"Beginning"
Children's Activity
Teachers or Parents: We are one Sunday into the new church year and we are just ahead of the calendar New Year. This is a time of beginnings.
*Study each of the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Read how each begins.
*Beginnings are usually exciting but endings are often sad. Discuss beginnings and comment how each was largely happy and exciting. Beginnings might be the first day of school, planting a garden, the first day of Sunday school, or the first day of the new year.
Often we celebrate our beginnings with social events such as parties. We often celebrate a wedding (the beginning of a marriage) with a party. Baptisms are occasions for celebration. The New Year is often a time for parties.
*Discuss endings. An ending might be the last day of school, harvesting a garden, Sunday school closing, or the last day of an old year.
Often endings are sad occasions. The death of a pet or person is certainly sad. A move from one location to another is often a mixture of sadness and happiness. The sadness comes at the loss of old friends and ways of doing things.
*Observe the beginnings in your Sunday school class. Observe the endings. Death is the ultimate ending. It is because Jesus Christ wrung hope and eternal life from death that we call his life and message "gospel" (which means "good news").
*Teach the children a song which speaks of the gospel as being "good news."
*Today's gospel lesson is about John the Baptist. Do a study of John by reading from a Children's Bible a story of his life.
*Baptism is a sub--theme today. John compares his baptism of water with Jesus' baptism of the Holy Spirit (v. 8).
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Light the second candle of the Advent wreath.
*Learn and sing Advent hymns such as "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."
Looking ahead:
*If your church plans to have baptisms on January 12 ("The Baptism of Our Lord"), make preparations now. Note also how today's object lesson ties in with the Romans 16 lesson on December 22.
*Study each of the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Read how each begins.
*Beginnings are usually exciting but endings are often sad. Discuss beginnings and comment how each was largely happy and exciting. Beginnings might be the first day of school, planting a garden, the first day of Sunday school, or the first day of the new year.
Often we celebrate our beginnings with social events such as parties. We often celebrate a wedding (the beginning of a marriage) with a party. Baptisms are occasions for celebration. The New Year is often a time for parties.
*Discuss endings. An ending might be the last day of school, harvesting a garden, Sunday school closing, or the last day of an old year.
Often endings are sad occasions. The death of a pet or person is certainly sad. A move from one location to another is often a mixture of sadness and happiness. The sadness comes at the loss of old friends and ways of doing things.
*Observe the beginnings in your Sunday school class. Observe the endings. Death is the ultimate ending. It is because Jesus Christ wrung hope and eternal life from death that we call his life and message "gospel" (which means "good news").
*Teach the children a song which speaks of the gospel as being "good news."
*Today's gospel lesson is about John the Baptist. Do a study of John by reading from a Children's Bible a story of his life.
*Baptism is a sub--theme today. John compares his baptism of water with Jesus' baptism of the Holy Spirit (v. 8).
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Light the second candle of the Advent wreath.
*Learn and sing Advent hymns such as "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."
Looking ahead:
*If your church plans to have baptisms on January 12 ("The Baptism of Our Lord"), make preparations now. Note also how today's object lesson ties in with the Romans 16 lesson on December 22.
