Resources for Mission and Ministry with children based on Advent, Christmas and Epiphany
Church Of England Materials
Follow the Star: Calm and Bright - Resources from the Church of England's Advent campaign
How your church can engage with children and young people this Christmas - A webinar recording.
Epiphany Activity Calendar - A take-home calendar of daily faith activities for children for the twelve days of Christmas
How to use ‘posada’ to build community during Advent - Posada is a period of time during Advent when toy figures from the nativity story travel around different households in the community and stay there for one night.
Websites and resources
These websites all have a number of ideas and suggestions for these seasons if you search using the terms ‘Advent’, ‘Christmas’, ‘Nativity’ and ‘Epiphany’.
- https://reflectionary.org
- https://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com
- https://www.sunhatsandwellieboots.com – a number of seasonal resources and trails – free to access.
- https://lettheirlightshine.com/
- https://www.muddychurch.co.uk/ - a number of seasonal trails and outside activities – search by month. A mixture of free and paid resources.
- https://godventure.co.uk/ - materials to purchase.
Playtime Resources from Care for the Family (For Under 5s): Christmas Storybook.pdf and A Party for Baby Jesus.pdf
Christmas Bible Chat Mat from the Diocese of Bath and Wells - Bible Chat Mats allow children, young people and adults to read the Bible and have conversation together, as a household, friends together, home group, Sunday group or in a school club. The sheets can be coloured and doodled on, allowing you to respond to the Bible story in your own unique way.
Storystack bible teaching resource provide printable story characters to go on paper cups. They have both Christmas and Epiphany stories to print.
Christmas in a Box from Bristol Schools Connection
The Christmas Story Brick by Brick from Faith in Kids
God’s big story in Advent - An Advent devotional for families from Parenting for Faith (brf.org.uk)
Roots on the web have a number of resources for this Christmas – you can sign up for a free trial to access these if you don’t have a subscription.
Books for handing out
Some churches like to purchase a version of the Christmas Story to hand out to younger and primary school aged children and their families at Christmas. The following sites regularly release versions to bulk purchase:
The Bible Society produce a story book each year for both younger and older children - The Shiny Bright Sparkling Light (primary school age) and Who Can It Be? A Christmas Wait and See (toddler age). These resources also include a link to a pop up nativity script and a video of the story.
The Grumpy Owl and the Joy of Christmas from Scripture Union is the story of an owl who is desperate to find some peace and quiet. Follow his adventure and see the nativity unfold as he returns to the very place he was trying to escape from! With accompanying resources to download.
Jesus to the Rescue – A Christmas story for Under 5s using ‘Happyland Figures’ from Hope Together. Includes downloadable activities and a video.
Pinterest links:
- https://uk.pinterest.com/minamunns/advent-family-ideas/ - ideas for families during advent.
- https://uk.pinterest.com/debbieh1605/ - there are a number of seasonal boards with different crafts and activities.
- https://uk.pinterest.com/MessyChurchBRF/advent-christmas-epiphany/ - pinterest board from Messy Church BRF.
Christingle
Celebrate Christingle - Christingles are usually held from the end of November through to February (Advent to Candlemas), with Christmas Eve being a particularly popular time for services.