Children’s Messages
Christmas Eve/Day
December 24/25


#1
(A friend shared this idea with me and I have also used it with good
results.)
I always do the same children's talk. I never get tired of it, and
the children respond beautifully. I hide the characters from the
creche scene around the church. One by one the children find them.
We leave the kings on their journey from the east end of the church
until Epiphany. All of the other figures are talked about and put
into their places. We have a wonderful discussion about "Gloria"
our angel, who has her name written on her. I never put out the
shepherds. I ask who is missing from the manger. They always tell
me that there are no shepherds. We go on a hunt. They are
nowhere to be found. I explain to them that the shepherds were the
ones who carried the message to the people. We need to be the
shepherds. Our job is to make certain that the Christmas message
gets out to the people. I tell them about the candy cane and how it
represents the crook of the shepherd. To remind them that they are
shepherds and need to carry the good news of the birth of Christ to
the people, I ask them to take a candy cane home at the end of the
service.

#2
Topic: Happy Birthday
Objects: Birthday hats, streamers, etc Give one to ach child

Today is Christmas. Does anyone know whose birthday it is? (Let
them answer)

That’s right. It’s the birthday of Jesus.

I imagine that many of you received gifts today didn’t you? What
did you get? (Let them share)

I wonder though, since it’s the birthday of Jesus, what gifts we
could give Jesus? Do you have any ideas? (Let them share)

Do you think it makes him happy if we help someone? When we
pray? When we read the Bible or come to worship? These are gifts
that I think he might like.

There’s a wonderful song in our hymnal that I would like to teach
you. It sings about the gifts we can give Jesus (Now have the
musician play "What Gift Can We Bring"). Sing it or have someone
sing it with the children (You can provide the words for them. Then
notice the last verse, which says what we can really give Jesus - our
hearts).

We receive so many gifts at Christmas, but I want you to remember
that Jesus is the best gift of all. And the best gift we can give back,
is our hearts, our love.

Loving God,
you are so good to us.
You give us so much.
But best of all
you give us Jesus,
who shows us
how much you love us.
We love you too.
Help us share your love
with others
this Christmas
and all through the year.
Amen.

#3
(A friend suggested the following. I got the book through
Amazon.com in two days for about $23. It is quite good)

I ran into a wonderful children's book last year that I used for a
small women's group Christmas gathering and also for our
childern's church. It is titled "Mary's First Christmas" by Walter
Wagerin, Jr.

The book is a bedtime story, told long ago by a special mother to
her very special son. Mary tells five year old Jesus the story of the
first Christmas- of his own birth and the remarkable events that
surround it.

The illustrations are magnificent and the story itself is spell
binding. I highly recommend it to all of you who are planning a
special Christmas event, whether it be for congregations, small
groups, or for your own children. It could also be read during a
children's sermon and discussed.

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Bass Mitchell, Hot Springs, VA
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