Rocky Road NativityAdvent is a time of waiting. It is a time of hope. 2000 years ago different people went on different journeys that led them to the same place. Can you name them? (Mary & Joseph, the Shepherds and the Magi following the star.) Those journeys led them down rocky roads! Melt chocolate and invite children to take turns stirring it as you continue to chat. We are all on a journey to become more like Jesus. What kind of things can make us stumble? Some are big obstacles - add big digestive biscuit bits. Sometimes small things can make us trip – add mini marshmallows. Now we must wait for the chocolate to cool and harden. We continue with our story as we wait. We wait in hope! (You will need a cooler box to help it set in time.)

EDIBLE REFLECTION: BABY IN A MANGER:

Ask the children what a manger is, and what is kept in it. Give each child a small cupcake holder, explaining that this can be the manger. A manger is found in a stable and is a very ordinary trough for feeding animals. It reminds us that God chooses to bring His glory, His light and His Son to the most ordinary of places. Even when we are feeling ordinary and not very special, we are in the perfect position to be a home to God’s presence.

Then give each child a few mini shredded wheats to crush and make straw for the manger. Straw can be scratchy and uncomfortable. Think about difficult situations around the world or about people close to you that are going through painful times. Bring these issues and people to God and ask him to bring his balm of healing. Think about whether you have brought pain or discomfort to others this week and ask God for his forgiveness.

To put a little baby on straw you would need something to keep him warm and protected. Give each child a strip of fruit roll up for a baby blanket/swaddling cloth and a jelly baby and demonstrate wrapping the baby and placing him in the manger. Ask them about people or groups that bring comfort and make us feel safe. Hospitals, fire brigades, ambulances, people who love us, etc. Pray that these people would know how valued they are.

Adapted by Lydia from: http://childrensministry.org.au/2009/11/sharing-the-edible-christmas-story-with-groups-of-children-in-7-steps/

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Church of Ireland Children’s Ministry ADVENT NEWSLETTER

Church of Ireland Children’s Ministry ADVENT NEWSLETTER

Church of Ireland Children’s Ministry ADVENT NEWSLETTER

(A Sample of the Nativity Service by the Bible Society)

Narrator: Today’s Nativity is all about the greatest journey ever. I’ll be retelling the Christmas story and we’ll be going on a Christmas journey together. But I will need help from all of you.

When I say each of these words, I need you to join in with an action:• JOURNEY: Marching action and

huffing and puffing• : Stretch your arms out as far as

you can• UH-OH/OH-NO: Gasp and put

your hand over your mouth• CAN’T: Wag your finger and shake

your head

(Optional – if you have a screen) There’s also some sections in this story where we all need to say the words together. They will come up on the screen, so keep your eyes peeled!

Narrator: Now, before we do anything else, because we’re going on an adventure I need to put on my walking boots. (Mime putting on boots) Do you want to put your walking boots on too? Go on then. (Wait for congregation to mime putting on their boots.) In this story, there are four special journeys that happened over 2,000 years ago. Mary and Joseph, the

wise men and even the shepherds all travelled a long way to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Today, we’re going to follow in their footsteps and travel these journeys too. Right let’s go... There was a couple called Joseph and Mary. They went on a journey, All the way to Bethlehem!Everyone: We’re going on a journey It’s going to be a big one,Narrator: All the way to Bethlehem, ‘Cos Caesar wants to count us. Uh-oh! Romans! Tall, Scary Romans

Everyone: We can’t jump over them, We can’t crawl under themNarrator: Oh no! We’ll have to

walk between them! Stepady-step, walkedy-walk, stepady step They went together on their journey, Soon they were going to marry. And they were going to be a family, Because Mary was having a baby! Suggested carol – O Little Town of BethlehemInvite the Marys and Josephs to parade around the church during the carol.

RHYMING CHRISTMAS PRAYER Thank you for angels to hang on the tree. Thank you for tinsel, as bright as can be. Help us remember what all this is for – To welcome the baby who slept on the straw.

Amen

The Greatest Journey

ADVENT POEM:Advent is a time to wait, Not quite time to celebrate. Light the Candles one by one, Til the advent time is done. Christmas Day will soon be here, Time for joy and time for cheer.

Get the complete service outline and the accompanying powerpoint here: https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/get-involved/christmas/pop-up-nativity/download-the-popup-nativity-resources/

Church of Ireland Children’s Ministry | ADVENT NEWSLETTER

‘What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

yet what I can I give him: give my heart.’

Church of Ireland Children’s Ministry | ADVENT NEWSLETTER

Manger Ribbon Prayer:Flame Creative Ministries has a wonderful Manger Prayer. During their Nativity Play they explored the gifts that God gives us and the gifts that we can give Him – our time and our talents etc., Each character in the play then said what gift they wanted to give Jesus and tied a ribbon to the manger as a symbol of that gift.

They sang ‘In the Bleak Mid-Winter’ with the lines ‘What I can I give Him: Give Him my Heart’. Afterwards the whole congregation was invited to tie a ribbon as a symbol of the gift they wanted to give God from their lives. They finished with the recognition that Jesus is the greatest gift.

CRAFT:Scripture Union’s All Resource Christmas is full of great ideas from crafts to talks to prayers and even nativity dramas. Their button crown craft (which can also be made using sequins and stickers) has an added dimension for an All Age Service where people are given large shapes such as circles, diamonds and squares for the prayers. The Magi recognised Jesus as King, but many people did not. He was not a normal king. He didn’t wear a crown (except a crown of thorns.) He came as a servant king who had a lowly birth, entered Jerusalem on a donkey, had carpentry as a profession, and was a travelling preacher. And yet he was King of the World. Is He King of our hearts? Invite people to stick their shape onto a large crown outline

during the service to represent a prayer: May we shine like jewels in God’s crown. Ask people to reflect on what that might look like, especially when we know Jesus as a Servant King.

Building Blocks 2017 Building Blocks 2017 was a fantastic event exploring ministry to fathers and father figures and providing training and resourcing in methods of Godly Play, Drama, Creative Prayer, Craft and Programme Planning. There were also demonstrations in face painting, Messy Science experiments, practical ideas and top tips. If you missed out, we’ll be posting ideas from it over the next few weeks here: www.facebook.com/churchofirelandchildrensministry/

www.cm.ireland.anglican.org

churchofirelandchildrensministry

sss@ireland.anglican.org

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