Jesus As A Boy- January 2021
The Story of the boy Jesus in the Temple- Luke 2:41-52
This month we are exploring the story of the boy Jesus in the Temple. We encourage you to share this story with one another, get a sense of what Joseph and Mary may have felt by talking about your own experiences of being lost. This is one of the few stories of Jesus as a child. What can we learn about him through these stories.
Week 1 (January 3 - January 10)- Hear the Story: We'll hear the story during the Children's Sermon. We encourage you to share the story with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You might watch this video on the story of Jesus as a child. This video is just the story of Jesus in the Temple.
Parents! Here is a link to a wonderful outline of how to talk with your children about this story and make it real for them.
Sing a Song! If you enjoy singing, you might enjoy learning this song together.
Week 2 (January 10- January 17) Explore the Story: Each of these activities is meant to reintroduce the story to kids. To let them interact with and explore the story in order for it to sink in a bit. There are a wide variety of options for each section, so hopefully there is something that works well for each family. Do as many or few as you wish, the main thing is to take time with your children so they can hear, interact with, and explore the story of Jesus as a boy again.
- Do you like to color? Here is a nice coloring page to try.
- Help Mary and Joseph get to Jesus with this Maze activity!
- Create your own puzzle. Print and cut out this picture to create your own puzzle.
- Looking for a craft project? Scroll to the bottom of this page for the I Spy Jesus bottle.
Week 3 (January 17- January 24) Engage/Live the Story: This is a great opportunity for the kids to show you what they have learned. We have several great examples here, but feel free to have your kiddo do the retelling in the way that suits them best. Maybe just have them color Jesus in the temple and tell you the story while they do.
- Are you a dramatic family? Scroll down to the bottom of this lesson for a family friendly skit.
- Here is a pre-colored or color your own foldable to help you and your child to tell the story.
- Here is both a pre-colored and color your own map to tell the story of Jesus’ journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem.
- Play hide and seek! You could hide a paper Jesus somewhere in the house and try and find him, then share the story again of his parents trying to find Jesus.
- Build your own Temple! You could also build an temple with Legos, Lincoln Logs, recyclables, or anything you have around the house. Have your child retell the story with their creation.
Week 4 (January 24- January 31)- Share the Story: This week we invite you to join with your friends in your age group and share your creations and thoughts on this story. Think of it as a big show and tell session! We'll start and 10:00 am on Zoom and be done no later than 10:30 am. You can use this link.
Advent and The Story of Christmas- December 2020
The Story of Christmas- Luke 2
This month we are exploring the Season of Advent and the story of Jesus birth in the Gospel of Luke. We encourage you all to follow along at home by making or using your own Advent wreath as we travel together over the next four weeks. You can look ahead at Week 2 for some ideas of how to create your own wreath if you don’t already have one.
Week 1 (November 29-December 6)- Hear the Story: We’ll hear the story of Advent in the Children’s Sermon. You can also read the Story of the Birth of Jesus (Luke 2) in the Children’s Story Bible. You might watch this explanation of Advent video. You can also watch the story of Christmas from the Beginner’s Bible or this one with songs.
For our Adults you might enjoy this video on Advent. It uses different colors for the candles, but is a really good overview of the season of Advent.
Sing a Song! This is a fun Advent song you might try to learn.
Week 2 (December 6- 13)- Explore and Engage the Story: Each of these activities is meant to reintroduce the story to the kids. To interact with and explore the story in order for it to sink into their bones a bit. There are a variety of options, so hopefully there is something that will appeal to your family. Do as many as you wish, the main goal is to get your children interacting with the Season of Advent and the Story of Christmas.
- Angel coloring sheets. The angels are the messengers in the story- telling Mary and Joseph about what will be happening to them and telling the shepherds about the birth of Jesus. Here are a couple of templates: Template 1 and Template 2 you can cut out and color. Maybe put them in your windows?
- Nativity Scene. The nativity is something familiar to us, a picture of the story of Jesus’ birth. A stable, the animals, Mary and Joseph, Jesus, the shepherds, the wise men. Take some time to tell the Christmas story to your children using your Nativity if you have one. If you don’t here are a few ways you can craft your own for use this year and maybe beyond!
- Here is one that is printable.
- This one is made of graham crackers and other yummy treats!
- This one is made from stones.
- Advent Wreaths. If you already have your own wreath then we encourage you to follow along and use it this year during worship. If no, then we encourage you to create your own.
- This one and this one take only paper and a printer.
- This one is if you have some extra pipe cleaners!
- If you have a Pinterest of crafty person in your house, you might get some ideas here.
Week 3 (December 20-27)- Share the Story: This week we invite you to join with your friends in your age group and share what you found last week. Think of it as a big show and tell session! We'll start and 10:00 am on Zoom and be done no later than 10:30 am.
The Story of Noah and the Flood- November 2020
The Story of Noah and the Flood- Genesis 6-9
Week 1 (November 1-8)- Hear the Story: We'll hear the story during the Children's Sermon. We encourage you to share the story with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You might watch this video on the story of Noah and the Flood. or this video about Noahhimself. Older children might enjoy watching this video.
Sing a Song!- You might also try these simple and fun songs about Noah- There is this rockin' song (Noah's Song) or the well known The Lord Said to Noah - Kids Praise & Worship Bible Song, you can find the lyrics here.
Week 2 (November 8-15)- Explore the Story: Each of these activities is meant to reintroduce the story to kids. To let them interact with and explore the story in order for it to sink in a bit. There are a wide variety of options for each section, so hopefully there is something that works well for each family. Do as many or few as you wish, the main thing it to take time with your children so they can hear, interact with, and explore the story of Noah and the Flood again.
- Create your own Puzzle: Print and cut out the already colored puzzle or kids can color their own!
- Noah's 3D Ark: A bit more crafty project, but still relatively simple to create 3D Ark.
- Noah's Ark Story Spinner: Another fun craft project and aid to telling the story of Noah and the Flood.
- God is Faithful Rainbow hanging craft: A relatively simple and beautiful craft you can hang in your child's room, on their doorknob, even use as a Christmas ornament if you wish.
Week 3 (November 15-22)- Engage the Story: This week is a great opportunity for the kids to show you what they have learned. We have several great examples here, but feel free to have your kiddo do the retelling in the way that suits them best, through writing the story in their own words, draw the story, have them tell you the story and record it on video. Encourage them to build the ark from things they already have: Legos, Lincoln Logs, recyclables, or other household items. Anything that lets them tell the story in their own words.
- Story Sequencing: There are lots of good and educational activities on this site, but we suggest the story sequencing activity (about three down). A great way to have your child actively re-tell the story.
- Noah's Ark Cut Out and Carry: Another good craft project that they can use to play with and retell the story.
Week 4 (November 22)- Share the Story: This week we invite you to join with your friends in your age group and share what you found last week. Think of it as a big show and tell session! We'll start and 10:00 am on Zoom and be done no later than 10:30 am.
The Story of Adam and Eve- October 2020
The Story of Adam and Eve- Genesis 2:2b-3:1
Week 1(October 4-10)- Hear the Story: We'll hear the story during the Children's Sermon. We encourage you to share the story with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You might watch this video on God's creation of Adam and Eve or this one about their disobeying God. This video might be more appropriate for older children.
Sing a Song!- You might also try these simple and fun Adam and Eve songs. This one is to the tune of the Addam's Family. The first one on this page (Sneaky Serpent) is also a fun one.
Week 2 (October 11-17)- Explore the Story: Each of these options is meant to reintroduce the story to the kids. To let them interact with and explore the story in order to get a better understanding of it. We will continue to add a wide variety of options each section, so that hopefully there is something that works well for each family. You may do as few or as many of these options as you wish. The important thing is to take time to hear, read or watch the story of Adam and Eve with them again.
- You could do this Word Scramble with them after hearing the story again.
- There is also a maze or coloring pages to complete.
- If you are feeling crafty, here is one for a Ribbon Snake you might like.
- Feel more like a snack? This one is a simple Snake Snack (it does have peanut butter). But, when we hear the story of Adam and Eve, most of us conjure up an image of an apple as the forbidden fruit. However, the Bible only mentions the fruit of the tree of knowledge. This option encourages you to try different fruits with a favorite dip while you talk about the story of Adam and Eve. If you don’t have a favorite dip recipe, here are a couple of family favorites from St. John. A Marshmallow Dip or a Brown Sugar dip.
Week 3 (October 18-24)- Engage the Story: This is a great opportunity for the kids to show you what they have learned. We have several great examples here, but feel free to have your kiddo do the retelling in the way that suits them best.
- Stick puppets: kids could decorate Popsicle sticks (included in our section bag) with ink, paint, fabric or paper.
- Diorama: Print out the first option and talk about the story as you put together this 3D picture.
- Shoebox “play”: This project uses lots of creativity from the kiddos. Have them gather supplies for this project from your recycling.
- Outdoor Play: I am all about think the kids out in nature to recognize what a fabulous place God has created for us. For this option find your own Garden of Eden with your child and have them tell you the story as they remember it.
Week 4 (October 25-31)- Share the Story: This week we invite you to join with your friends in your age group and share what you found last week. Think of it as a big show and tell session! We'll start and 10:00 am on Zoom and be done no later than 10:30 am.
The Creation Story- September 2020
The Seven Day Creation Story- Genesis 1-2:4a
Week 1- Hear the Story: We'll hear the story during the Children's Sermon. We encourage you to share the story with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You can also watch a video from that same bible. This video might be more appropriate for older children.
Week 2- Explore the Story: This week, we invite you to take some time to explore the story of the Seven Days of Creation with your children.
- You could create some Creation Story Trail Mix and hear the story again.
- Creation Story Chain- While you read the story of creation, have your children draw each day on strips of paper and then link them together into a seven link chain. Here is a link for how one person did this activity.
- Creation Story Bookmarks - Print these out and you and your kids can color them while you talk about the creation story again.
- Creation Story Hike - Take a walk and observe what God has created. Have your child(ren) take or draw pictures to share of what they observed, or come back and write or record a description of what you saw. You could even take a video of your whole walk and what you see.
Week 3- Share the Story: This week we invite you to join with your friends in your age group and share what you found last week. Think of it as a big show and tell session! We'll start and 10:00 am on Zoom and be done no later than 10:30 am.
