Nativity 3 B: Ideas to help the whole family relate to the RCL readings

Have a Blessed Christmas. May the story speak anew to you this season.

This is a page that has collated ideas that suport the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) readings, which are theologically and developmentally approriate, saving you time in finding resources admist this busy season, be it those in paid church employment or families looking for resources. If you use this page please refer to it as appropriate.

We are entering a new season and you will notice that the colour for the season of Christmas is White ( if you find this offensive please feel free to use gold this season.) The season of Christmas starts on the 24th of Decemeber and there are 3 RCL reading sets for the 24th and 25th of December Services. If you can check with the congregation you are worshipping with either physically or virtually this season to see which reading they will be using it may help your preparation.

I will post on each of these options, Nativity 1B, 2B, 3B and there is a general Christmas page if you are unsure what the readings might be. If you would like to start with some singing there are some songs that you may enjoy on this page, as well as some Christmas stories, and genral activity and colouring in pages.

If at home prepare a worship space, place a white table cloth, your advent candles, and light the final white Christ candle today. You may also include any items that help you concentrate on the season of Christmas.

PRAY:

God came into our life,

shining light into the night

We welcome God’s gift

Jesus today

Amen

FIRST READING: Isaiah 52: 7-10

READ/WATCH: Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones, the first half until the Angels appear in the story or 2.31min on the you tube clip.

Make a mega phone, roll a piece of paper with a small and a large end like a trumpet. Listen to how it makes your voice louder when you speak into it.

OR Make an Angel https://lettheirlightshine.com/2020/11/04/how-to-make-an-angel-craft-video/

PRAY Dear God

Help me to listen

to those who tell

of your love

Amen

PSALM 98

READ: Psalms for young Children by Marie-Helene Delval (This is abeautiful book that is worth purchasing)

“Sing to God a new song,

becasue he has done

many wonderful things.

Play a trumpet or a horn!

Join the rivers and mountains

in singing praise to God!

SING/Play an instrument it can be pot lids, salt and pepper shakers what ever you have at hand.

SECOND READING: Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)

READ/WATCH: Continue reading/watching Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones (See First Reading)

SING: https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/jesus-came-to-earth/

OR https://colinbuchanan.com.au/products/baa-baa-doo-baa-baa-cd-mp3-backing-track-sheet-music 21 Hebrews 1:1-2

DO: How are you like your parents? draw, or write.

GOSPEL READING: JOHN 1:1-14

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qAOR5U1i7k&fbclid=IwAR0xUZsJNJJoF3YB6McPTxX0PpUsi5o1Pb9SkdlVMDOIPM2MiwxQp9uFxQo

SING: https://colinbuchanan.com.au/products/baa-baa-doo-baa-baa-cd-mp3-backing-track-sheet-music 25 In the Beginning

OR https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/jesus-came-to-earth/

DO: Shine a torch or the light in the mobile phone into dark places. What is different?

Have a Blessed Christmas

Wendy L.

NATIVITY 2 B: Ideas to help the whole family relate to the RCL readings

Have a Blessed Christmas. May the story speak anew to you this season.

We are entering a new season and you will notice that the colour for the season of Christmas is White ( if you find this offensive please feel free to use gold this season.) The season of Christmas starts on the 24th of Decemeber and there are 3 RCL readings for the 24th and 25th of December Services. If you can check with the congregation you are worshipping with either physically or virtually this season to see which reading they will be using it may help your preparation.

PRAY:

God came into our life,

shining light into the night

We welcome God’s gift

Jesus today

Amen

FIRST READING: Isaiah 62:6-12

READ/WATCH: God’s Great Love by Rick Warren I chose this book becasue this reading in Isaiah reminds us of all the things that God would do for his people

PLAY; with blocks, build something wonderful, What do you think God finds wonderful?

PLay with a nativity set? (If you don’t have one you can make one

Free Printable Nativity Craft For Kids

What do you find wondeful? What did God do that was wonderful?

PSALM 97

Psalm 97: Rejoice, the Lord is King!

Rejoice! The Lord is King! (Star Jump beep bow)
Lift up your heart, (raise your arms high above your head)
lift up your voice; rejoice; (open your mouth wide)
again I say, rejoice. (Star Jump)

Power! All the forces in the planet (Show your muscles)
are powered by the Lord. (put your hands in the prayer position)
Love! All the love in the universe (Make a love heart with your hands)
flows from the Lord. (Open your hands out)
Joy! All the happiness in the world (Jump)
is given by the Lord. (hands in prayer position)
Thanks! All our thanks we give back to you. (look up hands out wide)

Words by https://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-97-rejoice-the-lord-is-king.html read her statement on her page about her influences. Actions (in Italics) by me.

DO: Describe those feelings, Show how these feelings look like in your body or draw it, or point out what it feels like from a set of emotional cards https://innovativeresources.org/resources/card-sets/bears-cards/ or the Bears App https://innovativeresources.org/resources/digital-applications/bears-app/

SECOND READING: Titus 3:4-7

READ/WATCH: Horton Hears a Who by Dr Suess I chose this book becasue Titus reminds us that it is not our actions but God’s mercy.(v. 5) And this reminded me of Horton, he could have walked away but he choose to be mercifal and help the Who’s.

SING https://colinbuchanan.com.au/products/practise-being-godly-dvd Titus $AUS2.50

PRAY:

Oh Merciful God,

Thank you

that you care so much you

YOu sent your Son,

and made us part of your family

Amen

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 2 (1-7), 8-20

WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO_ubBfLc9Q&fbclid=IwAR3jjGt1RCwHquKpsPWPZTIPOaA_YTvaRo5L0bBovRKThYhbbohqC78tUMU

SING Joy

OR Angels singin’ Glory https://colinbuchanan.com.au/products/king-of-christmas-dvd $Aus2.50

MAKE: Sheep and Shepherds. Make a field of Sheep and some shepherds and

Make some Angel https://lettheirlightshine.com/2020/11/04/how-to-make-an-angel-craft-video/

OR anything from the general Christmas page.

Have a Blessed Christmas

Wendy L.

(if you could acknowledge this page I’d appreciate the recommendation)

NATIVITY 1 B: Ideas to help the whole family relate to the RCL readings

Have a Blessed Christmas. May the story speak anew to you this season.

We are entering a new season and you will notice that the colour for the season of Christmas is White ( if you find this offensive please feel free to use gold this season.) The season of Christmas starts on the 24th of Decemeber and there are 3 RCL readings for the 24th and 25th of December Services. If you can check with the congregation you are worshipping with either physically or virtually this season to see which reading they will be using it may help your preparation.

PRAY:

God came into our life,

shining light into the night

We welcome God’s gift

Jesus today

Amen

FIRST READING: ISAIAH 9:2-7

READ/WATCH: Andrew McDonough’s Tina the Tree https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9__aGBiKXQ

SING: Seeds Christmas, To us a child is Born https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/seeds-christmas-dvd/

DO: Take a flashlight or the phone light and shine it in dark places? What happens, what do you see? Can you build some dark spaces to shine your light into? Is there something fun to find when the light is shone in them?

PSALM 96

READ:

A Christmas Psalm:
based on Psalm 96

Sing a new song to the Lord
All the earth, sing!
All you people, sing!
See God’s glory, it is coming!
Tell of God’s salvation, it is coming into the world!
Speak of greatness, strength to overcome.
Come out to meet the Lord, proclaiming his name.
Come into his holy place and tremble.
All the earth, tremble in wonder.
All the galaxies, rejoice in praise!
All the oceans and all that lives in the sea – sing for joy!
All the fields and forests and all that lives on the land – shout for joy!
For the Lord is coming –
he is coming to make everything new,
he is coming to put things right.
Rejoice for the Lord is coming …

But will we see him, born in a manger?
Will we proclaim him, son of Mary?
Will we welcome him, this stranger in a strange land?
Will we honour him, this unexpected judge of the world?

Lord God, we see you, born in a manger.
Lord Jesus, we proclaim you, son of God and son of man.
Loving God, we welcome you; come make your home among us.
Lord Jesus, we honour you and praise you and choose again to follow.
Amen.

My thanks and Christmas Blessings to Rev Purdie https://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-96-words-run-out.html

DO:Describe those feelings, Show how these feelings look like in your body or draw it, or point out what it feels like from a set of emotional cards https://innovativeresources.org/resources/card-sets/bears-cards/ or the Bears App https://innovativeresources.org/resources/digital-applications/bears-app/

SECOND READING: TITUS 2:11-14

READ/WATCH What if everyone did that? by Ellen Javernick a suggestion by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-christmas-eve-2017/

S ING:https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/good-and-gracious/

OR https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/give-me-self-control/

DO: Look at your self in the mirror. What do you see? What is the mirror reflecting? Can you draw a refelction picture. Fold a piece of A$ paper into half, draw yourself or a toyon one half of the paper only now try to draw it exactly the same on the other side of the fold

GOSPEL READING: 2 LUKE 1-14 (15-20)

WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO_ubBfLc9Q&fbclid=IwAR3jjGt1RCwHquKpsPWPZTIPOaA_YTvaRo5L0bBovRKThYhbbohqC78tUMU

OR READ Brave Girls Bible Stories by Jennifer Gerelds, pp.138-141.

Make an Angel https://lettheirlightshine.com/2020/11/04/how-to-make-an-angel-craft-video/

OR do any of the craft from the general Christmas page.

SING https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/seeds-of-christmas-ep/# JOY

May yours be a BLessed Christmas

Wendy L