Hi everyone
After all the celebrations of Christmas, it's nice to have a bit of quiet time, snuggled up on the sofa with a hot chocolate and popping on a film.
We thought we would watch a bit of Veggie Tales together today.
We hope you enjoy this little bit of vegetable based silliness!
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings have made it to the end of their journey. They have found Jesus in the stable. We hope you enjoyed following them around our town.
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings are getting ready for our Christingle service today.
We hope you can join in too.
Go to the church website to access the online service.
www.christchurch-clevedon.org.uk
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The star has shown the kings the way. It looks like their journey is nearly over.
The Three Kings Advent-ure
I think the three kings' feet might be getting a bit tired.
I think they want to be pushed for a little bit.
Come on kings, you're nearly there now!
Hello and welcome to Christchurch Kids on the 4th Sunday in Advent.
Christmas is nearly here!
The Three Kings Advent-ure
First of all. Let's check in to see where the 3 kings are today. They are definitely on their travels.
Click on the video below to find out where they are.
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings are feeling a bit tired today so they've stopped for a rest. It looks like they are enjoying a bit of Veggie Tales.
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings are popping in to watch a film today. I wonder which film they would like to watch?...
The Three Kings Advent-ure
In this picture it looks as though the star is shining down on the kings. They must be travelling the right way.
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings are looking for some help on their journey. I think they've come to the right place.
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings have stopped off at the skate park.
Who do you think would do the best tricks on their scooter?
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings have found their way down to the beach. Maybe they will stack some pebbles up. It might be a bit cold today for an ice-cream.
Hello and welcome to Christchurch Kids. We are looking forward to Christmas now. Have you got decorations up yet?
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings have found their way here today.
Do you think they are hoping to travel by train?
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings are on their way now and this place looks very familiar.
What can you spot in the background?
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings have come somewhere else high up.
It looks like they are looking around to work out which way to go next.
Do you know where they are?
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings have stopped for a rest and to have some fun.
Have you ever seen a camel on a swing before?
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The Kings have come somewhere high up today to see what they can see.
Can you work out where they are?
The Three Kings Advent-ure
It looks like the kings are investigating travelling by post. I don't think that sounds very comfortable.
Oh look! That's a big present. Do you think I should open it now or wait for Christmas?
We've got a Christmas song to listen to and join in with today. Let's listen together as we praise God for that glorious night.
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings are trying to work out how best to travel. They've had a go at making a Lego car. I think it's a bit small - the camel is never going to fit in there!
The Three Kings Advent-ure
The kings are definitely getting ready for their journey. I think they are stopping off at the shops to get the last few bits and pieces. Do you think they can buy gold, frankincense and myrrh here?
The Three Kings Advent-ure
Today it looks like the kings have been baking. I think they might be finding supplies for their long journey ahead of them.
The Three Kings Advent-ure
Welcome back to our Advent-ure with the three kings.
Yesterday they went to the library and it looks like they found an atlas. Maye they are planning their journey?
Welcome to our Three Kings Advent-ure.
Where will the kings be each day as they journey to find Jesus? Do you recognise where they are?
Today it looks like they are going to the library. I wonder what book they are looking for?
Check back here again tomorrow to find out...
Our BIG question today is...
how well do you know the Christmas story?
We've been on quite a journey with the Story Keepers over the past couple of months. In 64 A.D., sharing stories was the best way to share the good news of Jesus. They didn't have the stories of Jesus written down in Bibles that they could keep in their homes and pass to others.
The Bible is full of fantastic stories about people who did amazing things with God's help. Which story is your favourite? Daniel in the Lion's Den? David and Goliath? Jonah and the whale? Maybe the Christmas Story is your favourite?
The very best thing about Bible stories is not just that they are inspiring or exciting to read but that they are a way for God to speak to us today.
Did you hear anything today in the The Story Keepers episode that surprised you? Did you know that some people think the Wise Men could have arrived two years after Jesus was born?
Sometimes, if we think we know a story well, we might stop listening when it is retold. This Christmas, listen carefully to the stories and songs. God wants to talk to you.
Prayer
In the episode today we heard that Mary, Joseph and Jesus had to leave their home to escape the danger from Herod's soldiers. They had to leave their friends and family and escape to Egypt. They became refugees.
A refugee is someone who has been forced to leave their home. It might be because of war or natural disasters. It might be because of persecution, which is when some is mistreated or punished for what they believe or who they are. You may see stories of refugees on the news today.
We know God cares as it says in Deuteronomy 10
The Lord your God is God of all gods. He is the Lord of all lords. He is the great God. He is strong and wonderful. He does not take sides. He helps orphans and widows. He loves foreigners. He gives them food and clothes.
We can pray for refugees and for the charities that help them. This video can help us with our prayers today.
Hello and welcome back to Christchurch Kids. We are continuing to watch The Story Keepers together today. The Romans have worked out that Ben the baker is helping Christians to escape. The family soon find themselves in danger but who can they trust to help them? Let's watch together and find out.
Our BIG question today is...
What does forgiveness feel like?
In today's episode, Helena told the children the story of a woman who came to visit Jesus. Let's listen to that story again.
How did she feel when she heard him talk about her to the others in the room who had been so unkind?
The Bible tells us that this woman was sinful, meaning that everyone knew she had done things wrong. The Bible also tells us that everyone gets things wrong, except Jesus. The word used in the Bible for this is 'sin'. Sin means anything which isn't perfect, just as God is perfect.
Do you think that maybe the other people in the room with Jesus forgot that they get things wrong as well?
The amazing news is that when we say sorry to God, He forgives us. It is wiped away and gone forever, like dirt washed away in a shower. Our big question today is - what does forgiveness feel like? For the woman in the story it felt like the best sort of love. What do you think it feels like?
But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins. We can trust God. He does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrongs we have done.
1 John 1 : 9
Prayer
Today we are going to be thinking about forgiveness prayers. We can ask God to forgive us for things we have done wrong, or maybe things we didn't do that we should of. We can ask God to help us forgive other people too.
We are going to write our prayer today in a way that will help us remember that when we say sorry, God wipes away our sins.
Have you got a magnetic drawing pad like this one? Maybe you've got an etch-a sketch or a blackboard and some chalk? You could write or draw your prayers on paper too.
Take a moment to think of something you want to say sorry for. You can write a sentence, or a word or draw a picture.
When you say sorry to God you can wipe the surface clean, or scrunch up your paper and put it in the bin.
Thank you God that you love us so much that you want us to say sorry so that we can be close to you again.
Amen
Let's sing and dance together about how AWESOME our God is! We've got some Cheeky Pandas to help us today.
We hope you have great week coming up and you can join us again next Sunday for our last episode of The Story Keepers. It looks like even Ben and his family are getting excited about Christmas!
Our BIG question today (and it's a HUGE one) is...
Who Is Jesus?
It's not long now to Christmas! It's a really special time of year and for lots of people Jesus is the baby in the manger in the Christmas Story but this was only the beginning.
In the stories we heard today, Jesus showed his disciples, and us, how truly amazing he was. In the first story Jesus and his disciples went up a mountain and they saw him transformed. This is called the Transfiguration. What do you think Jesus' disciples thought that day?
We also heard the very familiar story of Palm Sunday. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that day it was just as the prophets (messengers from God) had said would happen when God's chosen one arrived.
The third story in the today's episode is called the Parable of the Tenants. Jesus told this story to the religious leaders when they asked him who he was. In the parable, God is the owner, the vineyard is God's people and the tenants were the religious leaders. Jesus was the owner's son in the story. He was warning the leaders about what was going to happen next.
The stories that were told in today's episode tell us very clearly that Jesus wasn't just a good man or a wise teacher but that he was the Son of God. We now know what happened on Easter Sunday when Jesus rose from the dead so that we could be forgiven and be friends with God.
Deuteronomy 7 :9
So know that the Lord your God is God. He is the faithful God. He will keep his agreement of love for a thousand lifetimes.
Prayer
For our prayer time today, we are going to look at the Deuteronomy verse above. God is faithful and it says he will keep his agreement of love for a thousand lifetimes. Wow!
Draw a big heart on a piece of paper and draw squiggly lines across the heart creating lots of sections.
In each section write or draw something that shows you God's agreement of love with you. Maybe that is your family who love you. Maybe it is a favourite Bible verse. Maybe it is a person who you can talk to about anything.
Spend a quiet moment looking at all the things in the heart and thanking God for them. We can also say sorry to God for the times we forget about his love for us and others. We can ask for his help to share that love with others.
Today, we've got one of our favourite F@CT songs. Let's sing loudly that we know our God is a GREAT BIG GOD!
Hello Story Keepers and welcome to Christchurch Kids. Today's episode is called "Sink or Swim" and the Story Keepers meet an old friend. When they hear his story, they decide to take action and go and help where they can but, once again, things don't go as smoothly as they expected.
It's great that we can be Story Keepers too. By watching the video and learning the stories from the Bible we can share them with others and pass them on. Today, maybe it's enough to watch this video. If you would like to find out a bit more, keep reading...
Our BIG question today is...
How do we react when something unexpected happens?
In the episode of The Story Keepers today, the family find themselves aboard a Roman ship setting sail for battle! They were not expecting that to happen when they went on board to bring bread to the slaves. Did you notice that Ben and Helena didn't hide and try to escape but went to the kitchen to help feed the hungry slaves instead.
Ben told the story of the four men who brought their friend to see Jesus to ask him to heal him. When they got there, there was such a huge crowd that they couldn't even get close to Jesus. They weren't expecting that but they knew it was so important for their friend to get to Jesus that they climbed up on to the roof and lowered their friend down into the house on his mat.
This was such an extraordinary thing to do that the story appears in the books of Mark and Luke in the Bible and we are still talking about nearly 2000 years later! They were friends who did something unusual in an unexpected situation because they really believed Jesus could help their friend.
What does this mean for us?
I think everyone could say that this year has been unexpected. We've had lots of unexpected things happen. Maybe some of those things have been really hard, like when we haven't been able to see friends or family. Perhaps some of those unexpected things have been good, such as spending more time together with our close family and finding new ways to have fun together.
At church, we have found new ways to help each other. We have been sharing food with those who need it. We have been speaking to each other online or on the phone. We have sent cards in the post.
In the parable of the two builders that we heard in today's episode, Jesus said that those people who listen to him and make a choice to do something are like the man who built his house on the rock. If we listen to what God says and make a choice to follow him, when unexpected things happen, we know we can trust Him and He will help us to help people around us.
Psalm 18 :2
The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior.
My God is my rock.
I can run to him for safety.
He is my shield and my saving strength, my high tower
Prayer
Look at your poppy.
Poppies are bright and cheerful flowers: give thanks to God for the lives of those who have died in war, remembering all the joy they brought to families and friends, and all the good things they did for their home and their country.
Then look at the red petals
Red reminds us of danger and harm. Ask God to be close to those who are still facing danger each day, to give courage to the armed forces, and compassion to all who help others.
Place your whole hand over the poppy
Poppies are also fragile and need to be handled gently. God cares for those who are hurting and those who are sad. Ask God to comfort all who are grieving the loss of someone they love.
Finally place a finger on the centre of the poppy.
Ask God to help you play your part in working for peace in the world.
We've got a new song today. We can join in with the words or the actions as we praise God for who He is.
