Advent Lesson One Millie Mouse and the Advent Wreath

The Advent Wreath. Advent means coming. We have a very special day coming in a few weeks. This lesson shares the meaning of advent for kids and how the history of the wreath and advent candles, have a significant role in our lives today. Kids will connect with the HOPE of Gods never ending love, a promise of heaven, and exhibiting the Fruits of the Spirit in this life now. Memory Verse: For the LORD is good and his love endures forever Psalm 100:5a Big Idea: Gods love, Growing in Christ, Witnessing Props: Advent Wreath with candles, mouse ears for teacher to wear or mouse puppet to help with the lesson

Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

Craft: Christmas Wreath - http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/advent.html

MUSIC Recommendations A Big Barrel of Carols Includes most of the traditional Christmas songs. However, you must have a computer to operate since this is used with windows media and it does not have choreography for the songs. Lyrics and soundtracks are provided. No Wonder Musical DVD provides choreography and can be used with a DVD/TV player. Selections can be chosen that meet your needs.

Lesson: Say: (Show wreath) The Advent wreath reminds us of God's never ending love. He loves us so much, and that love is endless. He loved us so much that he gave his son, Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. The green on the wreath represents "life" that we can have in Jesus Christ when we confess our sings and ask him to forgive us. The green also represents life our growth as a Christian. Just as the green things grow all summer long under the rain and sun that God provides, we will grow as a Christian if we are watered in the Word of God and prayer. We need to take time to talk to God and read our Bibles. (Introduce Millie Mouse) Hi kids! My name is Millie Mouse. I am a field mouse and live a lonely life at times. When you are out in the field all day long, it gets kind
Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

of boring. You see the same sheep every day that are walking with the same shepherds. You see the same moon every evening, and the same sun which is soooooo very hot at times. If I am lucky, I will find a large leaf and sleep under it for most of the day. At least, it gives me relief from the suns hot rays. You would be surprised at all the things you hear when you are in hiding and no knows you are around. I hear the shepherds talk a lot about things that I do not understand, but one thing I do know is that they work together to do their important job. I guess that is the way Christians are supposed to be -working together and growing more like Christ. How do we grow as a Christian? As we talked about earlier, we grow by sending time with God. (Show bible) Reading our Bible will give us God's instructions on how to live a Christian life. In Galatians (Open bible and read), we will read about the Fruit of the Spirit that God will place in our hearts when He gives us His Holy Spirit. (Gal. 5:2223). As we walk each day living for Jesus, these fruits will develop in us. We will act them out towards others such as - at school, in the home, and when we are around our friends. In the Book of Exodus, God gave us the Ten Commandments as guidelines for living. Some of these tell us that we are not to tell lies, take things that do not belong to us, talk bad about others, take God's name in vain like using it improperly when we get mad, keeping the Sabbath day holy such as attending church, and honoring our parents. Children are to obey and respect their parents or whatever leadership is in charge at any time. As we read the Word of God, we learn how God wants us to treat us. We are to love and forgive them when they wrong us for any reason.
Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

We grow by spending time talking to God in prayer. As we pray, we develop this skill of praying. We can pray for many people that need our prayer - parents, teachers, missionaries, government leader of our country, the sick, and our neighbors, Remember to include yourself so that God will help you each day as you go to school. Kids, I heard lots of praying done by those shepherds every night while they were out there in the field. They prayed for the protection of their flock the sheep. You know sheep are kind of dumb. They will wander off into danger without even realizing it. If the shepherd is not watching them carefully, a big wolf may come along and well.that would be the end of this story. We grow in other ways as well. We grow as we share what Jesus is doing for us in our lives. This encourages others, AND makes us stronger as a Christian. Satan does not like it when we are happy and strong in Jesus. It makes him mad! We defeat Satan when we openly share what Jesus has done for us. Notice the pointed needles on the Advent Wreath. The needles point up to heaven where God is preparing a place for all those whose sins are forgiven. John 14:2 reads, (use bible and read passage) In my father's house...... There will be NO sin in heaven. This is a very important reason why we need to confess our sins and allow Jesus to forgive our sins and cover them with his blood. That is why He died on the cross. Listen to what I John 1:9 says to us.(read from the bible). We then have a HOPE of being in heaven someday with Jesus. We have something wonderful to look forward to someday - a beautiful home in heaven.
Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

Each week that you return to Sunday Worship, we will explain a meaning for each candle that you see in the Advent Wreath. So be sure to come back again next week. So, since you all listened so well today, I am giving you a picture of me (mouse) to take home with you. Be sure to write your favorite bible verse on it, and the names of some people that you want to pray for every day. You will grow in your daily walk with God as you pray and read you bible every day. Gods love is never ending..just like the wreath. He loves us no matter who we are or what we have. He loves us no matter how smart we are, or if we struggle in school. Gods love is unconditional! Try it! Give your heart to Jesus. Yikes! Its getting hot out here.that sun must be coming out..Im out of here! See you next week!

Questions for Discussion 1. What do we need to do to be saved? 2. How do we grow as a Christian? 3. Why do we need to read our Bible every day? 4. Why is it so important to spend time talking to God? 5. For whom is God preparing heaven? 6. How does the Advent Wreath remind us of Christmas?

Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

Sharing Christ Skit Teacher: Would anyone like to share something special that happened this weekend? John: Yes, teacher I would like to share what happened to me. Teacher: That is nice, John. What would you like to share with the class? John: Jesus saved me. Teacher: What did you say? John: Jesus saved me at church on Sunday. Teacher: What does that mean, John? The class may not understand what you are telling us. John: I asked Jesus to forgive me for my sins, and he came into my heart. Teacher: Does anyone have a question for John. (Silence) Teacher: John, some of the kids may not know who Jesus is, Could you tell them? John: Sure. Jesus came as a baby to this earth, born of the Virgin Mary. He grew up here and some bad people nailed him to a cross to die. Teacher: Why did he allow them to do that to him? John: He did not want to die, but it was the only way for the whole world to be forgiven for their sins. Teacher: What do you mean by sins, John? John: Sins are the bad things that we do against God will for us. Teacher: Hmmm! How do you feel now that you are saved? Is that what you called it? John; I feel clean inside. Jesus' blood covers all my sins.
Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

Teacher; Now will you live any different than you did before? John: Sure thing! I will stop telling lies and cheating on my spelling words. I will read my bible and pray before I come to school every morning. Teacher: That sounds like a lot for a boy like you to keep up with. John: It is not when Jesus is helping me. Teacher: That sounds good, John. Maybe you can tell me some more later. We must get on with our reading now. John: Anytime, Ms. Smith. We have a special revival service this Sunday and we were asked to invite someone. Will you come? Teacher; Why, thank you, John, I will think about it. Now class, let's take our readers. John: Thank you, Ms. Smith for letting me share about Jesus, today. Boys and girls, God wants each of us to be a witness for Him. Your story may not go just like this one did for John, but God will give you opportunities to be a witness for him. There will be times when someone may not understand, but as we live for God, we will reflect His love and goodness to others.

Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

Millie Mouse Skit Millie: Do you see anything up there? Matt: No, not really. Is something supposed to be out there? Millie: Well, I heard tell that some special star was shinning very bright this evening. Matt: Millie, you are crazy, there are so many stars in that sky, how could one more make such a difference? Millie: This was supposed to be a special star. Matt: I think they are all special. Hey! Look out! Millie: What is it? Matt: I think I see one falling. Millie: It must be that special star they were talking about. Matt: Who was talking about a special star? Millie: Shhh! I dont want them to hear us. Matt: Oh.you mean the sheep? Millie: Yes, the sheep. I heard tell they do not like mice. Matt: I doubt they will see you in this dark night. Millie: Kind of creepy, isnt it? See those shadows over there? Matt: Those are the shadows of the sheep. Millie, you are such a scardy cat! Millie: I am a mouse! Matt: You know what I mean.
Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

Millie: Well.did you use it? Matt: See what? Millie: That star? Matt: I did see it! It was very bright and the shepherds gazed at it a long time talking very excitedly. Millie: What did they do? Matt: They took off and left all those sheep that you see out there. Millie: It must have been very important for them to do that. Matt: Ohthey will be alright. Some more shepherds will take over, I imagine. Millie: Hmmm! I wished I had seen it. Matt: Were you asleep that whole time. You are a sleepy head. You must have stayed up too late last night. Millie: I did. I was watching the stars dance all night until I fell asleep. Matt: Well next time, go to bed early. Im kind of tired.think I will find me a nice soft place to sleep for the night. Millie: See you around! Night, Matt. Matt: Night, Millie. Exit

Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

FIND THE WORDS AND CIRCLE OR HIGHLIGHT IN THE WORD SEARCH

M V K H V H S M L X

F O A V T L Z O H W

B L U A E E V Y X E

U M E S G E C F W E

W R L J E L E I B D

W S A M T S I R H C

K Y G S X W B K C R

F E S Y L L I M M G

L E C T U Y R E H O

A Z I T G X B N N D

CHRISTMAS GOD LOVE MILLY MOUSE WREATH

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com

Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

God's Love is Like a Wreath

Find your way out of the wreath maze Unscramble each of the clue words.

Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

SOLVE THE PUZZLE

DIRECTIONS: Unscramble each of the clue words. Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number.

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com

Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

Memory Verse Game Game 1 Write tiles for each letter on a dry erase board, or a poster board. As kids guess letters one at a time, fill in the letters to the verse. If they say letter e fill in all es on the tiles. Game 2 Purchase tiny stockings (miniature ones). Place one word of the verse on a slip of paper, and place in each stocking. Pass out the stockings to the kids. They will take out the word to the verse that you have written on a piece of paper and come up front getting in the correct order of the verse. Then have the group say all together. You can also do this as teams and see which team gets in correct order first. Game 2 Write the words to the verse on Christmas wreath cutouts. One word per cutout. Place a magnet on the back and put all these (out of order) on a magnetic board. Have kids come up and put in correct order. Then have them say the verse. Next, say as a whole group. Snack Suggestions: 1. Bagels spread with cream cheese and topped with red and green gumdrops. 2. Cream cheese shaped into a Christmas tree sprinkled with green sugar.
Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

Millie Mouse

http://www.supercoloring.com/wp-content/thumbnail/2008_12/will-santafill-my-stocking-coloring-page.jpg

Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.

Kidz Advent Reading (Purple Candle - Hope)

Teacher: Today we light the first Advent candle. This first candle reminds us of the never ending love of God. The HOPE He gives is from the coming of our Savior, Christ the Lord, and Gods neverending love towards us. Child 1: God loved the world so much that He sent Baby Jesus to earth - born of Mary. Child 2: He came to die on the cross for the sins of the whole world giving us hope for a future with Him in heaven. Teacher: The advent wreath reminds us of this great promise we have through Gods love. Gods love has no beginning nor ending. His love is always the same. Child 1: Gods love is like a circle Child 2: A circle big and round Teacher: Let us light this first candle as a sign of that wonderful love that He brings to our hearts. We can hope for a home in heaven some day as we trust in Him. (Light candle) You can also use candles that are battery operated and cover with construction paper to make the colors of the advent. Purple or blue (3), white (1), and pink (1).

Jeanne McIntosh November 2011. All rights reserved.