Christmas
Greeting: Welcome each child as they come in the door. Make sure they have name tags, and the parent has signed them in on the sheet.
Opening: Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Sing song “I am Special”
Development:
Scripture: For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins. (Lk 1:76-77)
Saint: John Neumann although born in Europe he came to New York to be an ordained Priest. His first assignment was to work among the immigrants in Buffalo. Because he knew seven languages flently, he could speak about God to many people in their native language. He was a hard worker, visited the sick, comforted the needy, fed the hungry, and trained teachers.
He was shortly appointed Bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. When he arrived, he was surprised to find that there were only two Catholic schools for children. Within a span of eight years he opened almost one hundred more. Even when he was a Bishop he still taught classes because he loved children so much.
It was John Neumann that helped the church grow and prosper in United States. He wrote two books on Catechisms, Bible history, and a handbook for priest.
John Neumann followed Christ's command to “Go and teach all nations.”
Story: The birth of Jesus (99)
Activity: See Booklet
Song: Away in a Manger (sign language optional)
Exercise: Head, shoulders, knees and toes. (foreign languages optional)
Prayer: Our hands we fold, our heads we bow, for food and drink we thank thee now. Amen
Bible Verse: A friend loves at all times. (Sign language optional)
Blessing: May the Lord bless you and your family each and everyday. May you seek time in your day to pray, and may the love of the Lord be in your thoughts as you play.
Dismissal:
See and Touch
Greeting: Greet each child as they come in the door. Make sure they have name tags, and the parent has signed them on the sheet.
Opening: Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Sing song “I am Special”
Development:
Scripture: The bible tells us that Jesus had a special love for children. When Jesus grew up he often talked to crowds of people about God’s love for them. The people often brought their children along. Jesus welcomed the children with a smile, spoke to them, and showed his love for children by laying his hands on their heads and blessing them. (Cf. Mt 19:13-15)
Saint: Jerome was one of the most popular Saints represented in art. Many images have him on his knees in the desert praying. He is also famous for his healing touch that he gave to a lion. As he saw the lion roaring in pain he so believed in the lord that he advanced on the lion. He grabbed the lion by the paw and removed the thorn from his paw. , And he secured a lasting friend and admirer. Perhaps they found they had much in common? St. Jerome tamed the lion, and the love of God tamed St. Jerome.
Story: Jesus and the little children (Catholic Picture Bible 165)/
Activity: Textured collage bring different textures soft, sandpaper, satin, net, bottle caps, sand, cotton balls, buttons, ribbons, yarn, paper clips, and rubber bands.
Before you begin the craft make sure you have all the newspapers spread out to limit the mess, and have the T-shirts is line ready before the children are near the shirts.
Making hand prints on shirts. You will need to write Corpus Christi Kinderchurch on the T-shirts before the children make hand prints on their T-shirts. One suggestion is while the children are with the teacher the assistants can write on the T-shirts.
Song: Jesus loves the little children, Jesus loves me (sign language optional)
Exercise: Head, shoulders, knees and toes. (Foreign language optional)
Prayer: Have the children repeat after you …
Do all the good that you can (r.)
In all the ways that you can (r.)
In all the places that you can (r.)
At all the times that you can (r.)
To all the people that you can (r.)
As long as ever that you can (r.) Amen
Bible Verse: Sing praise to the Lord (sign language optional)
Blessing: May God always bless you, protect you, and help you know what is safe to touch. Amen.
Dismissal: Please gather the belongings together for the children, make sure their parents sign them out, and they take home their projects
I can Hear
Greeting: Greet each child as they come in the door. Make sure they have nametags, and the parent ahs signed them on the sheet.
Opening: Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Sing song “I am Special”
Development:
Scripture: Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing praise to God with tambourines! (Cf. Ps 149)
Saint: Gregory the Great wrote music (Gregorian chants) for the church. He was very wealthy Roman that sold his property to build monasteries. He continued his good deed to the needy. He wrote many documents for the church as well as music that is still popular today, and still sung in the church.
Story: The Hymnbook of Israel (Children’s bible pg. 263)/
Activity: Making tambourines and rain sticks using paper towel rolls, and dried peas or popcorn. Have the children color striped paper to cover their paper towel roll. Let them add the amount of popcorn or dried peas to their paper towel roll. Make sure to seal the paper towel roll with masking tape before adding the popcorn or dried peas.
Song: Jesus loves me/ Jesus loves the little children (sign language optional)
Exercise: Head, shoulders, knees, and toes. (Foreign language optional)
Prayer: Have the children repeat after you…
Do all the good that you can (r.)
In all the ways that you can (r.)
In all the places that you can (r.)
At all the times that you can (r.)
To all the people that you can (r.)
As long as ever that you can (r.) Amen
Bible Verse: Sing praise to the Lord
Blessing: May the Lord bless you as you offer songs and prayers of praise to God.
Dismissal: Please remember to gather the material for the children, and the parent that signed them in signs them out.
I can Smell
Greeting: Greet each child as they come in the door. Make sure they have nametags, and the parent ahs signed them on the sheet.
Opening: Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Sing song “I am Special”
Development:
Scripture: Truly you have made me, dear God. I am wonderfully made by you. I give thanks and praise to you, dear God. (Cf. Ps 139:13-14)
Saint: Therese of the Child Jesus. When she was just eight she was cured because a statue of the blessed virgin smiled upon her.
When Theresa was still very young she did kind little deeds for everyone. She prepared for her First Holy Communion by making many sacrifices. She became a very special friend of Jesus. She once said, “From the age of three, I never refused our good God anything. I have never given Him anything but love.”
St Therese is called the Little Flower of Jesus because she loved the Infant Jesus and, like a child, did little things to please God.
Story: The baskets of Figs (pg. 227 Children’s Bible of Stories)/
Activity: Smelling game – Bring following items in containers for the children to identify. Place each one in a margarine tub, and poke holes in each (make sure the children can not peak into the tubs.
Peanut butter toothpaste
Onion slices syrup
Popped popcorn chocolate chips
Ask a florist for some old flower heads. Using felt cut little pockets (many shapes are available, just make sure to leave room at the top to add the flower petals. If you can not get a florist to save some flower heads for the children poporri works just as well. After making the pocket add a cross (or even a picture of St Theresa) on the top of the pocket. (Glue it on the pocket). Seal the pocket with glue.
Song: Jesus loves me/ Jesus loves the little children (sign language optional)
Exercise: Head, shoulders, knees, and toes. (Foreign languages optional)
Prayer: Have the children repeat after you…
Do all the good that you can (r.)
In all the ways that you can (r.)
In all the places that you can (r.)
At all the times that you can (r.)
To all the people that you can (r.)
As long as ever that you can (r.) Amen
Bible Verse: Sing praise to the Lord
Blessing: May you praise God often for all of your senses. And may God help you to discover wonderful things with your sense. Amen.
Dismissal: Please remember to help the children gather all their belongs, and make sure their parent signs them out.