Images of Christmas Children’s Church Program Teachers Manual

WEEK 1 Candy canes WEEK 2 Bells and candles WEEK 3 Garlands, wreaths and chains and holly WEEK 4 Stars WEEK 5 Gifts

Images of Christmas For the next 5 weeks we will be learning about the stories and customs surrounding some of the common Images of Christmas - the festive decorations and pictures seen on Christmas cards. We will be hearing the story of the Birth of Jesus. We will be compiling a book which can be given as a gift or kept by the children so that they can tell others about the true meaning of Christmas.

CANDY CANES Talk to the children about their week and pray about any concerns. Take up offerings Note that now we are in the fourth term and there are only a few weeks until Christmas. Tell them that we are going to learn about the story and customs behind some of the decorations and pictures we see at Christmas time Tell the children that for the next few weeks we will be making a booklet which can be given as a gift or kept by the children Tell the story of the Candy Cane Read the first part of the Christmas story - the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary Do the colouring/craft activities Make sure the children write their names on the back of each page. Collect the pages so that they can be collated for the booklet Make a circle and Play Candy Cane Game Still in the circle pray for the week ahead

The Legend of the Candy Cane According to legend there was a candy maker who wanted to invent a candy that was a witness to Christ. First of all, he used a hard candy because Christ is the rock of ages. This hard candy was shaped so that it would resemble a “J” for Jesus or, turned upside down, a shepherd’s staff. He made it white to represent the purity of Christ. Finally a red stripe was added to represent the blood Christ shed for the sins of the world, and three thinner red stripes for the stripes He received on our behalf when the Roman soldiers whipped Him. Sometimes a green stripe is added as a reminder that Jesus is a gift from God. The flavour of the cane is peppermint, which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is in the mint family and was used in the Old Testament for purification and sacrifice. Jesus is the pure Lamb of God, come to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world. So, every time you see a candy cane, remember the message of the candy maker: Jesus is the Christ!

CANDY CANE GAME Make a small cardboard square with a candy cane taped to it for each child and make a few extra in case of visitors Write one child’s name on each square and punch a hole in the cardboard big enough to fit over the hook of a candy cane Children sit in a circle on the floor with all the cardboard squares in the centre of the circle. They take turns in hooking their own square with a candy cane. This illustrates that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who came to save each one individually. The children take home the square and eat the cane they used for the game.

Here are the stories and meanings behind some of the popular images of Christmas

BELLS AND CANDLES Talk to the children about their week and pray about any concerns. Take up offerings.Remind the children that for the next few weeks we will be making a booklet which can be given as a gift or kept by the children Tell the stories of the bells and candles Sing the Bell carol using the instruments. Read the second part of the Christmas story - the birth of Jesus Do the colouring/craft activities Make sure the children write their names on the back of each page. Collect the pages so that they can be collated for the booklet Make a circle and pray for the week ahead

Bells Just as lost sheep are guided to safety by the sound of the bell, it continues to ring today for all to be guided to the fold. Follow the true Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep." Bells have also been used to announce news and the Birth of Jesus is The Good News. Paulinus, Bishop of Nola in Campania was the first to introduce bells into Christian worship around A.D Bells say “Come and worship!”

Candles Candles remind us that Jesus is The Light of the World. The glow of the candle also represents how man can show his thanks for the gift of Jesus by following in Christ's footsteps, to go about doing good. They remind us to let our light shine before men so that all may see it and glorify God. This is what is symbolized when the twinkling lights shine on the tree like hundreds of bright, shining candles, each of them representing one of God's precious children, their light shining for all to see."

GARLANDS, WREATHS, CHAINS AND HOLLY Talk to the children about their week and pray about any concerns. Take up offerings Remind the children that for the next few weeks we will be making a booklet which can be given as a gift or kept by the children Tell the stories of garlands, wreaths, chains and holly Sing The Holly and the Ivy Read the third part of the Christmas story – the shepherds Do the colouring/craft activities Make sure the children write their names on the back of each page. Collect the pages so that they can be collated for the booklet Make a circle and pray for the week ahead

1. The holly and the ivy, Now both are full well grown. 1 Of all the trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown. 1 Chorus Oh, the rising of the sun, The running of the deer. The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the quire The holly bears a blossom As white as lily flower; And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ To be our sweet Saviour. Chorus 3. The holly bears a berry As red as any blood; And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ To do poor sinners good. 3 Chorus 3 4. The holly bears a prickle As sharp as any thorn; And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ On Christmas day in the morn. Chorus 5. The holly bears a bark As bitter as any gall; And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ For to redeem us all. Chorus 6. The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown. Chorus [7. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir. Chorus]

The Christmas tree. Green is the second color of Christmas. The stately evergreen with its unchanging color represents the hope of eternal life in Jesus. It's needles point heavenward as a reminder that man's thoughts should turn heavenward as well. Wreaths Wreaths made of fresh, fragrant greenery and tied with a bright red bow. "The bow reminds us of the bond of perfection which is love. The wreath embodies all the good things about Christmas for those with eyes to see and hearts to understand. It contains the colors of red and green and the heaven-turned needles of the evergreen. The bow tells the story of good will towards all; and its color again reminds us of Christ's sacrifice. Even its very shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the eternal nature of Christ's love. It is a circle without beginning and without end.

STARS Talk to the children about their week and pray about any concerns. Take up offerings Remind the children that this year we are Remind the children that for the next few weeks we will be making a booklet which can be given as a gift or kept by the children Tell the stories of stars Read the fourth part of the Christmas story – the Wise Men Do the colouring/craft activities Make sure the children write their names on the back of each page. Collect the pages so that they can be collated for the booklet Play the shooting and falling star game Make a circle and pray for the week ahead

The Star The star was the heavenly sign of promise. God promised a Savior for the world and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that promise of the night that Jesus Christ was born. God always fulfills His promises and wise men still seek Him.

Make a star mobile

No one knows the year in which Christ was born, although the solution may be at hand. The "star" might have been an unusual set of planetary and stellar conjunctions culminating in a spectacular close approach of Jupiter and Venus. Research is being carried out at Griffith Observatory California. The Star of Bethlehem

GIFTS Talk to the children about their week and pray about any concerns. Take up offerings Tell the children they will be finishing off their booklets this week Tell the stories of gifts Talk about the Christmas story and the true meaning of Christmas Do the colouring/craft activities and make up the children’s booklets They can take them home this week. Make a circle and pray for the week ahead