Family Christmas Devotional

Last year we published a fun idea to send home with the families in your ministry (or put together for your own family). We are reposting this today here on the blog. Take the time to create this devotional- it is a great way to teach our families in the midst of the chaos of Christmas.

Family Devotional Bag for Christmas

Equip parents by providing each family a bag of short devotionals to do together during the Christmas season. Each bag contains seven wrapped packages with each one containing a short devotional, an activity and a simple object.

Supplies Needed: wrapping paper (or small white bags), tape, white lunch bag, glow in the dark stars (stickers will work), nails (square heads), twine, tea lite candles, clothespins, magic pads (erasers will work), blank tickets (carnival), rubber bands (Christmas colors are great), stickers with numbers 1-7, copies of devotional cards

Wrap each item listed below with the corresponding devotional card:

Magic pad- Luke 2:11
Two nails and twine- Romans 6:23
Tickets- Matthew 1:23
Glow in dark stars- Psalm 19:1
Candle- John 8:12
Rubberband- John 13:34
Clothespin- Philippians 2:14

Tie the top of the package with a ribbon. Cut out the instruction card, punch a hole in the side and attach to the ribbon.

>>Click here to download the devotional cards

Gratitude Object Lesson

Looking for a quick and simple object lesson to use during the Thanksgiving season?  Use this is the classroom, large group setting or at home. Just modify for your individual situation.

– Word Twist –

Supplies:
ƒTen pieces of colored paper, ƒ Marker or pen.

Preparation:
On each colored sheet of paper, write one letter from the word “GRATITUDE.” On the remaining sheet of paper write “T.”

Object Lesson:
Pick ten children to hold the letters to the word “Gratitude.”

Does anyone know what this word means, gratitude? When we have gratitude, that means we are thankful for something. We do not just expect that thing or take that thing for granted.

Sometimes it is hard to have gratitude. Can you think of a time when it might be hard to be grateful? (Give children an opportunity to respond.)

(Have the children holding the G and R sit down. Have someone stand between the A and T with another T.)

Now what word have we made? Attitude. Our attitude can help us be thankful or keep us from being thankful. What kind of attitude keeps us from being thankful?
(Have everyone but the I and the U sit down.)

When all we think about is “I,” it keeps us from being thankful. However, when we have an attitude where we think of “U,” as in others and God, we will have the right attitude to be thankful.

 

For more great content focused on Gratitude, download the Give Thanks Lesson from River’s Edge Curriculum. Download includes activities, craft, snack, object lesson, Powerpoint, stories, and more! Visit RiversEdgeCurriculum.com for more helpful resources.

Kid Friendly Thanksgiving Activities

Gratitude Tree: 

Place dried beans in a vase. Push a small tree branch into the beans. Trace hand prints onto colored paper. Write things you are thankful for on the hand prints (leaves). Punch holes and thread with twine. Hang on the tree.

Fall Snack Mix:

Mix together candy corn, peanuts, pumpkin mellow candies, small cheese crackers, honey oat cereal, pretzels, candy coated chocolate candies in fall colors. Place in mason jars. Cut black paper circles to fit in the lid of the jar. With chalk write, “Happy Thanksgiving” “Thank You” or another message. Tie twine or raffia around the neck of the jar. Deliver to neighbors as a family.

Nature Thanksgiving Banner:

Collect nature items from outside~sticks, leaves, small pebbles. Make the letters to “GIVE THANKS” on fall colored paper (one letter to a page). Hang with clothespins to a heavy piece of twine or clothesline stretched over a fireplace or wall.

More Ideas:

Find more ideas on our pinterest Thanksgiving board.

Thanksgiving Lesson:

Download the Give Thanks lesson.