Archives: Christmas Pack #11
Preparing to Celebrate the Birth of Christ: Older Children
Index for this Section
Preparing to Celebrate the Birth of Christ
A Four Session Activity Guide for Leaders of OLDER CHILDREN
By Carolyn Hardin Engelhardt
Author
Carolyn Hardin Engelhardt is a Diaconal Minister in the United Methodist Church. She has written nursery, children, youth, and intergenerational curriculum resources. Her articles have appeared in Church School, Intergenerational Journal of Religious Education, and The Alternatives Newsletter. Carolyn lives in Connecticut.
Introduction
Celebrating Christmas is not always easy. With all the business and seasonal customs we encounter during this time of year, it is often difficult to remember whose birthday we are celebrating. This resource is designed to assist older children in making decisions about the ways they celebrate.
GOALS
This resource suggests activities that will enable older children and their leaders:
- to be aware that we decide how we celebrate;
- to identify alternatives in celebrating and to explore what they accomplish; and
- to begin to identify what might be some Christian ways of celebrating, some ways that help us remember whose birthday it is.
DESIGNING THE SESSIONS
These activities may enrich ongoing group experience such as weekday classes, Sunday sessions, music and arts groups, weeknight or after school events. The activities can be organized into four Advent experiences. The order suggested here is for one hour's experience before Advent begins with the other three sessions to follow before or during Advent.
The format for this activity guide is different from those for the other age groups. Whereas they have plans for four sessions, this guide has plans for a first session, followed by activities arranged under three themes. They are not intended to be themes for the next three sessions. In planning the second, third and fourth sessions, you will want to select one or more activities from each of the three themes.
In situations where the full session is not devoted to this study, activities can be selected to fit into, or be added to, those ongoing group experiences.
PREPARATION NOW
Before the unit starts, look over the following list and order or secure what will be needed.
- Review the other materials in the Christmas Packet (including the Activity Guides for the other age groups) for additional resources and suggestions.
- Secure the video Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. (Check your church library or order from Alternatives.
- Look over a copy of To Celebrate: Reshaping Holidays and Rites of Passage for background information and additional suggestions. (Check your church library or order from Alternatives.)
- Review the activities under the three themes and determine which ones you will use.
A First Session: Thinking It Over
OBJECTIVES
In this first session we want:
- to begin to see ourselves as persons who make choices about Christmas; and
- to prepare a nativity scene that assists in meaningful celebration in the home.
NEED
- Cards with an item from the "Thinking It Over" game (see back page) written on each
- Enough self hardening clay, cardboard, wood, etc. so that each person can make a complete nativity scene
Opening
As people gather, play the card game "Thinking It Over." Each person should choose a card from the deck, read it aloud, respond, and then place it in a pile face down.
Who Do You See?
Ask group members to close their eyes and imagine they see the people that are mentioned as you read these passages: Luke 2:1 20 and Matthew 2:1 12. Take about five minutes.
Take another five minutes to have group members list the persons they saw in their imagination during the reading.
Making a Nativity Scene
Encourage each person to make nativity scene figures out of self hardening clay. Barns can be made out of wood or cardboard. Provide enough supplies so that each individual can have a full set of figures and a barn. Let everyone take their nativity scene home to serve as a center of family focus for Advent and Christmas.
During the construction of the nativity scenes, talk about the fact that the figures represent ordinary people like the farmers, carpenters, homemakers, parents, town officials of our day. Also discuss where the figures might be displayed in homes and some ways they might be used. (Some possibilities include arranging them far apart at the beginning and bringing them closer together as the weeks go by, adding Jesus and a star on Christmas Eve, singing songs about the different characters.)
Close
Invite persons in succession to respond (unless they wish to pass) to: "During this season, I will need to decide .
First Theme: We Can Choose
Ritual for Beginning or Ending
OBJECTIVE
- to reinforce that we are people who decide
NEED
* cards with these beginning sentences on them.
- I learned that I:
- We celebrate Jesus' birthday because:
- I wonder:
- I wonder if:
- I wonder about:
- I wonder why:
- I have decided to:
Ask group members to draw a card and respond to it. You could also ask everyone to respond to the same sentence, using other sentences for following sessions.
Thinking It Over
OBJECTIVE
- to clarify issues and values relating to celebrating Jesus' birthday
NEED
- "Thinking It Over" card game, with new cards added to those used in the first session
Each person chooses a card from the deck, reads it aloud, responds, and places the card face down in another pile. This activity works best if played by groups of no more than ten at one time.
Thinking It Over (variation 1).
OBJECTIVE
- to encourage people to think about an alternative Christmas within their households
NEED
- a set of "Thinking It Over" cards for each participant to take home
- blank cards
Encourage participants to play this game with the people in their households during dinner table discussions or other family gatherings. Ask that family members write additional questions on the blank cards provided.
Thinking It Over (variation 2)
OBJECTIVE
- to encourage persons to see themselves as people who make choices
NEED
- "Thinking It Over" card game
- blank cards
- pencils
After playing the card game a few times, invite group members to make cards with similar questions on them. Add these new cards to the set and keep playing.
"This Is Our Way To Remember" song
OBJECTIVE
- to reinforce the concept that we are deciding how to celebrate
NEED
- words and music from the Activity Guide for Younger Children
Learn and sing the following song to the tune of "Silent Night."
"We can decide, We can say, This is our way. This is our way. This is the time for Jesus' birthday. This is a time to remember his way. This is our way to remember, We celebrate this way."
Second Theme: What's the Difference?
Which One Is It?
OBJECTIVE
- to sharpen awareness of the purposes of various Christmas activities
NEED
- three signs that read: "Commercial and Business Activities ... .. Seasonal Activities," and "Jesus' Birthday Activities."
- cards with one of the following items written on each: "making lists of who to give to," "making lists of what I want for Christmas," "Christmas vacation," "Christmas cards," "stockings," "toys," "letters to Santa," "door wreath," "Advent calendar," "Christmas dinner," and "Advent wreath."
Invite small groups to sort the cards under the appropriate signs. Shuffle the cards after one group finishes so that others can think about it afresh.
Mural or Collage
OBJECTIVE
- to become more aware of seasonal business practices
NEED
- long roll of paper
- glue crayons magazines, newspapers, and catalogs
1. Ask participants to cut out or draw things that businesses do to make money at Christmas time. Make a mural or collage showing sales, catalogs, music, decorations, holiday store hours, etc.
2. With the group together, ask the members to share: why each item occurs;whose attention it getting; what happens by getting people's attention; who says it should be done.
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
OBJECTIVE
- to become more able to identify authentic celebrations of Jesus' birth
NEED
- * Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas video
- VCR player and monitor
Show the video and discuss its message.
My Time
OBJECTIVE
- to be able to identify the purpose of one's activities
NEED
- paper
- pencils
1. Ask group members to list all of the things they have done this week that some people would say are part of celebrating Christmas. The list might include: making Christmas gift lists, reading Scripture, shopping, writing invitations, making decorations, lighting Advent wreath candles, etc.
2. Ask group members to write, beside each activity, the description that most relates to the item: business, custom, remembering Jesus' birth.
Celebration Objects
OBJECTIVE
- to distinguish Christian aspects of celebration from seasonal business practices and customs
NEED
- twenty five or so objects related to Advent, Christmas and Epiphany (Include seasonal, cultural, commercial and Christian items.)
1. Pass objects around in a circle slowly, asking persons to think about whether each item is related to business, custom, or Jesus' birthday.
2. Ask each person to choose one object and tell whether it is related to business, customs, or Jesus' birth.
3. Encourage members to ask each other questions about their choices after everyone has shared.
More Celebration Objects
OBJECTIVE
- to choose what we need in order to celebrate
NEED
- Bible
- secular seasonal music
- Christmas card
- toy catalog and other advertisements
- wreath
- tree ornament
- cookie cutter
- wrapping
- paper and bows
- crèche figures
- calendar
- candles
Divide into small groups of four or fewer persons. Invite each group to look over the items and divide them into two groups "Necessary for celebrating Jesus birthday" and "Not necessary for celebrating Jesus' birthday." You can either provide two tables labeled with the headings on which to place the objects or you could ask each group to make two lists on a piece of paper.
Third Theme: Does It Celebrate Jesus' Way?
Make Dioramas
OBJECTIVE
- to recall and reinforce possible ways of remembering Jesus' birth
NEED
- boxes
- glue scissors pipe cleaners paint or crayons recycled art supplies
1. Ask group members to recall ways that churches encourage people to remember Jesus' birth and the things Jesus' life showed us. Possibilities might include: Advent wreaths, Advent calendars, gifts for missions, worship on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
2. Using the boxes provided, form small groups to make model scenes of people engaged in the above activities. Display the completed dioramas for the congregation.
Christmas Cost Analysis
OBJECTIVE
- to evaluate our Christmas spending
NEED
- paper
- pencils
1. Ask participants to list the people to whom they usually give gifts. Next to each person's name, have them write down the approximate amount of money they spent on the person last year.
2. Ask participants to consider what they could give to each person on their list that involves: use of one's time; making a gift; sharing something one has; buying an appropriate gift; or honoring a person with a contribution.
3. Encourage each person to share one of their gift ideas with the group.
Best and Worst Christmas Gifts
OBJECTIVE
- to consider actual gifts that are appropriate to Christmas and those that are not
NEED
- paper
- pencils
Encourage participants to consider gifts that they have received, given or heard of that show the real meaning of Christmas. Have them also list those that do not. Offer the following examples: Christmas Day out of the kitchen for a mother who usually prepares a big Christmas meal (Best Gift); A bottle of wine for a man who just finished a stay at an alcoholics' recovery program (Worst Gift).
Whom Should We Help?
OBJECTIVE
- to increase our awareness of persons who need to be included in a true celebration of Jesus' birth
NEED
- Bibles
- paper
- pencils
- denominational giving information
- puppets
1. Ask a person from the group to read aloud Luke 4:18 19 and Matthew 25:31 40.
2. As a group, list those persons that Jesus says we should help. Read over any denominational giving information. Discuss how denominational giving programs suggest we can help these people.
3. By using puppets or volunteers from the group, act out a way we can help one of the persons on the list.
Hello, St. Nicholas
OBJECTIVE
- to learn more about St. Nicholas and his way of giving
NEED
- St. Nicholas narrative included in the Activity Guide for Youth (You could also use "St. Nicholas: A Puppet Play" or the story "Christmas Without Santa," both on this CD.)
1. Read the story of St. Nicholas to the group.
2. As a whole, choose a way the group might give as St. Nicholas did.
Plan a Party (even if you don't actually have it)
OBJECTIVE
- to practice consciously deciding to celebrate in a way that remembers Jesus' birth
NEED
- large sheet of newsprint or chalkboard
- marker or chalk
1. As a group list what is needed to plan a party that celebrates Jesus' birthday. Consider: who will participate; will there be food; where will it be.
2. Brainstorm about activities for the party. List them.
3. Organize the order of activities, leadership, responsibilities, etc.
Twenty Things for Celebrating
OBJECTIVE
- to discover clues that can help us in determining what is appropriate for celebrating Jesus' birthday
NEED
- paper
- pencils
1. Break down into pairs. Ask partners to list twenty things one might do, use, etc. to celebrate Jesus' birth.
2. Discuss the lists and talk about why each activity or item helps us to celebrate Jesus' birth. Discuss how we can use these clues to decide if something we might do or use is in keeping with a meaningful celebration of Christmas.
Make Christmas Cards
OBJECTIVE
- to discover how to share the meaning of this celebration with others
NEED
- paper
- art supplies (recycled if possible)
1. Ask participants to think of some important words and images that tell what Christmas means.
2. Encourage each person to use some of these words and images to draw a picture that expresses the real meaning of Christmas.
Enrich the Celebration
OBJECTIVE
- to have non commercial alternatives to heighten the awareness of whose birthday it is that we celebrate
NEED
- paper
- crayons or markers
- other art supplies
Encourage group members to make items that would help them to celebrate Jesus' birth. Offer some examples such as: manger scene, Advent calendar, banner, alternative giving bank, Advent wreath.
Imagining
OBJECTIVE
- to encourage each person to quietly consider alternatives for celebrating Christmas
NEED
- a quiet place to relax
- To Celebrate: Reshaping Holidays and Rites of Passage if available
1. Slowly and meditatively read the following:
"We are going to take some time to imagine what we can do to celebrate, to celebrate in a way that we are sure whose birthday it is. Close your eyes so that you can think without anything bothering you. Relax and sit comfortably. This will be a very serious experience and we will all be completely quiet.
"Think about the following questions: Whose birthday is Christmas? What kind of a gift would Jesus like for his birthday? What kind of things did Jesus like to have happen? What did he ask people to do for each other?
"Think about the following words: sharing, loving, giving, caring, remembering, helping. How can sharing happen? How can you love others? What would you give? To whom would you give? How could you remember those in need the hungry, the lonely, the sick, thirsty? Can you think of anyone who is in need? Sharing, loving, remembering and caring can be happy things to do. They can be a celebration. They can be a birthday remembrance for Jesus.
"Because celebrating Jesus' birthday has gotten mixed up with a lot of business activities and seasonal customs, it is sometimes hard to think of ways to celebrate Jesus' birthday. We have thought of some ways. We can choose to do them. Let's remember some of the ideas that we've thought about so that we can share them later.
"Slowly bring your attention back to this room. Open your eyes and stretch your body a bit. Now let's think together."
2. List all of the ways the group can think of for celebrating Jesus' birthday. You can refer to To Celebrate for ideas.
THINKING IT OVER Card Game
Put each item on a separate card
1. Name two things you must decide about Christmas.
2. Name one way you could give like St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, without anyone knowing you are the giver.
3. Name a symbol of the winter season.
4. Name two things businesses do to try to sell more at this time of year.
5. What is a way that your church is helping you remember Jesus' birthday?
6. Which is more important to you: receiving an invitation to a friend's home or receiving a grab bag present?
7. Why do you think groups draw names to give gifts?
8. Are stocking stuffers a) a way to sell more, b) a custom, or c) a way to remember Jesus' birthday?
9. Name a symbol of Jesus' birthday.
10. Catalogs are sent to our homes to a) make it easy for us to buy, b) to help us select gifts for the hungry, thirsty, lonely, and sick as Jesus suggested, or c) because people can enjoy winter more by reading them.
11. Which gift is more important for you to give? a) a dog biscuit for your dog, b) an invitation to Mr. Jones to have breakfast with you on Christmas, c) money for the children's hospital, or d) a candy dish for your parents. Why?
12. The first thing to do in considering what to give someone is a) to think about the person and what they enjoy in life, b) to plan a time to look around in a shopping center, or c) to look through your possessions and see what you have that you could share with that person.
13. Which Christmas card would best help you to remember whose birthday it is? a) a Snoopy card to put together into a scene, b) a handwritten note that says, "I am glad you are my friend because you help me to be more kind," or c) purchased cards that say, "Season's Greetings" and have your name engraved.
14. Name a custom that you do when it snows.
15. The time for celebrating Jesus' birth is a) one day, b) forty one days or more, c) about a week.
16. Jesus celebrated with a) his family, b) people who needed friends, or c) people who believed in love and justice as he did.
17. The wise men came to celebrate Jesus' birth a) later than the shepherds on the night of his birth, b) two years after Jesus' birth, c) thirteen days after Jesus was born.
18. Choose the statement that is closest to your own ideas: a) Traditions should be kept as they are handed down. b) We can create traditions that show what is important to us. c) Traditions teach us what is important in life.
19. What do you think are the three most important things to do with money at Christmas time? Why?
20. Each year ______________ reminds me of the meaning of Christmas.
21. Christmas Eve worship services are a) custom, b) Christian experience, or c) celebration.
22. Name one thing you always do on Christmas Day.
23. Name one thing you think you should do on Christmas Eve.
24. To remember that people all over the world are celebrating Jesus' birthday, I can
25. I wonder if _______________
26. During Advent I choose to _______________
27. Lighting Advent candles helps me _______________
28. Some good ways to use a nativity scene or crèche are ______________
29. People can tell a Christian family lives in my house at this time of year because _________
30. Name some ways to use food in our celebrations that would show we care about our bodies, the world's resources, and whose birthday it is.
31. During Advent about how much time should be spent each day in preparations for or in celebrating Christmas?
Make copies of this resource under the Creative Commons attribution, not-for-profit license.
Page updated 11 Sept. 2013
Simple Living Works! * SimpleLivingWorks@Yahoo.com
BLOG: SimpleLivingWorks.WordPress.com
| Blog INDEX
PODCAST |
Podcast INDEX
VIDEOS: YouTube.com/SimpleLivingWorks
MISSION: Equipping people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly and celebrate responsibly // An all volunteer educational organization.