Dec 1^st Advent, Be Prepared

Game : Captains Daughter

List of instructions :

1. Port (run to left-hand wall)

2. Starboard (run to right-hand wall)

3. Fore (run to front)

4. Aft (run to back)

5. Climb the rigging (on the spot rope climbing actions)

6. Swab the decks (Mopping actions)

7. Cannon-ball coming (Lie flat on the floor)

8. Admiral's aboard (Stop dead, stand straight and salute at attention)

9. Captains Daughter (everybody stops and wolf whistles )

Explain that the children are all sailors on a ship, and the captain is expecting a visit from the admiral – so lots of preparations have to be made. Read out the instructions before the game begins and make sure that everyone understands what to do when each one is called.

One player is chosen as the captain and is given the list of instructions from which s/he can call at random. Once the captain calls "Admiral's aboard" the last person to obey the command is eliminated.

Play until one person is left and that person then becomes the captain & reads the list, in random order...

Question: What is Advent

We showed the video below, then had a quick fire quiz

Questions:

Advent is a period lasting for how long… four Sundays
Advent the season of .. preparation
Advent the season of …. looking forward
Advent the season of… change
In the video that we saw, how many Candles did we see .. 20
Most common word displayed .. wait
Preparing for the celebration of… Jesus birth
In the video that we saw, how many SNOWFLAKEs did we see.. 25
Title of the song “I will wait for you”
We saw 2 people waiting and looking at a light shining down, what were they sitting on.. stairs
What am I waiting for? Waiting for Jesus
What does advent means? the coming of …. Something

CHRISTMAS TREE

Divide the children into small groups and ask them to read the Christmas story as recorded in Luke 2: 1-20.

Seek answers to the questions:

When was Jesus born (v 2)?

Why did Joseph travel to Bethlehem?(v4)

Where did Mary lay her baby? (v7)

What did the angels say to the shepherds? (v 10)

What was special about Jesus? (v 11)

Why were people amazed at what he shepherd's said ?(v 18)

What do you think Mary treasured? (v 19)

Why were the shepherds glorifying and praising God (v 19).

Ask the children to write on a blue bauble something that they have learned about Jesus' birth, that they want to remember this Christmas. If they wish they can copy a verse onto the bauble, or write something on their own. They can then go and hang their bauble on the tree.

Examples of baubles completed are below:

MEMORY VERSE - Pass the Parcel

PASS THE PARCEL

Prep: A present with a word from the memory verse in every layer of paper & a sweet

Memory Verse: “They will call him Immanuel which means God with us" Matthew chapter 1 verse 23.”

We ran out of time for the following:

Reflection – Christmas Worship & Calendar drawing

we were going to how the video below, the kids were then going to think about how much God Loves them, not just at Christmas but all year. They drew a picture on some coloured card with a 2014 calendar on it.

16 children, aged 8-11

What we did:

1. Game - What's In It?

We had 9 pre-wrapped objects available for display on the table.

The kids have to guess what is in each wrapped present. No touching! Their answers are written on paper, we then go thru each one, seeing what people have & seeing who is right.

Kids loved this game, it had a Christmas feel!

Point of this was to introduce the idea of Christmas and waiting for it & waiting for good things

Items used included: Stapler, pen, computer mouse, DVD case, keys, skittle, Christmas tree (a small one, not a 6 foot one!)

2. Discussion - Who Does What at Advent?

We spoke about Advent, and it’s meaning.

Then thought about what we should be doing in the run up to Christmas.

The Children then had 3 post its, coloured Pink, Yellow and Green. On these they wrote down what their Mums/Aunts (pink), Dads/Uncles (green) and themselves (Yellow) would be doing on the run up to Christmas.

We then looked at how many of them are to do with Jesus – and not many of them were. Some examples are below. (Mums get stressed, Dads jump around happy and Children EAT CHOCOLATE)

3. Video - 'The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe' (The Chronicles of Narnia)

Clip played was from approx. 01:14 & showed the kids crossing the frozen lake as it melted.

Before this happened I gave them questions (to focus their attention)

¨ What are the signs of the spring coming?

¨ Why do you think Winter disappears after Aslan comes into Narnia?

¨ How has this affected the people of Narnia?

¨ What does it help them to believe about Aslan?

¨ Do you know how Aslan is like Jesus?

After the clip was shown we discussed the questions. The link between Jesus and light in a dark world was picked up by a couple of kids.

4. Christmas Worship & Calendar drawing

Whilst we played a “Christmas song”, the kids thought about how much God Loves them, not just at Christmas but all year. They drew a picture on some coloured card and stuck on a 2013 calendar on it. They all took this home.

Song played was Steven Curtis Chapman “Our God is With Us”

We discussed the meaning of “Emmanuel” (used in this song a lot)

Some photos of the calendars are below.

6. Baby Taboo/Charades

To link back to the “baby” Jesus, we played a fun game of Taboo- where the kids have to describe a word without saying it. Words were baby related = Bib, Cot, High Chair, Nappy, Dummy and others….

7. Bible Story & with Actions

A story based on Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-24 was read out. Actions for the words “Baby” “Angel” “Afraid” ”Holy” were made when those words were said. The kids liked that - they seem to love dramatic actions!

8. Final Prayer & finish

Lessons Learnt:

The kids were lively, but controllable. We didn’t get as much done as needed because of the time taken to be quiet.

The initial game took longer than expected, but they liked it.

Some kids clearly saw the link with the film with Jesus being the light.

Sunday's Coming...

01 December 2013