Joy to the World and Away in a Manger.

Some Christmas songs we did in class this past Sunday...

Joy to the World

Away in a Manger

HE'S HERE

Taken from the Jesus Story Book Bible by Sarah Lloyd-Jones

Everything was ready.  The moment God had been waiting for was here at last!  God was coming to help his people, just as he promised in the beginning.

But how would he come?  What would he be like?  What would he do?

Mountains would have bowed down.  Seas would have roared.  Trees would have clapped their hands.  But the earth held its breath.  As silent as snow falling, he came in.  And when no one was looking, in the darkness, he came...

The God who flung planets into space and kept them whirling around and around, the God who made the universe with just a word, the one who could do anything at all - was making himself small.  And coming down... as a baby...

And there in the stable amongst the chickens and the donkeys and the cows in the quiet of the night, God gave the world his wonderful gift.  The baby that would change the world was born.  His baby Son.

----

I pray that I wonder never lose the wonder of Christ coming to earth as a baby!

Head, Heart and Hands - Kids in Church

This is something to remember for not only children but also adults.

We should listen to a sermons with these three words in mind HEAD, HEART and HANDS.

Head- what do I need to remember from this sermon?

Heart - what do I need to value or think about more as a result of this sermon?

Hands - what do I need to do this week as a result of this sermon?

This quarter's family ministry guide can be downloaded at
http://www.emmanuelbaptist.com/children/winter.family.ministry.guide.pdf

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Sorry, this video posted on the church facebook page but didn't post here.

"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"

The adults song this song and the kindergarten through 5th graders watched this video.

God sends John the Baptist

Date:  12.23

Title:  God Sends John the Baptist

Passage:  Luke 1:5–25, 57–67, 76–80

Principle:  Believers should be ready for God to fulfill His promises.

Praise:  "Silent Night”

Prompt:  Ask your child these questions:

· Who were the parents of John the Baptist?

· Why was John’s birth so special?

· What did Zacharias say about John in Luke 1:76–80?

Practice:  Help your child apply these truths in the following ways:

· By worshiping God as Zacharias did.

· By being ready for God to fulfill His promises.

Memory verse:

2 year olds through kindergarten:  Matthew 1:21b

you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

1^st through 5^th grade:  Luke 1:68

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and      

redeemed his people”

Missionary: The Collins family 

Ministry:  Children’s ministry

Activity: See how long your family can be silent.  Ask the

children how this activity relates to the birth of John the Baptist.

Next Week: Matthew 2:1–18

Talking about tragedy with your children

Remember when talking with your children, no matter what the circumstance, communicate that our hope is in Jesus Christ.

Article on the Gospel Coalition website:
"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows" (Isaiah 53:4).
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/12/16/where-shall-we-put-this-grief/

Taken from an article at http://pastors.com/after-tragedy-help-your-congregation-ask-what-can-we-do-now/

To help people rebuild their lives, we must help them understand this:

• Express your grief. It is OK to mourn, but it is not good to resist, rehearse, reduce, or repress our grief.

• Get help from others. The best way to do this is to get in a church and in a small group. Build a network of support to help you through your grief and recovery.

• Refuse to be bitter. Becoming bitter or maintaining bitterness is a choice, one that will only destroy your life. Bitterness only prolongs the pain, so ask yourself, “Do I want to stay bitter or get better?” Pray for good to come out of the tragedy, for the comfort of God’s love, and for hope.

• Clarify what matters most. You cannot change what has happened but you can live the remainder of your life focused on loving others and doing the things that are most important.

• Rely on Jesus. We can lose everything, but there’s one thing that can’t be taken away – a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Focus on the Family:
How can I help my child cope with disaster and trauma? http://family.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/26257/

God Promises to Send the Messiah, Part Two

Passage:               Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18–25, 2:1–12; Micah 5:2

Principle:             Jesus is the Messiah.

Praise:                   “Away in a Manger”

Prompt:          Ask your child these questions:

· Who were the prophets?

· What did they say would happen?

· Did their prophecies come to pass?

· Where was the Messiah born?

Practice:         Help your child apply these truths in the following ways:

· By humbly obeying Christ, the King.

· By trusting that God keeps all His promises.

· By worshiping Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Memory verse:

2 year olds through kindergarten:  1 Timothy 1:15b

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

1^st through 5^th grade:  Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Missionary: The Bishop family

Ministry: Children’s ministry

Activity: Have the children tell the Christmas story using a    nativity set

Next Week: Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:26–38