Christmas is finally here! With so many things going on, you
might still be preparing your Christmas services or looking for one
or two more ideas to make it perfect. No matter where you are in
your Christmas planning, it's not too late! We've pulled together
seven terrific last-minute ideas you can use to make Christmas in
children's church the best it can be.
Snack
- Tree-Mendous Treats - Part craft, part
snack, kids will love decorating their very own Christmas tree
before gobbling it up.
Devotion
- Baby Jesus Finger Play - Having devotions
for your youngest kids (toddlers and 2-year-olds) is just as
important as for any other age group. Try this fun and simple
devotion that comes with hand motions to help children learn and
remember Jesus' life.
Crafts
- Manger
Puppets - Perfect for kids ages 3 to 9, this craft brings
Luke 2:13-18 to life. Using small pudding boxes for mouths,
children will make puppets like the animals that may have been
around baby Jesus when he was born.
- My Manger - Here's an idea I found from
our archive. Give each child an envelope with the flap cut off,
some modeling dough, and a small gingerbread cookie cutter. Help
kids cut out gingerbread figures from their dough. Next, let kids
color their envelopes (which will become mangers). When they're
finished, fold and tape each lower envelope corner so it lies flat
on the bottom fold of the envelope. This will enable the "manger"
to stand up on its own. Finally, to make the hay-bed, let kids
crumble up a piece of shredded-wheat cereal. To complete the scene,
have children place their dough figure on top of their straw while
you read from Luke 2:1-20.
Lesson
- Small packages - Looking for a full lesson
for your first- to third-grade kids? Cindy Nelson has an amazing
but simple lesson involving presents and God's greatest gift.
Outreach
- Mitten
Angels - Here's a fun outreach idea. Have families bring
in pairs of mittens and let kids turn them into angels. Afterward,
donate the mittens to a local shelter so the angels can help keep
those in need warm.
Activities for Families
- Census
Questions - Help the families in your ministry get closer
together by taking this "census" like Mary and Joseph did in Luke
2:1-5.
***
Still looking for inspiration? Make sure to check out our
previous blogs involving Christmas music, Christmas games, Christmas snacks, Christmas programs, Christmas traditions, how to help preteens understand Christmas, as well as
how to keep your focus on what matters this Christmas. And if you
need some help finding volunteers to work during your Christmas
services, make sure to check out this article on filling the Christmas
void.
Let us know what you're doing for Christmas in our comment
section below! Merry Christmas to you and your ministry!
