theme: Christmas 3 – Meaning of hope

Sunday 15th December 2024

Today we discover the story of the wise men – the magi from the east, who saw Jesus’s star rise and came to worship him. Through their visit, we see that Jesus came to save the Gentiles, as well as Jews – the whole world. We discover that Jesus is a king (the gift of gold), a priest (the frankincense) and that his death will be as important as his birth (the myrrh). All of this would have been confusing for Mary and Joseph. We don’t know how soon after Jesus’ birth this visit took place – it might have been up to a couple of years afterwards (Herod orders the killing of all boys under the age of two in verse 16). We can wonder too what all this means, and spark up our own ideas.

The ‘create’ activity for each Christmas session is a bauble for you to decorate and put on your Christmas tree – this is the third of three.

Sunday Kids Work Video

Storytelling Video

tHINGS YOU MAY NEED

  • copies of the Bauble decoration - present

  • Art and collage materials

  • scissors

  • glue sticks

  • ribbon

  • stapler

  • a large, gift-wrapped present (an empty box is fine!)

Questions & Thoughts

Share out some refreshments and enjoy eating and drinking together. Start to talk about the Bible story using these questions:

  • Which part of this story do you like best?

  • What is the most important thing about this story?

  • Why do you think the wise men bothered to follow the star?

  • How do you think Mary felt, when these visitors from far away arrived?

  • What do you think of the gifts the wise men brought? Were they good? (You might have to explain what frankincense and myrrh are – there are some notes at the end of this session plan.)

  • What questions would you like to ask God about this story?

Chat & create

Give out copies of this week’s bauble decoration. It’s a present – can you work out how a present links to this week’s story? On one side, you should write a couple of words or draw a picture of something that you think is important or something that God has spoken to you about the story of the visit of the wise men.

Decorate the bauble on the other side using the art and collage materials. Once you’ve finished, you will staple a loop of ribbon to the top so that you can hang the bauble on your Christmas tree.

Worship

These are the worship songs being played in our kids groups this morning, if you wish to listen to the same

Under 5s

  • Jesus Is Alive (Freeze Dance)

  • My Whole Self

  • 10,000 reasons, Bless the Lord

Over 5s

  • King Of Me

  • It’s Your Love

Encounter

Place the present in the middle of the room and gather around it. Imagine: what would you bring if you were giving a present to Jesus?

Give yourselves some time to think quietly about what you would give. Then ask if anyone wants to share their ideas.

Take turns saying prayers, thanking God for sending Jesus and asking him to help us remember why he came.

Finally, remember that next week – 22nd – is the carol service, so you should come in the afternoon, not the morning!

Growing faith at home

This Sunday, we explored the story of the wise men visiting Jesus and the gifts they brought him.

all children

  • In the session, the children made and decorated an present-shaped bauble for your Christmas tree. If they didn’t get to make it, or if you want to make more present baubles, you can find the template here: [link to where this is on the website]

  • Explore Christmas more generally through some of these craft ideas: https://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas. Remember, while what you produce in the end might be attractive, the process of making is also important. It is a key time to chat together about the story behind what you are making.

  • As you and your child(ren) think about gifts – buying them, asking for them etc – can you think about a gift that you can give to charity? It could be choosing a charity and donating money, it could be buying something extra at the supermarket and giving it to a foodbank, it could be making biscuits and giving them to your neighbours. Use your imagination!

  • While you’re out and about (in the shops, walking to school etc), admire all the Christmas decorations you can see. Think about what the symbols mean, eg presents, angels, stars. How do these symbols share a message of hope?

  • If you made a family prayer journal a few weeks ago, review as a family how God has answered your prayers. Carry on adding to the journal – the more frequently you do this, the better you’ll develop your family prayer habit! Who and what can you pray for throughout Advent?

Other resources