising, family arrangements and this could overshadow the central truth.

Use even the ads on TV as a talking point with your children about what they are selling and what is important to your family about buying and giving.

Some discussion needs to take place by both parents about how your family is going to deal with Santa Claus/Father Christmas. Are you going to tell them he is real or not real and when?

In our family we decided to tell our children that Santa was a fun character like Professor Starshine or Humphrey Bear�. We enjoyed the fun surrounding Santa without going into the presents from Santa and putting food out for him etc..) At the same time we talked often to our children that the name CHRISTmas comes from Jesus CHRIST who is real and very special. So Christmas is really about Christ.

3. The sharing of the Christmas story should be many tellings of the story in different ways and in different contexts as the child grows.

Activities might include

. Making an Advent calendar or Christmas decorations, cooking, shopping, making gifts or cards for others. Talking together about why you are doing these things.

· Dressing up and acting out the nativity or using puppets to tell the story. (Why not turn out the lights and light a candle while the Christmas story is read or acted out.)

. Listening and singing Christmas carols like 'Away in a Manger' and talking about the words.

· Reading picture story books or making our own Family Christmas Book which the children illustrate. Drawing and colouring activities.

.· Experiencing worship together at Christmas time “ Advent,Come Celebrate, Children’s Christmas Eve service.

© Don Stott, Eliab.com, 2006

See Ted's Surprise Christmas. An original story to share with pre-schoolers.

Christmas Story in Video

Christmas Story in Video

Christmas Quote

“When I was a child, I was so fat I was the one chosen to play Bethlehem in the school Nativity play.”