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.

 
 

Advent Notes

• The reason for the Advent season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent or Coming, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent or Coming. We look forward to both, and remember that Christ could return at any time, and we must be ready.
• In some churches and especially Eastern Orthodox ones, Advent has become a time to fast. In a similar way to Lent, it has become a time to clear their lives and minds and make space to allow God to move. Fasting allows people to concentrate on God, and makes the feasting of the celebration of Christmas all the more enjoyable.Jesus
• “Gaudete Sunday” is the old name for the third Sunday in Advent, when people moved from fasting and praying , and started to look forward to Christmas. “Gaudete” means ‘rejoice” in Latin, and reminds us that the coming of Jesus really is something to rejoice about!

Christmas Care

After a long day of putting on a wonderful Christmas meal, Mum was standing over the kitchen sink wearily washing the mountain of dirty dishes. In the middle of this monumental task, her teenage daughter strolled into the kitchen and saw what her mother was doing. The thoughtful girl said, "Mum, today's a holiday, you shouldn't be doing that." The mother was taken aback by the seeming kindness of her daughter. She began to put down the dish rag and take off her gloves. A sense of pride overtook her as she thought her little girl was now starting to show signs of maturity by helping out with the dishes. Her bubble was burst, though, when the teenager said, "Just do them tomorrow."

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.

Christmas Chant

Christmas Chant

Clop, clop, clop went the donkey's feet

Clop, clop, clop down the stoney street.

Nod, nod, nod went Mary's head

She was so tired, she needed a bed.

Knock, knock, knock went Joseph at the door.

Do you have room for anyone more?

No, no, no the innkeeper said.

Wait, wait, wait the innkeeper said

You can use my stable for a bed

Shh, shh, shh What is that I hear?

The cry of Baby Jesus, oh so dear.

source unknown

Christmas Quotes

Christmas is a time when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ. - Bart Simpson, The Simpsons

Christmas is the Christian's Christmas present to everyone else. Christmas, for a Christian, tells us why people matter.  Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

Xmas, n: Popular festival made to sound like a skin disease. Mike Barfield

Aren't we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas- the birth of Santa? Bart Simpson, The Simpsons

The lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together. Garrison Keillor

Christmas is about a child, and for children: like parenthood, if you don't throw yourself into it body and soul you will have a wretched time. Amanda Craig

Christmas is Coming

Christmas Resources For Children's Ministry

The Carpenter’s Cradle - a poem I wrote for a worship service focusing on Joseph.

Christmas Songs -Lowly Manger- two songs to familiar tunes reworked.

Sweet Christmas- A Christmas Story told using chocolate bars.

Christmas@Pooh Corner , My Christmas Pillow- two original stories for children.

Bon Christmas - a short Christmas talk with a puppet.