|
"Like" Us
on Facebook!
For those of you on Facebook... we would like to encourage you to go to the pages for New Church Sunday Schools and New Church Vineyard and click on the thumbs-up "like" button. "Liking" these pages allows you to receive status updates that highlight projects, photos, quotations from the Word, and more.
Share with others! Your friends will be able to learn about these resources on your Facebook wall. It is our hope that these pages will serve those searching for the truths the New Church offers as well as those who have already found them. | |
|
Recommendations for Christmas |
Rejoice! Music CD of beloved hymns for Christmas, Easter, New Church Day and Harvest celebrations! $15.00
The Christ Child - a classic favorite by Maude and Miska Peterson, recently reprinted in hardcover. $21.95
A Child Is Born to Us - text directly from a New Church translation of the New Testament with illustrations by Marguerite Acton. $7.95
New Church Bookstore
267-502-4922
bookstore@newchurch.org |
|
About Us
The General Church Office of Education publishes this bi-monthly newsletter on programs, resources, and classroom-ready ideas for your Sunday Schools.
We welcome topic suggestions and your photos, ideas and success stories.
To join our mailing list, ask questions, offer suggestions or submit tips, contact us at sundayschool@newchurch.org.
Sunday School Team
Sarah Odhner
Gretchen Keith
Rachel Glenn |
|
|
|
|
The Guiding Star
Looking for Sunday School ideas to celebrate the Lord's birth? New Church Vineyard is featuring The Guiding Star and has something for all ages.
 Explore the Story
Read The Journey of the Wisemen or use this Sunday School Lesson on the Wise Men with young children (ages 3-6). Get inspiration from The Christmas Star family talk or the Star of Bethlehem family sermon. For a real challenge, tackle the Gifts for the Lord Spiritual Task!
Focus on Stars
Take turns reading Special Quotes about Stars.
 | | Stars of Light Ornament |
Make beautiful stars:
Dramatize the Story: Let little ones follow the "star" (carried by the teacher) to a nativity scene of the wise men and then "fall down and worship Him."
Try a snowflake star created by the Rev. John Odhner: Easy Star, Interlaced Star.
Bring Gifts to the Lord
 | | Interlaced Star |
Express your love to the Lord by serving others!
- Give needy children a nicer Christmas - contribute to an organization that distributes Christmas gifts to those in need.
- Go caroling in your neighborhood or sing at a local nursing home.
- Involve the Sunday School students in serving refreshments for an event, earning money for something the church needs, or making Christmas decorations.
Using our abilities to serve others is like falling down and worshiping the Lord! |
|
Three Gifts Show-and-Tell
Gather examples of the three gifts of the wisemen. Use rings, other jewelry or coins for the gold. Frankincense and myrrh can both be purchased online and in some health food or spice stores. - Read the story of the Wisemen (Matthew 2)
- Look at the gold and talk about the natural qualities that make it precious: it is rare, it never tarnishes, it is beautiful, etc.
- Show the frankincense and burn some incense (be aware of allergies or asthma). Talk about how it creates a lovely smell in the room. Watch the smoke rise up toward the ceiling.
- Let everyone smell the myrrh. Myrrh is useful because of its healing properties. Oil infused with myrrh was put on wounds in Biblical times.
- As well as being precious for their natural qualities, the gifts of the wise men have important spiritual meanings as well. Discuss ways we can give the gifts that these three things symbolize to the Lord: gold - love; frankincense - faith; myrrh - obedience.
|
|
Thank You!
 We want to thank all of the New Church Sunday School teachers around the world! Along with pastors and parents, the energy you invest in teaching helps children develop their deepest concepts about the Lord and the church.
This Christmas we are remembering Marguerite Acton who worked for the Office of Education for many years, bringing the stories of the Word to life through her illustrations. She often referred to herself as a "hired hand - literally!" Marguerite passed into the spiritual world this summer, but her work lives on.
As a thank you for all the work you do, it seemed fitting to share these items created by Marguerite as small gifts for yourself, your class or a friend! Follow the link to print out copies of Christmas Bookmarks or a Christmas Poster. The poster is new and exclusive to newsletter recipients.
|
|
|
|
|
