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This is the fifth and last article about children and possible ways of their involvement in Holy Week. It is the wonderful, celebratory event of Easter Day, which we have waited for all through the forty days of fasting, doing without something, or adding some extra thing to do throughout Lent.
The Jewish and Roman authorities were relieved. They thought that now Jesus was dead and His body sealed in a guarded tomb, that would be the end of the matter. But what happened on the first day of the week?
Bible Readings: Luke 24.1-12 or John 20.1-10. The children may like to mime this, with one of them, or a parent, acting as the narrator. Alternatively, if they have made a garden scene in a sand-tray or a corner of the garden, they could use clothes-pegs dressed as people and act it out that way during the Bible reading.
It is a special day of celebration and feasting and lovely if the whole family can attend church together for a dawn service.
The Service of Light
After the deep solemnity of Holy Week, this is a great celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which the family can share together. Traditionally, it begins, dark and mysterious, before dawn and may signal the end of the all-night vigil in the church. Remember, for the Jews the first day of the week does not begin until dawn.
Most churches would have had no flowers for the whole of Lent; the Easter, or Pascal Candle, was not lit during Lent, and on Good Friday the Communion, or Altar cloth and many of the decorations in the church had either been removed or covered. On Easter Day everything has been freshened and replaced and there are usually extra flowers and decorations.
As people enter the church they are given unlit candles (usually with at least a collar to prevent the molten wax from falling onto the carpet or burning fingers).
- Note: Parents, please remember that you are responsible for your family. Children are almost always delighted when their candles are lit, but careful supervision is needed in their handling of the candles, especially when they are standing close to each other; clothing and hair can be very vulnerable.
The ceremony is dramatic as the Pascal Candle is processed through the darkened church. The Candle is then lit to represent the resurrection of Christ, the Light of the World. Other candles are lit from it and are passed from person to person throughout the church as their candles are also lit. Their light is used then to see the words while hymns and songs of praise are sung.
Note: The Pascal Candle may have been purchased already decorated, or it may have been decorated by members of the church, or the children. Decorations include
- The cross, often painted on, a symbol of both life and death
- Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, symbols reminding us that God is the beginning and ending of everything
- The numerals of the current year, reminding us that God is with us right now
- Five ‘nails’ in the shape of the cross, symbol of the wounds of Christ
Baptism 
The Liturgy that follows is traditionally, from the early church, one of baptism. In the early Church, many baptisms often took place at East
This is the fourth article about children and Holy Week.
Holy Saturday sometimes seems to be a non-event, somehow sandwiched between the sadness of Good Friday and the joy of Easter Day. However, it is the second day of what is known as the Triduum and is an important day in the story of Easter.
With your children you can imagine together how it must have felt for the disciples and those who loved Jesus. It was the Sabbath Day and must have been a terrible day for them as their Messiah was dead and they felt that all hope had gone.
You might like to read together what the Gospels have to say about this day, but it is quite short. Two of the Gospels have a brief record of what happened on the Saturday. Matthew (27.62-66) tells us that a guard was posted outside the tomb in case the disciples tried to steal Jesus’ body away. The authorities expected this to happen on the first day of the week, so they would have been especially alert. Luke (23.56b) just mentions that the disciples and the women rested in obedience to the fourth Commandment (Exodus 20.8-11) that God had given to Moses.
That Sabbath must have been such a sad day for them. They did not understand what Jesus had told them about His resurrection. It seemed like the end of all their hopes and dreams.
Discussion
How do we feel when someone dies?
Action
Do you know someone who is feeling sad?
Is there something you could do to help them?
Activities
- You may also like to spend some time preparing for Easter Day. Perhaps you follow the tradition of rolling eggs down a hill, based on the idea of rolling the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. Some people use raw eggs, but others like to hard-boil them wrapped in onion-skins for dye, or decorating the eggs in other ways. If the eggs survive the roll, the children then eat them.
- The children could make little nests with hay or grass and decorate them with flowers, ready for Easter eggs on Easter Day.
- They could make or decorate ‘Easter Bonnets’ ready for a fun parade the next day.
Holy Saturday Evening
It is Easter Eve and perhaps there is an Antecommunion service at your church and you could attend with your children. This is a special Evening Prayer service, as there is no Eucharist, or service of Holy Communion, on Easter Eve. It is a very solemn occasion.
Easter Vigil 
Some churches like to keep a vigil of watching and waiting all through the night. This is traditional and is the oldest celebration of Easter, being considered the first part of the Easter Liturgy. Some people like to remain at the vigil all through the night, but most churches today prefer to have a roster where people elect to stay for one or two hours. If your children are old enough, they may like to participate in this special event.
During the vigil, the time is usually spent in reading passages from the Bible, especially about the mighty acts of God, meditating on these passages, and singing together. This is continued until dawn. This is the beginning of the third day and is when the Service of Light begins.
While we often think of Good Friday as being mainly for adults as it is such a solemn occasion, but it is important that children are included. They can often understand much more than we think they can. A good preparation would be to read together The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, or watch the DVD. Good Friday is also the day for eating hot cross buns to remind us of why we celebrate Easter.
GOOD Friday?
Why is it called ‘good’ when it seems such a horrible event? Dreadful things happened to Jesus, the only person on earth who had never sinned. Then He was killed. God allowed this to happen and Jesus obeyed so that the wrong things that everyone does can be forgiven. That is wonderful Good News for everyone who believes and asks for forgiveness.
The Sequence of Events
For the Jews, the next day began at sunset, so what to us is still Thursday, was considered to be the beginning of Friday. After celebrating the Passover, or Seder, Meal in the upper room, Jesus and His Disciples went to the Mount of Olives.
Most of the following events are described in each of the Gospels. If there is a service at your church, you might like to join it. You may prefer to study the events at home with your family. Some questions are added but you might like to have your own discussions.
Luke 22.39-46. It was late at night and Jesus went off by Himself to pray. He told his Disciples to pray, too, but it was late and soon they fell asleep. He went back and woke them up.
What might the Disciples have prayed about before they fell asleep? How much did they understand of what was going to happen to Jesus?
Luke 22.47-54a. While Jesus was talking to the Disciples, a crowd of people led by a band of soldiers suddenly arrived. Jesus was arrested and taken to the High Priest’s house to begin his trial.
How would the Disciples have felt? What did Peter do? What did Jesus say to Peter?
Luke 22.54b-62. Peter followed to see what would happen. While he waited, three people came at different times and asked if he knew Jesus. Peter was afraid and said, “No.” Just after the third time, Peter heard a cock crow and remembered that Jesus had warned Peter he would lie three times. He was so ashamed he had let Jesus down that he cried.
Was Peter brave to follow Jesus? Why did he lie? When did the cock crow?
Luke 22.63-23.1-11. During Jesus’ trial, He was taken to different places. There were the guards (63-5), the Council (66-71), Pilate (23.1.6), Herod (7-11).
How would Jesus have felt? What did He say or do? How would you have felt? What would you have done?
Luke 23.13-25. Pilate is convinced that Jesus is innocent, but is afraid of the crowd and pronounces the death sentence.
Was Jesus still trusting God? Would we still keep trusting God if we had been there? Why did Pilate wash his hands?
Luke 23.32-43. The Crucifixion.
Just the Sunday before, the people welcomed Jesus. Why did the crowd now call for Him to be killed? What did Jesus say about the men who nailed Him to the cross?
Luke 23.44-49. The death of Jesus.
What was the last thing that Jesus prayed before He died? Why did He say that? What happened when He died? Why do some churches have two curtains hanging behind the Communion Table?
Luke 23.50-56. The burial of Jesus.
Why did Jesus’ friends hurry to bury Jesus? What was the tomb like? Why was a guar
This is a second article about Holy Week. It commemorates such important events that it needs a section by itself.
What is Maundy Thursday? Mary Magdalene Church, Mount of Olives
It is the Thursday of Holy Week and is remembered by Christians all around the world, but they do not all know it by this name. Maundy Thursday is an English name and many authorities say that it comes from the Latin word that means Commandment. It was on this day that Jesus gave the ‘New Commandment’ when he explained to the Disciples why He was washing their feet. As it is Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, it is also a time of spring-cleaning in readiness for Easter Day.
Maundy Thursday is also known by several other names, including Holy Thursday and it leads on to what some call the Triduum, the three days of Good Friday, Holy Saturday and the climax of Easter Day.
Children can be involved in church activities, or Maundy Thursday can be commemorated at home. Different churches celebrate in different ways, and sometimes change what they do in different years. it may be a foot-washing ceremony, a ‘seder’ meal to remember the Last Supper that Jesus had with His Disciples, a Holy Communion or Eucharist Service, a reenactment of the scene
with the soldiers, or even an evening that combines all of these.
Foot-washing Ceremony
Readings: John 13.1-17, 13.31b-35. During the Passover Meal, the Last Supper, Jesus washes the Disciples’ feet. When they are back at the table, He gives them the New Commandment to love one another.
Discussion: In those days people mostly walked everywhere and the roads were often dry and dusty. It was the custom to wash visitors’ feet when they arrived. Who usually washed the guests’ feet? Why do you think Jesus did it?
Activity: Attend the service at church as a family, or share a foot-washing at home. Have a bowl of warm water, soap and a towel ready. Pass the bowl around so that each person washes the feet of the one next to their right (or left). End with a simple prayer.
The Passover or Seder Meal
This is a traditional Jewish meal that celebrates the time when God freed the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt. You can make it quite simple, or follow the tradition of it being the year’s most important event in the Jewish home. You can find descriptions of this meal in books and on-line, but basically you need lamb, green vegetables, celery, bitter herbs, matzo, a dish called charoseth, grape juice, salty water – and candles. The meal is formal, with set stages, activities, prayers and hymns.
Discussion: Preparation for the meal can lead into a discussion about the symbolism of the meal. What did the various stages stand for? What was the meaning behind the matzo? Why is the Seder Meal an important occasion?
Symbolism: As the Children of Israel had to eat in a hurry, the matzo represents unleavened bread, the charo
seth for the mortar they had to make for the brick-laying for the Egyptians, the bitter herbs for the bitterness of their lives, and the green vegetable or celery is dipped in the salty water to stand for the hyssop that was used to sprinkle the blood of the lamb on the doorpost.
For Christians, the lamb stands for Jesus, the Lamb of God; the red grape juice for the blood of Jesus; the candle for Jesus, the Light of the World; the green vegetable for the fruits of the earth.
After the Last Supper
Whether you are doing Bible Study for Holy Week within your family, as part of home schooling, or as a special extension of Sunday School or Religious Education, this is the most holy week of the church year and preparation needs to be made.
Bethany (BSB)
You may want to choose a set of readings that follow what Jesus and His disciples did each day during this week. You may decide to arrange special activities to share with your children for each of the three days, or you may choose to have the relevant readings and simple reinforcing activities that lead up to the Passover and Good Friday.
If you follow the Lectionary, this is Year B, the year we concentrate on the Gospel of St. Mark, but on special occasions we often visit St. John’s Gospel, which emphasizes God’s great love for the world.
Monday: John 12.1-11: ‘Six days before the Passover’ or John 14: Jesus speaks about the way to Heaven and the promise of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit.
Discussion: You can talk together about the readings. Both Matthew and Mark put the anointing at Bethany two days before the Passover, the Thursday. As this occurred in the evening and the Jews counted the next day as beginning at sunset, for them it was Tuesday. When Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as our Advocate, it means that He pleads for us with God the Father. We also look on the Holy Spirit as our Guide through life’s journey.
Activity: As the anointing occurred at supper, perhaps you can begin to plan for a special Passover meal. What were the traditions connected with the meal? Will you make invitations and ask others to share your meal? Can you find out what food was eaten and make a shopping list?
Tuesday: John 12.20-36: Jesus speaks about His death, or John 15: the Great Commandment.
Discussion: It is interesting that the Greeks came to Phillip, as his name was Greek, so he may have had Greek connections and spoken the language. There is so much that you can discuss in your family about the Great Commandment.
Activity: How can we show God’s love to each other? What could we do in our neighbourhood to show God’s love? Is there someone elderly? Could you visit? Mail their letters? Change their library books? Is there someone new who might like to know the best places to shop? When to put out the garbage bins? Could you invite them to go with you to church?
Wednesday: John 13.21-32: Jesus speaks about His betrayal, or John 16: Sadness will be followed by joy.
Discussion: You can find a record of His betrayal in each of the other Gospels: Matt. 26.21-25, Mk 14.18-19 and Lk 22.21-23. How do we feel when someone dies? Why is death different for a Christian? How can the sadness of the disciples be followed by joy?
Death is part of life, it is the end of life’s journey and happens to everyone and to our pets. Discussing it openly with children can be really helpful for them.
Activity: Do you know someone who has died recently? What can you do to let them know how you feel for them? Send a home-made card? Make some cookies so they have something to offer visitors? Help with any chores?
The events of the first three days of Holy Week are important as they lead up to Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Sunday School teachers need to be prepared, so it’s good to look ahead. Pray, think, read, plan and prepare any materials you may need. Palm Sunday is an important event in our church calendar. It signals the last week of Lent and the beginning of what we call Holy Week.
Pray: If any lesson is to be successful, it must begin with prayer. Talk to our Heavenly Father. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance as you begin to plan. During the lesson, if you need it, remember to call on that ultra-fast, hands-free 3-G (Triune God) communication method for help. Afterwards, review what you did and give God the thanks.
Plan: Read the Scripture, think and plan what you will do. Begin this by brainstorming. Think of all the possibilities, jot them down as you go, or you may forget that most important flash of inspiration. When you run out of ideas, review what you have written and choose the one you think might be the most appropriate for the situation and celebration. When you have completed your list check this one for any extra ideas that just might work for your group.
Possibilities:
A full-blown out-door procession, complete with costumes, Bible Readings and a real donkey.
An out-door procession with songs, readings and palm branches.
An indoor play with costumes, Bible Readings and two children to be the donkey (front one standing, wearing a mask, back one bending over, holding onto front one; both covered with a blanket or costume).
Set up a sand-tray and have models to walk the road (remember that the route from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem is very steep. Two of our children once did it on a camel and the driver, who was leading the camel, had to put his foot in front of the camel’s hooves several times at it lost it’s grip and began to slide. Those clothes and palm branches had a very practical use for the unbroken, probably frightened young donkey colt!).
Make palm crosses. The kids can either take these home or present them to the adult congregation.
You will probably have lots of better ideas.
Preparation: Whatever you plan to do, make sure you are well prepared and be ready for any eventuality. If you are rehearsing the week before, it can be a good idea to do it a couple of times with different children taking the leading parts. Then, if the ones you would like to have particular parts are absent, others will be already prepared to take their place.
After the rather sombre weeks of Lent, Palm Sunday is an excellent opportunity to have a celebration and it is so good for all the church to join with the Sunday School in this important occasion in the Church calendar.
Fasting in Old Testament Times
The terms ‘fasting’ and ‘to fast’ in the English language go back to Old English and mean to go without food or drink for religious purposes. However, fasting goes back much further than Old English times, in fact it goes right back to early Old Testament times. Lent can be a good occasion for Bible study with kids to have a look at some of these references. Is it just a time when we give up something like chocolate, or even a food we don’t particularly like anyway, because we’re supposed to go without during Lent?
Old Testament records tell us something quite different. Originally, there was to be only one fast a year (see Leviticus 16.29), the Day of Atonement, and that was to be a complete abstinence from all food and work, a day of complete rest to cleanse all the people of Israel from their sins. In 2 Samuel 12.15-20, we find another purpose for fasting: David tried to get God to change His mind. There are many other places in the Old Testament where the people fasted and prayed to God when they were desperately needing His help. These include 2 Chronicles 20.1-4, Ezra 8.21-23, Nehemiah 9.1-3, Esther 4.1-3, Daniel 6.16-21. As someone once said, the lions also fasted!
Fasting is a discipline and can be a powerful part of our spiritual walk with God on our life’s journey. Lent is such a good time to learn more about this and to apply it. It has been said, and it makes some sense, that when we eat more blood goes to our stomach and alimentary system to help in digestion and when we fast more blood is available to go to our head so we can think and pray more clearly.
Fasting in New Testament Times
There are also many examples of fasting in the New Testament. Both John (Luke 5.33) and Jesus (Matthew 4.2) fasted in the wilderness so they could be better connected to God. When the disciples could not heal the boy with the spirit, they asked Jesus why and He replied that difficult healing could only come about through prayer and fasting )Mark 9.29. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament there are also scathing remarks about people who fast just to show off how ‘good’ they are (Isaiah 58.3-5, Luke 18.10-14); their fasting is not acceptable to God because their heart is not right, they are not doing it so they can pray and grow closer to God.
Children and Fasting Today
All these historical references and many more besides point to the great value of going without so that we can concentrate on our prayer and fellowship with God. Sometimes it is not a good idea for our bodies to fast and go entirely without food or drink for lengthy periods, especially for children and older people. In times like this, some people find that they can still achieve the purpose of fasting by going without some things, but not a full fast. It’s also possible as a Lenten discipline, rather than giving something up, to take on something extra, some spiritual exercise or study.
Sometimes, such as the World Vision forty hour fast, people find sponsors to help raise funds to help in other countries, or the money saved by even partial fasting and going without some luxury during Lent can be donated to help children who are starving in countries overseas. The purpose of this fast is different, but it can still lead to a holier life and better fellowship with God.
Jesus fasted for forty days and the forty days of Lent is a wonderful opportunity for some extra Bible study for both children and adults as we meditate on God’s great gift of love to us and our sins forgiven through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, leading up to the Easter Day celebration of t
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Recently there has been some controversy about Christian Education in government schools in Australia. Actually it is just part of Special Religious Instruction (SRI), which can be available for many different religious groups if they wish to go into government schools to teach children about their particular beliefs. As I understand it, no children will be allowed to attend SRI unless they have their parents’ written permission. The instruction is only for a 30-minute period and the classroom teacher is present throughout the session. Children who do not attend any of the instruction groups can work on homework or other projects and should not be made to feel excluded from the instruction.
The History of Christian Education in Victoria
Christian Religious Education (CRE) in schools has a comparatively long history in Victorian government schools, as it was introduced in the 1870s and before that many schools that later became government schools had been commenced in church buildings and religious instruction was part of the standard curriculum and parents expected that their children would be taught the basics of their religion.
Special Religious Instruction is for Many Community Religions
When I was a teacher in a government primary school in the 1970s, instructors of several different religions, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Protestant and Greek Orthodox, came to the school and very few parents opted their children out of their particular strand of Special Religious Instruction (SRI).
Today SRI is taught in less than half of all government primary schools in Victoria, which is the State that I know best. Within those schools not all grade levels receive instruction. To me, this is very sad as many children will grow up not knowing the religion of their forebears and not particularly instructed in basic moral behaviour, either. People’s faiths influence the way they behave in society and most religions teach important values that are necessary for living in a way that is acceptable in a local community.
CRE Instructors are Unpaid Volunteers Trained by ACCESS Ministries
Of course, as a Christian, I am most interested in CRE. In both Australia and New Zealand the courses for Christian education of the different age-levels have been designed by ACCESS Ministries. Volunteers who visit the schools to teach CRE have attended training courses and must also carry their State’s ‘Working with Children’ card and Police clearance. The courses have been written by people who are well qualified, both in teaching and in theology, and the emphasis is on Christian knowledge and attitudes and how Christian values apply to the way the children live and behave towards one another. Proselytising is not allowed. The volunteers come from many different church backgrounds and so the teaching is mostly about Bible stories and basic values.
Dedicated Instructors
Some of the volunteers have been teaching CRE for astonishingly long periods of time and are so committed to sharing the Christian Bible stories and their faith. Many Not only willingly give of their time, but they buy picture books, maps, Bibles, reward stickers and other things with their own money and spend much time in preparation. They are to be commended for their great contribution towards broadening our children’s knowledge and education.
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Sometimes we may be inclined to think that introducing children to books can wait until they are older and more likely to have learned to care for their books. However, I like to think that our little ones are never too young to have their first books, nor to see us modelling our own reading and showing our enjoyment.
Board Picture Books
After all, there are board books that have been especially designed to be strong and cope with little fingers that are a little clumsy and not yet able to be very careful. Board picture books have been illustrated especially with small children in mind. Best of all, they probably have plasticised covers and are washable.
Board books may contain just pictures, but be careful in your choice here, as they may be intended for older children. Then there are the ones that have very simple illustrations and only one or two words of text. These can be ideal for showing your child that books are for fun and enjoyment and also for teaching new words and sounds.
Read Aloud Books
Books with simple stories can be just the right thing for helping little ones to settle down in the evening. Although your child may be even too young to understand, it can have a calming effect if you use a read-aloud book and the sound of your voice can help, just knowing that you are there. As this is a Christian website, I can recommend some of the simple Bible stories for children that are inexpensive and brightly illustrated, especially if your child is sitting on your lap.
As you read aloud, you can point to the character or object in the picture, or, as the child grows older you can run your finger along below the words, to show that those marks mean something interesting.
As your child grows older, if they have already discovered the importance of books, you will probably find that they keep coming back with the same stories, wanting you to read much-loved ones over and over again. You will tire of it long before the child does, in fact, we often found we knew their most favourite books off by heart, and so did they. Then we would play a game, by changing some of the words to see if they would notice. Unless they were falling asleep, they always did notice and would correct us.
Picture Books and Family Togetherness
Books are so useful for helping to bring families together. Even when the children are quite young, both Mother and Father can model their enjoyment of books by sharing them, taking turns in reading, and reading them together. Make sure that the little one is part of the group, being cuddled or sitting on a lap. Even when they are really tiny, picture books for children can become part of the evening bed-time ritual, before or after prayer-time.
Make time to share with your children: bonding with them as a couple helps to bond the whole family together and can be such a joy and blessing.
So much has been happening concerning Bible Study for kids and reaching and learning Scripture. At our church, as part of Sunday Club, which is another name for Sunday School, there is a Girls’ Group. Their leader has introduced the learning of Scripture. Now I don’t mean just a text each week, but whole chapters, even psalms or an entire Book of the Bible. It is amazing the enthusiasm that this has engendered. At their Christmas Break-up last year in church, they recited the whole Christmas story with great vigour and it was greatly appreciated by the congregation. It was presented in such a meaningful way. This could be an excellent thing for you to introduce into your Bible Study group, whether for children or for adults.
Verse-Speaking Choir
Many years ago I attended a church school and in Senior School joined a Verse-Speaking Choir. I guess this was similar in a way. We learned passages of Scripture and recited them as a group. There were different-sized groups; some had thirty or forty members, while others had just three or four students. The group I was in only consisted of three girls and we had been chosen as our voices were pitched differently, but harmonised. Each year our Annual School Service was broadcast on the radio live and that year we three recited the Old Testament reading from Isaiah.
The Backyard Bard
I found that the Leader of the Girls’ Group at church was a member of The Backyard Bard. I had not heard of this group before, but since the CMS Summer Under the Son Camp, I know more. The group was founded in Melbourne as a Christian theatre company. Their memorisation of whole Books of the Bible is amazing enough, but their presentation is quite dramatic as they act out the story, keeping faithful to the Scripture and their aim is to help people engage with God’s word. They certainly achieved their aim. At Summer School the Bards had memorised the whole of Esther and each day one or two members acted out the relevant chapters for the day’s study in a powerfully dramatic way. We were swept up in the emotions they portrayed. The presentation was deeply impressive and became one of the highlights. Those actors really made the word of God come alive.
Bible Storytelling
The members do not call themselves a verse-speaking choir, but a Bible Storytelling group. They really help their audiences to connect with the Bible stories, committing whole Books of the Bible to memory and sharing them with a passion that is quite infectious.
Members of The Backyard Bard perform at many Christian events, including Conferences, youth events, church services, even weddings. They hold workshops, seminars and one-day courses in both Biblical Storytelling and in Public Bible Reading. The last mentioned is very helpful for people who regularly read the Bible in church and want to improve their skills.
Each year this Christian theatre company have major productions in which they present a large section of Biblical narrative at events hosted by churches, high schools and university groups right across Australia.
If you are involved in Bible Study for Kids, learning Scripture is a great way to engender enthusiasm.
The Backyard Bard
Good Christian preschool stories on some Bible themes we may want to use can be difficult to find, but we are lucky as this is Advent and there are quite a few books about the Bible story of Christmas. There are even more imaginative preschool books about the Christmas holiday season. It is an exciting time for children, although sometimes the waiting seems endless and many parents seem to be distracted by daily announcements about the number of shopping days left until Christmas, so they don’t have enough time to share with their children.
Reading Christian Preschool Stories in Advent
Advent is the waiting time when we prepare our hearts to welcome the Christ Child and it is important that we do not become so involved with preparing gifts, cards and food that we neglect our own children. What was that message the angels brought? “Peace on earth,” but the hectic lead-up to Christmas can be anything but peaceful.
We need to set aside time to share the beautiful Christmas story with our children and there are many Christian stories for toddlers and preschoolers available. Bookshops, Christian bookstores, public libraries and on-line stores all have something that should appeal and be helpful in explaining to our little ones about the meaning of Advent and Christmas.
The Countdown to Christmas can be a Fun Time
Sharing books about Advent and Christmas can lead to family fun, too. There are some lovely carols the children can learn to sing, so they’ll really know them when the time comes. In our church, a little girl called Miriam was chosen to light the first purple Advent candle and that reminded me of my Old Testament Bible reading this morning, as it was from Exodus. In Chapter 15.20, we are told how the Israelites celebrated the crossing of the Red Sea: “Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand” and they sang and danced together.
That gave me an idea: when we have shared a Christian preschool book with our children, we can sing carols and celebrate with simple musical instruments like tambourines, bells, rhythm sticks, and even shakers (pebbles or rice in a tin). After reading “The Little Drummer Boy,” we can put on the song and march around the house beating drums (or old saucepan lids) and singing along. Reading Christmas preschool books with our children can lead to numerous activities and lots of fun for all the family.
Today in church, when it came to the time for the children’s story, the minister invited all the youngsters to come out and sit on the carpet at the front. Then he held up a picture book for children.
Advent and the Christmas Story
He told us that it is the first Sunday in Advent, the four weeks set apart for us to prepare our hearts to welcome the Christ Child at Christmas, so the book he had chosen to read was about the Christmas story. There was hardly enough room for all the children as two of the families were having special celebrations and had brought along Grandmas and Grandpas, other relations and lots of friends. It was a very happy time and both children and adults enjoyed the story and the lovely, bright illustrations as he turned the pages. When it was finished, he invited the children to stand up and follow him to the side of the church.
An Advent Crib
Here a manger scene was set up, but it was empty. It had been made from a large picture book that had been designed to be made into a crib. He asked the children what should be in it and then opened a box and invited various children to have a turn to add some of the cardboard models.
One of the children asked, “Where’s Baby Jesus?”
“Good question,” said the minister. “We won’t add Baby Jesus until Christmas comes.”
Later, when the children had returned to their seats, the minister asked the people to help him find the youngest person in the church. It was a five month old baby called James, so his mother and older sister, Miriam, came to the front of the church and he helped Miriam to light the first purple candle of Advent. He explained that the color for Advent is purple, as it is a time when we search our hearts to try and make them ready to welcome Christmas.
Many Picture books for Children Tell the Age-old Christmas Story
There are many picture books for children that tell this Bible story so beautifully. They include wordless picture books that are mostly for toddlers; there are picture story books that tell the story in easy-to-understand words; there are even picture books about the Nativity that have the most beautiful illustrations, sometimes by the Old Masters, and these are meant for adults.
We read in Timothy (2 Tim 3.15) that faith in Jesus Christ leads to salvation and that can be gained through wisdom learned in childhood by knowing the Scriptures. That training in righteousness is usually the responsibility (and joy) of a child’s parents, church and Sunday School teachers.
Sunday School Activities Help to Reinforce the Lesson
One way to reinforce lessons learned in Sunday School and Bible Study is through the follow-up activities. The important part of Sunday School lessons is the message, so telling the story is vitally important, but it really helps the child to remember if it is followed by an interesting or fun activity.
Children Love Dress-ups
Most children love to dress up, so writing a short play based on the lesson and then acting it out can be a great fun activity. It can be done without words, but using words does help them to be remembered. Now it is Advent, there are lots of exciting preparations being made for Christmas and many Sunday School children – and teachers – will be getting ready to present a play or a tableau about the first Christmas. These can be done with a narrator reading the Christmas story, but if the children use words, even if they tell the story in their own words, this joyful occasion is more likely to be remembered.
Involve as Many Children as Possible
I have found that it can be helpful, when rehearsing, to change the characters around so that more children have the opportunity to speak and act. It also means that if one of the main characters becomes ill or pulls out at the last moment, there will be others to take their places. The costumes can be just as much fun and easier for the parents if they are kept simple. Then, of course, there are all those wonderful carols that can be fitted into the script as the story proceeds – another way of helping the children to remember the story – and the real ‘reason for the season.’
For older children, one good idea is to make the play or tableau fit in with their own culture, e.g. A dimly-lit stage: at one side some ‘men’ could be sitting around a ‘campfire’ and sing local carols while other children enter to act and build up the tableau as the story, narrated from the Bible, progresses. Another idea is to use carols from different parts of the world, with one or two children dressed in that nation’s costume.
