Wise men follow the star!

This page takes you through the various activities we had at Messy Church on 13 December 2014. Have a look and try a few!

Sock Baby Jesus

Take a sock and fill it with stuffing beyond the heel.  Poke your finger to the side, fill it with a little ball of stuffing and put a rubber band over it to make an arm.  Then do the same on the other side.  Put a rubber band round the neck fill the head and then another rubber band above it.  Turn the top down to make a hat.

Wrap it in cloth and place it in a tray with hay.

Jesus was a baby but the wise men knew he was a king

Have you a baby in your family?  What are they like?

Tube King

Decorate the tube to make a king.  Add a beard and crown.

The wise men were very important people from other countries

How many different countries can you think of?  These people came from the East.  They may have been from the area of Iraq, but we don’t really know.

Crowns

Make a crown out of card and decorate it

The wise men were very important people from other countries

What sort of clothes do important people wear?

Star decoration

Stick two stars together and decorate them

The wise men saw a special star appear in the sky.  They knew it meant a king was to be born.

Do you ever look up at the stars on a clear night? Stars do not actually twinkle. They only appear to twinkle due to the Earth's atmosphere deflecting the light that reaches our eyes.

Bookmarks

Thread a needle with gold thread.  If you sew through the holes you will get a star pattern.

The wise men saw a special star appear in the sky.  They knew it meant a king was to be born.

Stars are usually between 1 and 10 billion years old. The light from stars takes millions of years to reach Earth, therefore when you look at the stars you are literally looking back in time.

Pipe cleaner stars

Take 3 pipe cleaners and wind them around each other at the middle.  Thread a bead on each end.  Bend the end over so that it doesn’t come off.

The wise men saw a special star appear in the sky.  They knew it meant a king was to be born.

Each galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars and there is estimated to be over 100 billion galaxies in the universe. So the total number of stars in the universe is mind boggling, estimated to be at least 70 sextillion and possibly as high as 300 sextillion, that's 300,000,000,000,000,000,000,000!!!!!

Compass

Roll out the clay and cut out a star with a cutter.  Then press a compass into the middle of it

The wise men used the stars to find their way to Jesus

How would you find a place you haven’t been to before?

Camel on Stick

Take 2 camel heads facing in opposite directions and stick them together with a stick between them.  Then stick on fur and draw the camel’s face

The wise men came from the east of Israel.  They may have travelled with camels.

Humans have used camels as a means of transport for thousands of years. They can carry about 500 pounds on their backs, earning these beasts of burden a nickname, "ships of the desert."

Camel races

Decorate your camel with finger prints.  

The wise men came from the east of Israel.  They may have travelled with camels.

Find someone to race your camel with.  Throw a dice to move forward on the board.

Camel Biscuits

Ice your biscuit to look like a camel

The wise men came from the east of Israel.  They may have travelled with camels.

Camels are well adapted to their environment. They have a third, clear eyelid that protects their eyes from blowing sand. Two rows of long lashes also protect their eyes. Sand up the nose can be a problem, but not for camels. They can shut their nostrils during sand storms. 

Pot Pourri Bags

Fill a bag with some pot pourri and then tie it with a ribbon

The frankincense that the wise men gave Jesus smelt very strongly

Can you think of any presents you might get that would smell nice?

Gold Boxes

Decorate your card with glitter.  Then fold a box out of it and put a gold coin inside it.  

The wise men brought gold to Jesus

Gold would have been gift given to a king.  What would you give to a king?

Stamp painting

Make a painting of the nativity scene using the stamps

Special things happened when Jesus was born

What special parts of the story can you put in the picture?

Scratch Art Decorations

Take a decoration and scratch a pattern into it.  Take it home and hang it on your tree.

Angels, shepherds and  wise men all arrived when Jesus was born

Who does your decoration show?  What part did they play in the story?

Stable

Go and have a look in the stable.  What can you see from the Christmas story?

Take a strip of yellow paper.  Write on it what you would like to say to Jesus and place it in the manger, as if it is another piece of straw.

Jesus meets children!

This page takes you through the various activities we had at Messy Church on 8 November 2014. Have a look and try a few!

Height chart

Make a chart by sticking a tape measure to some card.  Then measure your height against the chart. 

Jesus followers argued about who was the greatest.  But Jesus took a small child and said accepting her was the same as accepting him.

What did you measure against on the chart.  Sometimes tall people seem more important but God loves small people too.

Sash

Take some material and write ‘God rules’ or ‘God is in charge’.  Then thread one end through the other to join them up. 

Jesus followers argued about which one of them was the greatest.  They wouldn’t tell Jesus because they knew he wouldn’t like it.

Sashes are worn to show that someone is important. 

Medal

Write on card that ‘God rules’ or ‘God is in charge’ then thread it on the cord to make a medal

Jesus followers argued about which one of them was the greatest.  They wouldn’t tell Jesus because they knew he wouldn’t like it.

Do you ever argue about who is the most important or the best at something?

Edible Medal

Make a smiley face on the biscuit with icing

Jesus followers argued about which one of them was the greatest.  They wouldn’t tell Jesus because they knew he wouldn’t like it.

What do you argue about?

Wii

Play a game on the Wii.  See if you can find an adult to play against.

Jesus said you must accept the Kingdom of God as if you were a little child, or you will never enter it

Adults aren’t the best at everything.  Sometimes children are better.  Who won your game?

Welcome plaque

Use the string to spell the word Welcome and stick it to the plaque

Jesus’ disciples stopped the parents with their children from bothering him.  But this upset Jesus who welcomed them

What ways can you think of to welcome someone?

Hands

Draw around your hand and cut it out.  Then decorate it and stick it on the big cardboard hand.

Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them

To bless someone is to say good things for them.  What do you think Jesus might have said?

Candles

Decorate a candle and use glass pens to decorate a candle holder.

Jesus blessed the children who were brought to him

Candles are given to babies, children and adults who are baptised to remind them of God’s blessing

Stone family

Make a family of stones by sticking eyes and drawing faces on them.  Stick them into some air drying clay.

Or you can make a clay family by shaping the clay into figures

Some people brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch them

Who is there in your family?

Painting

Paint one of the children or the disciples and add them to the picture.  Give the children happy faces, and the disciples cross faces

Jesus  talked to the adults and the children

So we can talk to Jesus whatever age we are

Salad spinning

Put a piece of card in the spinner.  Add some blobs of paint.  Put the lid on and turn it round.  Then look at the pattern on the card.

The disciples thought that the children were messing up Jesus plans.  But Jesus told them the children had got it right.

Can you think of times when your plans get messed up?

Bracelets

Thread beads onto the string to make bracelets

These will go into the shoeboxes that are sent to children in other countries who don’t get any other presents

Calendar

Decorate a calendar

This will go into the shoeboxes that are sent to children in other countries who don’t get any other presents

Hand puppets

Take one of the hand puppets, add a face and decorate it

These will go into the shoeboxes that are sent to children in other countries who don’t get any other presents

People chain

Fold the piece of paper and cut round the person.  But don’t cut the end of the arms so that the different layers are joined together

Unfold the people, and write the name of someone in your family on each one

Then think of something you like about each person and write that on as well

Thank God for them

JESUS MEETS Lazarus!

This page takes you through the various activities we had at Messy Church on 11 October 2014. Have a look and try a few!

Clock face

Add the numbers to the clock face and decorate it

When Jesus heard his friend was ill he waited two days before he went to visit him

What day will it be in two days time?  What will you be doing?

Smells

Can you work out what these different smells are?  Make a list and then find out if you’re answers are right

The people didn’t want to open the tomb because they thought it would smell

What is your favourite smell?  What is the worst smell?  What do you think Lazarus smelled like?

Loud hailer

Make a loud hailer and colour in the Bible verse on it

When the tomb had been opened, Jesus  said in a very loud voice ‘Lazarus come out’

How loud can you shout through the loud hailer?

Lollystick man

Wrap the lollystick man in tape like bandages, until he is completely wrapped up

Lazarus was wrapped up in strips of cloth when he was put in the tomb

It was the usual way to wrap dead bodies in cloths at this time 

Wrap up Liz

Wrap up Liz until she is completely covered.  See if she can walk around while she is wrapped up

Lazarus was wrapped up in strips of cloth when he was put in the tomb.  So when he came out he was still covered in this cloth

I wonder what Lazarus said when he came out of the tomb.  I wonder what his sisters said to him.

Bandaged gingerbread man

Put white icing on the gingerbread man to look like he is wrapped up in cloth

Lazarus was wrapped up in strips of cloth when he was put in the tomb

It was the usual way to wrap dead bodies in cloths at this time 

Clay tomb

Can you shape the clay to look like a cave in a rock?

Lazarus was buried in a cave in the rock with a stone covering the entrance over

What would it have been like in Lazarus tomb?  What would it have been like for Lazarus to wake up in there?

Tears

Have tears painted on your face

Mary and Martha were sad that their brother had died.  Jesus was sad too and he cried when he saw Mary crying

How do you feel when someone you know is sad?

Hankies

Decorate the handkerchief with fabric pens

Everyone was sad when Lazarus died.  Even Jesus cried.

What sort of things make you sad?

Pop out of tomb

Colour in the tomb and Lazarus.  Put it together so he pops out of the tomb

When Jesus called him, amazingly, Lazarus came out of the tomb, still wrapped in his bandages

Do you know any other amazing things that Jesus did?

Buried things

Dig in the foam and find what is buried

Lazarus had been buried but he came out of the tomb when Jesus called him

Everyone who saw it was amazed when they saw Lazarus walk out of the tomb

Family Crest coaster

Make up your own family crest and stick it on the coaster.  You could include things about your family.

Mary, Martha and Lazarus were brother and sisters.  Jesus was a good friend who often stayed with them

Who is there in your family?  Is it a big family or a small family?  What are the good things about being part of a family?

Miniature bulbs

Put some soil in a pot and plant a bulb

Lazarus  was buried, but then he came to life

You have buried this bulb, but it will come to life after a few weeks.  When you see it growing remember the story of Lazarus

Bookmarks

Decorate a bookmark

Many who saw this miracle with their own eyes, believed Jesus was God’s Son

What do you think it would be like to be there when Lazarus came out of the tomb?

Jesus meets a woman at a well!

This page takes you through the various activities we had at Messy Church on 13 September 2014. Have a look and try a few!

Clay Water Jar

Make a jar out of clay using your thumb to shape the middle.  Pinch the sides to make handles.

The people collected water from the well in big clay jars

They had to carry the water a long way back to the town.  Have you seen pictures of people carrying big jars on their heads.  Are you good at carrying heavy things?

Decorate a Mug

Decorate a mug with whatever pattern or words you like

Jesus asked the woman for a drink

This was a really hot country and Jesus had walked a long way.  Have you ever got hot and thirsty?

Peg Woman

Make a peg doll, drawing on the face, using a pipe cleaner for the arms and some cloth for the dress.  Attach it to the stand with glue.  Make a well by rolling a piece of card and sticking that on the stand

The woman came to the well to get water.  When Jesus asked her for water she was surprised

Has anything surprising happened to you recently?

Sundial

Put the numbers 1 to 12 in order around the base.  Then decorate with stickers and pens.

The woman came to get water on her own at the middle of the day when it was at its hottest

Do you know how to tell the time with a sundial?

Lolly Stick Well

Stick lolly sticks to a yogurt pot to make a well and add a roof.

Jesus was tired and thirsty.  He rested by a well while his friends went into town to buy some food

Do you ever feel tired?  What do you do so that you feel better?

Vol au Vent Well

Pipe blue icing into the vol au vent like water in the well.  Put a blob of icing on the plate and attach a twix bite to make the bucket.  Put one end of a sweet lace into the water and fix the other on the bucket with a blob of icing

People had to get all their water from the well,  to drink and wash and cook

What would it be like not to have a tap at home?

Water play

Enjoy playing with the water

Water can be used for many things.  It is very important to us

How many things can you think of that you can use water for?

3D Disc Story

The story is printed out on paper.  Put it together so that you can turn it round to tell the story

Look at the story sheet on the table and work out what the pictures on your disc show

What part of this story do you like best?

Mosaic Coasters

Stick the broken pieces of tile on to the coaster to make a picture or a pattern.  You can use it as a mat for a beaker to stand on.

Things in the woman’s life had been going wrong, as if they were broken.  When she talk to Jesus it’s as if the broken things were mended.  She changed and was a happier person.

Some times things go wrong for us too.  If there is something you are worried about tell Jesus about it.

Crowd Scene

Paint a person in the crowd

When the woman ran back to her town, many people gathered to hear her.  They were amazed and went to see Jesus for themselves.  Then they believed too.

Has anybody ever hurried to tell you something exciting?

Water painting

Paint a splash to make it look like water

Jesus told the woman that the water he would give would be ‘living water’ that would change her inside

Would you like  to meet Jesus like the woman did?

Invisible writing

Write or draw on the paper with a white crayon.  Paint over it with lots of colours and you will be able to see what you have drawn

Jesus  knew everything that the woman had done, things that she had not told him

What is it like to think that Jesus knows everything about you, the good things and the hidden things?

Prayer flowers

Write someone’s name or something you would like to pray for on one of the flowers.  Fold in the petals.  Then place it on the water and watch the petals open out.

Jesus said the water he had to offer was ‘living water’.  He meant that knowing him was as important to life as water, and it never runs out