Here are some ideas that you could do with your children at home, that link the children’s everyday experiences to the Bible. As you play or create, you can talk about what happened in the story of Christmas, when the shepherds visit.

You could watch this video of the story:

TEACHING POINT

Let’s worship our Jesus!

PROGRAMME

Let’s Pretend

Feel free to dress up as shepherds, stick some worship songs on and have a good old knees up and dance. Worship as the angels did when they told the shepherds the good news or worship as the shepherds did after they saw Jesus! Worship BIG!

Rice Krispies sheep

Follow this link to make these cute Rice Krispies sheep. Yum! 😊

Shepherds craft

Toilet roll shepherd- decorate with whatever material you can find at home, maybe you have an old j cloth for the shepherds head dress.

Candy cane craft

How about making one out of red and white tissue paper or you could use egg box cups like this one? You could make some out of red and white playdough or if you are feeling super creative, follow the link above to make salt dough candy canes. Don’t forget to talk about the meaning behind a candy cane. More info.

MESSAGE AND PRAYER TIME

Let’s worship our Jesus!

Up to 3 years old (Fruitshoots)

Read the Christmas story with a grown up. In the Christmas story, the angels told the shepherds about baby Jesus by singing loud music and praising loudly and happily. Then the shepherds saw Jesus and praised God on their way home. Let’s sing and dance and have lots of fun praising Jesus today!

From 3 years to Reception age (Acorns)

Read the Christmas story with a grown up. In the Christmas story, the angels told the shepherds about baby Jesus by singing loud music and praising loudly and happily. Then the shepherds saw Jesus and praised God on their way home. They told everyone they met about this new and special baby who was going to change the world. Who shall we tell today about Jesus, who loves us and will always take care of us. Let’s also sing and dance and have lots of fun praising Jesus today just like the angels and the shepherds did!

School years 1-6 (Hive)

Read the Christmas story again. In the Bible, it tells us that the angels told the shepherds about baby Jesus by praising God and the glory of God shone around. What do you think that would have been like? To be sitting in a quiet field and then suddenly, light and noise and angels appear. Crazy! No wonder the shepherds were terrified! How would you have felt?

Then the shepherds saw Jesus and praised God on their way home. They told everyone they met about this new and special baby who was going to change the world. Who shall we tell today about Jesus, who loves us and will always take care of us. Let’s also sing and dance and have lots of fun praising Jesus today just like the angels and the shepherds did!

In John 10:11, Jesus says: “ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” You can read Psalm 23 with your family to find out more about what our good shepherd does for us.

Pray!