Encouragement for the Season of Advent -

Dear friends in ministry: As we stand on the threshold of the Advent season,  take a moment to reflect on the valuable work you do in nurturing the spiritual growth of your community's children. Your dedication and passion for sharing the teachings of Christ make a profound impact in your own fellowship and beyond. What a great honour to be able to serve the King of Kings!

Advent, a season of anticipation and preparation, offers us a special opportunity to delve into the meaning of Christmas—the miraculous birth of our Savior. It is a time when we reflect on the profound significance of Christ's coming and prepare our hearts to celebrate the extraordinary gift of love and salvation.

In the midst of lesson planning, storytelling, and guiding young hearts, remember that you are planting seeds of faith that have the potential to blossom into a lifetime of love for Christ. As you navigate the challenges and joys of teaching, let the Holy Spirit guide and direct you. Just as the wise men journeyed to meet the newborn King with gifts and hearts filled with hope, may you approach this season with the same anticipation and devotion knowing that the Lord will use you your gifts.

In the coming weeks, may you find inspiration in the story of Mary and Joseph, who embraced their roles in the divine plan with humility and trust. May the warmth of the Advent candles remind you that even in the darkest moments, the light of Christ shines brightly, illuminating our paths and guiding us towards the love, hope, and peace  that has been made flesh in Jesus Christ.

Thank you for being the stewards of Christ's teachings, molding the hearts and minds of the next generation. Your labor of love is a priceless gift to your community, and I encourage you to take moments for personal reflection, prayer, and rejuvenation during this busy season. This is a wonderful time to “abide in Christ” and find new strength for service.

May your Advent journey be filled with the joy of anticipation, and may the light of Christ's love shine brightly through your teachings, inspiring the hearts of the young ones you guide.

Blessings to you and your Sunday School class as we joyfully prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Savior.    – A.H

Thanksgiving - Dear Pastor / Sunday School Teacher, -

As Thanksgiving approaches, we want to take a moment to express gratitude for your dedication and unwavering commitment to serving Christ and the children in your fellowship and of course, the wider Kingdom of God.

Your high calling as a Christian educator carries immense importance in nurturing young hearts and minds, sowing the seeds of faith, and helping our children grow in their knowledge and love of God. Your patience, love, and steadfast guidance make a lasting impact on the lives of young people. And don’t forget the “ripple effect” that one child can bring about at home, at school, etc

This Thanksgiving, we encourage you to reflect on the vital work you do. Just as we gather around the table to give thanks for our blessings, let us also gather in our hearts to thank God for what he has done in and through our ministry to youth.

May this Thanksgiving be a time of renewal for you, a time to rest as you reflect on the seeds you've sown, and a time to find strength in knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of these young souls.

Thank you for answering the call to serve, for showing God's love, and for helping children( ”the least of these”) to grow in faith. You are cherished, appreciated, and loved.

Happy Thanksgiving, and may your hearts be filled with the joy and gratitude.

A.H. SundayChildrensFocus

Kids Object lesson for Thanksgiving – Cornucopia -

Show the children a cornucopia or harvest basket full of fruits and vegetables. Hold up various items and discuss why we are thankful for God’s provision. Include in the bottom of the basket items remind you of other things that might be overlooked by some people (A picture of family or friends, medicine, money, a small bottle of rain water, a small bible, etc.

Object lesson items: A cornucopia basket (or something similar) with fruits and vegetables and various items that the children might not think of when we think of thanksgiving.

Children’s Thanksgiving talk / object lesson:   Good morning Children! Today, I have something very special to share with you – a basket that overflows with the goodness of God. Some people call this basket a cornucopia? It's not just an ordinary basket; it's a symbol of God's amazing provision and the abundance of blessings in our lives.

(Show the cornucopia and hold up different items one by one.)

Look at these colorful fruits and vegetables! Which one is your favourite? Each one is like a little gift from God. The apples are crunchy and sweet, the grapes burst with juiciness, and the carrots are crisp and fresh. God provides us with delicious food to nourish our bodies and to keep us healthy.

(Hold up a picture of family or friends.)

Now, what do we have here? A picture of our loved ones! Families and friends are incredible blessings from God. They bring us joy, love, and support. Take a moment to think about someone you're thankful for.

(Show a small bottle of rainwater.)

This little bottle contains rainwater. Isn't it fascinating that even rain is a blessing from God? Now, sometimes we don’t like rain but it is very important. It waters the earth, helps plants grow and provides us with the water we need to live. Let's thank God for the rain!

(Reveal a small Bible.)

And here we have the most precious book of all - the Bible! God's Word is a guide for our lives. It teaches us about His love, mercy, and the incredible gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. We are truly blessed to have the Bible.

(Hold up medicine and money.)

These two items might seem ordinary, but they are extraordinary blessings from God. Medicine that our parents give us helps us when we're not feeling well, and money allows us to provide for our needs and help others. Let's thank God for His wisdom in providing these practical blessings.

(Take a moment of silence for reflection.)

So, kids, as we gather around this cornucopia of thanks, let's remember to appreciate the big and small blessings in our lives. Sometimes, it's easy to overlook the everyday miracles, like a sunny day, a warm hug, or the smell of fresh air. God's provision is all around us.

Children’s Prayer:  Thank you, God, for your abundant provision. Thank you for the love of our families and friends, for the rain that nourishes the earth, for the wisdom in the Bible, and for the practical blessings of medicine and money. May we always have grateful hearts, recognizing and appreciating the many ways you care for us. In Jesus' name,  Amen!

Copyright 2023 Sunday Children's Focus  - Feel free to use this or share this but please give credit to this web site. Blessings - A.H. 

Thanksgiving – saying Thank You to God in Praise -

Basic idea:

Bring in a basket of Thankyou cards (Used or blank) along with some items representing worship ( Hymn book, guitar, microphone) Ask the children a tricky question: What do these cards and your worship item(s) have in common? Have some fun discussion and then explain that the cards are used to say “thank you” to someone who gave us something and the worship item is also used to say thank you – to God!

Object lesson items: 1.Thank you cards 2. Item used in your church representing worship

Children’s Object lesson:

Good morning Children! Look inside this basket. What do you see? Yes, they are cards. What kind of cards are they? That’s correct. They are Thank You cards. When might you send a thank you card to someone? (Discuss) Now, I want to show you something else. Look at this Book (or guitar etc.). What kind of book is it? Yes, it’s a hymn book. Now, here is a really hard question. Why are these cards like this hymn book? (Depending on the age of the kids you might want to ask some prodding questions.

You are correct! We can use both of these to say thank you! We sometimes give a thank you card to show our appreciation to another person who has given us something or has been kind to us. Now, it’s very hard to send a thank you card to God. I don’t know how to send it to him. However, we can say thank you to God by singing songs and praises. God has provided for our needs in so many ways (You could have the kids suggest some ways) and although we can’t send a card to God we know that he hears us when we say thank you in our songs and praises.

Children’s Prayer: Dear God, help us always to show our appreciation and say thank you to peo A.ple that have blessed us. Help us also to remember to say thank you to you in our hymns, songs and praises for all the blessings we have received. In Jesus’ name – Amen!

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