Christ-centered Easter Traditions

Photo credit: Creative Preschool Resources

Now that our Little FECS is 5 years old, family traditions become more important and meaningful. I was a little late in planning and unprepared in finding out what we want as our Christmas traditions and carrying them out. Thus, now that Christmas is over, I am working on Christ-centered traditions for Easter, to make sure that I am in good time. Here are some ideas, some my own and some I have found on the internet that I hope to cultivate as our family Easter traditions:

A few weeks before Easter...

1. Furnish your home with the yellow spring Easter flowers.

2. Make a daily Bible lesson plan. You can get some ideas here:

http://mybellemichelle.com/a-christ-centered-easter-week-family-holiday-traditions/
http://youtu.be/BynwO5QCbhM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm3B2CYnCYA

2. Light a purple candle on the days leading to Good Friday to signify that Jesus is King.

3. Practise singing Easter songs and playing Easter songs on the piano.

4. Do all the activities related to secular traditions on another day other than Friday and Sunday, perhaps Thursday or Saturday i.e Easter egg, Easter bunny, etc.

5. Have a plain-looking wooden cross. Tell the story of Jesus' death and resurrection and then decorate the cross to represent the beauty of Jesus' life.

On Palm Sunday...

6. On Palm Sunday, read Matthew 21: 1-11 together, watch a video about Palm Sunday and discuss it.

7. On Monday, read from the scriptures about Jesus cleansing the temple (Matthew 21:12-13) and do a spring cleaning of your home.

8. On Tuesday, give up a meal, fast and pray during that time instead for the poor and the hungry in the world or cook a meal for the less fortunate to mourn for Jesus' pending death.

9. On Wednesday, do something of service to others such as providing a meal to old folks' home or children's home.

10. On Thursday, read Matthew Matthew 26:17-35, make a dinner of soup and bread symbolizing the last supper Jesus had.

11. Wash and pedicure each other's feet in modelling after Jesus humility at washing the disciples' feet.

On Good Friday...

12. On Good Friday, make an tomb out of playdough or edible playdough.

13. Light a black candle to signify Jesus' death.

14. On Saturday, watch a movie related to Christ and discuss the movie.

Here are some videos on Jesus for children:

http://powerofmoms.com/2013/03/easter-week-ideas/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K15jttSBQI8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn0iwWrkgb0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH46G-n8ulA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbtMopFS49o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-16Ber1iLo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI2z_4fnAVc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_the_Bible

15. To commemorate Christ death on Good Friday and resurrection don Easter Sunday, make a cave with sheets and chairs, etc. and sleep in the "cave," representing Jesus' tomb. Read a story of Easter in your cave in torch light or candlelight. Watch a movie on Easter in it.

On Easter Sunday...

16. On Easter Sunday, light a white candle on Easter Sunday to signify Jesus' resurrection.

17. Wake up early at the crack of dawn and read the resurrection story from Luke 2:1-20, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7 and Matthew 2:1-11 from our bed. If your kids can read, have them read some of the verses too.

18. I got this idea from Faithgateway to have an informal "Kitchen sunrise service"as you get ready for the day. Put on Easter music. Read the Easter story from the children's books. Talk about Jesus and the real meaning of Easter. Talk about how important Jesus is, and why we need Him. What He did for us and why. Read the end of Luke. Pray for time together and a special blessing on each one person. Share stories about how God has worked in your life (that year). While the family is together during the holidays, use the time to share your personal stories about faith, redemption and life change. Also, reflect on the previous year and talk about how you have grown in your faith individually and as a family.

19. Make Easter breakfast with boiled eggs.

20. A new Sunday outfit for church symbolizes 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

21. Attend the Easter service together as a family at church.

22. Go for a long walk in the forest or park together and take the local train back to enjoy the scenery.

23. Share an Easter meal that includes lamb and talk about the symbolism in the Passover story. Eat the edible playdough empty tomb made on Friday as desert.

24. Conducting our Weekly Family Meeting Night in candle light.

On 6th April...

25. Celebrate our Little FECS' spiritual birthday with a token piece of cake to be shared among three of us and a small present, as on 6th April 2012 Good Friday, he accepted Christ at a tender age of 3 years old.

http://www.familyfecs.com/2012/04/joshua-summary-3y1m1d-joshua-accepted.html

References:

http://www.faithgateway.com/christ-centered-family-easter-traditions/#.VJ32Nl4AAA
http://powerofmoms.com/2013/03/easter-week-ideas/
http://mybellemichelle.com/a-christ-centered-easter-week-family-holiday-traditions/
http://www.pinterest.com/brosimonsays/christ-centered-easter/
http://www.pinterest.com/bakercatherine/keeping-easter-christ-centered/
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/03/creating-christ-centered-easter-traditions?lang=eng
http://beinglds.blogspot.dk/p/easter-crafts-about-christ.html
http://amysfreeideas.com/English/10_Christ_centered_Easter_activities_for_the_family.html
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1146&sid=19755096
http://www.circleofmoms.com/christian-mommies/family-godly-traditions-376661

Here is a Christ-centered traditions book "Find More Jesus: Make  Easter All About Jesus" which is available from Amazon:

Have Fun Sleeping on "Pretence Hay" on the Floor for Christmas

Baby Jesus came into the world, and the world did not want him. Rejected by all, they could not find a place for him to stay, and he was born not by any midwives, but in humiliation in a stable among the farm animals. God in all His riches and wisdom, did not intervene to provide a kingly birth for His Son, Jesus Christ. God humbled himself in humility, setting for us an example... albeit I must admit for myself, an example that is hard to follow.

We imagine what it must be like for Mary and Joseph, tired from the journey, no bed to sleep on, and giving birth in a stable. So we give up our beds and sleep on the floor each Christmas.

You can make "pretence hay" from shredded used paper or used magazine and surround the sleeping area with a border of shredded paper hay. You can let your kids cut those papers. It would be fun and great for fine motor skills training. The good thing about shredded paper "hay" is that they are clean and easier to clean up, than real hay.

As you sleep on "pretence hay" and relive the scene of the night at Bethlehem, it is a good chance include Christian education by reading the story of Jesus birth to your child again. It will certainly leave a deep impression in his mind on the birth of Jesus. This has been very exciting for Joshie and he was very receptive to the story. He asked to read one biblical story after any other. Then we prayed, and our Little FECS retreated by himself under the blanket to pray silently on his own. He told me that he prayed to God that mommy, daddy and him will all go to heaven together. Then he prayed for daddy, that he would have the faith to believe. I held it close to my heart. Thank God for this Christmas.

Don't worry if you could not manage to do this on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day itself. We forgot all about it and we only managed to do so on the 26th Dec. As you can see on the picture, we also did not manage to make the shredded paper hay as I only thought of this idea, when we were sleeping on the floor. We just simply pretended that the floor is laid with "hay" and we read a story on the birth of Jesus as we hit the "hay", and it was still great fun :-)

If you want to sleep on real hay, there are hotels in Switzerland, Austria and Germany offering. Here are a few links:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/travel/19surfacing.html?_r=0

https://books.google.dk/books?id=6QtSAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT33&lpg=PT33&dq=hit+the+hay+hotels+in+Germany&source=bl&ots=SbDnrZ1LyG&sig=sYt8TkDMlIMEYATS2TnCxilM-6A&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FOydVJLzBuv4ywOajIH4AQ&ved=0CGAQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=hit%20the%20hay%20hotels%20in%20Germany&f=false

http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/sleeping-in-a-hay-bed.html

http://www.classic-play.com/traveling-with-kids-a-sleep-in-the-hay-in-switzerland/

http://jackandjilltravel.com/sleeping-on-straw-gimmelwald-switzerland/

https://www.google.dk/search?q=sleeping+on+hay+in+Switzerland&rlz=1C1ARAB_enDK497DK497&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=1019&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=yuydVNPiEcrOygOn7IHACw&ved=0CFsQsAQ

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2680456/Strawcastle-Now-sleep-straw-campsite-barn-Netherlands-horses-need-not-apply.html

http://www.thestar.com/life/travel/2011/04/22/sleeping_around_nothing_frisky_about_this_roll_in_the_hay.html

http://www.reidsguides.com/destinations/europe/switzerland/planning/lodging/t_h_schlafimstroh.html

CHRIST-Centered Christmas Traditions

Christmas can become very commercialized nowadays. Researching the internet, here are some wonderful ideas for Christmas traditions to keep us focused and rooted to the true meaning of Christmas. The ones I particularly like are bolded:

1. Advent Calendar: Create an Advent calendar with 24 days of Christmas, and on each day leading up to Christmas, do different things e.g. serve at a homeless shelter, collect coats for needy kids, deliver cookies to senior homes, tell someone "God loves you", give stuffed toys to the children at the burn unit, make Christmas wreaths for the elderly homes, bake cookies for the neighbours, etc.

2. Nativity Scene: Set up a Nativity scene without Baby Jesus in the crib. Whenever you catch your child doing something nice or doing a chore without being asked, put a colored cotton ball on top of the crib. Whenever he creates trouble, make him take out one colored cotton balls. On the day of Christmas Eve, count how many colored cotton balls remain before placing Baby Jesus on the crib to complete the nativity scene. Your child gets to exchange the cotton balls for Christmas cookies to be shared with his friends.

3. Christmas has a large focus on food. Why not during the week before Christmas, give up a meal and pray during that time for the poor, hungry and spiritually lost in the world.

4. Watch a movie that remembers the life of Christ.

5. Let your children shop for kids in their age group (3-5 gifts each) and give to the children at the children's home.

6. Fill a shoebox with gifts for a less-privileged child, wrap it up and give it to Samaritian Purse or a children's home. Add a Christian Christmas message into each box too :-)

7. Find someone to secretly love on with a blessing (a kind note, money, food, yard work, or whatever you can give that year.)

8. Write a letter to grandparents telling them you love them and what you want to do in the next year.

9. Begins on thanksgiving evening with house lighting and step out on the front yard to watch together.

10. Decorate the Christmas tree with every ornament that points to Jesus such as shepherd's staff, star, manger, etc. and explain how each item reminds us of Christ:

The lights - Jesus, the Light of the world
The tree - the Cross
The gifts - God's gift to us

11. Gift a new ornament to each child and let them keep in their own storage tub, to be theirs, to be passed down into their households/marriages.

12. Lit the tree in remembrance of Jesus being the light of this world.

13. Have a birthday cake for Jesus to celebrate His birthday. Explain that we get presents because Jesus lives inside of us, and we give presents to others because we want to share the love of Christ with all.

14. Attend a church service together on Christmas eve.

15. On Christmas' Eve's morning, get up early to fix pancakes, ham and cheese omelets, hot chocolate and freshly squeezed apple/orange juice for breakfast. Then read from the story of Luke and Isaiah.

16. Don't have to wait until Christmas Eve to open presents. Give your presents earlier so that the children can concentrate fully on the Christmas story from the Bible and Jesus' birthday. (Do the same for Easter - give the children their basket of Easter eggs on Saturday so that you can enjoy Easter Sunday to celebrate the Resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ.)

17. Limit the number of presents. Give each child only 3 presents (something of need, something of want, and something of spiritual growth), because that is the number of presents that Baby Jesus got from the wise men.

18. Don't put all the gifts under the tree. Hide one of them, and instead an envelope with a clue as to where to find another clue will be found. Give 3 clues with the third clue leading to the wrapped present.

19. Wrap Baby Jesus as one of the gifts under the Christmas tree. Whoever got it will say, "I've got Jesus," and everyone will say, "Amen."

20. Tell why we give gifts too - because God gave to us and we want to love others. Explain that Jesus was the reason for Christmas. Because God sent His Son as a gift to us, we could also share gifts with others.

21. Let one of the gifts be a new PJ that they will go to sleep on Christmas eve :-)

22. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning:

Have the nativity scene nearby. Turn on Christmas carols. Lit the Christmas tree in remembrance of Jesus being the light of this world. Gather around the tree, talk about Jesus and the real meaning of Christmas. Read a Christmas story book with pictures and let your child "read it". Sing carols 'Away in a Manger' and read from the Bible the nativity story from the gospel of Luke and Isaiah. If your kids can read, have them read some of the verses too. Then have "family communion." Then pray for time together and a special blessing on each person.

Open present one at a time so that everyone can see what everyone got and we can all thank each other. It is much more meaningful than everyone ripping open gifts at once.

Share stories about how God has worked in your life (that year). While the family is together during the holidays, use the time to share your personal stories about faith, redemption and life change. Also, reflect on the previous year and talk about how you have grown in your faith individually and as a family.

23. We have a dinner together followed by the lighting of the Christ candle on our nativity wreath, and then Daddy reads the Scripture account of Jesus' birth. After that we have a birthday cake for Jesus. The cake is chocolate, representing sin. It's filled with cherry pie filling, representing the blood of Jesus, and it's covered with white frosting which represents our new life in Christ.

24. Before opening presents, read the account of Christ's birth from Luke and the verses in Isaiah. Then pray for time together and a special blessing on each one present.

25. Read the birth of Christ from Luke and Isaiah at bed time, if you didn't manage to do so during the Christmas party.

26. Each Christmas, give up your beds and sleep on the floor together to remember what they have endured, as Mary, Joseph and Jesus did that first Christmas.

References:

http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/holidays/featured/christmas/10-great-ideas-for-christmas-traditions#.VJIn8cstCmc
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/12/family-traditions-that-keep-christ-at-the-center-of-christmas.html
http://www.circleofmoms.com/christian-mommies/what-are-your-christmas-traditions-434536
http://www.circleofmoms.com/christian-mommies/family-godly-traditions-376661

Bible Memory Verse Songs for Children

I have been wanting to memorize Bible verses with J, but it hasn't been so successful. He didn't find it so fun. Of course, I have forgotten - one of the best ways for children (and adults) to hide the Word of God in our hearts is the sing it. I believed the LORD reminded me of this method last evening.

So now I am very excited to compile a list of Bible memory verse songs to sing with J and will come back to update this post, whenever I found a new song:

1 Corinthians 10:31 - Do It All for the Glory of God
http://youtu.be/E66VuJLRL78

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 - Be on Your Guard
http://youtu.be/hszUOMt1Om4

Deuteronomy 6:5 - Love the LORD Your God
http://youtu.be/XN0q4QmayOQ

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 - Love the LORD Your God
http://youtu.be/tWzjI5PYqpc

Exodus 20:3-17 - The Ten Commandments
http://youtu.be/iLo8DQKRctQ
http://youtu.be/rMgLH316HJ8

Galatians 5:22-23 - Love, Joy and Peace
http://youtu.be/YyymE0jn_90

James 4:10 - Humble Thyself in the Sight of the LORD
http://youtu.be/rXIizmMWlUo

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I Know the Plans I Have for You
http://youtu.be/dtw7tVJUANc

Jeremiah 33:3 - Call unto Me
http://youtu.be/spZAjPlPxKI

1 John 4:7-8 - Beloved Let Us Love One Another
http://youtu.be/-bbKRBTggo4

John 1:1-2 - In the Beginning was the Word
http://youtu.be/dbCnwIJ_138

John 3:16 - God So Loves the World
http://youtu.be/FPx56weNuUY
http://youtu.be/M4rJbonEoGs
http://youtu.be/E-4eJ9cxVe0

John 13:34 - A New Commandment
http://youtu.be/CB4gQQmWGmk

John 14:6 & Acts 4:12 - No Other Name
http://youtu.be/Aa-5Kk27Ebs

John 15:5 - I Am the Vine
http://youtu.be/Be2cWhEuuhk

John 15:7 - Abide in Me
http://youtu.be/dvIXHG9HEFU

John 15:12 - Love one Another
http://youtu.be/dyXRV3Dod8w

Matthew 6:9-13 - The LORD's Prayer
http://youtu.be/5B8Xos_zY8Y

Matthew 6:14-15 - Forgive
http://youtu.be/E2QURU4BB-U

Matthew 6:19-21 - Store Your Treasure in Heaven
http://youtu.be/lqmCoAImqpg 

Matthew 6:33 - Seek Ye First
http://youtu.be/WHoVR0_16S8
http://youtu.be/lOL47Z0xEr8
http://youtu.be/B8ifVNaN8pY

Matthew 7:3-5 - Speck in Your Own Eye
http://youtu.be/B4JBo9adBVM

Matthew 7:7-8 - Ask and It Will be Given to You
http://youtu.be/uuZCnvNFR_w

Micah 6:8 - He Has Shown Me
http://youtu.be/CIJIqwCIPcw

Philippians 4:6-7 - Do Not Be Anxious
http://youtu.be/Jd35-M-xLX4

Philippians 4:8 - Think about Such Things
http://youtu.be/i2xY37bL4Q4

Philippians 4:13 - He Gives Me Strength
http://youtu.be/2lEvggJEq2I

Philippians 4:13 - I Can Do All Things Through Christ
http://youtu.be/mCzdlG-j6RM

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord
http://youtu.be/ecUaEAOwiCE
http://youtu.be/sR7VVarFKTQ

Proverbs 19:20 - Accept Discipline
http://youtu.be/0f3_5Uy1-z0

Psalm 1 - Tree Planted by Streams of Water
http://youtu.be/JunBOCxigZ0

Psalm 23 - The Lord is my Shepherd
http://youtu.be/A-qLa_2GPcM

Psalm 27:1 - The LORD is my Light
http://youtu.be/ssG2SWRnU8U

Psalm 27:1 - The LORD is my Strength
http://youtu.be/rnIsBKMzV6o

Psalm 55:22 - Cast Your Cares
http://youtu.be/Vc9pEb-Ej7U

Psalm 56:3-4 - When I am Afraid, I Will Trust in You
http://youtu.be/TRfXd3fonoU

Psalm 107:1 - Gives Thanks to the LORD
http://youtu.be/58527WlwqHY

Psalm 119:11 - I Have Hidden Your Word in My Heart
http://youtu.be/eCtI5mj3cEo

Psalms 148:1-5 - Praise the Lord
http://youtu.be/fqVZjtVLQHA

Romans 5:1 - Justified by Faith
http://youtu.be/ueLTP8YUmKc

Romans 8:28 - All Things Work Together for Good
http://youtu.be/CF6fhyk7Cso

Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of God
http://youtu.be/5SzG0PJ-YXA

1 Thessalonians 515 - Count your Blessing
http://youtu.be/tUmHUfEk_qQ

1 Timothy 4:12 - Don't Let Anyone Look Down on You, Because You are Young
http://youtu.be/HI-P0uRIcPQ

Nursery Duty Roster: 13 Jul - 25 Jan 2014

Leader's name for the week appear first in bold:

13-jul-14  VK, Rochelle, Timothy - Lesson 39
20-jul-14  Wi Min, Elaine, Ashley - Lesson 40
27-jul-14  Jannie, Allan,  Lori - Lesson 41

03-aug-14 Allan, Jannie, Steven - Lesson 42
10-aug-14 Juliana, Rochelle, Timothy - Lesson 43
17-aug-14 Rochelle, Simon, Ashley - Lesson 44
24-aug-14 Juliana, Wi Min, Lori     Lesson 45
31-aug-14 Wi Min, VK, Steven - Lesson 46

07-sep-14  Allan, Jannie, Timothy - Lesson 47
14-sep-14  VK, Wi Min, Lori - Lesson 48
21-sep-14  Jannie, Elaine, Steven - Lesson 49
28-sep-14  Rochelle, Simon, Timothy - Lesson 50

05-oct-14  Juliana, Rochelle, Lori - Lesson 51
12-oct-14  VK, Elaine, Steven - Lesson 52
19-oct-14  Wi Min, Allan,  Timothy - Lesson 1
26-oct-14  Allan,  Elaine, Lori - Lesson 2

02-nov-14 Jannie, Elaine, Steven - Lesson 3
09-nov-14 Rochelle, Simon,  Timothy - Lesson 4
16-nov-14 Juliana, Elaine, Lori - Lesson 5
23-nov-14 Wi Min, Allan   Steven - Lesson 6
30-nov-14 VK, Elaine, Timothy - Lesson 7

07-dec-14  Allan, Jannie, Lori - Lesson 8
14-dec-14  Jannie, Juliana, Steven - Lesson 9
21-dec-14  Rochelle, Simon, Timothy - Lesson 10
28-dec-14  Break

04-jan-15   Break
11-jan-15   Juliana, VK, Lori - Lesson 11
18-jan-15   Wi Min, Juliana, Steven - Lesson 12
25-jan-15   VK, Wi Min, Timothy - Lesson 13

Nursery Lesson Plan 33: God Cares For Me - 1st June 2014

Lesson Plan for 1st June (Lesson 33)

Concept Area – God

Theme: God cares for me

Bible verse: 1 Peter 5:7 God cares for you

Bible Stories:

The story of Ruth (Ruth 1-4)

Activity 1: The Gleaning Game (Visual & Kinaesthetic)

Scatter the various beans and grains (red bean, green bean, barley or corn) in a tray and mix them well. Assign each child a specific type of bean or grain.

Instruct the children, “In this game, pretend you’re like Ruth, gathering pieces of wheat for your supper. You can only gather the bean or grain that match yours. So if you belong to red bean, only gather the red bean. After you’ve gathered a handful of bean or grain, count how many bean and grain you have collected and put them in your bag. Are you ready? Let’s go!”

Stable the bag of bean or grain on a card with the bible verses of the day on it. Ask the children to write their names on the card and the numbers of the beans or grains collected in the card. If time permitted, let the children decorate their cards with stickers.

While doing this activity with the children, talk about Naomi and Ruth entered Naomi’s hometown poor and alone. Ruth went to gather leftover grain from a field, so she and Naomi would have something to eat. Remind the children that gather the beans or grains are hard work. Ask the children to think how many beans or grain Ruth needs to gather so that she have enough beans or grains to feed both Naomi and herself. 

Activity 2: Group Time (Visual & Auditory)

Bible Story: The story of Ruth (Ruth 1-4)

As the children join you to sit in a circle, welcome them to the Group Time and talk about their family members.

Open the Bible to Ruth 1-4 and hold it to the lap as while telling the Bible story.

•        Read Ruth 1–3. Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, returned to Bethlehem after the deaths of their husbands. Naomi and Ruth entered Naomi’s hometown poor and alone. Ruth went to gather leftover grain from a field, so she and Naomi would have something to eat. Boaz, the owner of the field and relative to Naomi, learned about the condition of the two women and set about helping them.

•        The law held that a man’s brother or closest male relative would marry his widow to ensure that the family line would continue. (See Deuteronomy 25:5-10.) At Naomi’s prompting, Ruth approached Boaz and asked him to redeem her, which included marrying her. Boaz told her that a closer male relative held that responsibility. However, if that relative did not redeem Ruth, Boaz would.

•        Read Ruth 4:1-17. The other redeemer relinquished his claim, and Boaz took Ruth as his wife. In time the Lord gifted Boaz and Ruth with a son. Naomi’s friends gathered to celebrate this new grandson. Naomi’s friends praised God that He provided Naomi with a grandson to care for her in her old age. The women also praised God for Ruth. Ruth’s love for Naomi was evident in the way she had unselfishly remained with her and cared for her.

•        The women named the boy Obed, which means “servant.” Perhaps this name was chosen because of Ruth’s service to Naomi. Or perhaps they believed the child would serve the needs of his grandmother, Naomi. Or perhaps the name was prophetic. Obed became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. From his line would come Jesus, the Suffering Servant and our Redeemer.
Introduce the Bible phrase of the day: 1 Peter 5:7 God cares for you

Activity 3: Making collages (Visual &Kinaesthetic)

Provide the children with the pictures of “The story of Ruth” and ask them to paste the pictures onto a collage according to the sequence of the event in the story. While the children carrying out the activity, reinforce the Bible stories with the children that they have just listened.
Snacks time

Activity 4: Activities Centres

The children are allowed to choose one of the following activities from the Activity Centres:
1.  Colouring Centre
2.  Bible Story Centre

As the children are engaging in any of the activity, encourage them to tell you about their favourite Bible stories, including today's Bible story. Choose Bible stories with the theme of “family” and “care”. Talk about show family love to one another and care for one another like Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. Provide the children some inspiration of how they can show family love and care for one another at home, kindergarten and church. Encourage them to think of situations at home that they love one another and care for one another.

Activity 5: Singing (Auditory & Kinaesthetic)

* Love your family. Love your family.
Love your family. Love your family.
Love your family. Love your family.
Love your family.
* Substitute: * Help, Serve, Love

Nursery Lesson Plan 29: Peope Thank God at Church - 4th May 2014

Lesson Plan for 04 May (Lesson 29)

Concept Area:   Church

Theme: People thank God at church.

Bible verse: Psalms 136:1

Oh give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.

Bible Story: The widow’s gift 

Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4    

Activity 1: Learning about giving

Introduce the point behind tithing, offering and giving in church, and that all we have is not ours but God’s. God ask that we give some back to Him with a happy heart. Further help the children to understand the difference when we have much, compared to when we have little, by using tokens or money. Give a child many coins and another child two.  Have both of them put his/her offering in the box. Ask them to look at what is left in each pile. Then introduce the story of how a widow gave all she had while the rich man had much left.

 

Tell the story, invite the children to ask questions and talk about it. Tell the story from the book of Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4.

Activity 3: Making collages

Provide the children with the pictures from the Bible story of ‘The Widow’s Gift’ about how she gave all that she had – 2 coins to God. God has provided everything we have. We thank God for all of His gifts. Like the widow, we can also thank God with a happy heart and trust that He will always take care of us. Ask the children to reproduce the story in sequence. While the children carrying out the activity, reinforce the bible stories with the children that they have just listened.

 
Activity 4: Colouring

Colouring sheet – The widow’s gift. Repeat the Bible story during this activity.

Activity 5: Word puzzle (for older children)

Extra activity for older children, searching words from the Bible story in a alphabet-letters-maze.

Activity 6: Mother’s Day activity

To show our appreciation and remembering our mothers for loving us, guide the children to create simple flowers with plastic cups, straws and coloured paper. 

 
Backup Activity 1: Memory verse

In small groups, encourage the children to try to re-arrange words from the memory verse in the right order. 

Psalms 136:1 Say thank you to God.                              

Nursery Lesson Plan 27: The Bible Tells Us What Jesus Did - 20th April 2014

Lesson Plan

FIBC Nursery (0-5 years old) 

Date: 20^th April 2014, Time: 12:30 – 2.00pm 

Concept Area: Bible

Theme: The Bible tells us what Jesus did.

Key Bible Verse: Matthew 28:6 “ He is not here, He is risen just as He said”

12.20 – 12:30pm: Preparation Time

12:30-1.pm: Craft Time

Using watercolour paper stick masking tape in the form of a large cross in the middle of the paper.  Children can then paint and decorate their paper.  Stick the words Jesus is alive on the bottom.  When the paint has dried they can remove the masking tape and admire their cross.

Materials:  Watercolour paper, watercolour paint, brushes, masking tape.

1.pm- 1:15pm: Story Time

Matthew 28:1-10 (Read from Read to me Bible for kids)

Using a visual aid of an empty tomb and three crosses on a hill, read the story and ask the children to look into the empty tomb.  Talk about how Jesus died and rose again in 3 days.  Also talk about how the Bible tells us this truth and teaches us about Jesus and His life on earth.

Repeat the memory verse: Matthew 28:6 “ He is not here, He is risen just as He said”                               

Interaction with questions:

What is the Bible?  God's words to us

What does the Bible teach us?  The right things to do and tells us how Jesus lived so we can learn from His example.

What happened on the 3^rd day after Jesus died on the cross?  He rose again and He is alive today.  Repeat the memory verse: Matthew 28:6 “ He is not here, He is risen just as He said”

1.15 – 1.35pm Dramatizing the story.

Materials: Play clothing, angel wings, an empty box and a large cushion representing the stone in front of the tomb.

Get the children to reinact the story, taking turns to be Jesus, the angel, soldiers and the 2 Marys.  Get the angel to say the memory verse: “ He is not here, He is risen just as He said.” 

1.35 – 1:55pm: Snack time

Materials: Hot cross buns, icing sugar in a piping bag.

Get the children to make crosses on top on their hot cross buns with white icing sugar and allow them to enjoy. Talk about how Jesus is alive and well and with us everyday.  Repeat the memory verse, “ He is not here, He is risen just as He said.”

1:55 – 2.05pm: Singing  songs

Jesus loves me this I know.

Read your Bible, pray every day.

2.05pm: Clean up time

Clean up together and sing the song “Time to Clean Up”

Nursery Lesson Plan 23: I Can Do What My Parents Tells Me To Do

Lesson 23

Date: 23 March 2014

Time: 12.30-2.00pm

Concept area: Family

Theme: I can do what my parents tell me to do.

Key Bible verse: Exodus: 20:12 Obey your father and mother.

 

12.30-1.00pm: Activities and snack time.

Two activities stations:

1)       Playdough station – Make an ‘O’. O=obedience

2)       Coloring station – coloring page on O=obedience

Objective: Talk to children about obeying father and mother.

Guidance: As the children color the pages, ask them examples of how they obey their father and mother, and share to them how and why they should obey their parents.

1.00-1.45pm: Learning Bible verses through activity

http://ministry-to-children.com/obey-your-parents-lesson/

Getting Attention: Set up the circle and a few of the props while the children are watching. Do not make any comments except to say how excited you are about today’s lesson. The children will build interest and excitement to match your own.

Active Listening: Before you read the Bible verse, ask the children to listen carefully for the answer to these questions:

“What can I do to make my life better? What could I do to make my life worse?”

Then carefully read the key Bible verse:

Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Ask the children if they can answer those two questions. Introduce the lesson by saying: That’s what we’re learning about today. I have a special name for this I call the “Circle of Blessing.” Can you repeat that with me? “Circle of Blessing.”

Let’s Talk about that Bible Verse: Ask for volunteers(children) to explain tricky parts to you. Use their answers as jumping off points to briefly clarify the meaning of this passage. Here are some parts chosen for elaboration:

• honor your Father and mother (what does that mean?) it’s more than just obeying but treating them like important people with love & respect
• commandment with a promise (what does that mean?) it’s the first of the 10 Commandments that comes with a specific promise from God, there is a reward if you do this right
• go well with you (what does that mean?) that God will help your life work out better, not perfect but much better than it would be if you did not obey
• live long in the land (what does that mean?) when God first said this it was talking about the promised land, but for Christians the promised land is mainly about heaven, if your parents teach you about Jesus you can have eternal life in heaven

·         Circle of Blessing Object Lesson: Invite a child to come up to the front of the room. Have them stand inside an imaginary circle of about 3ft diameter. Then say:

·         This is the circle of blessing. It’s a way to imagine the way obedience keeps us out of danger. Just like our Bible verse says, God will watch over us while we obey our parents. To move outside the circle is like disobeying. Moving outside the circle brings danger.

·         At this point surprise the child by showing them a squirt-gun (or water bottle that sprays a mist) that you previously had hidden. Tell them as long as they are in the circle they are safe, but outside the circle they are in danger. Demonstrate by shooting a jet of water outside the circle. Then ask the child to step outside the circle to the spot you just shot. Then give them a short blast of water. Then say:

·         When we obey our parents it’s like staying inside the circle, God will keep us safe. But when we disobey it is like stepping outside the circle. When we do that we cause bad things to happen to our lives.

Circle of Blessing Object Lesson: Invite the children to stand inside an imaginary circle of about 3ft diameter. Then say:

·         This is the circle of blessing. It’s a way to imagine the way obedience keeps us out of danger. Just like our Bible verse says, God will watch over us while we obey our parents. To move outside the circle is like disobeying. Moving outside the circle brings danger.

·         At this point surprise the children by showing them a squirt-gun (or water bottle that sprays a mist) that you previously had hidden. Tell them as long as they are in the circle they are safe, but outside the circle they are in danger. Demonstrate by shooting a jet of water outside the circle. Then ask a volunteer to step outside the circle to the spot you just shot. Then give him/her a short blast of water. Then say:

·         When we obey our parents it’s like staying inside the circle, God will keep us safe. But when we disobey it is like stepping outside the circle. When we do that we cause bad things to happen to our lives.

Agree / Disagree [understanding test]: Have the children respond as a group to the following questions. If the statement is right they should stand up, if wrong they should stay seated and cross their arms.

• Disobeying is okay if you know your parents will say NO [disagree]
• Since your parents put the kindergarden in charge of you, to honor your parents means to obey your teacher too [agree]
• If you always obey your parents, your life will always be perfect [disagree]
• Once you disobey, you can’t get back inside the circle [disagree]
• When Jesus was a child, he always obeyed his human parents [agree]
• God doesn’t care if we have a bad attitude when we obey [disagree]
• God promised a better life for those who obey [agree]
• It’s not really disobeying if you parents didn’t actually say NO [disagree]
• When Jesus was a grown-up, he always obeyed his “Father in Heaven” [agree]

New Ways To Honor & Obey [new attitude test]: Ask the children to think of one way they could obey their parents better, tell them if they have a really good example you will let the act it out with the circle & the squirt-gun. If they have trouble, offer this example: “When I whine about dinner I am outside the circle of blessing [say this part outside the circle then squirt], from now on I can be thankful even when my parents don’t cook my favorite food. [move inside the circle on don't squirt]”

Closing: Lead the children in prayer thanking God for our parents. Ask for new hearts that help them obey.

1.45-1.55pm: Clean up time.

1.55 – 2.00pm: Parents to collect children.

Nursery Lesson Plan 17: God Loves Me and Is With Me - 23 February 2014

Lesson 17

Date: 23 February 2014

Time: 12.30-2.00pm

Concept area: God

Theme: God loves me and is with me

Key Bible verse: 1 Chronicles 17:13 God will always love me

 

12.30-1.15pm: Art & Crafts (Visual & Kinesthetic)

Art & Crafts: Jesus-loves-me balloon (Visual, Kinesthetic)

Objective: Create something with balloon

Materials: Heart shaped balloons, marker pens, and ribbons

Guidance: Children are encouraged to draw their own portrait (in their very own way) on the heart balloon and tie ribbon on the balloon. Key Bible verse ‘1 Chronicles 17:13 God will always love me’ is then written on the balloon.

Art & Crafts: Making heart pearls (Kinesthetic)

Objective: Create heart with pearls

Materials: Colourful pearls, heart template, baking sheets and iron.

Guidance: Children are encouraged to put colourful pearls into the heart template. When this is completed, the teacher and helper will put a baking sheet on top on the pearls and hot iron it. Once the pearls are melted together, the heart can be removed from the template carefully.

1.15-1.35pm: Bible story time (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic) + Snack time

Bible story: Matther 14:31-21

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves (snack time).Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

1.35-1.45pm: Clean up together and sing the song ´Time to Clean Up´.

1.45-1.55pm: Songs (Auditory)

 

Jesus loves me

Who made the birds that sing?

If you are happy and you know it

Our Father God

This little light of mine

Deep and wide

1.55pm: Parents to collect children