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A Toddler Service for Christmas

by The UKI Territory Evangelism Department

A Toddler Service for Christmas

Welcome Song (Tune: She’ll be coming round the mountain)

We are celebrating Christmas here today!
We are celebrating Christmas here today!
We are celebrating Christmas,
Celebrating Christmas,
Celebrating Christmas here today!

The Christmas Story

There are lots of great ways to tell the Christmas story to small children:

Make up a Nativity scene giving the children characters from the story to put in place
Dress the children up in simple nativity costumes
Use musical instruments to re-tell the story
Make simple outline puppets of each character cut from card and put on a lolly stick for the children to hold and wave as you re-tell the story. The children could make these during the session.
Use a large-piece jigsaw of the Nativity scene and gradually build the story up together as the children enter the pieces
Candle Books have produced a set of Christmas Story Blocks that are an excellent way of telling the story as you build a tower
Use a new way of telling the story with simple books available at Christian Bookshops e.g. The Christmas Star’s Big Shine (CWR)

Song (Tune: Wheels on the bus)

The star in the sky says follow me, follow me, follow me,
The star in the sky says follow me, at Christmas time.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Bethlehem, Bethlehem,
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, at Christmas time.

The shepherds heard the angels sing, angels sing, angels sing,
The shepherds heard the angels sing, at Christmas time.

The kings from the east came riding in, riding in, riding in,
The kings from the east came riding in, at Christmas time.

Christmas is our favourite time, favourite time, favourite time,
Christmas is our favourite time, Thank you God.

(V1-4 Songs for Little Singers, Diocese of Wakefield 2003)

Prayer

Here are the sheep, asleep on the hill, (Fingers curled in)

Here are the shepherds, watching them still. (Wiggle two fingers)

Bright angels came shining to send the good news. (Wiggle all fingers)

‘A baby is born for me and for you.’(Rock a baby & point)

Dear Father God, at Christmas, with presents and fun, (Clap hands)

We thank you for your gift of your own precious Son. (Rock a baby)

Amen

(Adapted, Bubbles Dec ’08, Scripture Union)

Instrument Songs!

(Tune: London Bridge is falling down)

Ring the bells it's Christmas time,
Christmas time, Christmas time.
Ring the bells it's Christmas time,
Merry Christmas!

Play the drums it's Christmas time …..

Clap your hands it's Christmas time ….

(Tune: Do you know the muffin man)

Can you hear the Christmas bells?
The Christmas bells, the Christmas bells.
Can you hear the Christmas bells?
They’re praising God today!

< style="margin-left:60px;"P>Can you hear the Christmas drums?
The Christmas drums, the Christmas drums.
Can you hear the Christmas drums?
They’re praising God today!

Can you hear our Christmas song?
Our Christmas song, our Christmas song?
Can you hear our Christmas song?
We’re praising God today!

(Tune Jingle Bells)

Christmas time, Christmas time, Christmas time is near
Bang the drums and shake the bells and clap and give a cheer!
Christmas time, Christmas time, Christmas time is near
We’re so glad that Jesus came for everybody here!

Closing

Light a candle and sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.

You could give the parents a candle to take home to light on Christmas Day to remind the children that it is Jesus’ Birthday

This would also be a great point to get Santa to arrive to distribute Christmas gifts to the children.

Children & Adult Ministry
Evangelism Department
United Kingdom Territory

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