Helping to point you to great resources and ideas...

Nativity! 

The 2009 partly improvised film starring Martin Freeman and Ashley Jensen, is an excellent film for all ages. Based around a class at St Bernadette’s Catholic school and their attempt to put on a school nativity, it covers many themes and ideas as well as helping to tell the Christmas story.

Why not have a film night with your group, or a Sunday afternoon church event? We have created some discussion cards on 5 themes found in the film to help get you and your group (whatever age they may be) thinking, talking and reflecting together. Download the discussion cards here.

Christingles

Help children piece together the story of Jesus with the Children's Society Christingle. Christingle celebrations are held in churches and schools and are a great way of teaching children the story of Jesus using a Christingle orange to symbolise various elements of the story of Jesus. Children have fun making the Christingles using oranges, candles, red ribbon and sweets while also learning what each part means to Christians.

The Children’s Society works with some of the 3.6 million children living in poverty in the UK. Donations made through Christingle will go towards the charity’s work with these children and their families to help ensure a better future for them.

For more information about Christingle and how to get involved visit www.christingle.org. 

Real Advent Calendar

Here in the Children’s and Youth Work department we are counting down to Christmas with The Real Advent Calendar - a new and fun way for parents, grandparents and Godparents to share the Christmas story. 

Behind each of the 25 windows there is a Fairtrade chocolate star and a few words from the Christmas story. Behind the final window there is a 24-page Christmas story booklet to read, keep and enjoy.

The Real Advent Calendar is available from Tesco stores nationwide and selected retailers. You can read more about thecalendar on their website www.realadvent.co.uk

Alternative Advent Calendar

The Children’s Society offers support for your personal Advent pilgrimage with this year’s Advent calendar. With its combination of film, words, audio and stories, it will make for an interesting Advent journey.

Open a window each day for a couple of minutes respite from the madness of the season. It promises to be as satisfying as a chocolate calendar with way fewer calories… unless you put a big box of chocolates by your screen!

www.childrenssociety.org.uk/advent

Gingerbread Nativity

Fancy a spot of baking this Christmas? Why not enter BRF’s (Bible Reading Fellowship) Gingerbread Nativity competition! 

Check out their website for more information. www.brf.org.uk