Christmas Photo

The real christmas story (kinda), on facebook

You should check out this very creative Christmas story  ( by Derek Tang) as it might have appeared on Facebook.
Facebook Christmas  http://whyismarko.com/2011/the-real-christmas-story-kinda-on-facebook/

Post by Thrive Church.

100 ways to celebrate Christmas

A free downloadable booklet of 100 ideas to celebrate Christmas is available from The Uniting Church of Australia website.

100 ways to celebrate Christmas booklet.

Also Advent & Christmas Resources

Advent Wreath & Advent Calendar

Advent programs and resources from Barnabas in Churches

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

Children's Christmas Plays and Photos

Eliab's Christmas Page - Free stories, puppets skits, songs and chants
Christmas is Coming resource booklet -for children's Christmas programs.
Original Puppet plays, skits, stories, and Christmas clip art.
Free high resolution Christmas Photos for use in publicity, worship or cards.

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.

Free Christmas Photos

I have just posted some high res. Christmas photos which may be  of use for either cards, publicity or a web blog. You'll find them here at my other website. http://eliab.com


 LINK- Free Christmas Photos
Check back soon as more are to be added. 

Christmas Tree- Melbourne Australia

Advent and Christmas Services

EngageWorship.org has recently posted some really helpful Advent and Christmas resources. If you're planning a worship service leading up to Christmas you should check out these free resources.

Advent Ribbon Reflection
We Look Forward to Advent Liturgy
The Cave Sketch - a short drama

Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights
An object lesson for children

Use Christmas lights for a Christmas object lesson that teaches about the light of Christ! Bring a string of Christmas lights to plug in and light up.
   These lights look great don't they? At Christmas time we sometimes hang lights around a tree or outside our house. Have you ever had Christmas lights at your house?

     When I see these light up at Christmas I think 'Oh great Christmas is coming soon'. The lights remind me that Christmas is a special celebration- a celebration everyone can join in. Christmas is Jesus' birthday when we remember when God's Son- Jesus was born at Bethlehem.
(Switch the lights off then on again)
     One of the greatest things about these lights is that they help us to see when it's dark.
The Bible calls Jesus the "light of the world". When he grew up he showed God's love and care and that all those people who believe in him will know Jesus light shining in their lives as well and it will never be turned off.

John 8:12: "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."



He is the one that shows us the way to Heaven because He is the only way. We must follow Him.
John 14:6: "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Making Kids Christmas Cards

Looking  to make kids Christmas Cards? Check out Kids Craft Weekly with 5 different types with instructions.
And some simple Christmas Cards

It's Christmas Crossword Puzzle

A Christmas  Crossword Puzzle for children

A Great Christmas Present

In this activity children make a present which contains the Christmas message to give away or share with their family or friends at Christmas.

You will need:
Small boxes (eg.noodle take away containers)
Star stickers or shapes
Small heart stickers or shapes
Small rocks
Pipe cleaners ( to be shaped into crosses)
Small candy canes
Cotton balls (sprayed with a drop of perfume)
Wrapping paper (large enough to wrap the small baoxes)
Labels which say To ____, from Jesus)
Ribbon

Give each child an empty box and tell them that they are going to be making "A great Christmas present". Explain that you will be giving them various items to go into their boxes and that each thing tells part of the Christmas story. talk about each item as you give it out, then have the children pace the item into their box before you show them the next thing.

Star - Reminds us of the special star that God put in the sky at Jesus' birth.
Heart - Reminds us how much Jesus loves us.
Cross - Reminds us that Jesus died so that we can be friends with God.
Candy Cane - The red reminds us that Jesus died so that we can be friends wit God.
Rock - Reminds us that Jesus did not stay dead, but rose to life again.
Cotton ball and perfume - Before Jesus went back to heaven, he told his followers to tell the whole world about him. After saying this , he was taken up to heaven as they watched him and a cloud hid him from their sight. The cotton ball reminds us of the cloud , and the perfume, which spreads around the room, reminds us to spread his story into the world.

Go over each item again quickly to remind the children and then have each child wrap their present explaining that they can give it away to someone or place it under their Christmas tree to open and share the story on Christmas day. finally the children attach the label.

This activity could easily be adapted for use as children's talk in a Sunday school or worship setting.

Christmas Conspiracy

Christmas Prayer Response

Leader: Christ the Promised one has come
C: Help us recognize your Son.
Leader: Kept out from the inn that night
C: Open up those lives shut tight.
Leader: Angels singing, shepherds scared
C: Help us see God's peace is shared.
Leader: Shepherd gave praise from his heart
C:Lead us Lord to do our part.
Leader: Star shone brightly where He lay
C: Help us follow now His way.
Leader:Ruler, King- though baby small
C: Rule our lives, please use us all.
Leader:We decorate our Christmas tree
C: Remind us Lord, You died for me.
Leader: Jesus came to save from sin
C: Calls us now to welcome Him.

(C) Don Stott Eliab.com