ISBN-13: 978-1-426-76814-9storage.cloversites.com/aieaumc/documents/Early...ISBN-13: 978-1-426-76814-9 DJF EE LG Covers 1-4.indd Custom V 7/12/13 1:39 PM Scope and Sequence 2013–2014

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Scope and Sequence 2013–2014Fall 2013Unit 1: From Judges to Kings1. Deborah2. Hannah3. God Calls Samuel4. Samuel the Judge5. Choosing a King

Unit 2: David the King6. Samuel Anoints David7. David and Goliath8. David Dances9. David’s Son Builds the Temple

Unit 3: Prophets and Kings10. Elijah and the Ravens11. Elijah and the Prophets12. Elisha13. Josiah/Huldah

Winter 2013-2014Unit 1: The Birth of Jesus1. A Child Is Born2. A Message to Mary3. A Message to Joseph4. Good News!5. Simeon and Anna

Unit 2: The Life of Jesus6. The Wise Men7. Jesus at the Temple8. Jesus’ Baptism9. Jesus in the Synagogue

Unit 3: Jesus’ Ministry10. Jesus Calls Fishermen11. Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law12. Jesus Teaches the Beatitudes13. Jesus Calms the Storm

Spring 2014Unit 1: The Way to Jerusalem1. Jesus and the Children2. A Man Born Blind3. Zacchaeus4. The Lord’s Supper5. Praying in the Garden

Unit 2: In Jerusalem6. Peter’s Denial7. Palm Sunday8. Easter9. Road to Emmaus

Unit 3: Peter10. Peter’s Declaration11. Peter and John12. Peter and Tabitha13. Peter in Prison

Summer 2014Unit 1: Becoming the Church1. The Promise of the Holy Spirit2. Pentecost3. Proclaim With Boldness (Peter and John)4. Offering for Jerusalem5. One Body, Many Parts

Unit 2: Prayer and Praise6. Psalm 1007. Psalm 1508. Solomon’s Prayer9. The Tax Collector and the Pharisee

Unit 3: Peacemaking10. Abraham and Lot11. David and Abigail12. Mephibosheth13. Love Your Enemies14. Blessed Are...

Vol. 2 • No. 2 • WINTER 2013–14

EDIToRIaL / DESIgN TEaMBrittany Sky ............................................................. EditorJulie P. Glass ......................................... Production EditorAmelia Qu ........................................................... Designer

aDMINISTRaTIVE TEaMNeil M. Alexander .............................................. PublisherMarjorie M. Pon ................Associate Publisher and Editor of

Church School Publications (CSP)Phillip D. Francis .................Senior Design Manager, CSPLeeDell B. Stickler ..... Senior Editor, Children’s Resources

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: early elementary, leader’S Guide: An official resource for The United Methodist Church approved by the General Board of Discipleship and published quarterly by Cokesbury, a division of The United Methodist Publishing House, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801. Price $9.99. Copyright © 2013 Cokesbury. All rights reserved. Send address changes to Grow, Proclaim, Serve: early elementary, leader’S Guide, Subscription Services, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801 or call 800-672-1789. Printed in the United States of America.

To order copies of this publication, call toll free: 800-672-1789. You may fax your order to 800-445-8189. Telecommunication Device for the Deaf/Telex Telephone: 800-227-4091. Automated order system is available after office hours. Or order online at cokesbury.com. Use your Cokesbury account, American Express, Visa, Discover, or MasterCard.

If you have questions or comments, call Curric-U-Phone toll free, 800-251-8591. Or e-mail [email protected].

For information concerning permission to reproduce any material in this publication, write to Rights and Permissions, The United Methodist Publishing House, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801. You may fax your request to 615-749-6128. Or e-mail [email protected].

Scripture quotations, unless noted otherwise, are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.CommonEnglishBible.com

Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

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We’ve created a special page on our website that is just for you!

Go to growproclaimserve.com/leaders and discover resources that will help you prepare

for each week’s lesson!

Attention, Leaders!

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Cokesbury.com | 800.672.1789

Come GROW with

us!

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ContentsWritten by Brittany Sky

2 Introduction 4 Welcome to Leaper’s Pointe

UNIT 1: The Birth of Jesus 5 Unit 1 Overview 7 December 1, Session 1: A Child Is Born 13 December 8, Session 2: A Message to Mary 19 December 15, Session 3: A Message to Joseph 25 December 22, Session 4: Good News! 31 December 29, Session 5: Simeon and Anna 37 Unit 1 Reproducibles

UNIT 2: The Life of Jesus 47 Unit 2 Overview 49 January 5, Session 6: The Wise Men 55 January 12, Session 7:

Jesus at the Temple 61 January 19, Session 8: Jesus’ Baptism 67 January 26, Session 9: Jesus in the Synagogue 73 Unit 2 Reproducibles

UNIT 3: Jesus’ Ministry 83 Unit 3 Overview 85 February 2, Session 10: Jesus Calls Fishermen 91 February 9, Session 11: Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law 97 February 16, Session 12: Jesus Teaches the Beatitudes 103 February 23, Session 13: Jesus Calms the Storm 109 Unit 3 Reproducibles

Supplemental Pages 121 Jesse Tree info 123 Bible Verse Sign Language 126 Winter Unit Songs 128 Comments From Users

Visit GrowProclaimServe.com/leaders to join the community with other leaders and find helpful weekly content and

articles. Websites are constantly changing. Although the

websites recommended in this resource were checked at the time this unit was developed,

we recommend that you double-check all sites to verify that they are still live and that they are still suitable for children before doing the

activity.

Photo/art credits—covers: logo design by Marc Whitaker, MTWdesign; background

and frog (& all frogs throughout): Shutterstock®, Julien Tromeur; cover design by

Mark Foltz and Phillip Francis; pp 1, 74, 75, 80, 111, 114, 118: Shutterstock®; p.

4: UMPH Design dept.; pp. 9, 15, 21, 27, 33 121: Qi Debrah, Gwen Walters Artist

Rep.; pp. 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 123, 124, 125: Diana Magnuson; pp. 17, 29, 101, 122:

Ron Benedict; pp. 38, 41, 43, 45: Brian Dumm, Portfolio Solutions LLC; pp. 46, 56

(Jesus), 78, 119, 120: Cary Pillo, Portfolio Solutions LLC; p. 56 (timeline): Durga

Bernhard, Herman Agency; p. 76: Sharon Lane Holm, Storybook Arts Inc.

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2 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide

IntroductionF irst and foremost, Grow, Proclaim, Serve is a

Bible study. Your children will hear the Bible story, apply the Bible message, and then live out the message in their lives in concrete and age-appropriate ways.

Each session begins with the Bible story reference and the monthly Bible verse. Grow, Proclaim, Serve uses one Bible verse for the entire month to give the children the opportunity to learn the verses. Each month the sessions also have a “Leap of Faith.” This is the main idea for the month’s sessions.

Each session is divided into four sections. The first section is “Grow Together.” You may use these activities in learning centers as the children arrive or choose one or more of theses activities to be done with the entire group. Regardless of what you choose, involve the child as soon as he or she enters the room.

The second section is “Proclaim the Word.” The first activity in this section is a transition activity to move the children from their interest activities to the Bible story activities.

In this section, you may choose to use the DVD and the CD-ROM. The DVD has the Leaper’s Pointe episode (see page 4) for each week, as well as the monthly music video (with lyrics),

“Leaper’s Pointe in Concert.” At the end of both the episode and the monthly music video is the Bible verse—written, spoken, and signed using signs from American Sign Language. If you do not choose to use

the DVD, you will skip “Visit Leaper’s Pointe” and go directly to “Moving to the Bible Story.” The CD-ROM contains instrumental and vocal music, sheet music with lyrics, printable lyric sheets for each song, and PowerPoint® lyric presentations. The CD-ROM is found in the Early Elementary Resource Pak.

The third section is “Serve With Love.” In this section the children will experience activities that help them apply the Bible message to their lives.

The fourth section is “Worship.” Here the children will have the opportunity to sing and praise God. Each week you will close with prayer requests by the children.

The reproducibles for each session are found at the end of each unit. The reproducibles for the five sessions in December are on pages 37–46, after Session 5. Reproducibles for the four sessions in January are on pages 73–82, after Session 9. Reproducibles for the four sessions in February are on pages 109–120, after Session 13.

In each Leader’s Guide, there is a mission project which relates to the Bible stories. For winter, the mission project begins in Session 6. Your children will be collecting money for UMCOR’s Mother and Child Survival Program. Information about the mission project is in Session 6. If your church or denomination is involved in a different mission project, feel free to substitute that project as the mission focus.

As a leader for Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary, you are the most important resource for the children. Be open to sharing your own faith with the children of God in your care.

Common English Bible (CEB)

The CEB is the primary Scripture resource for Grow,

Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary resources. Have at least one CEB in your room for the children to handle.

We also recommend having a copy of the New Revised

Standard Version (NRSV) and the Contemporary English Version

(CEV) of the Bible.

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary resources are available in Braille on request.Contact:

Braille Ministry,

c/o Donna Veigel

10810 N. 91st Avenue #96

Peoria AZ 85345

(623-979-7552)


Winter 2013–14 GrowProclaimServe.com 3

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary,Bible Story Pak (one per child, one per leader)

The Bible Story Pak involves the children in the Bible story and provides them with a connection between the story and real life. The colorful activities are age-level appropriate, and Stickers for the Attendance Chart and other activities are included.

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary,Leader’s Guide (one per leader)

The Leader’s Guide contains step-by-step instructions to for each session. Leaders are encouraged to choose activities that best suit the needs of their children and the time available. At the end of each monthly unit are reproducible sheets that coordinate with the individual sessions.

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary,Resource Pak (one per group)

The Resource Pak contains interactive Bible murals, storytelling fi gures, Bible verse posters, and games that contribute to each session with the children. See the back cover of the Resource Pak for contents.

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary, CD-ROM (one per group)

The Early Elementary CD-ROM is part of the Resource Pak. The CD-ROM contains six songs that are specifi cally chosen for the stories this quarter. Also included are the sheet music with lyrics, printable PDF lyric sheets for each song, and PowerPoint® lyric

presentations for large groups.

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Early Elementary,Fun Pak (one per child, one per leader)

The Fun Pak is a set of quick-and-easy craft activities that relate directly to each session. These activities are colorful, creative, and fun. They require few outside supplies and are aimed at the skill level of the early-elementary child.


4 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide

Welcome to Leaper’s PointeLegend has it that a long time ago, a very thirsty

man was walking along an unfamiliar road. He was in need of water and kept looking for a stream or a pond from which he could drink. From a nearby forest, a frog jumped across the road in front of the man. He knew that where there is a frog, there is bound to be water. Sure enough, the frog led him to a pond of pure clean water, fed from a nearby spring. The man thanked God for the strength and courage that he had been given to continue looking for water. He was so grateful that he decided to live on that very spot near the pond.

And so, Leaper’s Pointe was founded. Today, Leaper’s Pointe is a town in the middle of everywhere. Its citizens have continued to thank God for the many blessings they have, and to appreciate the leaps and bounds that led their founder to water. The town is a colorful, cartoonlike world, rich with tradition as well as humor.

Leaper’s Pointe is a place where people understand that God loves everyone, no matter what mistakes they might have made. All of them make mistakes. The messes they make along the road of life and the lessons that they learn from these mistakes are all part of how they learn that God is the most important thing in their lives.

The Bible is the handbook of Leaper’s Pointe. The characters in this zany, colorful town have lots of stories to tell and lots of experiences to share—and they all relate to the Bible in some way. Join the fun in Leaper’s Pointe and see how your faith can grow in leaps and bounds as you become one of the people of Leaper’s Pointe.

The People of Leaper’s PointeLeaper

A descendant of the original inhabitants of Leaper’s Pointe. Leaper is a hip toad with a cool outlook. Better pay attention!

The Mayor

Merrilee McAfee is a second-generation female leader of Leaper’s Pointe. She leads with “hearts and smarts,” and is strong and courageous.

Ernie Meeks

As the mayor’s assistant, Ernie is here to learn. Prone to make mistakes here and there, Ernie is eager to be a leader.

Mondo Solo

Owner of the Leaper’s Pointe theatre. A lover of “one-man shows.” Mondo never met an audience he didn’t like. He loves to exaggerate, but has a heart of gold.

Furleen Finnanfeathers

Owner of the pet store, The Leaping Frog—a place for ALL animals. You never know what animal sounds will come out of her pet store!

Rosie

Owner of the Old Stuff shop, a place where you can find, well…old stuff. She is the wise voice of Leaper’s Pointe.

Papa B

Owner of The Bookworm, Leaper’s Pointe’s bookstore. He is a gentle soul who loves to read. He and Rosie grew up together.

Gabby Gabbler

Gabby is in charge of the Leaper’s Pointe garden. She loves to grow things. She has a very sunny disposition and a green thumb.

Harley and Farley

The twins. Hard to tell apart. These mischievous and competitive brothers like to show up out of nowhere and keep things lively in Leaper’s Pointe.


Winter 2013–14 Unit 1 GrowProclaimServe.com 5

Unit 1The Birth of JesusBible Verse

She gave birth to her fi rstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger. (Luke 2:7)

Leap of Faith I celebrate the birth of Jesus.

In this unitSession 1, December 1A Child Is BornBible story: Isaiah 9:2-6

Session 2, December 8A Message to MaryBible story:Luke 1:26-38, 46-47

Session 3, December 15A Message to JosephBible story: Matthew 1:18-25

Session 4, December 22Good News!Bible story: Luke 2:1-20

Session 5, December 29Simeon and AnnaBible story: Luke 2:25-38

CD-ROMI Celebrate• Instrumental and sung

version available • Music sheet with lyrics• Printable lyrics• PowerPoint® lyrics

Leap of Faith(theme song) • Instrumental and sung

version available • Music sheet with lyrics• Printable lyrics• PowerPoint® lyrics

Leaper’s Pointe (DVD)Session 1:Everyone in Leaper’s Pointe is decorating doors to get ready for the Christmas Door Parade. Furleen and her animals are really having trouble with the door decorations for The Leaping Frog, until Sarah the spider spins a web that reminds us that all the decorations are about Jesus.

Session 2: A young dancer, Abigail, dances the story of the angel appearing to Mary.

Session 3:Harley is building the manger for the church’s “Bring,Ring, and Ding Christmas Bell Choir Concert.” Harley is so tired, he falls asleep. He dreams he is Joseph and sees an angel.

Session 4:Mondo needs Ernie to direct the church’s Christmas play. Ernie decides to have everyone be the animals that were there when Jesus was born. They use the song, “The Friendly Beasts,” to tell the story.

Session 5:It’s time for the Leaper’s Pointe Christmas party, and Harley, Gabby, and Furleen can’t wait. They want to open presents now! But Mondo tells them the story of Simeon and Anna, who waited and waited and waited to see the Messiah.

Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)• I Celebrate • Leap of Faith

(theme song)

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6 Winter 2013–14 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide

Supplies

The BasicsBiblebox of tissuescard stock CD playerch enille stems (variety of

colors) colored copy paper colored tissue paper computer & printer construction papercotton ballscotton swabs

craft stickscrayons crepe paper streamersDVD player gluesticks index cards lunch-sized paper bags markers (watercolor and permanent)newsprintoffering basketpaintpaintbrushes

paper clips paper or plastic table coverings paper bowlspaper cupspa per plates (variety of

sizes and weights) paper punch pencils plastic drinking straws posterboardprojector or television recycled newspaper

resealable plastic bagsribbon (variety of widths) scissors smocks stapler, staples tape (clear, masking) televisionwashable paint watercolor paints wooden craft sticksyarn

Beyond the BasicsSession 1co lored pony

beadsalphabet beadsco lored butcher

paperCh ristmas

decorationsye llow butcher

paper or gold wrapping paper

Session 2baby dollsbaby blanketsbottlesBible storybookscoffee filterscotton ballshot glue gunangel food cakewhipped creammixed berriestr aditional

clothespinswhite feltwood glue

Session 3wax paperclean sawdustflourwaterlarge mixing bowlmeasuring cupsmixing spoonan gel cookie cuttersbl ocks or cardboard

tubestr aditional

clothespins

Session 4Nativity play setsbaby dollsangel wingsBible-times costumesbu ilding blocks or

small boxesbaby blanketssm all, medium, and

large white pomponssmall black pomponswhite feltceleryshredded lettucebaby carrotstraditional clothespinswood glue

Session 5co lored

cellophanepr ewrapped gift

box, with a treat inside for each child

butcher paperre cycled

magazineslightweight ball

Tips for TeachersThe CD-ROM will play music in a CD player.

View the end of each Leaper’s Pointe episode or music video several times to learn the Bible verse using signs from American Sign Language.

There is a snack suggested in Sessions 2 and 4. Please check your classes’ allergies before serving.

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Winter 2013–14 Session 1 GrowProclaimServe.com 7Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

A Child Is BornBible Verse


Bible StoryIsaiah 9:2-6

Leap of FaithI celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Before You Begin

The prophet Isaiah spoke for God to the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Isaiah was sent by God to warn the people who were enjoying their wealth and

forgetting God. Isaiah’s messages were both hopeful and gloomy, and encouraged the Israelites to do good and seek justice.

This particular Scripture passage from Isaiah uses powerful contrasting images of light and darkness. Darkness in the Bible usually is a metaphor for depression and death. Light usually symbolizes life and joy. The imagery shows us a group of people living in the darkness, and a great light is seen. The people rejoice and praise God. They have been released from oppression, and all of the things keeping them from being free from darkness have been destroyed by God.

God then promises deliverance from their suffering when a new leader, different from all others, would be born. This leader would reveal God’s nature and would rule in justice and peace.

Isaiah’s words bring the power of hope using the beautiful imagery that God will send a way from darkness to light. In the eighth century, these words were uttered about a king in Judah, were used for coronation of kings, and then applied to an expected Messiah.

Christians see in Isaiah’s words a foretelling of the birth of Jesus. We recognize in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection the fulfi llment of the promises of a Messiah made by the Old Testament prophets. For that reason, the words of the prophets, especially Isaiah, have meaning for us as we prepare for the celebration of Christmas. We know that the baby in the manger was and is the child born for us.

During this Advent season, your Sunday school class is invited to participate in a Jesse tree project. A Jesse tree is a special way of recalling the biblical events that led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122.

led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122.

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your


Session 1December 1

Requires preparation.

Check out GrowProclaimServe.com/leaders to connect with other leaders, download additional content for the quarter, and read weekly articles.

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8 December 1 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide


Grow TogetherThe following activities may be done in learning centers as the children arrive or may be done with the entire group.

WelcomeSupplies: Bible, Stickers, Resource Pak, CD-ROM, CD player, offering basket

• Greet each parent and child. Play music (CD-ROM) as they arrive.

• Show the children where to place their offerings on the worship table.

• Have the Bible open to Isaiah 9:2-6.

• Give each child a Sticker of the candle and scroll to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Name BraceletsSupplies: alphabet beads, colored pony beads, ribbon, bowls, scissors

Cut ribbon into one-foot pieces.

• Pour an assortment of beads into bowls, so the children can choose the beads they’d like for their bracelets.

• Help the children find beads with the letters of their names.

• Encourage the children to string the alphabet beads onto their ribbons, spelling their names in the center of the ribbon.

• Invite them to add more beads to either end of the string to add more color to their bracelets.

• Help the children tie their bracelets around their wrists.

SAY: Today our Bible story is about a man named Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet. A prophet is someone who listens to God and tells people how God wants them to live. Isaiah told the people about a baby who would be born. The baby would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. Names are important!

Bible PuzzlersSupplies: Bible Story Pak, crayons or markers

• Give each child “What Would Your Name Be?” and “Light in the Darkness” (Bible Story Pak—Session 1, pp. 3–4).

• Help the children write their names on the first line on page 3. Encourage each child to choose a favorite animal and a word that best describes him or her. Help each child add those two words to the second and third lines.

• Encourage the children to turn their pages over. Invite the children to circle all of the items that make light in the darkness.

SAY: Isaiah taught the Israelites about God’s promises. God promised the Israelites that they would no longer be sad, or in darkness, and would be

Bible Story Pak— p. 4 answers: light bulb, stars, campfire, candle, flashlight, sun, lantern



You could put the Jesse Tree Poster (Resource Pak—pp. 12 & 13)on your classroom door, and display the children’s ornaments there.

joyful, brought into the light. Isaiah also told the people that God promised a new leader who would bring peace to the people.

Bible Story CenterSupplies: Bible Story Pak

• Give each child “A Child Is Born” (Bible Story Pak —Session 1, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.

• Read the story as the children follow along in their books. If you are using the storybook in a story center, read the story to three children at a time. If you have readers, let them read the story to you.

ASk: Who was the prophet who taught the Israelites? (Isaiah) Why were the Israelites sad? (They missed home. They had to live with their enemies.) What did Isaiah tell the Israelites? (that God would bring them peace, that a baby would be born) What was the baby going to be called? (Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace)

Jesse Tree: Candle and ScrollSupplies: Fun Pak, glue, yarn, paper punch, scissors

Cut yarn into 6-inch pieces and give one length to each child.

• Give each child the “Jesse Tree: Candle and Scroll” page (Fun Pak—p. 3). Help the children punch out the circle wreath, the scroll rectangle, the candle rectangle, and the candle fl ame.

• Show them how to roll the candle rectangle, and glue the ends together. Then help them glue the candle to the wreath. Invite them to glue the fl ame to the top of the candle.

• Show them how to roll the left and right sides of the scroll rectangle in toward each other. Then help them glue the scroll to the wreath.

• Punch a hole in the top of each wreath, and help them thread a piece of yarn through the hole. Instruct them to tie a knot above the hole, so they can hang the ornament.

SAY: The ornaments on a Jesse tree help people remember the stories that led to the birth of Jesus. We can remember the story of Isaiah when we see our Jesse Tree: Candle-and-Scroll ornaments.

Getting Ready for CompanySupplies: colored butcher paper, Christmas decorations, tape

Gather Christmas decorations to decorate the door of your classroom. Cover your classroom door with colored butcher paper.

SAY: Isaiah told the Israelites that a baby would be born. The Israelites did not know when the baby would come, but they had to prepare for it. How do you prepare for the arrival of people? We can prepare by cleaning our room and decorating.

• Invite the children to clean up the room and use the Christmas decorations to decorate the classroom door.

TIP




Proclaim the WordLight in the Darkness

SAY: Today we are going to play “Light in the Darkness.” Our Bible story today talks about people who were lost in darkness, when a great light came and brought them hope. These people celebrated the hope God had given them. Our game will let us pretend to be these people.

• Begin by turning off the lights in your classroom.

• Invite the children to hide very quietly around the room.

• Wait for all of the children to find a place in the darkness, then flip on the lights.

• When the lights come on, encourage the children to celebrate by cheering, dancing, or high-fiving.

• Turn the lights back off and play again.

SAY: The Israelites, the people in our story, were filled with joy when they heard what Isaiah told them about the baby leader who would bring peace to them. They celebrated, just like we did when we turned on the lights.

Visit Leaper’s PointeSupplies: DVD, DVD player, television

• Play the theme song from Leaper’s Pointe in Concert, “Leap of Faith” (DVD). Have the children do the motions suggested in the chorus.

• Show the children the Leaper’s Pointe video for today’s session (DVD).

SAY: Everyone in Leaper’s Pointe is decorating doors to get ready for the Christmas Door Parade. Furleen and her animals are really having trouble with the door decorations for The Leaping Frog, until Sarah the spider spins a web that reminds us that all the decorations are about Jesus.

• Show today’s Leaper’s Pointe in Concert, “I Celebrate.” Have the children sign the Bible verse with the DVD at the end of the episode.

Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Reproducible 1a

• Read the Bible story, “A Child Is Born,” to the children (Reproducible 1a).

• Invite the children to say, “The prophet!” every time they hear you say, “Isaiah,” while you read the story.

• Following the story, sing, “Isaiah,” with the children to the tune of “Frere Jacques” (printed in the column at right). Encourage the children to repeat after you.

ASk: What did Isaiah tell the people? Are we preparing for the birth of a baby at our church? Who will be born at Christmas? (Jesus) Jesus brings us peace and joy, just like Isaiah said.

“Isaiah” (Tune of “Frere Jacques”)

Isaiah, Isaiah talked to God, talked to God. He told the people, He told the people about God’s light, about God’s light.



“She Had Baby Jesus” (Tune of “We’re Following the Leader”)

She had baby Jesus, baby Jesus, baby Jesus. She had baby Jesus, her firstborn son.

She laid him in a manger, a manger, a manger. She laid him in a manger; no room in the inn.

She wrapped him so snuggly, so snuggly, so snuggly. She wrapped him so snuggly to show him her love.

Learn the Bible VerseSupplies: Resource Pak

• Point to the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 3). Say the Bible verse to the children: “She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger” (Luke 2:7).

• Have the children repeat the verse with you. Break the verse into smaller groups of words at first until they can say the whole verse with you.

• Sing the song, “She Had Baby Jesus,” to the tune of “We’re Following the Leader” (printed in the column at right). Sing it several times so the children become familiar with the words.

Pin the Names on the CrownSupplies: Resource Pak, yellow butcher paper or gold wrapping paper, tape, scissors

Using yellow butcher paper or gold wrapping paper, cut out a large crown shape and tape it to the wall where it can be easily reached. Cut out the “Names of Jesus” cards for the “Pin the Names on the Crown” game (Resource Pak —p. 9).

SAY: Isaiah told the Israelites about a baby that would be born to lead the people. The baby would bring peace and justice. The baby would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. The baby that was later born was Jesus. We can call Jesus Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace.

• Give each child a “Name of Jesus” card. Invite them, one at a time, to close their eyes, spin once, and walk towards the crown to stick on their name card for Jesus. See which children get the names on the crown.

Serve With LoveNames-of-Jesus BannerSupplies: butcher paper, markers or crayons, tape, scissors

Cut a piece of butcher paper about four feet long to use as the banner. Write Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace on the banner, leaving enough room for the children to look at what you have written and copy it in other places around the banner.

SAY: We believe that the baby Isaiah told the Israelites about turned out to be Jesus. Jesus has been called many names. Isaiah calls him Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. We are going to practice writing the names of Jesus and draw pictures of Jesus.

• Let the children take turns practicing writing the names of Jesus. Encourage them to draw pictures of Jesus.

• Using tape, hang the banner up in your classroom. If you’d like, you could add this banner to your classroom door.




Promises OrnamentSupplies: Reproducible 1b, watercolor paints, paintbrushes, smocks or old T-shirts, bowls, paper punch, yarn, scissors

Photocopy “Promises Ornaments” (Reproducible 1b) for each child.

• Pass out copies of the “Promises Ornaments” page, watercolor paint sets, paintbrushes, and smocks.

• Encourage the children to paint the set of ornaments, and set the paintings somewhere to dry. Once dry, encourage the children to cut the circles out.

• Using a paper punch, punch holes in the top of each ornament, and thread a piece of yarn through the hole so each ornament can be hung up.

SAY: In our story, God told Isaiah about the promise of a new leader for the Israelite people. God told Isaiah that the new leader would bring peace and justice, and would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. God keeps promises because we know the baby was born! Jesus was born, and he brings all of us peace.

WorshipPraise and PrayerSupplies: CD-ROM, CD player

• Invite the children to sit in a circle.

• Sing, “Light a Candle” (CD-ROM). Teach the children the sign for “hope” (see column at right). They can sign hope while they sing.

SAY: Advent is a special church season that helps us prepare for the birth of Jesus! We can celebrate that God sent Jesus to bring us peace and hope.

• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing in a circle. Say a small prayer for each child in the Praise-and-Prayer Circle.

• Ask the children if there is someone else for whom they would like to pray. Pray for that person(s).

• Invite the children to Sunday school next week and tell the children that you will pray for them during the week.

Plan for Next Week Gather the supplies for the “Mary’s Home” activity (p. 14), the “Angel Gabriel” craft (p. 16), and the “Mary Clothespin Doll” craft (p. 18). Purchase or bake an angel food cake, and gather whipped cream and mixed berries for the snack (p. 17).

TIPInstead of paint, use crayons or markers to make less of a mess.

Hope

Hold both hands with palms open, facing the sides of your head. Your right hand should be above your head. Your left hand should be at eye level. Moving both hands at the same time, bend your hands to make a right angle with your fingers and then unbend them so that the fingers point straight up.



A Message to MaryBible Verse


Bible StoryLuke 1:26-38, 46-47


Before You Begin

Mary was probably thirteen or fourteen years old when she was surprised by the angel Gabriel, a messenger from God. Even though she seems young to

us, in New Testament times Mary was already considered to be an adult and was engaged to be married to Joseph. An engagement usually lasted a year and was considered as binding as marriage.

The angel Gabriel came to Mary in Nazareth, her hometown. Mary was confused and frightened by the appearance of Gabriel —who wouldn’t be? But Gabriel calms Mary’s fears and tells her that she will give birth to a baby boy named Jesus.

The angel continues with the news that Mary’s baby will be God’s Son and a great king. Mary still does not understand how this can happen. After all, she is only engaged, not married. But Gabriel reminds her that with God, all things are possible.

Even though Mary might have been frightened and confused, her response was to answer God’s call with a yes—“I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said” (Luke 1:38). This response is even more signifi cant when we remember that Mary’s pregnancy during her engagement would be considered a sign of adultery, and a woman caught in adultery could be stoned to death. Yet, Mary still responded to God’s message with acceptance.

Young children are only beginning to have a limited sense of space and time. Help them understand the baby born so long ago is just as important today—so important that people all over the world celebrate his birth each year. Help them remember that Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Son of God.


Jesse tree project. A Jesse tree is a special way of recalling the biblical events that Jesse tree project. A Jesse tree is a special way of recalling the biblical events that led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122.


class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of


class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of


led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of


led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your


Jesse tree project. A Jesse tree is a special way of recalling the biblical events that led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122.


Session 2December 8









• Have the Bible open to Luke 1.

• Give each child the Sticker of the lily to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Mary’s HomeSupplies: yellow chenille stems, baby dolls, blankets, bottles, Bible storybooks

Glean the Wheat Game

Before class, hide the yellow chenille stems around the room.

SAY: Today we are going to hear a story about a woman named Mary. Women like Mary would help by gleaning, which means gathering, the fallen wheat from the fields. See how much wheat you can find in our classroom.

• Allow the children to glean, or find, the “wheat.”

• Hide the wheat again, while the children cover their eyes.

Taking Care of the Children

Set up the baby center.

SAY: The women in Bible times took care of the children. They loved, fed, and bathed them. The most important thing women did with their children was teaching them about God. Who teaches you about God? In our story today, Mary is preparing to have her baby, Jesus.

• Encourage the children to take care of the babies. They can rock them, feed them, burp them, and read their favorite Bible stories to the babies.


• Give each child “What Did the Angel Say?” and “What Is Different?” (Bible Story Pak—Session 2, pp. 3–4).

• Invite the children to use the decoder on page 3 to find out what the angel said to Mary.

• Encourage the children to turn their pages over. Tell them there are five differences between the two pictures. Help them find and circle all five.

SAY: In our story today, the angel Gabriel came to tell Mary good news! She was going to have a baby, and she would name him Jesus.

Bible Story Pak—p. 4 answers: 1) angel’s hair 2) angel’s feet 3) Mary’s hand 4) Mary’s mouth 5) Mary’s eyebrow



Bible Story CenterSupplies: Bible Story Pak, Stickers

• Give each child “A Message to Mary” (Bible Story Pak—Session 2, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.

• Read the story as the children follow along in their books. If you are using the storybook in a story center, read the story to three children at a time. Help the children identify simple words in the story. If you have readers, let them read the story to you.

• Invite the children to add a lily Sticker next to Mary on pages 1 and 2.

ASK: Why was Mary frightened? (the angel Gabriel appeared) What did Gabriel tell Mary? (She would have a baby boy named Jesus.)

Jesse Tree: LilySupplies: Fun Pak, glue, yarn, paper punch, scissors


• Give each child the “Jesse Tree: Lily” page (Fun Pak—p. 5). Help the children punch out the circle wreath, the six white fl ower petals, and the yellow fl ower middle.

• Encourage the children to glue four white petals to the wreath, so the petals fan outward, with the points meeting at the bottom.

• Invite the children to glue the yellow fl ower middle to the center of the petals on the wreath.

• Encourage the children to take the last two white petals and glue the petals on top of the other white petals, and over the yellow middle of the fl ower.

• Punch a hole in each ornament, and help the children thread a piece of yarn through the hole on the top of the wreath. Instruct them to tie a knot above the hole, so they can hang the ornament.

SAY: The ornaments on a Jesse tree help people remember the stories that led to the birth of Jesus. We can remember the story of Mary when we see our Jesse Tree: Lily ornaments.

Proclaim the WordAngel Says

• Invite the children to line up across from you to play “Angel Says.”

• Explain the rules of the game. When you say, “Angel Says” and give a command, the class must do what you have instructed. If you give a command without saying, “Angel Says,” the children should not do what you say. If they do, they must sit down and wait to restart the game.

• Play “Angel Says.” Play this round until one child is left.








• Continue to play the game until you are ready to move to the Bible story area.

SAY: In our Bible story today, an angel named Gabriel appears to a young woman named Mary. The angel tells Mary that she will have a baby, God’s Son, and she will name him Jesus.




SAY: A young dancer, Abigail, dances the story of the angel appearing to Mary.


Moving With the Bible StorySupplies: Reproducible 2a

Photocopy the Bible story, “A Message to Mary” (Reproducible 2a).

• Read the Bible story, “A Message to Mary,” to the children. Encourage them to mimic the motions in bold with you.

• Read the poem, “An Angel Came,” at the end of the story.

ASK: Who came to visit Mary? (the angel Gabriel) What did he tell Mary? (that she would have a baby named Jesus)




• Sing the song, “She Had Baby Jesus,” to the tune of “We’re Following the Leader” (printed in the column at right). Sing it several times so the children become familiar with the words.

Angel GabrielSupplies: coffee filters, cotton balls, 6- to 8-inch pieces of silver or gold ribbons, white chenille stems, gold chenille stems, scissors, hot glue gun

• Give each child 3 coffee filters, 2 cotton balls, 1 6- to 8-inch piece of silver or gold ribbon, 1 white chenille stem, and 1 gold chenille stem.

• Help the children place two cotton balls in the center of one of the coffee filters.



• Encourage them to hold the coffee fi lter with their fi ngers, gathering the cotton balls in the center to create the angel’s head.

• Help them place a second coffee fi lter onto the open end, tucking the fi lter in a bit into the head area. This will produce a layered effect for the dress.

• While the children are still holding the fi lter together, help them tie a piece of gold or silver ribbon around the “neck” and tie a tight bow.

• Show the children how to take the third coffee fi lter and fold it in half, then fold the fi lter up lengthwise accordion-style.

• Help them wrap a white chenille stem around the center, and then fan out the wings. Show them how to fold the excess chenille stem into a loop for the hanger and twist together at the end.

• Show the children how to make a halo from the gold chenille. Trim the long end of the chenille stem, leaving 3 inches.

• After the children have assembled all of the pieces for their angels, hot glue the halo to the back of the angel so that it is positioned above the head, and glue the wings in place behind the angel, hiding the gold chenille stem from the halo.

SAY: We do not know exactly what the angel Gabriel looked like, but we do know that he was a messenger sent to Mary by God. He brought her wonderful news! She was going to have a baby named Jesus!

Serve With LoveAngel Food CakeSupplies: angel food cake, whipped cream, bowl of mixed berries, paper plates, napkins, cups, water, forks

Before class, bake or purchase an angel food cake. Set out an angel food cake station. Put out the cake, the whipped cream, and a bowl of berries.

• Pass out paper plates, forks, cups, and napkins to each child.

• Invite the children to the angel food cake station. They each can get a piece of cake and add their favorite toppings.

ASK: Who came to visit Mary? (an angel, Gabriel) What did the angel tell Mary? (that she was going to have God’s baby, Jesus) We can remember Mary and the angel Gabriel while we eat our angel food cake.

• At the end of the snack, say the following prayer together in a circle.

SAY: Dear God, thank you for the blessings you have given each of us. Help us celebrate the story of Jesus together. Amen.

TIP

As with any food activity, check for allergies the children may have. Let the parents know what food items are being used today.




Mary Clothespin DollSupplies: traditional clothespins, blue paint, white felt, black fine-tip permanent markers, wood glue, paintbrushes, paper plates, smocks or old T-shirts, fabric scissors

Cut the white felt in small strips. The strips will be glued to the top of the clothespin to look like Mary’s head covering.

SAY: Our Bible story tells us that an angel appeared to Mary and brought her great news: she was going to have a baby! Her baby would be named Jesus, and he was the baby God had promised to the Israelites long ago. To remember Mary, we are going to make Mary clothespin dolls.

• Give each child a clothespin, a paintbrush, a dollop of blue paint on a plate, and a smock.

• Invite the children to paint the bottom part of the clothespin, leaving the round part blank.

• Encourage them to draw a happy face on Mary using fine-tip permanent markers.

• Using wood glue, help the children glue a felt head covering on Mary.



• Sing, “Light a Candle” (CD-ROM). Teach the children the sign for love (see column at right). They can sign love while they sing.

SAY: Advent is a special church season that helps us prepare for the birth of Jesus! We can celebrate that God sent Jesus to bring us peace and love.




Plan for Next Week Purchase the supplies for “Sawdust Clay” (p. 21) and the “Joseph Clothespin Doll” craft (p. 23). Gather the Session 3 Bible Story Pak, Fun Pak, and Resource Pak materials.

Love

Cross your fists at the wrists and press them to your heart.



A Message to JosephBible Verse


Bible StoryMatthew 1:18-25


Before You Begin

In the Old Testament, God promised King David that his descendents would sit on the throne of Israel forever. But the country that David ruled at the time

did not stay independent for very long. Powerful enemies turned Israel into a battleground as they marched back and forth for centuries. But still the people remembered and relied on God to one day provide for them a king, like David, who would restore Israel to her former greatness. The story of Jesus’ birth in the Gospels presents Jesus as this promised Messiah—the fulfi llment of God’s promise through the ages.

Our story today focuses around a man named Joseph. Joseph was a carpenter, which means that he was either a woodworker, a craftsman, or a stonemason. Carpenters repaired plows, made beams that held up fl at roofs, and built wooden doors and door frames. Skilled carpenters made intricate cabinets and chests, as well as tables and yokes.

The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Mary and Joseph were already engaged when Mary learns she is pregnant. Engagements in New Testament times were as binding as marriage and could only be broken by divorce or death.

How was an unplanned baby “good news” for Joseph? Certainly, it was unexpected and an obstacle to his future plans. Originally, he intended to quietly divorce Mary, but the angel intervened, and Joseph accepted his role and provided the support he knew that Mary would need.

The angel who visits Joseph in a dream reminds him of the promise of the Messiah found in Isaiah. Isaiah tells us that the king will come from the line of Jesse, King David’s father. The angel refers to Joseph as “son of David,” calling to mind Joseph’s lineage, a crucial element in the fulfi llment of God’s promise. The importance of Joseph’s role is further stressed in the naming of the baby. Joseph is to name the baby, Jesus—Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.”


During this Advent season, your Sunday school class is invited to participate in a During this Advent season, your Sunday school class is invited to participate in a During this Advent season, your Sunday school class is invited to participate in a During this Advent season, your Sunday school class is invited to participate in a During this Advent season, your Sunday school class is invited to participate in a Jesse tree project. A Jesse tree is a special way of recalling the biblical events that led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122.

led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122.

led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122.


led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of


led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of


Jesse tree project. A Jesse tree is a special way of recalling the biblical events that led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of


Jesse tree project. A Jesse tree is a special way of recalling the biblical events that Jesse tree project. A Jesse tree is a special way of recalling the biblical events that During this Advent season, your Sunday school class is invited to participate in a Jesse tree project. A Jesse tree is a special way of recalling the biblical events that led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your


Session 3December 15









• Have the Bible open to Matthew 1:18-25.

• Give each child the Sticker of the carpenter’s square to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Angel GarlandSupplies: Reproducible 3b, crayons or markers, scissors, construction paper, paper punch, yarn, tape, glue

Photocopy “Angel Garland” (Reproducible 3b) for each child.

• Pass out the “Angel Garland” page, scissors, construction paper, and crayons or markers. Encourage the children to color and cut out their angels.

• Invite the children to cut a large heart out of their piece of construction paper by folding the paper in half and cutting out a half of a heart along the fold. Encourage the children to glue the heart to the back of the angel as wings.

• Help the children punch a hole in each angel wing so you can thread the angels onto a piece of yarn. Use tape to keep the angels in place. Hang the garland someplace in the room.

SAY: Our story today is about a man named Joseph who had a very important dream. In his dream, an angel gives him a message from God. We will hear more about Joseph today.

Bible PuzzlersSupplies: Bible Story Pak, crayons or markers, pencils

• Give each child “Learn to Spell” and “Connect-the-Dots” (Bible Story Pak—Session 3, pp. 3–4).

• Encourage the children to trace the letters on page 3 to spell out, EMMANUEL.

• Encourage the children to turn their pages over. Help the children connect the dots, and then color Joseph.

SAY: Our story today is about a man named Joseph. Joseph was a carpenter. Joseph loved and obeyed God. We will hear more about Joseph’s story today.




• Give each child the storybook, “A Message to Joseph” (Bible Story Pak—Session 3, pp. 1–2). Fold the page in half to make a book.


• Invite the children to add a carpenter square Sticker next to Joseph on pages 1 and 2 of the storybook.

ASk: Who came to visit Joseph? (an angel) What did the angel say? (He told Joseph not to be sad, that Mary’s baby was special, that Joseph should marry Mary.) What would you do if an angel came to you in a dream? (Give the children an opportunity to answer.) When we are sad, like Joseph, we can trust that God is always there. We can also be like Joseph when we listen to and obey God.

Jesse Tree: Carpenter’s SquareSupplies: Fun Pak, glue, yarn, scissors, paper punch


• Give each child the “Jesse Tree: Carpenter’s Square” page (Fun Pak—p. 7). Help the children punch out the circle wreath, the ruler, and the handle.

• Show the children how to glue the handle on top of the ruler.

• Invite the children to glue the carpenter’s square to the wreath.

• Punch a hole at the top of each wreath, and help the children thread a piece of yarn through the hole. Instruct them to tie a knot above the hole, so they can hang the ornament.

SAY: The ornaments on a Jesse tree help people remember the stories that led to the birth of Jesus. We can remember the story of Joseph when we see our Jesse Tree: Carpenter’s Square ornaments.

Proclaim the WordSawdust ClaySupplies: wax paper, clean sawdust from a pet store or hardware store, fl our, water, large mixing bowl, measuring cups, mixing spoon, angel cookie cutters

• Invite the children to help you mix together Sawdust Clay.

• Mix together 2 cups clean sawdust and 1 cup fl our into a large mixing bowl. Add water until the mixture holds together in a stiff dough.




• Give each child a piece of wax paper and a lump of sawdust dough. Encourage the children to play with the dough—roll it, pound it, shape it, and reshape it.

• Invite the children to make an angel with their dough. They can mold an angel or use an angel cookie cutter.

SAY: Joseph was a carpenter. He made lots of things in his wood shop. He probably had lots of sawdust that he had to clean up each day. Let’s clean up our creations and go to our story center to hear today’s Bible story.




SAY: Harley is building the manger for the church’s “Bring, Ring, and Ding Christmas Bell Choir Concert.” Harley is so tired, he falls asleep. He dreams he is Joseph and sees an angel. The angel tells Joseph that Mary will have God’s Son.


Moving With the Bible StorySupplies: Reproducible 3a, Resource Pak, blocks or cardboard tubes, tape

Gather the Storytelling Figures of one Joseph, Sleeping Joseph, and the Angel (Resource Pak—p. 8). Tape them to blocks or cardboard tubes. You will use the figures to tell the story.

• Read the Bible story, “A Message to Joseph” (Reproducible 3a), to the children. Sing, “Joseph Was a Good Man,” to the tune of “The More We Get Together” (see column at right) a few times through following the story.

ASk: What job did Joseph have? (carpenter) Why was he sad? (He didn’t know if he could marry Mary.) What happened when he slept? (He had a dream.) What happened in his dream? (The angel told him he should marry Mary and that the baby was a special baby.) What is the baby’s name? (Jesus)




• Sing the song, “She Had Baby Jesus” to the tune of “We’re Following the Leader” (see column at right). Sing it several times so the children become familiar with the words.

“Joseph Was a Good Man” (Tune of “The More We Get Together”)

Joseph was a good man, a good man, a good man. Joseph was a good man who had a good dream.

An angel told Joseph, told Joseph, told Joseph. An angel told Joseph about Mary’s babe.

You’ll name the baby Jesus, baby Jesus, baby Jesus. You’ll name the baby Jesus, the angel told him.







Joseph and the Angel• Invite the children to lie down on the floor, pretending to be asleep.

• Choose one child to be the angel.

• The angel will choose one child to be Joseph.

• The angel will tap Joseph’s shoulder to wake him up.

• Joseph should jump to his feet and recite the following Bible verse: “They will call him Emmanuel” (Matthew 1:23).

• All of the children will lie back down. Choose a new child to be the angel.

• Continue to play until each child has had an opportunity to be the angel and Joseph.

SAY: Joseph dreamed about an angel who told him that Mary would have a baby. The angel told Joseph to name the baby Emmanuel, which means “God with us.”

Serve With LoveFamily TreeSupplies: Stickers, construction paper, glue, crayons or markers, scissors

Before class, cut enough sheets of construction paper into eighths so each child gets a few sheets.

• Let the children pick out a piece of construction paper for the background of their family tree.

• Invite the children to draw each member of their family onto the small pieces of construction paper.

• Encourage them to glue their family onto their sheets of construction paper.

• Help each add the “My Family Tree” Sticker to the top of the page.

SAY: Joseph was a part of the family of David. We each have family trees, just like Joseph and Jesus. Our families help us to grow and learn, just like Joseph helped Jesus grow and learn.

Joseph Clothespin DollSupplies: traditional clothespins, red paint, black fine-tip permanent markers, paintbrushes, paper plates, smocks or old T-shirts

SAY: Our Bible story tells us that an angel appeared to Joseph and brought him great news: Mary was going to have a special baby! The baby would be named Jesus, and he was the baby God had promised to the Israelites long ago. To remember Joseph, we are going to make Joseph clothespin dolls.

• Give each child a clothespin, a paintbrush, a dollop of red paint on a plate, and a smock.




Happy (Joy)

Hold both hands with palms open facing the chest and thumbs pointing up. Pat the chest in an upward motion several times.

• Invite the children to paint the bottom part of the clothespin, leaving the round part blank.

• Encourage them to draw a happy face on Joseph using a fine-tip permanent marker.



• Sing, “Light a Candle” (CD-ROM). Teach the children the sign for joy. They can sign joy while they sing.

SAY: Advent is a special church season that helps us prepare for the birth of Jesus! We can celebrate that God sent Jesus to bring us peace and joy.




Plan for Next Week Gather baby dolls, baby blankets, Nativity play sets, angel wings, and Bible-times costumes for the “Nativity Play” activity (p. 26). For the “Pompon Lamb” craft (p. 29), you will need small, medium, and large white pompons; small black pompons; and white felt. For the “Vegetable Manger” snack (p. 29), you will need celery, shredded lettuce, and baby carrots. You will also need traditional clothespins for the “Baby Jesus Clothespin Doll” (p. 30). Gather the Bible Story Pak, Fun Pak, and Resource Pak resources for Session 4.



Good News!Bible Verse


Bible StoryLuke 2:1-20


Before You Begin

Our Scripture reading this week includes the account of Caesar Augustus’ decree for a census of the empire. In order to register for the census,

everyone was required to return home to the cities or towns where their families originated. Since Joseph’s family was a part of the family of David, Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem—David’s place of origin.

They set out on their ten-day trip to fi nd Bethlehem, only to fi nd a busy, crowded town. Because of the hectic condition Bethlehem was in, Mary and Joseph could not fi nd a place to stay. The only available place was a stable. There were no private houses or inns or guest rooms. This did not stop God from entering our midst that day. Jesus was born there—in the hustle and bustle.

Then we meet the shepherds on the hillside—the people who were chosen fi rst to hear the angelic announcement of the Messiah’s birth. Shepherds in the fi rst century were viewed by their society as shiftless, dishonest people who grazed their fl ocks on other peoples’ land. The religious leaders in the Jewish community also looked down on them for not observing all of the religious laws. It was impossible for shepherds to follow all of the rules about detailed hand-washing and food-handling. But this didn’t stop God from sharing the good news with them. Jesus has been sent even to the outcasts.

The birth story reveals a new world order, not a world under Caesar, but under the direction of God. It is a beginning for the redemption of all people. There is even a place for the shepherds and the outcasts. This story is an announcement of hope for humanity.

During this Advent season, your Sunday school class is invited to participate in a Jesse tree project. A Jesse tree is a special way of recalling the biblical events that led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122.




26 December 22 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s GuidePermission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.





• Have the Bible open to Luke 2:1-20.

• Give each child the manger Sticker to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Nativity PlaySupplies: Nativity play sets, angel wings, baby dolls, baby blankets, Bible-times costumes

• Invite the children to play with a Nativity set or the costumes.

• Encourage them to act out what they know about Jesus’ birth story. Remind them about the stories they have learned so far: Isaiah spoke about the birth of Jesus a long time ago, Mary received good news that she would have baby Jesus from the angel Gabriel, and Joseph had a dream about an angel who told him Mary would have a special baby named Jesus.

SAY: Today we will learn more about baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We will also meet some shepherds. Let’s celebrate Jesus’ birth!

Bible PuzzlersSupplies: Bible Story Pak, Stickers, crayons or markers

• Give each child “Sheepscape” and “Match the Animals” (Bible Story Pak—Session 4, pp. 3–4).

• Give each child the six sheep Stickers.

• Invite the children to color the “Sheepscape” picture on page 3. Encourage them to add the sheep Stickers to the field.

• Encourage the children to turn their pages over.

• Invite the children to match the animal on the left with its match on the right.

SAY: In our story today, we meet some shepherds who also get a special message from an angel of God. What do you think the message will be? We will also meet some of the animals who were probably in the stable with Mary and Joseph the night that Jesus was born. What do you think the animals thought about Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus?




• Give each child the storybook, “Good News!” (Bible Story Pak—Session 4, pp. 1–2). Fold the page in half to make a book.


ASk: Why did Mary and Joseph have to go to Bethlehem? (The emperor wanted to count and tax them.) When Joseph and Mary got to Bethlehem, where did they have to sleep? (in a stable) Who was born that night and laid in a manger? (Jesus) Who came to visit the shepherds? (an angel) What did the angel tell the shepherds? (that Jesus was born) What did the shepherds do? (went to fi nd baby Jesus)

Jesse Tree: MangerSupplies: Fun Pak, glue, scissors, paper punch


• Give each child the “Jesse Tree: Manger” page (Fun Pak—p. 9). Help the children punch out the circle wreath, the manger, and the hay.

• Invite them to glue the hay to the inside of the manger.

• Help them glue the manger to the wreath.

• Punch a hole in the top of each wreath, and help the children thread a piece of yarn through the hole. Instruct them to tie a knot above the hole, so they can hang the ornament.

SAY: The ornaments on a Jesse tree help people remember the stories that led to the birth of Jesus. We can remember the story of Jesus’ birth when we see our Jesse Tree: Manger ornaments.

Proclaim the WordManger RelaySupplies: building blocks or small boxes, one baby doll per team, one baby blanket per team

• Divide the children into groups of four.

• Give each group some building blocks, a baby doll, and a baby blanket.

• Instruct the groups to build a manger, swaddle their baby, and put the baby in the manger when you say, “Go.”

• See which team can do this the fastest and the most gently.

• Play the game a few times, each time mixing up the groups.



• Lead the children to the Bible story area.

SAY: Our Bible tells us that Mary gave birth to baby Jesus, wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger. Let’s hear that story.




SAY: Mondo needs Ernie to direct the church’s Christmas play. Ernie decides to have everyone be the animals that were there when Jesus was born. They use the song, “The Friendly Beasts,” to tell the story.


The Friendly BeastsSupplies: Reproducible 4b, crayons or markers

Photocopy “The Friendly Beasts” (Reproducible 4b) for each child.

SAY: We are going to sing, “The Friendly Beasts,” just like our friends in Leaper’s Pointe. We will sing the song a few times through so everyone has a chance to learn the words, then we will color the picture.

• Give each child a copy of “The Friendly Beasts.” Lead the children in singing, “The Friendly Beasts.”

• Invite the children to color the picture on their lyric sheets. Encourage them to take their papers home so they can sing the song to their families.

Moving With the Bible StorySupplies: Reproducible 4a

• Read the Bible story, “Good News!” (Reproducible 4a), to the children.

• You will need to divide the children into these parts: Trumpets, Donkey hooves, Crowd, Door sounds, or Animals in the stable. All of the children will play the Chorus role.

ASk: Where did Mary and Joseph have to go? (Bethlehem) Where did they have to sleep after their long journey? (in a stable) What happened while they were in the stable? (Mary had baby Jesus.) Who came to visit the shepherds? (an angel) Who came to visit baby Jesus? (the shepherds) How would you have felt if you got to meet baby Jesus that night? (Give the children time to answer.)









As with any food activity, check for allergies the children may have. Let the parents know what food items are being used today.


• Sing the song, “She Had Baby Jesus,” to the tune of “We’re Following the Leader” (see column at right). Sing it several times so the children become familiar with the words.

Pompon LambSupplies: small, medium, and large white pompons; small black pompons; white felt; white glue; fabric scissors

Before class, cut one set of white felt ears for each child’s lamb.

• Give each child one large white pompon, one medium white pompon, one small white pompon, and five small black pompons.

• Encourage the children to glue one small black pompon to the medium white pompon. This will be its face. Glue the face to the large white pompon; this is its body.

• Invite the children to glue the small white pompon to the opposite side of the large white pompon. This is its tail.

• Encourage the children to glue four small black pompons to the bottom of the large white pompon. These are its feet.

• Invite the children to glue the lamb’s ears between the medium white pompon (the face) and the large white pompon (the body).

SAY: In our Bible story today, we encountered a few different animals. We met some shepherds who were watching their flocks of sheep. We can remember the story of Jesus’ birth when we see our Pompon Lambs.

Serve With LoveVegetable MangerSupplies: celery, shredded lettuce, baby carrots, cups, paper plates, water, napkins

• Give each child a plate, a 3-inch piece of celery, a baby carrot, some shredded lettuce, and a cup for water.

SAY: We are going to make a vegetable manger. Since Mary and Joseph had to stay in the stable, baby Jesus was laid in a manger. A manger is where farmers would put their animals’ food. So Jesus was sleeping in a feed trough.

• Invite the children to place their shredded lettuce on top of the celery.

• Encourage the children to place the carrot on top of the lettuce. Now they have a manger (celery) with hay (lettuce) and baby Jesus (carrot)!

• Invite the children to eat their snack.

TIP



Baby Jesus Clothespin DollSupplies: traditional clothespins, white felt, wood glue, fine-tip black permanent markers, fabric scissors

Before class, cut the white felt into small strips. They will be wrapped around the clothespin like a blanket.

SAY: Our Bible story today told us that Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to be counted. While they were there, they had baby Jesus. Jesus is the baby God had promised to the Israelites long ago. To remember baby Jesus’ birth story, we are going to make Jesus clothespin dolls.

• Give each child a clothespin and a strip of white felt.

• Invite the children to glue the white felt around the clothespin like a swaddled baby.

• Encourage them to draw a happy face on Jesus using a fine-tip black permanent marker.



• Sing, “Light a Candle” (CD-ROM). Teach the children the sign for peace (printed in column at right). They can sign peace while they sing.

SAY: Advent is a special church season that helps us prepare for the birth of Jesus. We can celebrate that God sent Jesus to bring us peace.




Plan for Next Week Prepare the “Blessing Glasses” for each child (p. 32). Purchase a special treat for each child in class and place it in a gift-wrapped box (p. 34). Gather supplies for the “Thank-You Collage Banner” (p. 35), and the Bible Story Pak, Fun Pak, and Resource Pak resources for Session 5.

Peace

Place the right palm on top of the left palm. Turn your hands so that the left palm is on top of the right palm. Move both palms down and to the sides.



Simeon and AnnaBible Verse




Before You Begin

The story of Simeon and Anna comes just after the birth of Jesus, when the time has come for the ritual purifi cation of Mary and the dedication and

circumcision of the baby Jesus. Mary and Joseph had come to the Temple in Jerusalem to fulfi ll the laws. There they met Simeon and Anna.

For children, anticipation and waiting always seem to be part of celebrations. They wait for birthdays, vacations, visits from relatives, and Christmas. Help them understand that the Bible people had waited for the Messiah for years and years. And yet, they never stopped hoping. God kept God’s promise.

The children may be tired today from the Christmas holidays. They may be experiencing some letdown because their excitement and anticipation is over. Help them understand that even though Christmas Day has passed and the gifts are open, we continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus, God’s gift to us.

One of the fi rst tasks for most young children is learning to say thank you. As we model thankfulness in our relationships with the children and others, we help the children develop thankful hearts.

As the children learn about Anna and Simeon giving thanks, we can encourage them to talk about being thankful, not just for material things, but for blessings such as family.

Another part of the Bible story the children will hear is that Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus as a special baby. They knew that he was a gift from God. This is the good news that we have been talking about for several weeks. We give thanks to God for this special baby.

During this Advent season, your Sunday school class is invited to participate in a Jesse tree project. A Jesse tree is a special way of recalling the biblical events that led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We will begin making ornaments for your class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122. class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of your Leader’s Guide on pages 121 & 122.

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

class’s Jesse tree in this unit. You can fi nd out more information in the back of









• Greet each parent and child as they arrive.

• Play music (CD-ROM) to create a cheerful atmosphere.



• Give each child the Sticker of the temple for the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Blessing GlassesSupplies: Reproducible 5b, card stock, crayons or markers, colored cellophane, gluesticks, scissors

Photocopy onto card stock and cut out a pair of glasses (Reproducible 5b) for each child. Cut out two pieces of colored cellophane for each pair of glasses. These will be the lenses.

• Give each child a glasses frame and two arms/earpieces. Invite them to glue the arms/earpieces to the frame.

• Give each child two pieces of cellophane. Encourage the children to glue the lenses to the inside of their frames.

• Invite the children to decorate their glasses with crayons, and then set the glasses to the side. They will use them during the Bible story.

SAY: Today we will hear a story about an old man named Simeon and an old woman named Anna. They had been waiting to see Jesus for a long time. They were very thankful. We will hear about their stories today.


• Give each child “I Spy Baby Jesus” and “Hidden Letters” (Bible Story Pak—Session 5, pp. 3–4).

• Invite the children to find baby Jesus on page 3, using the small illustration of Jesus at the top of the page to help narrow down his location in the scene.

• Encourage the children to turn their pages over. The children will see a picture of today’s story. Invite the children to find and circle the letters of the word, JESUS, in the picture.

SAY: Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, followed God’s rules. One rule was to take your baby to the Temple. They took Jesus to the Temple, where they met Simeon and Anna. Simeon and Anna were excited to meet Jesus.

TIPEncourage each child to make a pair of Blessing Glasses. The glasses will be used during the Bible story.




• Give each child the storybook, “Simeon and Anna” (Bible Story Pak—Session 5, pp. 1–2). Fold the page in half like a book.

• Read the story as the children follow along in their books. If you are using the book in a story center, read the story to three children at a time. Help the children identify simple words in the story. If you have readers, let them read to you.

ASK: Why did Mary and Joseph take baby Jesus to the Temple? (to dedicate Jesus to a life following God) Who saw Mary, Joseph, and Jesus at the Temple fi rst? (Simeon) What did God promise Simeon? (God promised Simeon he would meet the Messiah.) Who else recognized baby Jesus as the Messiah? (Anna) What did Anna do when she saw baby Jesus? (Anna praised God.) Anna and Simeon were so happy to meet baby Jesus!

Jesse Tree: TempleSupplies: Fun Pak, glue, yarn, scissors, paper punch


• Give each child the “Jesse Tree: Temple” page (Fun Pak—p. 11). Help the children punch out the circle wreath, the Outside Temple piece, and the Inside Temple piece.

• Help the children to gently separate the perforations at the top, bottom and middle of the doors on the Outside Temple piece to allow the doors to open.

• Invite them to glue the Inside Temple piece behind the Outside Temple piece, facing up, so that the people can be seen through the open doors.

• Help them glue the Temple to the wreath.

• Punch a hole at the top of each wreath, and help the children thread a piece of yarn through the hole. Instruct them to tie a knot above the hole, so they can hang the ornament.

SAY: The ornaments on a Jesse tree help people remember the stories that led to the birth of Jesus. We can remember the promise God made coming true through the story of Jesus’ birth when we see our Jesse Tree: Temple ornaments.

Proclaim the WordJesus! Waaa!

SAY: God promised Simeon and Anna that they would live to see Jesus, God’s Son, be born. Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple where Simeon and Anna recognized that Jesus was God’s Son. In our game today, one of you will be searching for baby Jesus, just like Simeon and Anna did so long ago.

• Choose one child to be “IT.” That child will close his or her eyes and call out, “Jesus!”




• The class will be scattered around the room. When they hear, “Jesus!” they must all pretend to cry like babies.

• The child who is IT must try to find one of his or her classmates. When IT finds a classmate, the found child will be the new IT.

• Play a few rounds, so other children have the opportunity to be IT.

Waiting for the Special GiftSupplies: prewrapped gift box, with a treat inside for each child

Before class, fill a box with a treat for each child. This could be a snack or a small toy. Wrap the box like a present.

• Show the gift box.

SAY: Our story today is about Simeon and Anna who waited for a very special gift from God. This gift was a new leader for the people. This leader would bring hope, love, joy, and peace. Simeon and Anna waited and waited and waited for this special gift. Have you ever had to wait for a special gift? How did that make you feel? Today I have a special treat for each of you inside this gift box. We will open the gift at the end of class!




SAY: It’s time for the Leaper’s Pointe Christmas party, and Harley, Gabby, and Furleen can’t wait. They want to open presents now! But Mondo tells them the story of Simeon and Anna, who waited and waited and waited to see the Messiah. They finally got to see baby Jesus. Can you imagine what it was like to meet the Son of God?!


Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Reproducible 5a, Resource Pak, Blessing Glasses made earlier (p. 32), blocks or cardboard tubes, tape

Gather the Storytelling Figures of Simeon, Anna, Baby Jesus, Mary, and one Joseph (Resource Pak—p. 8). Tape them to blocks or cardboard tubes. You will use the figures to tell the story.

• Read the Bible story, “Simeon and Anna” (Reproducible 5a), to the children.

• Invite the children to play a game of “I Spy” using their Blessing Glasses. To play, have one child choose something she or he sees in the room and whisper it in your ear. Then have that child say, “I spy with my little eye something (color of object).” The rest of the class will take turns guessing what the object is until someone guesses correctly. The child who guesses correctly will be the next child to choose an object.



SAY: Simeon and Anna waited a long time to meet God’s Son. When they saw Jesus, they knew he was the baby God promised. They trusted that God would keep God’s promises. They were thankful for the blessing of Jesus. What are some things you spy that you are thankful for?




• Sing the song, “She Had Baby Jesus,” to the tune of “We’re Following the Leader” (see column at right). Sing it several times so the children become familiar with the words.

Thank-You Collage BannerSupplies: Reproducible 5c, butcher paper, recycled magazines, safety scissors, glue

Photocopy the “Thank You!” page (Reproducible 5c), and glue it to the center of the banner.

• Give each child a pair of safety scissors, and instruct them to cut pictures of things they are thankful for out of the magazines.

• Encourage the children to glue the things they are thankful for to the banner.

SAY: At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of baby Jesus. Today we heard about Simeon and Anna. They had waited a long time for God’s Son to be born. When they saw baby Jesus, they knew he was God’s Son. They praised and thanked God for Jesus.

Serve With LoveGood News ReviewSupplies: CD-ROM, CD player, lightweight ball

• Invite the children to sit in a circle on the floor.

SAY: This month we have learned so much! Let’s see what you can remember. We are going to pass this ball around the circle. When the music stops, the ball must stop too. Whoever is holding the ball will be asked a question about one of our lessons.

• Begin the music and encourage the children to pass the ball around the circle. Stop the music and ask one of these questions:

• Who was the prophet that told the Israelites a poem about light coming to darkness, and a new baby who’d lead the people in peace? (Isaiah)








• Who visited Mary to tell her she was going to have baby Jesus? (the angel Gabriel)

• Who was the carpenter that had a special dream? (Joseph)

• Where did Mary and Joseph travel to be counted and taxed? (Bethlehem)

• Who was the first to know about Jesus’ birth? (the shepherds)

• Who waited a very long time to meet Jesus, God’s Son? (Simeon and Anna)

Waiting for the Special GiftSupplies: prewrapped gift box with a treat inside for each child from earlier (p. 34)

• Open the gift box and share the treats inside with each of the children.

SAY: Our story today was about Simeon and Anna who waited for a very special gift from God. What were they waiting for? (Jesus) They had been waiting for Jesus, God’s Son, to be born. Jesus grows up to teach all of us about God’s love and how we should love each other. Jesus is such a special gift!



• Sing, “Light a Candle” (CD-ROM). The fifth Advent candle is the Christ candle. Teach the children the sign for Christ (see column at right).

SAY: Advent is a special church season that prepares us for the birth of Jesus. We can celebrate that God sent Jesus to bring us hope, love, joy, and peace.




Plan for Next Week Prepare for the Mission Project: Mother and Child Survival Program (pp. 53–54, Reproducibles 6c & 6d). Prepare the “Magi Crowns” (p. 52) for the “Star Parade” (p. 53).

Christ

Make a “C” with your right hand. Place the “C” at the left shoulder and then move the “C” across the body to the right waist.


Unit 1 Reproducibles GrowProclaimServe.com 37Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

Reproducible 1a: A Child Is BornGather the children in the Bible story center. Read the following story based on Isaiah 9:2-6. Invite the children to say, “The prophet!” every time they hear you say, “Isaiah,” while you read the story.

Our Bibles tell the story of a man named Isaiah. (The prophet!) A prophet is someone who listens to God and teaches people how God wants them to live. Isaiah (The prophet!) was sent to the people of Israel to give God’s people hope.

You see, the Israelites were not having a very good time. Their enemies had conquered them and forced them to live in a place far from the Israelites’ homeland. They missed their homes and their old way of life. They were sad.

Then, Isaiah (The prophet!) was sent to the Israelites by God to help the Israelites become happy. Isaiah (The prophet!) recited a poem for the Israelites. Isaiah (The prophet!) said, “There were people walking in darkness. They were scared, sad, and feeling hopeless. Then, a great light appeared, and they no longer felt sad. They were happy and joyful! The people praised God for bringing them out of the darkness and for restoring peace and justice. A baby will be born to these people. The baby will grow to be a great leader. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace.”

What Isaiah (The prophet!) said made the Israelites happy! They were the people who were sad and living in darkness. They trusted that God would bring them out of the sadness they felt into joy and light. They knew that God would send a baby who would grow to be a great leader of the Israelites. The new leader would help them live in peace and have justice.

Isaiah (The prophet!) and the Israelites did not know when the baby would be born, but they had hope in God’s promises. God keeps promises, and we can look to the future, trusting that a baby is coming!

Following the story, sing, “Isaiah,” with the children to the tune of “Frere Jacques.” Encourage the children to repeat after you.

Isaiah, Isaiah talked to God, talked to God. He told the people, He told the people about God’s light, about God’s light.

DJF EE LG pp37-46 repro ID001.indd 37 7/12/13 3:09 PM



Reproducible 1b: Promises Ornaments

wonderful counselor

prince of peace

mighty god

eternal father



Read the following story based on Luke 1:26-38, 46-47. Encourage the children to mimic you as you do the motions in bold.

Mary was a young woman who lived long ago in the little town of Nazareth. Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, a carpenter, whose family lived in Bethlehem. Mary did all of the things a young woman is supposed to do. Mary loved God and all the things God had made. (Hold hands over heart.)

One day as Mary was thinking (Point to side of head.) about God’s beautiful world, she heard a voice. (Cup hand around ear.) Looking up (Look up.), she saw an angel standing nearby. At first, Mary was surprised and frightened! (Hold hands up as if surprised.)

But the angel Gabriel spoke to her in a soft voice (Whisper.), “Don’t be afraid, Mary. (Shake head no.) God is pleased with you. I have come to tell you good news! (Clasp hands together.) God is going to send you a baby boy. (Pretend to rock baby.) You will name him Jesus. He is God’s own dear Son (Pretend to rock baby.), and he is God’s greatest gift to the world. He will show everyone how to help one another and how to be happy together.”

Mary listened closely to the angel (Cup hand around ear), and her heart was filled with happiness. (Put hands over heart.) “I am a servant of God. I will do what God wants me to do,” Mary told the angel Gabriel. (Point to yourself.)

Mary’s little baby (Pretend to rock baby.) would grow up to help other people and to show them God’s love. (Put hands over heart.) Each day Mary thought about God’s promise to her. (Point to side of head.) She sang a joyful song: “My soul praises the Lord (Raise arms above head.), and my heart is happy.” (Put hands over heart.)

Read the poem, “An Angel Came,” a few times through.

An Angel Came by Lorri Coates and Barbara McKone

An angel came to spread the joy. (Flap arms like wings.) Mary will have a baby boy. (Pretend to rock baby.) A child that comes from God above, (Raise arms above head; bring arms around and down at sides.) born on earth to teach us love. (Hug yourself.)

Reproducible 2a: A Message to Mary




Gather the Storytelling Figures of one Joseph, Sleeping Joseph, and the Angel (Resource Pak—p. 8). Attach the figures to blocks or cardboard tubes so they stand up. Read the following story based on Matthew 1:18-25.

Set out Joseph.

Joseph was a kind carpenter. Joseph made lots of things for his neighbors. He made tables and doors. He fixed his neighbors’ plows and yokes. He made beams that held up flat roofs and made cabinets.

Joseph was usually very happy when he was working, but this particular day, he was sad. Joseph couldn’t stop thinking about Mary. He loved Mary, and he was engaged to marry her. When she told him she was going to have a baby, he became very confused. “How can this be?” he thought.

Put away Joseph, and set out Sleeping Joseph.

Later that night, when Joseph was asleep, he had a dream. In his dream, he saw an angel!

Set out the Angel.

“Joseph, son of David, don’t be sad! Mary is going to have a very special baby! You will name the baby Jesus. Jesus is the special baby the prophets spoke of. He will be called Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us.’”

Put away Sleeping Joseph and the Angel, and set out Joseph.

The next morning, when Joseph woke up from his wonderful dream, he was no longer sad. He could still marry Mary. The angel had given him a message from God.

Joseph went off to work. He felt happy. He thought, “Mary will have a baby. We will name him Jesus, just as the angel said.”

Sing, “Joseph Was a Good Man,” to the tune of “The More We Get Together” a few times through following the story.

“Joseph Was a Good Man”

Joseph was a good man, a good man, a good man. Joseph was a good man who had a good dream.

An angel told Joseph, told Joseph, told Joseph. An angel told Joseph about Mary’s babe.

You’ll name the baby Jesus, baby Jesus, baby Jesus. You’ll name the baby Jesus, the angel told him.

Reproducible 3a: A Message to Joseph


Unit 1 Reproducibles GrowProclaimServe.com 41


Reproducible 3b: Angel Garland


42 Winter 2013–14 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s GuidePermission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

Reproducible 4a: Good News!Read the following story based on Luke 2:1-20. You will need to divide the children into these parts: Trumpets—with fists to mouth, make a trumpet sound; Donkey hooves—with cupped hands, pat right and left knees alternately; Crowd—with cupped hands to mouth, repeat the phrase, “Peas and carrots,” over and over again; Door sounds—knock on a piece of wood or a wooden table or a book; Animals in the stable—variety of animal sounds (cow, sheep, donkey, rooster, mouse, dove); Chorus—all children say, “Praise God! Jesus is born!”

by LeeDell Stickler and Judy St. John

(Trumpet sounds) Give ear! Give ear! By order of the Emperor Augustus, all men will go to their hometowns to be registered. (Trumpet sounds)

And so Joseph went from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David. And he took with him Mary, who was expecting a child.

(Donkey hooves) Up the hills and down the hills, the little donkey walked. (Donkey hooves) The sun was going down. Soon, it would be night. (Donkey hooves) Mary was tired. Joseph was tired. And the little donkey was even more tired. (Donkey hooves) When the three came to the little town of Bethlehem, there was quite a crowd. (Crowd sounds) In fact, the city was so crowded that there was no place to stay.

Joseph went from house to house. (Donkey hooves) He was looking for someplace—anyplace—to stay where Mary could rest and have shelter. There was not an inch of floor space to be found anywhere. Finally, Joseph came to an inn. (Door sounds) The innkeeper opened the door. (Crowd sounds)

“Go away!” said the innkeeper. “We have no room tonight!” Joseph turned to go, pulling the little donkey behind him. (Donkey hooves) The innkeeper saw Mary and the tired little donkey. He felt sorry for them. “Wait, I have no room inside the inn. But I do have a stable where travelers keep their animals. You may sleep there tonight, if you’d like,” he said. Joseph looked at Mary wondering how she would feel about sleeping where the animals slept. Mary looked at Joseph and nodded

her head yes. Joseph turned back to the innkeeper and nodded.

“Let me show you the way,” the kind innkeeper offered. (Donkey hooves) “The stable is just over here.” The innkeeper led Joseph and Mary and the little donkey to the small stable. The three looked around. It wasn’t much, but there would be a roof over them tonight. And the animals would keep them company. (Animal sounds) Joseph led the little donkey to hay to eat and water to drink. (Donkey hooves) Then he took the bundles from the donkey’s back and put them close to Mary.

And that night, that very night, with only Joseph and the animals to keep her company (soft Animal sounds), Mary gave birth to baby Jesus. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger where the animals ate.

In that region, there were shepherds in the fields, keeping watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and told them good news of great joy. (Chorus: Praise God! Jesus is born!) The angel told the shepherds they would find the child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. (Chorus: Praise God! Jesus is born!) The shepherds hurried and found the child in the stable, just as the angel had told them. They told everyone about the child. (Chorus: Praise God! Jesus is born!) The shepherds returned to the field, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard. (Chorus: Praise God! Jesus is born!)

Baby Jesus, God’s greatest gift to the world, was born to save us. (Chorus: Praise God! Jesus is born!) Baby Jesus was born to show us the way. (Chorus: Praise God! Jesus is born! Praise God! Jesus is born!)



Reproducible 4b: The Friendly Beasts“The Friendly Beasts” WORDS: 12th cent. French carol; trans. anon.; (Lk 2:7)

Jesus our brother, strong and good,

was humbly born in a stable rude,

and the friendly beasts around him stood,

Jesus, our brother, strong and good.

“I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown,

“I carried his mother uphill and down,

I carried his mother to Bethlehem town;

I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

“I,” said the cow, all white and red,

“I gave him my manger for his bed,

I gave him my hay to pillow his head;

I,” said the cow, all white and red.

“I,” said the sheep with curly horn,

“I gave him my wool for his blanket warm,

he wore my coat on Christmas morn;

I,” said the sheep with curly horn.

“I,” said the dove, from the rafters high,

“I cooed him to sleep so that he should not cry,

we cooed him to sleep, my mate and I;

I,” said the dove, from the rafters high.

Thus all the beasts, by some good spell,

in the stable dark were glad to tell

of the gifts they gave Emmanuel,

the gifts they gave Emmanuel.




Gather the Storytelling Figures of Simeon, Anna, baby Jesus, Mary, and one Joseph (Resource Pak— p. 8). Attach the figures to blocks or cardboard tubes so they stand up. Read the following story based on Luke 2:25-38. Invite the children to wear their Blessing Glasses while they listen to the story.

Set out the Simeon and Anna figures.

Simeon and Anna had been waiting a very long time. Have you ever had to wait for something? (Give the children a moment to answer.) They were waiting for God to send a special baby to them, God’s Son. This baby had been promised to God’s people a long time ago. Simeon and Anna had been very patient. They trusted God and that they would see God’s Son.

One day Simeon and Anna were both at the Temple. Anna was a prophet and lived in the Temple. A prophet is someone who listens to God and shares God’s message with the people. Simeon was there praying. They were both minding their own business, when a young family walked in holding a sweet baby boy.

Set out the Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus figures.

Simeon watched as the young family came inside God’s Temple. He walked over to them and introduced himself.

Walk Simeon over to the Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus figures.

“Hi, I am Simeon. What are your names?’

“I am Joseph and this is my wife, Mary, and our son, Jesus.”

“Jesus is a sweet baby. May I hold him?” asked Simeon.

“This is all I have lived for,” said Simeon. “A long time ago, God promised me that I would live long enough to see the Messiah, and here he is! Your son, Jesus, is the special baby God promised us long ago!” Simeon was so happy that he sang a song of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Walk Anna over to the Simeon, Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus figures.

Anna came over to see baby Jesus next. She saw Jesus’ face and knew that Jesus was the Messiah. “He’s the one! He is God’s Son! God’s promise came true!” exclaimed Anna. She praised God for the Messiah, along with Simeon.

Simeon and Anna had waited a long time for God to send the Messiah, God’s Son. They were so happy that Jesus, God’s Son, had been born. They trusted God’s promise.

After the story, invite the children to play a game of “I Spy” using their Blessing Glasses. To play, invite one child to choose something she or he sees in the room and whisper it in your ear. Then have that child say, “I spy with my little eye something (color of object).” The rest of the class will take turns guessing what the object is until someone guesses correctly. The child who guesses correctly will be the next child to choose an object.

Reproducible 5a: Simeon and Anna



Reproducible 5b: Blessing Glasses




Reproducible 5c: Thank You!

Thank you, God, for all of our blessings!


Winter 2013–14 Unit 2 GrowProclaimServe.com 47

Unit 2The Life of JesusBible Verse

Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people. (Luke 2:52)

Leap of Faith My faith in God grows as I grow.

In this unitSession 6, January 5 The Wise MenBible story: Matthew 2:1-12

Session 7, January 12Jesus at the TempleBible story: Luke 2:39-52

Session 8, January 19Jesus’ BaptismBible story: Mark 1:4-11

Session 9,January 26Jesus in the SynagogueBible story: Luke 4:14-30

CD-ROMHave Faith• Instrumental and sung

version available• Sheet music with lyrics• Printable lyrics• PowerPoint® lyrics

Leap of Faith(theme song) • Instrumental and sung

version available • Sheet music with lyrics• Printable lyrics• PowerPoint® lyrics

Leaper’s Pointe (DVD) Session 6:Furleen and Rosie are looking for the Christmas party. They try following a map, but it’s too dark to see the address. They run in to Papa B and try following his GPS, but it has trouble fi nding the address as well. Rosie and Papa B tell Furleen the story of the wise men following the star.

Session 7:Ernie, Rosie, Papa B, and the mayor are going to the city for a mayors’ conference. Rosie, Papa B, and the mayor return to Leaper’s Pointe before they realize that Ernie didn’t get on the bus with them. They’re worried that Ernie is lost in the big city. Papa B and the mayor go back to the city to fi nd Ernie.

Session 8:Gabby is talking about water. She teaches us how to make the sign for water from American Sign Language. Water is used to help plants and animals grow, to help us wash clothes and dishes, and to brush your teeth and take a bubble bath. And we use water for something special in the church—baptism.

Session 9:Farley is collecting coats for the “One Warm Coat Drive.” Mondo and Furleen don’t listen closely and donate fl oats and oats! When Farley talks to the mayor, the mayor tells him the story of when the people of Jesus’ hometown didn’t listen to him. They did not recognize Jesus as God’s Son.

Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)• Have Faith • Leap of Faith

(theme song)

DJF EE LG pp47-48 IN06A.indd 47 7/15/13 8:17 AM


Supplies The BasicsBiblebox of tissuescard stock CD playerch enille stems (variety of


craft stickscrayons crepe paper streamersDVD player gluesticks index cards lunch-sized paper bags ma rkers (watercolor and

permanent)newsprintoffering basketpaintpaintbrushes

paper clips pa per or plastic table

coverings paper bowlspaper cupspa per plates (variety of

sizes and weights) paper punch pencils plastic drinking straws posterboardprojector or televisionrrecycled newspaper

resealable plastic bagsribbon (variety of widths) scissors smocks stapler, staples tape (clear, masking) televisionwashable paint watercolor paints wooden craft sticksyarn

Beyond the BasicsSession 6 sp ring-type

clothespins (two per child)

sq uiggle eyes (two per child)

glitter gluesoaprunning waterre cycled soup cans

(one for each child)

Session 7 large mixing bowlraisinschocolate chipsrice cerealgluten-free cheese crackersplastic spray bottlefood coloringwater

Session 8 water-play tableswaterseashellsCrayola® Model Magic®

blue butcher papermagnetscookie sheethand wipesbiscuitshoneyclean waterwater with dirttwo white washcloths

Session 9 brewed, cooled coffeepa int sponges or

washclothsballbutcher paperrecycled magazinessa mpling of fruits and

vegetablescheese and crackersoptional: hair dryer

Tips for TeachersThis month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Turn in the money to your church treasurer. To donate by check,

please make check payable to Advance GCFA, write the Advance number (982645) on the memo line, and mail to:

Advance GCFA PO Box 9068 New York, NY 10087-9068

There is a snack suggested in Sessions 7, 8, and 9. Please check your classes’ allergies before serving.



The Wise MenBible Verse




Before You Begin

Tradition has called them wise men, magi, and kings. But what were they really? More than likely they were priestly astrologers, men of science

who studied the stars. They were pagans who had no special revelation of Scripture. Instead, they noticed the appearance of a new star—an exciting sign. It symbolized the birth of a person destined to be infl uential in the world. No wonder these men went in search of baby Jesus.

Matthew 2:11 tells us that when the wise men found Jesus, they entered a house. Jesus’ family was no longer living in the stable where the shepherds had found him. Instead, when the wise men arrived, maybe as many as two years later, they found the family settled in Bethlehem. When King Herod heard the news of a new king, he was not able to determine the exact time of Jesus’ birth. Therefore, his decree that commanded the deaths of all male children under two years of age gives us an approximate arrival time of the wise men.

The gifts that the wise men brought to the child Jesus were unusual gifts for a toddler—frankincense, gold, and myrrh. Frankincense was an expensive perfume burned to make a pleasant odor during worship ceremonies. Myrrh, a fragrant gum from a tree in Arabia, was valued as a perfume, a medicine, and an embalming ingredient. They were hardly gifts for a child, but defi nitely gifts for a king.

One of the most important aspects of this story is that the visit of the wise men emphasizes that God’s gift of Jesus was to all of the world. The wise men were the fi rst non-Jewish people to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of the world. The coming of the wise men makes Christianity a worldwide faith.

Children are not born with prejudices, but they do pick them up easily from the adults in their lives. Help the children in your group understand that God wants us to reach out and care about all people, not just those who are like us.

This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin


and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin


and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin


Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal


This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival



Session 6January 5



DJF EE LG pp49-54 IN006.indd 49 7/15/13 8:20 AM

50 January 5 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide





• Play music (CD-ROM) to make your room cheerful.



• Give each child the star Sticker for the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak— pp. 2 and 23).

My Gift to JesusSupplies: Reproducible 6b, crayons or markers

Photocopy “My Gift to Jesus” (Reproducible 6b) for each child.

• Encourage them to think of something they already have that is special to them that they could give to Jesus. This could be a favorite toy or a special meal or their heart. Invite the children to draw a picture of this gift for Jesus.

SAY: Today our Bible story teaches us about the magi, priests from a faraway land. They saw a bright star in the sky, followed it, and met the baby king, Jesus. They came with special gifts for Jesus and his family. We can give gifts to Jesus too.

Bible PuzzlersSupplies: Bible Story Pak, crayons or markers, pencils

• Give each child “Connect the Stars” and “Three Gifts for Jesus” (Bible Story Pak—Session 6, pp. 3–4).

• Invite the children to follow and connect the stars on page 3 to see where the wise men are being led.

• Encourage the children to turn their pages over. Have the children fill in each blank with the first letter of the picture below it to discover the three gifts the wise men brought to Jesus.

SAY: The wise men, or magi, followed a star to Bethlehem to meet the new king, Jesus. They brought Jesus kingly gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.


• Give each child the storybook, “The Wise Men” (Bible Story Pak—Session 6, pp. 1–2). Fold the page in half like a book.




ASK: What did the wise men see in the night sky? (a special star) What did the star mean? (The new king was born.) What did the wise men decide to do? (follow the star to the new king, take the new king gifts) Where did the star lead them? (to Bethlehem, where Jesus lived) What did the wise men give to Jesus? (three gifts: frankincense, gold, and myrrh)

3-D CamelSupplies: Fun Pak, gluesticks, spring-type clothespins (two per child), squiggle eyes (two per child)

• Give each child the “3-D Camel” page (Fun Pak—p. 13).

• Invite the children to remove the camel piece from the page.

• Help the children fold the camel down the center on the dotted line so they each have a two-sided camel.

• Have them attach a clothespin on the front and a clothespin on the back of the camel, like legs.

• Have them glue squiggle eyes on each side of the camel’s face.

SAY: The wise men probably rode camels from Persia or Arabia all the way to Bethlehem. That’s a long journey. The camels helped the magi see the new king, Jesus.

Proclaim the Word“Do the Camel Walk” Relay

• Divide the class into pairs.

• Invite the pairs to decide who will be the front legs and who will be the back legs of the camel.

• Encourage the “back legs” to line up behind the “front legs” and hold the shoulders of their partner. The pairs are now a camel.

SAY: The wise men followed a star they believed was a sign of a very important birth. They were right! Like the wise men, let’s pretend to follow a star. We will walk like camels because that is how the wise men probably traveled.

• Invite the pairs to move the same leg at the same time, i.e. both use the right leg at the same time, and walk around the room as you journey through the desert to Bethlehem.

• Play a few more rounds, allowing all children to be both parts of the camel.

• Invite the children to camel-walk with you to the Bible story center.




“The Wise Men” (Tune of “Jesus Loves Me”)

The wise men, they saw a star. It was shinning far away. They knew it would lead to a king, and they wanted to see him. Yes, the wise men followed, yes, the wise men followed, yes, the wise men followed, they followed Jesus’ star.

“Jesus Grew” (Tune of “This Old Man”)

Jesus grew, Jesus grew, Jesus grew like me and you. Jesus learned God’s Word and taught it to all. Jesus grew like me and you.




SAY: Furleen and Rosie are looking for the Christmas party. They try following a map, but it’s too dark to see the address. They run in to Papa B and try following his GPS, but it has trouble finding the address as well. Rosie and Papa B tell Furleen the story of the wise men following the star.

• Show today’s Leaper’s Pointe in Concert, “Have Faith.” Have the children sign the Bible verse with the DVD at the end of the episode.


• Read the Bible story, “The Wise Men,” to the children (Reproducible 6a).

• Sing the song, “The Wise Men,” to the tune of “Jesus Loves Me” a few times (printed in column at right).

ASK: What did the wise men see in the sky when Jesus was born? (a star) They rode a long way to meet Jesus. What gifts did they bring to the new king, Jesus? (frankincense, gold, and myrrh) What gift would you give to Jesus? (Give the children time to answer.) God used a star to bring the wise men to Jesus. The wise men were from a faraway place and were not like the people in Bethlehem, but God wanted the wise men to meet Jesus. Why do you think God wanted all kinds of people to know Jesus? (Give them time to answer.)


• Point to the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 4) and read the Bible verse to the children: “Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people” (Luke 2:52).


• Sing the song, “Jesus Grew,” to the tune of “This Old Man” (at right).

Magi CrownSupplies: Stickers, paper plates, glitter glue, crayons or markers, safety scissors

Before class, poke a hole in the center of a paper plate for each child. From the center hole, draw an eight-spoked wheel, like a pizza, just to the inside of the rim, but not all the way to the edge.

• Give each child a prepared paper plate and a pair of safety scissors. Help them cut each line starting at the center hole to the inside of the rim.

• Encourage them to decorate the plate with glitter glue and crayons and markers, and the jewel Stickers.



• Invite each child to fold up the triangles on the plate to make a crown.

SAY: The wise men might have worn crowns, although they probably looked a little different than this. They wanted to find the new king, Jesus. Jesus is still called the King of kings today.

Star Parade Supplies: Resource Pak, Magi Crowns made previously (see above activity)

SAY: Today we are going to take part in a Star Parade tradition called Slaviq. Every year on January 7, the Russian Orthodox church celebrates Jesus’ birth. They do this for a whole week going to peoples’ houses, following the star, and singing songs. The star they follow is made from wood and decorated with wrapping paper, beads, and Christmas ornaments. People follow the star because in the Bible, the wise men followed a star that led them to the newborn Jesus. The people follow the star into each house, sing songs, and spread joy. We are going to have our own Star Parade celebration.

• Invite the children to go on a Star Parade through your classroom or church. Your class may want to do this alone or with other classes. They will follow you and the Star (Resource Pak—p. 17).

• Encourage them to wear their crowns and walk royally. Help them sing some of the Christmas songs they have learned.

Serve With LoveMission: Mother and Child Survival ProgramSupplies: Reproducible 6c, soap, running water

Photocopy “Mission Letter” (Reproducible 6c) for each child.

SAY: This month we will be taking up an offering to help mothers and children who need help staying healthy. The General Board of Global Ministries helps teach moms and their children ways to keep from getting sick, like washing their hands, getting immunization shots, having access to clean water, and eating healthy foods. We will help moms and their children all over the world with the money we collect.

This month we will be learning about some ways we can stay healthy. Today we are going to practice washing our hands. It’s important to wash our hands because it gets rid of germs that can make us sick, and also helps us from spreading our germs to our families and friends. We should wash our hands after we go to the restroom, after we touch animals, after we play outside, and after we cough. When we wash our hands, we need to use warm water and soap. We should wash all over our hands for twenty seconds, or one time through of “Jesus Loves Me.”

• Invite the children to take turns washing their hands using soap and warm water, and singing, “Jesus Loves Me.”

• Give each child a copy of “Mission Letter” to send home.

TIP

TIP

Have a Star Parade with your whole church! Ask adult classes about your class visiting their rooms during the Star Parade.

If you have to go to a restroom to do this, please make sure another adult is with you, or keep the main door to the restroom open.




“Have Faith” WORDS: Dennis Scott

© 2013 Act IV Music (Chorus)

Have faith. Have faith, believing as you grow. Have faith. Have faith. The more you learn, the more you’ll know. Have faith. Have faith. Put your hands together and pray. My faith in God is growing every day.

Mission Can: Mother and Child Survival ProgramSupplies: Reproducible 6d, recycled soup cans (one for each child), crayons or markers, tape, safety scissors

Photocopy “Mission Can” (Reproducible 6d) for each child.

SAY: This month we will be taking up an offering to help mothers and children who need help staying healthy. We are each going to make a collection can to put our money in.

• Help the children cut out the “Mission Can” wraps.

• Encourage the children to color the wise men.

• Assist each child, as needed, with taping the wrap to the outside of a clean standard-sized soup can.

• Place the “Mission Letter” (Reproducible 6c) to parents inside the can.

• The contributions will be collected on January 26.



• Sing the song, “Have Faith” (CD-ROM).

SAY: Just like Jesus grew in wisdom and in favor with God, we are growing too. Our faith is growing in leaps and bounds!

• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing in a circle.

• Say a small prayer for each child in the Praise-and-Prayer Circle.



Plan for Next WeekPurchase snack items for “Trail Mix for the Journey” (p. 58), and food coloring to make “Sneezy Handprints” (p. 60). Be sure to read through Session 7 for additional tips.



Jesus at the TempleBible Verse




Before You Begin

Luke is the only Gospel that includes a story from Jesus’ childhood. The story of Jesus in the Temple at age twelve helps serve as a transition from Jesus’

birth narrative to the beginnings of his ministry in adulthood. Jesus’ birth story announces Jesus’ birth as the Son of God. This transitional story in the Temple records Jesus’ coming awareness of his identity as God’s Son and foreshadows his relationships with God, the teachers of Israel, and the Temple.

After Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary settled back into their normal lives in Nazareth. Normal life for Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in Nazareth would be centered around the synagogue and all of the religious observances of their faith. Jesus would have received the same training from the village rabbis as the rest of the boys in Nazareth. He must have been excited each year when his family went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Passover.

In later Jewish customs, a male child became a man at the age of thirteen, therefore in this story, Jesus is still a child. As a child, his knowledge, understanding, and wondering impressed the teachers of Israel. When Mary and Joseph arrive back at the Temple in search of their child, they are also amazed. They were also very upset that Jesus had chosen to stay without their permission. Jesus’ response to their reaction is the most important part of the story. He expected his parents to know where he was and what he was doing. He is in his Father’s house, right where he should be.

Jesus’ response says that he knows what he must be doing. He is aware of God’s purpose in his life. Jesus is responding to the divine imperative that he fulfi ll God’s purpose for his life. His life is not driven by fate, but by God’s design for it. Jesus is beginning to understand his identity as a child of God. This story shows that his life will be guided by his unique relationship with God.

The children in your class can be as excited as Jesus to learn about their identity as children of God too. Help the children in your class feel excited by being excited about church yourself. Explain that the Temple was a special place similar to our church where people went to worship and learn about God.


similar to our church where people went to worship and learn about God.similar to our church where people went to worship and learn about God.similar to our church where people went to worship and learn about God.

This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin


This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin


This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin


This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin


This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival

similar to our church where people went to worship and learn about God.

This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal


Session 7January 12











• Give each child the rulers Sticker for the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Growing By Leaps and Bounds!Supplies: Resource Pak, tape, marker, scissors

Cut out and assemble the Growth Chart using tape, and then tape it to a wall (Resource Pak—p. 16). [Assemble the chart starting with strip A (see bottom left corner of each strip) at the top, building down to strip F at the bottom.]

SAY: Today we will hear a story about Jesus when he was a twelve-year-old boy. Last week we heard a story about Jesus when he was a toddler. My, has he grown from last week to this week! We grow, just like Jesus. Let’s see how much we have grown since we were toddlers.

• Invite the children to stand against the wall and the Growth Chart. Their feet should line up with the bottom of the chart.

• Mark each child’s height on the chart with a line and his or her name.

SAY: You have all grown so big, but we all still have lots of growing to do.

Jesus GrewSupplies: Reproducible 7b, safety scissors, crayons or markers, glue

Photocopy the “Jesus Grew” puppet for each child (Reproducible 7b).

• Give each child the puppet page and crayons.

• Invite the children to color Jesus.

• Help the class cut out the Jesus pieces.

• Encourage the children to accordion-fold the two paper strips. These will be Jesus’ legs.

• Help the children glue the accordion legs to Jesus.

SAY: Our Jesus craft grows when we straighten out his legs. In our story today, we learn that Jesus not only grew taller, but he grew in his knowledge of God. We can all learn more about God as we continue to grow up too.




• Give each child “Where Is Jesus?” and “Who Teaches You About God?” (Bible Story Pak—Session 7, pp. 3–4).

• Invite the children to complete the maze on page 3 to help Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple.

• Encourage the children to turn the pages over.

• Invite the children to draw a picture of someone who teaches them about God.

SAY: In our story today, Jesus and his family visit the Temple in Jerusalem. When Mary and Joseph are ready to leave, Jesus stays behind at the Temple. Mary and Joseph are very worried and return to the Temple to find Jesus. He is there with the teachers learning more about God. Who teaches you about God?


• Give each child the storybook, “Jesus at the Temple” (Bible Story Pak—Session 7, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.

• Read the story as the children follow along in their books. If you are using the storybook in a story center, read the story to three children at a time.

• Help the children identify simple words in the story. If you have readers, let them read the story to you.

ASK: Where did Mary, Joseph, and Jesus go? (to the Temple in Jerusalem) Why did they go to the Temple in Jerusalem? (to celebrate the Passover Festival) Mary and Joseph headed home. Where was Jesus? (in the Temple with the teachers) Why did Jesus stay at the Temple? (He wanted to be in his Father’s house, to learn more about God, to teach others about God.) Jesus ended up being safe where he was, but he should have made sure his parents knew where he was. Mary and Joseph were very worried about him! Our parents would be very worried, too, if they didn’t know where we were.

“Jesus Grew” PuzzleSupplies: Fun Pak

• Give each child the “‘Jesus Grew’ Puzzle” page (Fun Pak—p. 15).

• Invite the children to punch out the puzzle pieces.

• Encourage the children to reassemble the pieces to read the unit’s Bible verse.

SAY: Jesus grew in his faith as he got older. Just like Jesus, our faith grows as we grow.




Proclaim the WordTrail Mix for the JourneySupplies: large mixing bowl, paper cups, raisins, chocolate chips, rice cereal, gluten-free cheese crackers

• Invite the children to mix all of the ingredients into a large mixing bowl.

• Pass out a cup full of trail mix to each child.

• Invite them to join you in the Bible story area to eat their snack and listen to the story.

SAY: In our story today, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus take a trip from Nazareth to Jerusalem. They had to pack food and blankets for their trip. They probably didn’t eat trail mix, but when people take long hikes—like the trip Jesus took—they pack foods like trail mix. Let’s enjoy our snack while we hear our Bible story.




SAY: Ernie, Rosie, Papa B, and the mayor are going to the city for a mayors’ conference. Everyone promises to stick together while they’re in the city. Ernie tries to remind the others that he has a meeting with the other mayors’ helpers in the afternoon, but no one is listening. Rosie, Papa B, and the mayor return to Leaper’s Pointe before they realize that Ernie didn’t get on the bus with them. They’re worried that Ernie is lost in the big city.


Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Reproducible 7a, Growth Chart assembled earlier (p. 56)

• Gather the children around the Growth Chart assembled earlier (see p. 56) to see the pictures of this week’s story.

• Read the Bible story, “Jesus at the Temple” (Reproducible 7a).

SAY: The Temple was a special place similar to our church where people went to worship and learn about God. Jesus was so excited about going to the Temple and learning about God that he lost all track of time. He was so excited, he didn’t even realize his parents had headed home. Do you get as excited as Jesus did when you come to church? (Give the children an opportunity to answer.) Does learning about God excite you? (Give the children an opportunity to answer.) Who teaches you about God? (Give the children an opportunity to answer.)

TIPAs with any food activity, check for allergies the children may have. Let the parents know what food items are being used today.








• Sing the song, “Jesus Grew,” to the tune of “This Old Man” (see at right).

Finding Jesus: Reverse Hide-and-Seek• Choose one child to be Jesus.

• Have the rest of the class close their eyes and count to ten while “Jesus” hides somewhere in the room.

• Encourage the class to find “Jesus.”

• Play this game many times so everyone can have a turn being found.

SAY: Mary and Joseph were very worried when they couldn’t find Jesus. They turned right around and headed back to the Temple to find Jesus. Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the Temple, safe and sound. Jesus was so excited about learning more about God that he stayed behind in the Temple to learn more. Sometimes we get excited about things, too, but we should always make sure we stay with our families. They get worried, just like Mary and Joseph were worried about Jesus.

Serve With LoveMission: Mother and Child Survival ProgramSupplies: Reproducible 6c

Photocopy “Mission Letter” for each child (Reproducible 6c).

SAY: This month we will be taking up an offering to help mothers and children who need help staying healthy. The General Board of Global Ministries teaches moms and their children ways to keep from getting sick. They learn things like how to wash their hands, getting immunization shots, having access to clean water, and eating healthy foods. We will help moms and their children all over the world with the money we collect.

This month we will be learning about some ways we can stay healthy. Today we are going to practice sneezing. To help stop the spread of germs, knowing the proper way to sneeze is important. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. Put your used tissue in the wastebasket. Clean your hands after sneezing. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner.

• Give each child a copy of “Mission Letter” to send home again this week.




Sneezy Handprints Supplies: plastic spray bottle, food coloring, water, white construction paper, wet wipes

Put a few drops of food coloring into a spray bottle. Add water.

SAY: When we sneeze and do not cover our faces, we spread lots of germs. It looks like this.

• Show the children what an uncovered sneeze looks like by pretend sneezing onto white paper using the spray bottle.

SAY: The germs spread! We do not want to share our germs with others. We are going to make sneezy handprint paintings to help us remember to cover our faces so we don’t share our germs.

• Give each child a sheet of white construction paper, and spray each child’s hands with colored water.

• Encourage the children to stamp their hands onto their papers.









Plan for Next WeekGather seashells for two baptism projects (p. 62), and two water-play tables or large bowls (p. 62). Bake biscuits for the class snack (p. 65). Be sure to read through Session 8 for additional tips.






Jesus’ BaptismBible Verse


Bible StoryMark 1:4-11


Before You Begin

John was the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah. He was born just before Jesus, and he was one of Jesus’ cousins. As it was told before he was born, John

would be the one to prepare the way for the coming Messiah.

John lived in the wilderness as a holy man and had many followers. He wore camel hair clothing, and ate locusts and honey. John called people, especially religious leaders, to repent and be baptized. The desire by the people for repentance, forgiveness, and purifi cation was motivated by John the Baptist’s warning that the day of the Lord—the day of judgment—was drawing near.

Many people believed that John was the promised Messiah. John quickly assured them that he was not the one, but that he had been sent to “prepare the way.” The one to come, according to John, was stronger than John and would baptize people in the Holy Spirit, while John could only baptize in water.

Mark follows the prediction of the one to come with the baptism of Jesus. Other Gospel writers provide an explanation or sidestep it altogether, but Mark does not. Jesus’ baptism, for Mark, confi rms that Jesus is God’s Son. In Luke’s version of the story, John the Baptist does not identify Jesus as the one. Instead, Jesus is the only one to see the Spirit descend and is the only one to hear God’s voice. Jesus’ identity is revealed to him, and to the reader.

As Christians, we acknowledge that Jesus is God’s Son. This recognition gives us the ability to learn freely from Jesus everything we must know to be true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Many people believe that Jesus’ public ministry begins at his baptism. Certainly, the Scriptures place Jesus’ baptism near the beginning of his ministry. Jesus and God were in special communion at Jesus’ baptism. God used the event to tell the world just who Jesus was and that God loved him.

This month we suggest participating in the UMCOR Mother and Child Survival Program. The donations made to Advance #982645 go to improving maternal and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin and child health in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.



Session 8January 19










• Have the Bible open to Mark 1:4-11.

• Give each child the seashell Sticker for the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Seashell Water PlaySupplies: water-play tables or large bowls, water, seashells

Before the children arrive, fill the water-play tables with water and seashells.

• Invite the children to play in the water and to explore the seashells.

SAY: Today we will be hearing a story about a man named John the Baptist. John the Baptist taught people about God and prepared them for God’s Son. John the Baptist also baptized people in the Jordan River. Seashells are a reminder of baptism.

Symbol of BaptismSupplies: seashells, Crayola® Model Magic®

• Give each child a handful of Crayola® Model Magic® and a seashell. Invite the children to play with the Crayola® Model Magic®, then flatten it out a bit.

• Encourage them to make an impression of the seashell in their Crayola® Model Magic®.

SAY: John the Baptist baptized people in the Jordan River. He also got to baptize someone very special. Do you know anyone who has been baptized? What did you see when that person was baptized?


• Give each child “Connect-the-Dots” and “What Is Different?” (Bible Story Pak—Session 8, pp. 3–4).

• Invite the children to connect the dots on page 3 to see what Jesus saw the day he was baptized.

• Encourage the children to turn over their papers. Ask the children to find and circle the five differences between the two pictures.

Bible Story Pak—p. 4 answers: 1) fish 2) frog 3) John’s sash/belt 4) John’s pocket 5) John’s right hand



SAY: Our Bible stories this month teach us about the life of Jesus. As Jesus grew, he learned more about God. Today we will hear the story about Jesus’ baptism. Jesus had grown into a man and wanted to do what he thought was right. As we grow, we learn more about God.


• Give each child the storybook, “Jesus’ Baptism” (Bible Story Pak—Session 8, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.


ASK: What did John the Baptist wear? (clothes made out of camel hair) What did he eat? (locusts and honey) What did John do? (He told the people to prepare for God’s Son; he baptized people.) Where did he baptize people? (the Jordan River) Who came to be baptized? (Jesus) What did Jesus see when he came out of the water? (God’s Spirit in the form of a dove) What did Jesus hear? (God saying Jesus was God’s Son)

Symbols-of-Baptism MobileSupplies: Fun Pak, paper punch, yarn, scissors

Cut four pieces of 6-inch yarn for each child.

• Give each child the “Symbols-of-Baptism Mobile” (Fun Pak—pp. 17 and 19).

• Help the children punch out the four mobile pieces on pages 17 and 19.

• Using a paper punch, help each child punch three holes along the bottom of the heart, and one at the top. Help each child punch one hole on the top of the waves, the dove, and the seashell.

• Help the children tie each symbol to the heart along the bottom using the yarn, and to tie a loop of yarn in the top hole of the heart to hang the mobiles.

SAY: In our story today, Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist. It was a special day for Jesus! He felt the water and saw God’s Spirit in the form of a dove. God said, “This is my Son. I love him very much. He makes me happy.” People remember this special story using symbols: water, a seashell, and a dove. We can remember Jesus’ baptism every time we see any of these things.

Proclaim the WordRun to the RiverSupplies: CD-ROM, CD player, blue butcher paper

Gather the CD-ROM and a CD player, and put out a long piece of blue butcher paper to resemble the Jordan River in the middle of the room.




• Play the winter quarter songs (CD-ROM). Encourage the children to move as they wish while the music plays.

• Pause the music every thirty seconds or so. When the music stops, everyone must run to the Jordan River.

• Play this game for a few minutes to get the wiggles out before moving to the Bible story center.

SAY: Jesus went to the river to be baptized by John. What do you think Jesus thought when he was baptized? What do you think he felt and heard?




SAY: Gabby is talking about water. She teaches us how to make the sign for water from American Sign Language. Water is used to help plants and animals grow, to help us wash clothes and dishes, and to brush your teeth and take a bubble bath. And we use water for something special in the church—baptism.


Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Reproducible 8a, Resource Pak, magnets, cookie sheet, tape

Gather the Storytelling Figures of Jesus, John the Baptist, the Crowd, and the Dove (Resource Pak—p. 17). Attach magnets to the figures so they will stick to the cookie sheet.

• Read the Bible story, “Jesus’ Baptism,” to the children (Reproducible 8a).

• Invite the children to sing the song, “John Baptized,” to the Tune of “Jingle Bells” a few times through (printed in column at right).

SAY: What do you think the people thought when Jesus was baptized? What do you think Jesus thought when he saw the dove and heard God’s voice?




• Sing the song, “Jesus Grew,” to the tune of “This Old Man” (printed in the column at right).

“John Baptized” (Tune of “Jingle Bells”)

John baptized, John baptized, John baptized Jesus. Jesus saw a dove come down and heard God say, “He’s mine.”





Handprint DoveSupplies: Stickers, white paint, colored construction paper, black markers, orange markers, paper plates, hand wipes, smocks

• Give each child a piece of construction paper and a paper plate with a little bit of white paint on it.

• Encourage each child to place one hand in the paint. Help the child get paint all over the palm of the one hand. Invite each child to stamp her or his hand on the construction paper.

• Once the paint has dried, invite each child to draw an eye and a beak on the end of the thumb, bird feet at the bottom of the hand, and a wing in the center of the palm. Encourage each child to add the olive branch Sticker to the dove’s beak. (They can trim the Sticker, if they choose.)

SAY: God’s Spirit came out of the sky in the form of a dove to Jesus because God loves Jesus. When we see a dove, we can remember that God loves us too.

Child-of-God Self-PortraitSupplies: Reproducible 8b, crayons or markers

Photocopy “Child-of-God Self-Portrait” for each child (Reproducible 8b).

• Encourage each child to draw herself or himself inside the frame. Invite the children to share about their pictures with the class.

SAY: Just like God declares Jesus is a child of God, we are children of God as well. God claims each of us, loves us, and cares about us.

Serve With LoveHoney and LocustsSupplies: biscuits, honey, paper plates, napkins

Before class, bake biscuits for the class. During the class hour, place a biscuit on a plate and add a swirl of honey. Do this for each child.

• Invite a child to help pass out a plate with a biscuit on it to each child.

SAY: John the Baptist ate locusts with honey. We won’t be eating bugs, but we can enjoy the honey, just like John.

Mission: Mother and Child Survival ProgramSupplies: Reproducible 6c

Photocopy “Mission Letter” for each child (Reproducible 6c).

SAY: This month we will be taking up an offering to help mothers and children who need help staying healthy. The General Board of Global Ministries teaches moms and their children ways to keep from getting sick.





They learn things like how to wash their hands, getting immunization shots, having access to clean water, and eating healthy foods. We will help moms and their children all over the world with the money we collect.

This month we will be learning about some ways we can stay healthy. Today we are going to talk about dirty water versus clean water.

• Give each child a copy of “Mission Letter” to send home.

Clean Water Versus Dirty Water Supplies: two water-play tables or two large bowls, clean water, water with dirt in it, two white washcloths

SAY: These two containers have water in them. Let’s look at the water. Which bucket would you like to take a bath in? Which one would you like to drink? Which one would you like to brush your teeth with? Let’s see what happens when we put our washcloths in the water.

• Put a washcloth in each container. Get them wet, and get the one dirty.

SAY: In some parts of the world, the water is clean. But in other parts, the water is dirty like this. People with dirty water do all of the things we do in clean water. Our washcloths show us that the dirty water isn’t very clean. People can get very sick from using dirty water. It’s important that we share resources so everyone can have clean water.


• Invite the children to sit in a circle. Sing the song, “Have Faith” (CD-ROM).


• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing in a circle. Say a small prayer for each child in the circle.



Plan for Next Week You will need brewed coffee for a craft (p. 68); and fruits, veggies, cheese, and crackers (p. 72). Be sure to read through Session 9 for additional tips.






Jesus in the SynagogueBible Verse




Before You Begin

The time had come for Jesus to begin his teaching ministry. On a particular sabbath, while he was in his hometown of Nazareth, he attended the worship

at the synagogue. Obviously, Jesus’ reputation was beginning to get around. The elders invited Jesus to read from the Scriptures and to speak to what the Scriptures meant. Jesus read a passage from the Book of Isaiah which concerned the coming of the promised Messiah. Everyone in the group was amazed at his reading and teaching capabilities, until he mentioned that he was the one the Scripture was talking about—he was the Messiah sent to fulfi ll God’s promise.

How hard it was for the people who had known him all his life to think of him in such a role! He was the son of Joseph, the carpenter. His mother, Mary, lived in the village. How could he be the promised Messiah? Jesus was saddened. The people who knew him best would not accept his message.

This particular Bible story is particularly helpful for providing the connection between the Old and New Testaments of the Bible for Christians. Here was the promised Messiah. His birth had been announced to common shepherds in the fi elds around Bethlehem. Gentiles from faraway had sought him out. Now Jesus himself was telling people that his ministry was to the poor, the oppressed, the marginal people of the world. Point out to the children that this means God’s love, the good news, is for everyone. We as Christians are called to share this good news with everyone we meet.


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Session 9January 26











• Give each child the scroll Sticker for the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Scroll of IsaiahSupplies: Reproducible 9b; brewed, cooled coffee; paper cups; paint sponges or washcloths; paintbrushes; smocks; optional: hair dryer

Photocopy “Scroll of Isaiah” (Reproducible 9b) for each child.

• Pass out the page to each child. Encourage them to crinkle it up and flatten it back out.

• Give each child a paintbrush and a small cup of cooled coffee.

• Encourage the children to paint the scrolls using the coffee.

• Set the scrolls somewhere to dry, or use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.

• Once dry, invite the children to roll the scroll into a tube and then unroll it. This will make it look like the scroll Jesus read from.

SAY: Today we will be learning about the time when Jesus visited the synagogue in Nazareth. Jesus read Scripture from the scroll of Isaiah. We will learn more about this today.


• Give each child “What Doesn’t Belong?” and “Fill in the Missing Letters” (Bible Story Pak—Session 9, pp. 3–4).

• Invite the children to circle the five things scattered around the picture on page 3 that don’t belong in Bible times.

• Encourage the children to turn the papers over.

• Invite them to fill in the blanks using the decoder.

SAY: Jesus went to his hometown, Nazareth. While he was there, he went to the synagogue. He read the scroll of Isaiah. He told everyone that he was chosen to share the good news with all people.

Bible Story Pak—p. 3 answers: 1) lamp on pillar 2) light bulb on pillar 3) guy w/ sunglasses 4) tennis ball w/ child 5) Jesus’ sneakers




• Give each child the storybook, “Jesus in the Synagogue” (Bible Story Pak—Session 9, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.



ASK: Where is Jesus’ hometown? (Nazareth) Whose scroll did Jesus read? (the scroll of Isaiah) Christians believe that the words of the prophet Isaiah were about Jesus. Jesus was chosen to bring good news to all people. We can still spread good news when we love God and love others, and when we make good choices.

Life-of-Jesus Sequencing CardsSupplies: Fun Pak, construction paper, glue

• Pass out the “Life of Jesus” page to each child (Fun Pak—p. 21).

• Help the children punch out the four pieces.

• Encourage the children to arrange the cards in order of when they happened in Jesus’ life. (1. Wise men’s visit; 2. Jesus at the Temple; 3. Jesus being baptized; 4. Jesus in the synagogue)

• Invite them to glue down the pieces in their correct order on a piece of paper.

SAY: Our Bible stories this month have taught us about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He was visited by the wise men, learned and taught at the Temple in Jerusalem, was baptized, and taught about God in his hometown, Nazareth.

Proclaim the WordThis Is Good NewsSupplies: ball

• Invite the class to sit in a circle.

SAY: In our story today, Jesus tells the people in the synagogue that he has been chosen by God to teach good news to all people. This is a blessing! Jesus shares God’s love with everyone: you, me, our families, our friends, and people we don’t know and people we don’t like. This is good news! God loves us in many ways, but one way we know God loves us is through the good things in our lives. Our blessings are good news. Let’s share our good news blessings with our classmates.

• Invite each child to take a turn rolling the ball to another child in class while saying a blessing in her or his life. Everyone should get at least one turn.







SAY: Farley is collecting coats for the “One Warm Coat Drive.” Mondo and Furleen don’t listen closely and donate floats and oats! When Farley talks to the mayor, the mayor tells him the story of when the people of Jesus’ hometown didn’t listen to him. They did not recognize Jesus as God’s Son.



• Read the Bible story, “Jesus in the Synagogue” to the children (Reproducible 9a).

• After the story, invite the children to be the people listening in the synagogue in Nazareth.

• Read the story again, and this time invite the children to be the happy people, the amazed people, and the angry people.

SAY: Jesus shared good news with the people in the synagogue. Why do you think Jesus wanted to tell the people about God’s love? (Give the children time to answer.) Why do you think it’s important for people to know God’s love? (Give the children time to answer.) What good news about God could you share with other people? (Give the children time to answer.)




• Sing the song, “Jesus Grew,” to the tune of “This Old Man” (at right).

Invite the Pastor Invite a pastor to visit your class to talk with the group about his or her job

of sharing the good news.

SAY: A pastor leads the congregation of people in a local church. The word pastor comes from the Greek word that means “shepherd” or “to lead.” A pastor preaches, teaches, cares for, and leads the people in the church, just like a shepherd cares for a flock of sheep. Jesus is called the Good Shepherd, and like Jesus, pastors are called to share the good news.





Our pastor shares the good news. Let’s ask our pastor about what she (or he) does each week to share God’s love through spreading the good news.

• Encourage the pastor to talk about a typical week in ministry at your church.

• Invite the children to ask questions about what a job as a pastor is like.

Suggested questions:

• Why did you become a pastor?

• What is your favorite job at the church?

• What is your favorite Bible story?

• What is your favorite parable?

• What do you do outside of the church to share the good news of God’s love?

SAY: Thank you, Pastor, for visiting our class. We will help share the good news too!

Good News BannerSupplies: Stickers, butcher paper, recycled magazines, scissors, glue

• Cut a banner to be four feet long.

• Invite the children to look through the magazines for blessings. These could be pictures of people, food, activities, animals, and so forth.

• Encourage the class to glue their findings onto the banner.

• Invite the children to add their “Good News!” Stickers to the banner.

SAY: Jesus came into the world to bring good news to the people who needed to hear it. Jesus teaches us to share the good news too. What are some ways you can share the good news with others?

Serve With LoveMission: Mother and Child Survival Program

SAY: This month we have been taking up an offering to help mothers and children who need help staying healthy. The General Board of Global Ministries teaches moms and their children ways to keep from getting sick. They learn things like how to wash their hands, getting immunization shots, having access to clean water, and eating healthy foods. We will help moms and their children all over the world with the money we have collected.

This month we have been learning about some ways we can stay healthy. Today we are going to talk about the importance of eating healthy food.

TIPIf multiple classes would like to invite the pastor to talk about his or her ministry, find a space big enough for all of the classes that want to participate.




Good Food Party Supplies: a sampling of fruits and vegetables, cheese and crackers, plates, napkins, cups, water

Gather foods and eating utensils before class.

SAY: Part of being healthy is eating healthy foods. Eating the right foods will provide the necessary nutrients that your body needs to create new cells, clean toxins, and to just function every day. Eating right now can help prevent future diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Eating good foods will give you more energy and help you be more alert. Let’s sample some delicious good food.

• Invite a child to pass out a cup and plate to each child.

• Encourage the children to choose some fruits, vegetables, cheese, and crackers to eat.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you so much for this good food. Help us to use the energy we get from it to share your good news. Amen.





• Invite the children to form a Praise-and-Prayer Circle by holding each other’s hands and standing in a circle. Say a small prayer for each child in the circle.



Plan for Next Week Purchase ingredients for the “Multitude of Fish” snack (p. 89). Gather a net—fruit bag or fishing net (p. 86). Be sure to read through Session 10 for additional tips.







Reproducible 6a: The Wise MenRead the following story based on Matthew 2:1-12.

At the time when Jesus was born, in a faraway place, there were wise men who spent their time watching the stars. One night they noticed a very special star in the sky. It was very bright and seemed to be moving ahead of them.

The wise men studied their charts and decided this special star must be the star that will lead them to the new king.

“We must follow the star!” said the first wise man.

“It will lead us to the new king!” said the second wise man.

“We should take special gifts to the new king,” said the third wise man.

They wanted to bring special kingly gifts to the new king. They packed frankincense, gold, and myrrh—gifts fit for a king.

The wise men packed their gifts and everything they would need for their long trip. They set out following the star.

After their long journey, they arrived in Jerusalem. They began asking the people in Jerusalem if anyone had met the new king.

“Have you seen the new king?” asked the first wise man.

“We followed a star all the way here to find him,” said the second wise man.

“The new king must be here,” said the third wise man.

King Herod heard about the wise men who were searching for a new king. King Herod was not happy. He was the king. Herod asked the wise men to come visit him.

“The new king is in Bethlehem,” said King Herod. “Once you have seen the new king, tell me where he is living so that I can go visit him too.”

The wise men set out to Bethlehem, following the special star until it stopped over a little house. They knocked on the door and were invited in.

When the wise men entered the house, they met the new king, Jesus, and his mom, Mary. The wise men knelt down and offered the new king their gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh.

That night the wise men were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod to tell him where Jesus was. Instead, they returned home a different way.

The wise men were so glad they got to meet the new king, Jesus!

“The Wise Men” (Tune of “Jesus Loves Me”)

The wise men, they saw a star.

It was shining far away.

They knew it would lead to a king,

and they wanted to see him.

Yes, the wise men followed,

yes, the wise men followed,

yes, the wise men followed,

they followed Jesus’ star.

DJF EE LG pp73-82 repro ID002.indd 73 7/15/13 8:35 AM



Reproducible 6b: My Gift to Jesus





Reproducible 6c: Mission Letter

Dear Parents,

The wise men brought gifts to honor the new king. When we give to others, we are honoring Jesus too. For the Mission Project during January, we will be supporting a project that helps mothers and their children live happy and healthy lives.

The Mother and Child Survival Program provides care to mothers and their children. It teaches them about eating healthy, drinking clean water, and other basic things that we take for granted. We will be learning how we can honor Jesus by teaching someone how to be healthy.

When we love our neighbors, we work with them to help them improve their lives.

The goals for the program: 1. Health education and training of village health

workers 2. Training of traditional birth attendants 3. Supplying vaccines 4. Treatment of common illnesses 5. Access to clean water and sanitation 6. Nutrition demonstrations 7. Safe and clean places for babies to be born




Reproducible 6d: Mission Can



Reproducible 7a: Jesus at the Temple


Gather the children around the Growth Chart for this story (Resource Pak—p. 16). Read the following story based on Luke 2:39-52 to the children.

Jesus grew and grew! He grew from a baby to a boy. Jesus was now twelve years old and had learned so much from Mary and Joseph.

Point to the top picture on the Growth Chart (A).It was time for the yearly trip to the Temple in Jerusalem. All of Mary’s, Joseph’s, and Jesus’ friends traveled together to the Temple to celebrate a special holiday called Passover.

Point to the second picture on the Growth Chart (B).Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and their friends celebrated the Passover Festival. Passover is a special Jewish holiday meal that celebrates God saving the Israelite people. They all had such fun celebrating and eating together.

Point to the third picture on the Growth Chart (C).The festival ended, and it was time to go back home. Mary walked with her friends. Joseph walked with his friends. Mary and Joseph both thought Jesus was walking with his friends. Jesus was not with the group. Jesus stayed in Jerusalem!

Point to the fourth picture on the Growth Chart (D).Jesus had stayed at the Temple with the teachers. Jesus asked them questions and talked with them about God. The teachers were very impressed with everything Jesus said and asked.

Point to the fifth picture on the Growth Chart (E).Meanwhile, Mary and Joseph had realized that Jesus had not left the Temple with them. They began asking all of their friends if they had seen Jesus. No one had. Mary and Joseph ran back to Jerusalem, asking everyone they saw along the way if they had seen Jesus. No one had. They were so worried!

Point to the sixth picture on the Growth Chart (F).Mary and Joseph made it back to the Temple. They went inside and found Jesus there sitting with the teachers. Jesus looked so happy, talking with the teachers.

“Son! We have been so worried about you!” said Mary.

Jesus saw how worried his parents were. “Didn’t you know that I would be here in the Temple, my Father’s house?”

Jesus and his parents traveled back home together. As Jesus grew, Mary and Joseph were proud of Jesus. Each day they helped Jesus learn more about God as they read the Scriptures and prayed together.




Reproducible 7b: Jesus Grew



Reproducible 8a: Jesus’ Baptism


Gather the Storytelling Figures of Jesus, John the Baptist, the Crowd, and the Dove (Resource Pak— p. 17). Attach magnets to the figures so they will stick to the cookie sheet. Read the following story based on Mark 1:4-11 to the children.

Set out the John-the-Baptist figure and the Crowd.

John, Jesus’ cousin, was now a grownup. People called him John the Baptist. He lived in the wilderness, wore clothes made of camel hair, and ate locusts and honey.

John had a special job from God. He had a special message to share with the people. Crowds came to hear his message.

“Come to the water! Tell God you are sorry for the wrong things you have done. God will forgive you,” John said. “God’s Son will come soon. Stop doing bad things, and do good things instead. Come into the water to be baptized.”

The people lined up to be baptized by John. They wanted to do the right things and to be better people.

Add Jesus to the cookie sheet.

One day Jesus went to the river. He walked into the water to John.

“John, will you baptize me?” asked Jesus.

Add the Dove above Jesus.

John baptized Jesus in the river. When Jesus came up out of the water, Jesus looked up at the sky. Jesus saw God’s Spirit coming down like a dove. Then Jesus heard God’s voice.

“This is my Son. I love him very much. He makes me happy.”

Sing the song, “John Baptized,” to the tune of “Jingle Bells.”

John baptized, John baptized, John baptized Jesus. Jesus saw a dove come down and heard God say, “He’s mine.”




Reproducible 8b: Child-of-God Self-Portrait



Reproducible 9a: Jesus in the Synagogue


Read the following story based on Luke 4:14-30 to the children. After the story, invite the children to be the people listening in the synagogue in Nazareth. Read the story again, and this time invite the children to be the happy people, the amazed people, and the angry people.

After Jesus’ baptism, more and more people heard about him. Many people had seen the way Jesus healed people. Many people listened to Jesus preach in the synagogues about the way God loved every person. The people were happy about the things Jesus did and said.

Jesus traveled back to Nazareth, the town where he grew up. On the sabbath day, the day Jewish people did not work and spent time worshipping God, Jesus did what he always did. He went to the synagogue to learn more about God.

At the synagogue, Jesus was asked to read the Scriptures. Someone handed Jesus the scroll with the words of the prophet Isaiah written on it. Jesus opened the scroll and began to read the words aloud to the people in the synagogue.

“God’s Spirit is on me. God has chosen me to bring good news to the poor, the prisoners, the blind, and those who are mistreated. God’s blessing has come,” read Jesus.

Jesus rolled up the scroll and handed it back. Everyone was watching him. He said, “Those words were written hundreds of years ago. Today, those words have come true.”

The people were amazed by Jesus. They remembered when he was a boy and had watched him grow up.

“He’s Joseph’s son, isn’t he?” whispered one of the people.

“I watched him grow up, and he was nothing special,” said another person at the synagogue.

“You will not see anything special here done by me in Nazareth,” said Jesus.

The people were angry. They drove Jesus out of town.

On this sabbath day, Jesus began his teaching ministry. He taught people about God’s love and how to love others. He taught them that God wants us to care for each other and how to live. Today we can follow Jesus’ teachings. When we do that, we live the way God wants us to live.




Reproducible 9b: Scroll of Isaiah

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has

anointed me. Luke 4:18



In this unitSession 10, February 2 Jesus Calls FishermenBible story: Luke 5:1-11

Session 11, February 9Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-lawBible story: Matthew 8:14-17

Session 12, February 16Jesus Teaches the BeatitudesBible story: Matthew 5:3-12

Session 13,February 23Jesus Calms the StormBible story: Luke 8:22-25

CD-ROMJesus Teaches• Instrumental and sung


Leap of Faith(theme song)• Instrumental and sung


Leaper’s Pointe (DVD) Session 10:Papa B is taking Ernie and Gabby fi shing, but Gabby brought fresh carrots instead of worms for bait. They try fi shing with the carrots while Papa B tells his favorite fi shing story, the Bible story of Jesus and the fi shermen.

Session 11: Rosie reminds us that it’s important to wash our hands to keep from spreading germs. She’s taking care of the people in Leaper’s Pointe who are sick with horse fever. It makes you sneeze like a horse! Rosie likes taking care of the sick because it reminds her of how Jesus took care of the sick.

Session 12:Papa B is having the Be-Attitude Olympics. Every time you see someone being kind or helpful or loving, buzz like a bee. Who do you think will win the Olympics—Harley, Furleen, or Gabby? The winner may surprise you.

Session 13:Mondo, Farley, and Gabby are having a camp-out. They’re enjoying their favorite camping sounds, when it starts to thunder and lightning. Farley and Mondo are afraid so Gabby tells the story of Jesus in a storm. The story helps Farley and Mondo feel better.

Leaper’s Pointe in Concert (DVD)• Jesus Teaches • Leap of Faith

(theme song)

Unit 3Jesus’ MinistryBible Verse

We know that God has sent you to teach us. You could not work these miracles, unless God were with you. (John 3:2, CEV)

Leap of Faith I know that God sent Jesus to teach me how to live.


84 Winter 2013–14 Unit 3 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide

Supplies The BasicsBiblebox of tissuescard stock CD playerch enille stems (variety of


craft stickscrayons crepe paper streamersDVD player gluesticks index cards lunch-sized paper bags ma rkers (watercolor and

permanent)newsprintoffering basketpaintbrushes

paper clipspa per or plastic table

coverings paper bowlspaper cupspa per plates (variety of

sizes and weights) paper punch pencils plastic drinking straws projector or television posterboard

recycled newspaperresealable plastic bagsribbon (variety of widths) scissors smocks stapler, staples tape (clear, masking) televisionwashable paint watercolor paints wooden craft sticksyarn

Beyond the BasicsSession 10le ftover net bags from

fruit or vegetablespailsblocks or cardboard tubespaper lunch bagsfo r “Multitude of Fish”:

a variety of flavored or colored fish-shaped crackers, white chocolate chips, raisins, dried cranberries, large bowl, mixing spoon

Session 11pretend play doctor kitsthermometersem pty medicine

containersrockspaper lunch bagssm all containers of play

doughstickers

Session 12drinking strawstwo spoonsice creamice cream scoopbutcher paperbaby wipes

Session 13blue duct tapeparachute or blanketsoft ballblocks or cardboard tubesfo r “Boat Snack”:

bananas, pretzel sticks, cheese, knife (for adult use only)

optional: scrapbook paper

Tips for TeachersThere is a snack suggested in Sessions 10, 12, and 13. Please check your classes’ allergies before serving.



Jesus Calls FishermenBible Verse




Before You Begin

To this point in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus has led his ministry alone. The story today marks the fi rst time Jesus calls others to leave everything and join him

in the work of the kingdom of God.

The main focus of this story is the invitation Jesus makes to the fi shermen to become fi shermen of people. The metaphor, “fi shermen of people,” is important both because of the story and because the fi shermen are caught by Jesus and given a new job. In the Old Testament, the metaphor of fi shing was used to describe gathering people for judgment. In the Gospels, the metaphor for fi shing changes from judgment to calling people to the kingdom of God. This gives the disciples the authority to represent Jesus in calling others to relationships with God.

Peter’s call to leave everything and catch people is done in a dramatic scene, with a miracle, and in the midst of his normal everyday routine. It is not noted anywhere in the story that Peter had done anything special to deserve to be called by God. Peter was not in a holy place, but on his boat. It is important we remember Peter’s call. God still invites us to serve—sometimes dramatically, miraculously, or in the midst of the normal. God’s call can be unpredictable and can happen anywhere because God is in our midst.

Early-elementary children are very literal. Help them to understand that the disciples were adults who followed Jesus willingly. Help the children understand that they should not follow an adult or stranger just because they are asked to.

The disciples the children will hear about today are all men. When speaking about being followers of Jesus today, help the children know that girls and boys, men and women, can be followers of Jesus. Help them understand that each of us can be a helper to God and a helper to one another.


Session 10February 2




86 February 2 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • Early Elementary Leader’s Guide







• Give each child the fish-in-a-net Sticker to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Fishnet Rubbing ArtSupplies: Reproducible 10b, leftover net bags from fruit or vegetables, crayons, scissors

Photocopy the Bible verse page (Reproducible 10b) for each child. Cut the net bags into approximately 6-by-6 squares.

• Encourage the children to take turns using the net squares. On each child’s turn, place the Bible verse page over the net.

• Using the side of a crayon, invite the child to color over the page. The net design will show through.

• Invite the children to draw fish in their nets.

SAY: We will learn about the first disciples today. A disciple is a person who loves Jesus and obeys Jesus’ teachings. Jesus invited twelve people to be his disciples while he lived on earth. We will meet three of the disciples in today’s story.


• Give each child “Color By Shapes” and “Fill in the Missing Letters” (Bible Story Pak—Session 10, pp. 3–4).

• Invite the children to color the picture on page 3 using the shape key at the bottom left of the page.


• Using the letter Stickers, invite the children to fill in the blanks to spell the word, PEOPLE.

SAY: In our story today, Jesus invites three fishermen to be his disciples. Jesus tells them that they will no longer be fishermen of fish, but fishermen of people. They were asked to help Jesus share God’s love, and they dropped everything and followed Jesus.




• Give each child the storybook, “Jesus Calls Fishermen” (Bible Story Pak—Session 10, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.



• Invite the children to add the fish Stickers to page 2 of the storybook. (They can trim the Stickers, if they choose.)

ASK: Whose boat did Jesus get in to teach the crowd? (Simon Peter) What did Jesus ask Simon to do? (row out farther and cast his nets) Did Simon do as Jesus asked? (Yes.) What happened when Simon cast the nets? (He caught so many fish, he needed help.) Who helped Simon catch the fish? (James and John) Everyone was amazed at how many fish Simon, James, and John caught. Jesus offered them another job: to fish for people instead of fish. What did Simon, James, and John say to Jesus’ invitation? (Yes!)

Disciples Matching GameSupplies: Fun Pak

• Give each child the “Disciples Matching Game” page (Fun Pak—p. 23).

• Invite the children to punch out the pieces from the page.

• Encourage the children to turn all of the cards face-down.

• Invite them to match the disciples by turning the cards over two at a time. If it is a match, encourage the child to leave those cards face-up. If they aren’t a match, invite the child to turn them back over and try again.

• Invite the children to continue matching cards until they have all been matched.

• The children can then play in groups of two or more, if time allows. Instead of leaving the cards face-up in a match, the child who matched the cards get to remove the cards from play. The child with the most cards at the end of the game wins.

SAY: In today’s story, we hear about Jesus inviting Simon Peter, James, and John to follow him. Jesus invited all of these people to be his disciples.

Proclaim the WordGo-Fish RelaySupplies: Reproducible 10c, a pail for each team, scissors

Photocopy and cut out one fish for each child (Reproducible 10c).




• Place a pail for each team to run to on one side of the room.

• Divide the class into teams of four or five.

• Invite the children to line up in their teams on the opposite side of the room from the pails.

• Give each child a copy of a fish.

• Invite the children to relay race. A person from each team will run to the pail and drop his or her fish into the pail. The first team to have all of its fish in the pail wins.

• Play this game a few times to get any wiggles out before the Bible story.

SAY: Jesus invited fishermen to follow him and to be his disciples. Sometimes we might think it takes extraordinary people to do great things for God, yet Jesus called ordinary people to be his disciples. They followed Jesus and did great things for God.




SAY: Papa B is taking Ernie and Gabby fishing, but Gabby brought fresh carrots instead of worms for bait. They try fishing with the carrots while Papa B tells his favorite fishing story, the Bible story of Jesus and the fishermen.

• Show today’s Leaper’s Pointe in Concert, “Jesus Teaches.” Have the children sign the Bible verse with the DVD at the end of the episode.

Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Reproducible 10a, Resource Pak, blocks or cardboard tubes, tape

Gather the Storytelling Figures of Jesus, Simon Peter, James, John, the Crowd, the full and empty fishing nets, and the two boats (Resource Pak—p. 5). Attach the figures to blocks or cardboard tubes so they stand up.

• Read the Bible story, “Jesus Calls Fishermen,” to the children (Reproducible 10a).


• Point to the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 21) and read the Bible verse to the children: “We know that God has sent you to teach us. You could not work these miracles, unless God were with you” (John 3:2, CEV).


• Encourage the children to sing the song, “Jesus Was Sent,” to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” (printed in column at right).

“Jesus Was Sent” (Tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”)

Jesus was sent to teach us.

God was with him every day.

Jesus performed miracles

and taught people about love.





Paper Bag FishSupplies: paper lunch bags, recycled newspaper, markers, yarn, scissors

Cut yarn into 6-inch pieces before class.

• Give each child a paper lunch bag and markers.

• Invite the children to draw eyes, fins, and fish scales on the paper bag.

• Give each child newspaper to crumble. Encourage them to stuff their fish three-quarters full with newspaper.

• Using yarn, help each child tie the open end of the bag closed and into a “tail fin.”

SAY: Peter, James, and John caught so many fish that their boats began to sink! They could have been very successful fishermen, but they decided to give up fishing for fish to help Jesus fish for people.

Serve With LoveMultitude of FishSupplies: a variety of flavored or colored fish-shaped crackers, raisins, dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, large bowl, mixing spoon, plates, napkins, cups, water

Purchase colored fish crackers, pretzel fish crackers, chocolate-flavored fish crackers, raisins, dried cranberries, and white chocolate chips.

• Ask the children in your class to add the ingredients to the large bowl one at a time.

• Using a mixing spoon, mix all of the ingredients together.

• Give each child a plate full of the Multitude-of-Fish snack and a cup of water.

SAY: Peter, James, and John stopped what they were doing and followed Jesus. If you were Peter, James, or John, what would you have thought about being invited by Jesus to follow him and be a disciple? (Give the children time to answer.) We can follow Jesus today by doing what he teaches and by sharing God’s love with others.

Follow the Leader• Choose one child to be “Jesus,” the leader.

• Line the rest of the class up behind the leader.

• The leader gets to move around the room while the rest of the class follows her or him, mimicking the leader’s movements.

• Give each child who wants to be the leader an opportunity to do so.

SAY: We follow Jesus by doing what he teaches. Jesus teaches us to be kind, loving, and to help others. What else does Jesus teach us? (Give the children time to answer.)





WorshipPraise and Prayer


• Sing the song, “Jesus Teaches Me,” to the tune of “The B-I-B-L-E” three times through, or until the children have become familiar with the song (printed in the column at right).

SAY: God sent Jesus to teach us how to live. Jesus teaches us how to love God and how to love others.





Plan for Next Week Gather items for the “Doctor Center”—pretend play doctor kits, cotton balls, thermometers, bandages, and empty medicine containers (p. 93). Plan to take your class outside to find rocks for the “Prayer Rock” activity (p. 95). If you do not want to take your class outside, plan to purchase enough rocks so each child has one. The class will have the opportunity to make “Get-Well Kits” (p. 95). Purchase paper lunch bags, small containers of play dough, and stickers. Be sure to read through Session 11 for additional tips.

“Jesus Teaches Me” (Tune of “The B-I-B-L-E”)

Yes, Jesus teaches me.


Jesus teaches me how to live.




Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-lawBible Verse




Before You Begin

Matthew arranges his Gospel to show Jesus fi rst as “Messiah in word,” and then as “Messiah in deed.” This story of the miraculous healing of Simon

Peter’s mother-in-law is in a collection of healing stories in Matthew’s Gospel meant to illustrate Jesus’ authority. These stories show Jesus healing people who are victims of their circumstances and who cannot save themselves. Each story illustrates God’s saving grace for all, including the marginalized and women.

This healing of Peter’s mother-in-law in Capernaum is the third story in this section of Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus returns to Peter’s house from teaching in the synagogue, enters Peter’s house, and sees Peter’s mother-in-law sick with a fever. Jesus touches her, and she is immediately restored. She even has enough energy to fi x Jesus a meal. Jesus has the authority to restore her.

The news of this healing traveled fast. Many people were gathered at the door of the house at sundown, including those with physical and mental illnesses. Jesus had compassion for them and healed them.

Keep in mind that illness was regarded differently in Jesus’ time. Jesus may have only wanted to be known as a teacher, not as a miracle worker. However, Jesus soon announced his intention to take his ministry into the other towns in Galilee. Some scholars feel that the demand for healing from the crowds in Capernaum infl uenced Jesus’ decision.

The story this week illustrates how Jesus cares for people. Remind your students that God cares for all people. God cares for all of us, whether we are well or sick.












• Give each child the heart bandage Sticker to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Get-Well CardsSupplies: Reproducible 11b, crayons or markers

Photocopy “Get-Well Card” (Reproducible 11b) for each child.

SAY: In today’s story, Jesus heals his friend Peter’s mother-in-law and a lot of other people who came to see him. We may not be able to heal the people at the hospital, but we can bring them some joy. We are going to be making things to put into a “Get-Well Kit” that our pastor can take on hospital visits.

• Give each child a copy of the card and crayons or markers to decorate the card.

• Help the children fold their cards along the dotted lines.

• Encourage the children to decorate their cards and add a special message.

• Set these cards aside for the “Get-Well Kits” (see p. 95).


• Give each child “Thanks for Caring for Me!” and “Jesus Heals!” (Bible Story Pak—Session 11, pp. 3–4).

• On page 3, invite the children to practice writing the words, “Thank You,” over the practice letters, and again on the blank lines below it.


• There are four people with injuries. Have the children help “heal” them by adding one bandage Sticker to each person’s injury.

SAY: Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law in today’s story. She wanted to say thank you, so she cooked Jesus a yummy meal. When people care for us, we should say thank you too.

TIPToday the class will make things to go into “Get-Well Kits” (see p. 95). Encourage all of the children to participate in these activities. It is suggested that these kits be given to the pastor to take when he or she visits members of your congregation in the hospital.




• Give each child the storybook, “Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law” (Bible Story Pak—Session 11, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.



ASK: Whose house did Jesus go to? (Peter) What did Jesus discover when he got to Peter’s house? (Peter’s mother-in-law was sick.) What did Jesus do? (He held her hand, and her fever went away.) What did Peter’s mother-in-law do? (To say thank you, she made a meal.) What happened after they ate? (Lots of people came to be healed, and Jesus healed them.)

Bible Verse UnjumbleSupplies: Fun Pak, construction paper, glue

Before class, write the first part of the unit Bible verse somewhere the children can all see it.

• Give each child the “Bible Verse Unjumble” page (Fun Pak—p. 25), and invite the child to remove all the cards from the page.

• Help the children read the cards. Encourage them to arrange the cards to spell out the first part of this unit’s Bible verse.

• Once the cards are in order, encourage the children to glue the words to a piece of construction paper.

SAY: This month our Bible verse is, “We know that God has sent you to teach us. You could not work these miracles, unless God were with you” (John 3:2, CEV). Jesus came to teach us. In our story today, Jesus teaches us to care for others.

Doctor CenterSupplies: Stickers, pretend play doctor kits, cotton balls, thermometer, empty medicine containers

Before class, set up the pretend play Doctor Center. Use the extra bandage Stickers in this center. (Make sure to leave five bandage Stickers for each child for other activities—four for Bible Puzzlers [p. 92], and one for Stick the Bandage on the Person [p. 94].)

• Allow the children to take turns playing in the center, sometimes as the doctor and sometimes as the patient.

SAY: Jesus healed many people during his ministry. Who cares for you when you are sick? (Give the children time to answer.) What can you do for others when they are sick? (Give the children time to answer.)




Proclaim the WordStick the Bandage on the PersonSupplies: Reproducible 11c, Stickers, tape

Before class, make one photocopy of Reproducible 11c, and hang it in the room where your class can reach it.

• Give each child one bandage Sticker.

• One at a time, the children will close their eyes and try to get the bandage Sticker on the person.

SAY: Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law when she was sick. Jesus healed many people who were sick or hurt. Have you ever been sick? (Give the children time to answer.) How did you feel? (Give the children time to answer.) What makes you feel better when you aren’t feeling well? (Give the children time to answer.) What can you do for other people to help them feel better? (Give the children time to answer.)




SAY: Rosie reminds us that it’s important to wash our hands to keep from spreading germs. She’s taking care of the people in Leaper’s Pointe who are sick with horse fever. It makes you sneeze like a horse! Rosie likes taking care of the sick because it reminds her of how Jesus took care of the sick.

• Show today’s Leaper’s Pointe in Concert, “Jesus Teaches” (DVD). Have the children sign the Bible verse with the DVD at the end of the episode.


• Read the Bible story, “Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law,” to the children (Reproducible 11a).

• After the story, invite the children to sing the song, “Jesus Heals,” to the tune of “This Old Man” a few times through (see column at right).

SAY: Jesus cared for people who were sick. What did he do in our story? (Give the children time to answer.) He helped Peter’s mother-in-law feel better, and he helped all of the people who came to Peter’s house feel better. We can help and care for others in many ways.


“Jesus Heals” (Tune of “This Old Man”)

Jesus heals,

Jesus heals,

Jesus heals our hearts and minds.

By sharing God’s love and grace,

he makes it better.

Jesus is a good healer.






Prayer RockSupplies: rocks, permanent markers, basket

• Invite the class to line up and follow you outside to each look for a rock.

• Encourage the children to stay close together while looking for rocks that they can write their names on.

• Once everyone has chosen a rock, return to your classroom.

• Help the children write their names on their rocks and then put each rock into a basket.

SAY: In our story today, Jesus healed and cared for a lot of people. We have talked about ways we can care for others too. One way we can care for others is by praying for them. We each found a rock and wrote our own names on it. We are going to choose a rock at random, and then say a prayer for the person we chose.

• Invite the children to pick out a rock one at a time. If a child chooses her or his own name, have the child choose another rock and then add his or her rock back to the basket for another child to pick.

• Help the children say a prayer for their friends. They could each say the suggested prayer below.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for _________. Help him/her to feel healthy and strong. Let her/him feel your love. Amen.

Serve With LoveGet-Well KitsSupplies: Get-Well Cards made earlier (p. 92), paper lunch bags, markers, chenille stems, small containers of play dough, stickers, notebook paper or printer paper, pens or pencils

SAY: In today’s story, Jesus heals his friend Peter’s mother-in-law and a lot of other people who came to see him. We may not be able to heal the people at the hospital, but we can bring them some joy. We are going to assemble our “Get-Well Kits” that our pastor can take on hospital visits.

• Pass out a paper lunch bag to each child. Let them decorate the outside of the bags with markers and stickers.

• Invite the children to put their Get-Well Cards inside their decorated bags.

TIP








If you are worried about the weather or about being short on time, you can purchase rocks from a local dollar store.




• Encourage them to add a few chenille stems, a small container of play dough, stickers, some notebook paper, and a pen to their bags as well.

• Give the Get-Well Kits to your pastor or care team.



• Sing the song, “Jesus Teaches Me,” to the tune of “The B-I-B-L-E” three times through, or until the children have become familiar with the song (see column at right).






Plan for Next Week Purchase ice cream to share with the class in honor of the “Attitude Olympics” (p. 101). Be sure to read through Session 12 for additional tips.








Jesus Teaches the BeatitudesBible Verse




Before You Begin

Beatitudes are statements said or written in a factual manner beginning with the word, “happy” or “blessed.” Jesus did not, nor did Matthew, invent the

beatitude form. Beatitudes are in the Old Testament as well. These statements are found in prophecies. These prophetic statements declare the future blessedness of those who are in presently dire circumstances.

The Beatitudes use two verbs —are and will. Each starts in the present tense and moves to the future tense. The present tense describes what is already happening in the world. We are all called to be meek, merciful, and workers of peace. These acts of meekness, mercy, and peacefulness are signs of God’s blessings in the present, and call us to hold ourselves to the values of God’s kingdom.

To move from the present tense to the future tense shows us that God is working in our futures. Christianity is not designed to make life easy. Christian faith is a way of living based on the hope that meekness is the way of God, that righteousness and peace will prevail, and that God’s future will be a time for mercy and not cruelty. We are blessed in this life now, even when life seems hard, because God continues with us into the future.

Young children will not understand the abstract statements found in the Beatitudes, but they can understand that Jesus teaches us how to be truly happy. They understand fairness, kindness, what it means to follow the rules, and how to be respectful. These are the things we can teach them now as foundations that will grow into acts of justice and mercy.












• Give each child the bee Sticker to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Honeycomb BEE-atitudesSupplies: Reproducible 12b, Stickers, crayons or markers, safety scissors, gluesticks, construction paper

Photocopy “Honeycomb BEE-atitudes” (Reproducible 12b) for each child.

• Give each child a copy of the honeycomb and a pair of safety scissors. Encourage them to cut out each honeycomb along the dotted lines.

• Invite the children to glue their BEE-atitude Honeycombs onto a piece of construction paper.

• Encourage the children to color and decorate their honeycombs. Let them decide where their three bee Stickers should go on their papers.

SAY: In our story today, Jesus teaches a large crowd of people about being happy. Happiness is important to Jesus. What are some things that make you happy?


• Give each child “Doing Right” and “What Makes You Happy?” (Bible Story Pak—Session 12, pp. 3–4).

• Invite the children to find and circle the pictures of the children making good choices on page 3.


• Invite the children to draw a picture of something that makes them happy.

SAY: Jesus teaches us how to live. In today’s story, he teaches us ways to be happy. When we are kind, obeying God, peaceful, helpful, and respectful, we are happy and sharing our happiness with others. What are some ways you share happiness with others around you?




• Give each child the storybook, “Jesus Teaches the Beatitudes” (Bible Story Pak—Session 12, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.



ASK: What was Jesus teaching the crowd on the mountainside? (about being happy) What are some things happy people do? (treat others with kindness, do what God wants them to do, make peace with other people) Jesus knew that we wouldn’t be happy all of the time, so he also taught us that when we are sad, God comforts us; when you are hurt, God will make you feel better; and God will always help you.

Happy Bee or Sad BeeSupplies: Fun Pak, glue, drinking straws, tape

• Give each child the “Happy Bee or Sad Bee” page (Fun Pak—p. 27). Let each child punch out the two circles.

• Encourage each child to tape the sad bee to a straw.

• Using glue, have each child glue the happy bee to the back of the sad bee, lining up the circles back to back and sandwiching the straw.

• The children will use these during the Bible story.

SAY: The things Jesus teaches in our story today are called Beatitudes. These are attitudes that help you to be happy. Everyone show me their happy bees. Now your sad bees. When we make good choices and are kind to others, are we happy bees or sad bees? (happy bees)

Proclaim the WordJesus Says

• Choose one child to be “Jesus,” and the rest stand in a line facing Jesus.

• The child playing Jesus calls out instructions like this: “Jesus says, ‘Hug your neighbor.’” Everyone else has to hug his or her neighbor.

• If Jesus calls out an instruction without saying, “Jesus says,” then everyone should ignore the instruction.

• If a child doesn’t follow a “Jesus says” instruction, that child is out. If a child follows an instruction that doesn’t have “Jesus says” on it, that child is also out.

• The person who wins can then be Jesus next time.

• Play this game enough times for everyone to have a turn being “Jesus.”

SAY: Jesus teaches us how to live. What does Jesus teach us to do? (Give the children time to answer and discuss.)

TIPThe children will use their Happy/Sad Bee crafts during “Moving With the Bible Story” (p. 100).







SAY: Papa B is having the Be-Attitude Olympics. Every time you see someone being kind or helpful or loving, buzz like a bee. Who do you think will win the Olympics—Harley, Furleen, or Gabby? The winner may surprise you.


Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Reproducible 12a, Happy/Sad Bees made earlier (p. 99)

• Read the Bible story, “Jesus Teaches the Beatitudes,” to the children (Reproducible 12a).

• After the story, invite the children to use their Happy/Sad Bees made earlier (see p. 99) to answer the questions (Reproducible 12a).

SAY: Jesus teaches us how to be truly happy, but Jesus also knows we aren’t always happy. Jesus teaches us that God is with all of us whether we are happy, sad, angry, or excited. God is with us always. God will always make the sad things happy again too.




• Encourage the children to sing the song, “Jesus Was Sent,” to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” (see column at right).

Chenille-Stem BeeSupplies: one yellow and one black chenille stem per child, safety scissors, pencils

• Give each child a yellow chenille stem, a black chenille stem, a pencil, and a pair of safety scissors.

• Encourage the children to take the yellow chenille stem and wrap it around their thumb. They will have a shape that looks like a spring. Help them shape the spring to look more like a ball. This is the bee’s body.

• Invite the children to take their black chenille stem and cut a 3-inch piece from the black chenille stem. They will take the 3-inch piece and wrap it

TIPIf your class does not use the Early Elementary Fun Pak, you can invite the children to make happy faces or sad faces, instead of showing the happy bee or sad bee.










around a pencil. They will have a small spring. Help them shape it into a small ball. This will be the bee’s head.

• Help the children take one end of the yellow chenille spring ball (the bee’s body) and attach it to one end of the black ball. Twist the ends together, and then push the pieces closer together to hide the twisted ends.

• Invite the children to cut a 1-inch piece from their black chenille stem. They will fold that piece in half and then attach it to the other end of the yellow body to make a stinger.

• With the remaining black chenille stem, encourage the children to fold both ends of the stem to the center to create wings. Twist the ends to the center, and then slip the wings under the middle loop on the yellow body.

SAY: Our bees will help us remember to be kind, obedient, respectful, helpful, and peaceful. All of these things will help us to be happy.

Attitude OlympicsSupplies: two spoons, cotton balls, two chairs

Set up two chairs on the far end of your classroom.

• Divide the class into two teams, and have them line up on the opposite side of the room from the chairs.

• The class will cheer their teammates on as they, one at a time, carry a cotton ball in a spoon to the chair, around the chair, and back to their teams.

• Once everyone on their team has fi nished, they must cheer on the opposing team. The winner is not necessarily the team that fi nishes fi rst, but the team that has the best attitude.

SAY: Jesus taught the Beatitudes to help us be happy and to help us learn how to treat each other. I am proud of you for using these Beatitudes to create a good attitude during our race.

Serve With LoveIce CreamSupplies: ice cream, bowls, spoons, ice cream scoop, napkins

Purchase ice cream before class.

SAY: Our friends in Leaper’s Pointe shared ice cream with each other after Papa B’s Be-Attitude Olympics, so we should celebrate our Attitude Olympics the same way. Being kind, obedient, respectful, helpful, and peaceful are all things to be happy about and celebrate!

• Give each child a bowl of ice cream, a spoon, and a napkin.

• While they are eating their snack, ask them how they can be kind, obedient, respectful, helpful, and peaceful this week.





I Promise to “Bee” BannerSupplies: butcher paper, yellow paint, black paint, baby wipes, paintbrushes, smocks, paper plates, markers, scissors

Cut a five-foot-long piece of butcher paper. Write the words, “I promise to BEE kind, obedient, respectful, helpful, and peaceful!” on the paper. Pour the two different colors of paint onto two separate plates.

• Invite the children to sign the banner one at a time by placing one hand into the yellow paint and stamping their hand (fingers close together) onto the banner.

• Let them wipe their hands with a baby wipe.

• Encourage the children to paint black strips and wings onto their handprint “bees.”

• Invite them to write their names next to their handprint bees using markers.



• Sing the song, “Jesus Teaches Me,” to the tune of “The B-I-B-L-E” three times through, or until the children have become familiar with the song (printed in column at right).






Plan for Next WeekPurchase bananas, pretzel sticks, and cheese for the “Boat Snack” (p. 107), and blue duct tape for the “Storm Stick” activity (p. 104). Gather a physical education parachute or blanket, and a soft ball for the “Boat in the Storm” activity. (p. 105).








Jesus Calms the StormBible Verse




Before You Begin

The land around the Sea of Galilee has valleys which funnel storms and winds down to the waters. While most of the time the waters are calm and placid,

when a storm does come, the waters can quickly become choppy and turbulent. The type of boat that Jesus and the disciples were in would have had low sides and would have ridden low in the water. It would be very easy for waves to sweep over the sides and capsize the boat. The disciples were frightened. Their lives were at risk.

This is the only miracle story at sea in the Gospel of Luke. It comes at a time of transition in Jesus’ ministry. After this story, Jesus heals a Gentile. His ministry expands from Jewish people to all people.

In the Old Testament, the sea is a place of danger. Only God had power over the sea. When Jesus stilled the wind and the waves by his word of command, Jesus does what only the Old Testament God could do. This story is an epiphany and shows the divine power and identity of Jesus.

This story leads the reader to two questions: Do I have faith in Jesus? and Who is Jesus? The real question is not whether Jesus really stilled a storm on the Sea of Galilee, but whether the God who liberates people from forces beyond their control still acts to deliver those who call on God in desperate circumstances today.

Trusting God and having faith mean different things to adults and young children. Children have to trust. They have to have faith because they cannot provide for themselves. For this reason, we often compare God’s love to the love experienced by children from their parents. We could all learn about trust and faith from children.












• Give each child the boat-in-the-storm Sticker to put on the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—pp. 2 and 23).

Storm StickSupplies: Reproducible 13b, safety scissors, crayons or markers, blue duct tape, blue ribbons or streamers, large craft sticks

Photocopy the “Storm Stick” page (Reproducible 13b) for each child. Cut blue ribbon into one-foot pieces.

• Give each child the page with the rain and wind strips, and have each child color in the strips.

• Pass out scissors and a large craft stick to each child. Help them, as needed, to write their names on the craft sticks.

• Encourage the children to cut the strips apart on Reproducible 13b.

• Invite the children to choose a couple of blue ribbons to add to their Storm Sticks.

• Help each child tape the strips to the craft stick.

SAY: Today’s story is all about a storm. Have you ever seen a rainstorm? How did it make you feel? The disciples were afraid of the storm in our story. We will hear what happened today.


• Give each child “Connect-the-Dots” and “Can You Find the Hidden Letters?” (Bible Story Pak—Session 13, pp. 3–4).

• Invite the children to connect the dots and color page 3.

• Encourage them to turn their pages over.

• Help the children find the letters of the word, FAITH, hidden in the picture.

SAY: In our story today, Jesus and the disciples travel across the Sea of Galilee. While they are sailing, a storm comes and brings lots of wind and waves. Jesus is asleep and the disciples are scared! Have you ever been afraid?




• Give each child the storybook, “Jesus Calms the Storm” (Bible Story Pak—Session 13, pp. 1–2). Show each child how to fold the page in half to create a storybook.



ASK: As Jesus and the disciples traveled to the other side of the lake, what did Jesus do? (He fell asleep.) Once Jesus was asleep, what happened? (A big storm came and scared the disciples.) The disciples were very afraid! What did they do? (They woke Jesus up.) What did Jesus do when he was woken up? (He told the storm to stop.) The storm stopped when Jesus told it to stop! What did the disciples think about this? (They thought it was amazing.)

Comfort CrossSupplies: Fun Pak, glue, construction paper or scrapbook paper

• Give each child the “Comfort Cross” page (Fun Pak—p. 29).

• Encourage the children to punch out the cross and the six Bible verse tiles.

• Invite the children to glue the tiles to the cross.

• Encourage the children to glue the cross to a piece of construction paper or scrapbook paper.

SAY: In our story today, Jesus calms the storm on the sea and comforts the disciples. Jesus comforts us when we are afraid or sad or angry too. The Bible teaches us about the things Jesus did and what Jesus still does.

Proclaim the WordBoat in the StormSupplies: parachute or blanket, soft ball

• Invite the class to form a circle.

SAY: We are going to play the part of the stormy sea, and this ball will play the part of the boat. We will begin by being the calm sea, and then we will be the stormy sea, and then the calm sea again. Be sure to listen to the directions so you know what to do.

• Spread out the parachute. Make sure each child has at least one handle.

• Place the ball in the middle of the parachute.

• Invite the children to begin making small waves for the boat to sail across.




• Encourage the class to make bigger waves. They can also makes sounds of wind.

• Pretend to be Jesus, and tell the storm to stop. The children must stop moving the parachute and making wind sounds.

• Play this a few times before going to the Bible story center.




SAY: Mondo, Farley, and Gabby are having a camp-out. They’re enjoying their favorite camping sounds, when it starts to thunder and lightning. Farley and Mondo are afraid so Gabby tells the story of Jesus in a storm. The story helps Farley and Mondo feel better.


Moving With the Bible Story Supplies: Resource Pak, Reproducible 13a, Storm Sticks made earlier (p. 104), blocks or cardboard tubes, tape

Gather the Storytelling Figures of Jesus, Sleeping Jesus, the boat in calm seas, the boat in rough seas, and the two backgrounds (Resource Pak—p. 20). Attach the figures to blocks or cardboard tubes so they stand up.

• Read, “Jesus Calms the Storm,” to the children (Reproducible 13a). Invite the children to play the part of the storm using their Storm Sticks.

SAY: The disciples were very afraid of the storm. They were not sure they would make it across the sea. Jesus wasn’t afraid. He knew everything would be okay. Have you ever been afraid? (Give time for each child to answer.) What did you do when you were afraid? (Give time for each child to answer.) When we are scared, we can always ask Jesus for help, just like the disciples did. Jesus loves all of us and wants us to trust that no matter what is happening, we will be okay.














Put the Story in OrderSupplies: Reproducible 13c, crayons, safety scissors

Photocopy “Put the Story in Order” for each child (Reproducible 13c).

• Invite the children to color the pictures on the page.

• When they are finished coloring the pictures, invite them to cut the four pictures apart.

• Encourage the children to put the picture cards in order—what happened first, second, third, and fourth.

Paper Plate BoatSupplies: Reproducible 13d, two paper plates per child, crayons or markers, safety scissors, glue, large craft sticks

Photocopy “Paper Plate Boat” for each child (Reproducible 13d).

• Give each child two paper plates, a copy of the paper plate boat page, crayons, scissors, and glue.

• Encourage them to color the inside of one paper plate blue.

• Invite the children to cut the other paper plate in half.

• Encourage the children to color their paper plate boat pieces, and then cut them out.

• Invite them to glue the boat piece to the back of the half paper plate. Help them glue the boat to the blue plate.

• Encourage them to glue the sail to a large craft stick. Help them glue the sail to the inside of the boat.

SAY: Today’s story was about Jesus calming the storm on the sea. Jesus still can comfort us in times that are scary, difficult, or sad. Jesus loves each of us and wants us to always know he is here with us. When we see our boats, let’s remember that Jesus cares about us always.

Serve With LoveBoat SnackSupplies: bananas, pretzel sticks, cheese, paper plates, cups, water, napkins, knife (for adult use only)

Cut the bananas in half, and cut the cheese into triangles.

• Pass out a paper plate that has one pretzel stick, one piece of cheese, and one banana slice to each child.

SAY: We learned today that Jesus performed a miracle by calming the stormy sea. The disciples had been afraid, but Jesus took care of them. We know


Order of Reproducible 13c: 1) sunny skies / Jesus sleeping 2) stormy skies / Jesus sleeping 3) skies clearing / Jesus awake 4) disciples rejoicing




that Jesus still takes care of us today. He loves us and will be right beside us whenever we need him.

• Invite the children to attach the cheese triangle to one end of the pretzel stick.

• Encourage the children to attach the banana slice to the other end of the pretzel stick.

• Enjoy the Boat Snack while talking more with the children about how Jesus comforts us today through our Bible stories, other people, and prayer.



• Sing the song, “Jesus Teaches Me,” to the tune of “The B-I-B-L-E” three times through, or until the children have become familiar with the song (printed in column at right).






Plan for Next WeekAs you prepare for next week’s session, do spend time in prayer for the children. There will be new music and new Bible verses to teach the children. Familiarize yourself with the new material.








Reproducible 10a: Jesus Calls Fishermen


Gather the Storytelling Figures of Jesus, Simon Peter, James, John, the Crowd, the full and empty fishing nets, and the two boats (Resource Pak—p. 5). Attach the figures to blocks or cardboard tubes so they stand up. Read the following story based on Luke 5:1-11 to the children.

Set out the Crowd and the two boats. Put Jesus in between the boats and the Crowd. Put Simon Peter in front of one boat, and James and John in front of the other. The empty net is next to Simon Peter.

Jesus was standing beside a lake, and a large crowd of people gathered to listen to Jesus teach. There were two boats on the shore. Jesus saw the fishermen washing their nets.

“Peter,” said Jesus, “would you take me out in your boat? I need to be able to speak so that everyone can hear me.”

Move Jesus next to Simon Peter.

Peter did what Jesus asked and rowed Jesus out a little ways from the shore. Jesus sat in the boat and taught the crowd of people from the boat.

Move Simon Peter, his boat, the empty net, and Jesus away from the Crowd.

When Jesus was finished teaching the crowd, he spoke to Peter. “Row out a little farther into the deep water, Peter. Put your nets into the water to catch some fish.”

“But Master,” Peter said, “we have worked hard all night to catch fish, and we didn’t catch any fish at all. But because you have said so, I’ll drop the nets into the deep water.”

Move Simon Peter, his boat, the empty net, and Jesus farther from the crowd. Set Simon Peter’s empty net to the side of the boat.

They rowed out farther, and Peter dropped the nets into the deep water. There were so many fish jumping into the nets, the nets started to break!

Switch the empty net for the net full of fish.

“Help me!” Peter called to his friends, James and John, in the other boat. “There are too many fish for just my boat!”

Move James, John, and their boat out to Jesus and Simon Peter.

James and John rowed out quickly to help Peter and Jesus. Soon, their boat was just as full as Peter’s. Both boats were so full, they were about to sink!

Everyone was so amazed at how many fish they caught. Peter knelt down in front of Jesus and praised him.

“Don’t be afraid, Peter,” said Jesus. “From now on, you will be catching people.”

Move both boats, Jesus, and the three men back towards the Crowd. Have Jesus lead the way past the Crowd with Simon Peter, James, and John following him.

Peter, James, and John pulled their boats up to the shore. That day they left their work as fishermen to be disciples of Jesus. They would spend their lives helping people learn about Jesus and know God’s love.




Reproducible 10b: Fishnet Rubbing Art

As soon as they brought

the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Luke 5:11



Reproducible 10c: Go-Fish Relay




Reproducible 11a: Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law

Read the following story based on Matthew 8:14-17 to the children. After the story, sing the song, “Jesus Heals,” to the tune of “This Old Man” a few times through.

Jesus had been teaching in the synagogue. All of the people in the synagogue were amazed at the way Jesus taught. He could answer all of the questions that the people asked him.

Jesus left the synagogue and went with his friend, Peter, to Peter’s house. Jesus was going to have dinner with Peter and his family.

When Jesus arrived, he discovered that Peter’s mother-in-law was sick. Jesus went into the room where the woman was lying in bed. Jesus could see that she had a fever and felt very, very bad.

Jesus stood beside Peter’s mother-in-law. Jesus took her hand in his. Something wonderful happened! As soon as Jesus touched her hand, her fever left her! She was not sick anymore! It was a miracle.

“Thank you,” said Peter’s mother-in-law to Jesus. “I feel much better!”

Peter’s mother-in-law got out of bed and began to care for Jesus and her family. She prepared a meal for Jesus to eat. She wanted to show how thankful she was to him for healing her.

Quickly, the news of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law spread. When evening came, there were many people who gathered at Peter’s house to see Jesus. The people wanted Jesus to heal them too.

Jesus showed the people God’s love. One by one, Jesus healed each person. Jesus makes everything better!

“Jesus Heals” (Tune of “This Old Man”)

Jesus heals,

Jesus heals,

Jesus heals our hearts and minds.

By sharing God’s love and grace,

he makes it better.

Jesus is a good healer.



Reproducible 11b: Get-Well Card

Get Well Soon!

I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the

Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a

future filled with hope.

Jeremiah 29:11




Reproducible 11c: Stick the Bandage on the Person



Reproducible 12a: Jesus Teaches the BeatitudesRead the following story based on Matthew 5:3-12 to the children. After the story, invite the children to use their Happy/Sad Bees to answer the questions.

One day Jesus saw a large crowd of people gathering to hear him teach. Jesus and his disciples went up a mountainside and sat down. The crowd of people came to him, and Jesus began to teach them.

Jesus taught the people to be happy. Jesus thought that being happy was very important. Jesus said, “Happy are people who treat others with kindness, because others will then treat you with kindness. Happy people try to do what God wants them to do. God will bless you, and you will truly be happy. Happy people make peace with other people.”

The people were happy to hear Jesus’ teachings. “Trust God, forgive others, and love God,” taught Jesus. He wanted the people to live good lives, but Jesus knew that no one could be happy all of the time. Jesus also said, “When you are sad, God will comfort you. When you are hurt by someone, God will make you feel better. When you try to do the right thing and people make fun of you, God will help you.”

Jesus wanted the people to know that we should all live the way God wants us to live. God wants us to live in peace with each other and with God. God expects us to be loving to each other, share with each other, and forgive each other.

Invite the children to answer the following questions using their Happy/Sad Bees. If Jesus would be happy about the thing we did, the children should show the Happy Bee. If Jesus would be sad about the thing we did, the children would show the Sad Bee.

Would Jesus be happy or sad if we pushed a friend or a brother or sister? (Sad Bee) What would Jesus want us to do instead?

Would Jesus be happy or sad if we shared our snack with someone who didn’t have one? (Happy Bee)

Would Jesus be happy or sad if we helped our parents clean our house? (Happy Bee)

Would Jesus be happy or sad if we stole a candy bar from the store? (Sad Bee) What would Jesus want us to do instead?

Would Jesus be happy or sad if we saw someone hurt and did nothing about it? (Sad Bee) What would Jesus want us to do instead?

Would Jesus be happy or sad if we prayed for others? (Happy Bee)

What are some other things we can do that would make Jesus happy?




Reproducible 12b: Honeycomb BEE-atitudes

BEE Kind

BEE Helpful

BEE Peaceful

BEE Obedient

BEE Respectful

BEE Happy

BEE- atitudes



Reproducible 13a: Jesus Calms the StormGather the Storytelling Figures of Jesus, Sleeping Jesus, the boat in calm seas, the boat in rough seas, and the two backgrounds (Resource Pak—p. 20). Attach the figures to blocks or cardboard tubes so they stand up. Read the following story based on Luke 8:22-25 to the children. Invite the children to play the part of the storm using their Storm Sticks.

Set out the calm background, Jesus, and the boat with the calm disciples and calm water.

Jesus and his disciples got into a boat to go to the other side of the lake. It was a pretty day outside. The wind and the water were calm. As they traveled to the other side, Jesus fell asleep.

Set out Sleeping Jesus, the stormy background, and the boat with the scared disciples and rough waters.

Invite the children to shake their Storm Sticks.

Soon, the wind started blowing very, very hard! The waves grew higher and higher! They were in danger, and the disciples were very worried!

The waves became so high that they were covering the boat! The disciples went from being worried to being afraid! But Jesus was not afraid. Jesus was still sleeping.

The disciples woke Jesus and cried, “Master! We are going to drown! Save us!”

Set out standing Jesus, the calm background, and the boat with the calm disciples and calm water.

Encourage the children to make their “storm” disappear by calming their Storm Sticks.

Jesus woke up and told the strong winds and violent waves to stop. The storm died down and all was calm again.

“Why were you afraid? Why didn’t you have faith?” asked Jesus to the disciples. The disciples were amazed by what Jesus had done.




Reproducible 13b: Storm Stick


Reproducible 13b: Storm Stick



Reproducible 13c: Put the Story in Order



Reproducible 13d: Paper Plate Boat




What Is a Jesse Tree?


A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots. The LORD’s spirit will rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom and

understanding, a spirit of planning and strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:1–2

The Advent Jesse tree tells the story of God’s plan for the world, beginning with Creation and ending with the coming of Jesus. The symbols for the Jesse tree represent stories from both the Old and New Testaments. They trace the heritage of Jesus from Creation to his birth.

The ornaments included in the sessions represent the stories of Isaiah, Mary, Joseph, the birth, and the story of Simeon and Anna. Each ornament is a symbol of that story.

DJF EE LG pp121-128 back ID004.indd 121 7/15/13 9:06 AM



The Jesse TreeThere are several ways to make a Jesse tree. Choose one of the ways listed here or create your own.

Method 1: Use an artificial tree. Set it up in the worship center of your class space. This is particularly good for larger classes, as there is room for multiple ornaments that the children make.

Method 2: Bulletin Board Tree.

1. Use the poster on pages 12–13 of the Winter Early Elementary Resource Pak.

2. Place on a bulletin board.

3. Tape the ornaments the children make to this tree each Sunday. This is particularly good for a small- to medium-sized group of children.

Method 3: A Tree Branch.

1. Locate a multi-limbed tree branch. If this is unavailable, use masking tape to tape together several branches.

2. Cover a coffee can with bright Christmas wrapping paper.

3. Put the base of the tree branch into the coffee can.

4. Fill the can with stones to support the tree branch.

5. Hang the ornaments from the tree branches each week.

Method 4: A Cardboard-Strip Tree.

1. Cut the following strips from corrugated cardboard: 1 3-by-40 strip 1 2-by-12 strip 1 2-by-18 strip 1 2-by-24 strip 1 2-by-30 strip

2. Assemble the tree as shown at right, leaving room at the top for the star.

3. Space the cross strips about four to six inches apart.

4. Punch holes along the bottom edge of each of the cross strips, about every four inches.

5. Cover the coffee can with cheerful Christmas wrapping paper.

6. Place the bottom edge of the tree in a large coffee can and fill with gravel or rocks for stability.

7. Thread the ribbon or yarn through each hole to attach the ornaments.


Winter 2013–14 GrowProclaimServe.com 123Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Cokesbury.

Luke 2:7She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and

laid him in a manger.

ShePoint off to the right with your index finger.

Gave birth to (had)Bend your hands with your fingers pointing toward your body. Move your hands to touch your chest.

SonBring your thumb and extended fingers of your right hand to the right side of your forehead.

Wrapped HimHold your left arm out as if holding a baby. Use your right arm to circle around the left arm.

MangerInterlock the fingers of both hands. Point the fingers down.




Luke 2:52Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and

in favor with God and with people.

JesusTouch the middle finger of your right hand to the palm of the left hand. Reverse.

MaturedHold your right hand as if patting a child on the head. Then move the hand up.

WisdomHold your right hand in a fist with your index finger extended and bent at the knuckle. Move the index finger up and down in front of your forehead.

Years (Age)Pretend to stroke your beard.

FavorTouch the right side of your chin with your second finger on your right hand.

GodPoint the index finger of your right hand, with the other fingers curled down. Bring the hand down as if drawing a shepherd’s crook while opening the palm.

PeopleMake the “P” letter sign with both hands. Circle your hands in front of your body.



John 3:2, CEVWe know that God has sent you to teach us.

You could not work these miracles, unless God were with you.

GodPoint the index fi nger of your right hand, with the other fi ngers curled down. Bring the hand down as if drawing a shepherd’s crook while opening the palm.

SentHold your left hand fl at in front of your body with the palm facing down. Use your right hand to fl ick your fi ngers across the back of your left hand as if brushing something off.

YouPoint away from yourself.

TeachTouch the thumb and fi ngers together on both hands. Place your hands on either side of your head at the temples. Move the hands forward.

Can’t (Could not)Hold your hand in a fi st with the thumb extended. Touch the thumb to your chin and then move your thumb forward while shaking your head from side to side.

Without (Unless)Hold both hands in fi sts with thumbs on the outside. Touch the fi sts together. Then move your fi sts apart opening your hands and spreading your fi ngers. Palms should face each other.




Winter Unit SongsLEAP OF FAITH

Let’s get it started. Don’t hesitate.All you need is a leap of faith.Let’s get it started and celebrate.All you need is a leap of faith.

First, you gotta try it, then you’re gonna like it.God is gonna guide you, standing beside you. When you gonna do it? Really nothing to it.God’ll get you through it.Get a new attitude.

Step up to a leap of faith.Step up to a leap of faith.Step up to a leap of faith.Step up to a leap of faith.New understanding.Happy landing.Step up!

Take two steps forward. It’s not too late.All you need is a leap of faith.The Bible’s awesome, and God is great.All you need is a leap of faith.

First, you gotta try it, then you’re gonna like it.God is gonna guide you, standing beside you. Uh-huh!When you gonna do it? Really nothing to it.God’ll get you through it.Get a new attitude.

Step up to a leap of faith.Step up to a leap of faith.Step up to a leap of faith.Step up to a leap of faith.New understanding.Happy landing.Step upto a leap of faith.Step up to a leap of faith.Step up to a leap of faith.Step up to a leap of faith.New understanding.Happy landing.Step up!

Gotta step up!Step up!Gotta step up!

LIGHT A CANDLE

See the leaves falling. There’s frost in the air that we haven’t seen for awhile.I feel a feeling that all of us share.The season’s the reason to smile.

Light a candle for hope.Light a candle for love.Time to reflect; time to recall.Time to be thankful for one and for all.Light a candle for joy.Light a candle for peace.The Coming is near; let’s welcome it right.Light a candle tonight.

Hope that will fill us with promise and faithand love that forever will be.

Joy of the Coming— a gift full of grace,and peace for the whole world to see.

Light a candle for hope.Light a candle for love.Time to reflect; time to recall.Time to be thankful for one and for all.Light a candle for joy.Light a candle for peace.The Coming is near; let’s welcome it right.Light a candle tonight.

I CELEBRATE

I celebrate.I celebrate.

I celebrate. I celebrate.I celebrate. I celebrate.I celebrate. I celebratethe birth of the Son of God.


It was far away and many years ago.The angels sent from God would let us know.A girl in Bethlehem,according to God’s own plan,gave birth to the one—God’s only Son.


I celebrate. I celebrate. I celebrate. I celebrate.I celebrate. I celebratethe birth of the Son of God.

Sing praises for this miracle on earthto God who blessed the world with Jesus’ birth.And as the good news spread,they gathered ‘round Jesus’ bedand bowed to the one—God’s only Son.


I celebrate. I celebrate.I celebrate. I celebrate.I celebrate. I celebratethe birth of the Son of God.The Son of God.

[All songs—

WORDS: Dennis Scott

© 2013 Act IV Music]



Winter Unit SongsHAVE FAITH

The life of Jesus is amazing to hear.There’s so much we should know.The life of Jesus is amazing to hear.The Bible tells me so.

The wise men traveled day and night,rejoicing when they saw the sight.A star was shining bright as if to say,

Have faith. Have faith,believing as you grow.Have faith. Have faith.The more you learn, the more you’ll know.Have faith. Have faith.Put your hands together and pray.My faith in God is growing every day.

I know the story where Jesus was foundat the Temple to find things out.He asked his parents, “Why didn’t you knowI’d be in my Father’s house?”When John the Baptist saw his face,he saw in him such good and grace.And heaven opened up its gates to say,

Have faith. Have faith,believing as you grow.Have faith. Have faith.The more you learn, the more you know.Have faith. Have faith.Put your hands together and pray.

My faith in God is growing every day.

(Have faith.) Have faith. (Have faith.) Have faith,believing as you grow.(Have faith.) Have faith. (Have faith.) Have faith.The more you learn, the more you’ll know.(Have faith.) Have faith. (Have faith.) Have faith.Put your hands together and pray.My faith in God is growing every day.My faith is growing stronger every day.

JESUS TEACHES

Jesus teaches God’s true way.Jesus teaches. Talking to ya.Hallelujah!Jesus teaches. We obey.Jesus teaches God’s the only way.

Through the deeds that he has done,Jesus teaches everyonehow to help each other and to give.Listen with your heart and mindhow to treat each other kind.

Jesus teaches how we need to live.Jesus teaches God’s true way.Jesus teaches. Talking to ya.Hallelujah!Jesus teaches. We obey.Jesus teaches God’s the only way.

Jesus speaks and we have heard,blessing us with every word,healing and revealing what is true.Calling to the fishermen.Making calm the sea again.Teaching us what God wants us to do.

Jesus teaches God’s true way.Jesus teaches. Talking to ya. Hallelujah!Jesus teaches. We obey.Jesus teaches God’s the only way.God’s the only way!

SOMETHING FISHY

Come gather ‘round, friends, and I’ll tell you the talehow Jesus and all his disciples did sail.They didn’t need water; no need for a net.They were fishing for people and never got wet.

Way oh hey oh di lee ay.

Now Jesus was teaching the crowd from a boat.He told Simon Peter to set him afloat.They lowered their nets in the water so green,and brought up more fish than they ever had seen.

Something fishy. Something fishy.Something special and wonderfully rare.Something fishy. Something fishy.

Something fishy was happening there.

They were out on a voyage; the sea was serene.Then the skies became cloudy; the weather got mean.The thunder was rumbling, and rain pouring down.They called to him, “Master, we’re going to drown.”

But Jesus was filled with God’s blessing and grace.He said to them, “Laddies, why don’t you have faith?”He lifted his eyes and he raised up his arm.And a miracle happened— the sea became calm.

Something fishy. Something fishy.Something special and wonderfully rare.Something fishy. Something fishy.Something fishy was happening there.

And now I’m a believer, but don’t believe me.It’s there in the Bible where people can see.So come along now and be part of the crew,and tell everybody what Jesus can do.

Something fishy. Something fishy.Something special and wonderfully rare.Something fishy. Something fishy.Something fishy was happening there.

[All songs—

WORDS: Dennis Scott

© 2013 Act IV Music]




1. Which resources do you use? (check all that apply)

q Leader’s Guide

q Bible Story Paks (Student resources)

q Fun Paks q Resource Pak

q Music CD-ROM / Music CD q DVDs

q Publicity Items (Banner, Postcard, and so forth)

2. Which quarter did you teach?

q Fall q Winter

q Spring q Summer

Use the following scale to rate each of the resources:

1 = NEVER 2 = SOMETIMES

3 = MOST OF THE TIME 4 = ALL THE TIME

N/A = NOT APPLICABLE

3. Leader’s Guide

___ Easy to use

___ Used a variety of learning styles

___ Matched my current church situation

___ Bible story was central to the session

4. Bible Story Paks

___ Activities were fun for the kids

___ Art was appealing

___ Appropriate for the skill level of my boys and girls

___ Encouraged growth in Bible skills

5. Fun Paks

___ Creative activities that the children enjoyed

___ Clear and concise directions

___ Related to the faith experience of the session

___ Age-appropriate for the children

6. Resource Pak

___ Visually appealing to the children

___ Games were fun and easy to lead

7. Music CD-ROM / Music CD

___ Children enjoyed singing and moving to the music

___ Music related to the sessions

8. DVDs

___ Children enjoyed Leaper’s Pointe

___ Children enjoyed the music and movement videos

___ The sign language of the Bible verse was helpful

9. What was your favorite activity this quarter?

10. What was your least favorite activity this quarter?

11. Tell us about one faith experience in your group this quarter.

12. Did you find enough material for the time you had available?

Yes No

How much time did you have?

Comment:

13. Did you see spiritual growth in your kids? (in prayer, eagerness

about the Bible, their relationships with one another)

Yes

No

14. Any other comments?

15. How many children did you have in your group? __________

16. How many leaders did you have in your group for each age level that

you taught? _________________________________________

17. What is the approximate membership size of your church?

q Under 100 q 100–199 q 200–299

q 300–499 q 500–749 q 750–999

q 1000+

18. What area is your church located?

q Urban q Suburban

q Small town q Rural

Name: _________________________________________________

Church Name: __________________________________________

Church Address: _________________________________________

City: __________________________________________________

State: __________________________________________________

ZIP: ___________________________________________________

E-mail Address: _________________________________________

Phone #: _______________________________________________

Please return this form to:

The Children’s Team

201 8th Avenue, South, P.0. Box 801

Nashville, TN 37202-0801

If you have additional questions or comments please contact:

Curric-U-Phone: 1-800-251-8591, or [email protected].

Comments From Users—Early Elementary (GrowProclaimServe.com/Survey)


Scope and Sequence 2013–2014Fall 2013Unit 1: From Judges to Kings1. Deborah2. Hannah3. God Calls Samuel4. Samuel the Judge5. Choosing a King

Unit 2: David the King6. Samuel Anoints David7. David and Goliath8. David Dances9. David’s Son Builds the Temple

Unit 3: Prophets and Kings10. Elijah and the Ravens11. Elijah and the Prophets12. Elisha13. Josiah/Huldah

Winter 2013-2014Unit 1: The Birth of Jesus1. A Child Is Born2. A Message to Mary3. A Message to Joseph4. Good News!5. Simeon and Anna

Unit 2: The Life of Jesus6. The Wise Men7. Jesus at the Temple8. Jesus’ Baptism9. Jesus in the Synagogue

Unit 3: Jesus’ Ministry10. Jesus Calls Fishermen11. Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law12. Jesus Teaches the Beatitudes13. Jesus Calms the Storm

Spring 2014Unit 1: The Way to Jerusalem1. Jesus and the Children2. A Man Born Blind3. Zacchaeus4. The Lord’s Supper5. Praying in the Garden

Unit 2: In Jerusalem6. Peter’s Denial7. Palm Sunday8. Easter9. Road to Emmaus

Unit 3: Peter10. Peter’s Declaration11. Peter and John12. Peter and Tabitha13. Peter in Prison

Summer 2014Unit 1: Becoming the Church1. The Promise of the Holy Spirit2. Pentecost3. Proclaim With Boldness (Peter and John)4. Offering for Jerusalem5. One Body, Many Parts

Unit 2: Prayer and Praise6. Psalm 1007. Psalm 1508. Solomon’s Prayer9. The Tax Collector and the Pharisee

Unit 3: Peacemaking10. Abraham and Lot11. David and Abigail12. Mephibosheth13. Love Your Enemies14. Blessed Are...

Vol. 2 • No. 2 • WINTER 2013–14

EDIToRIaL / DESIgN TEaMBrittany Sky ............................................................. EditorJulie P. Glass ......................................... Production EditorAmelia Qu ........................................................... Designer

aDMINISTRaTIVE TEaMNeil M. Alexander .............................................. PublisherMarjorie M. Pon ................Associate Publisher and Editor of

Church School Publications (CSP)Phillip D. Francis .................Senior Design Manager, CSPLeeDell B. Stickler ..... Senior Editor, Children’s Resources

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: early elementary, leader’S Guide: An official resource for The United Methodist Church approved by the General Board of Discipleship and published quarterly by Cokesbury, a division of The United Methodist Publishing House, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801. Price $9.99. Copyright © 2013 Cokesbury. All rights reserved. Send address changes to Grow, Proclaim, Serve: early elementary, leader’S Guide, Subscription Services, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801 or call 800-672-1789. Printed in the United States of America.

To order copies of this publication, call toll free: 800-672-1789. You may fax your order to 800-445-8189. Telecommunication Device for the Deaf/Telex Telephone: 800-227-4091. Automated order system is available after office hours. Or order online at cokesbury.com. Use your Cokesbury account, American Express, Visa, Discover, or MasterCard.

If you have questions or comments, call Curric-U-Phone toll free, 800-251-8591. Or e-mail [email protected].

For information concerning permission to reproduce any material in this publication, write to Rights and Permissions, The United Methodist Publishing House, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801. You may fax your request to 615-749-6128. Or e-mail [email protected].

Scripture quotations, unless noted otherwise, are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.CommonEnglishBible.com

Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

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Documents

ISBN-13: 978-1-426-76814-9storage.cloversites.com/aieaumc/documents/Early...ISBN-13: 978-1-426-76814-9 DJF EE LG Covers 1-4.indd Custom V 7/12/13 1:39 PM Scope and Sequence 2013–2014