Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year
to all Children's Praise readers.
May blessings be with you and your loved ones
at this time of peace, joy and goodwill.
Here is your very own colouring page
showing the birthday of sweet Jesus,
Who lay in a manger, with Mother Mary
and Foster-Father Joseph looking after Him.
Jesus loves the little animals, there were animals
in the stable too. And overhead a happy angel
sang and watched over the stable where Jesus lay.
Above shone a wondrous star.
Here is a 60-minute
classroom activity plan for teaching a catechism class about the advent of Jesus the Messiah. The
advent of Jesus was promised in the Old Testament and revealed in the New
Testament.
ADVENT OF JESUS THE MESSIAH
(60
minutes Classroom Activity Plan)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end
of this session, children should be able to:
ACTIVITY:
1. Opening prayer and introduction: (5 minutes):
Opening prayer:
“Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us through all time. Help
us to see how You are in the stories of the Bible. Give us understanding of how
Your advent was promised in the Old Testament long ago. Help us to know how You
are working in our world today. Amen.”
Objective:
Introduce the connection between the Old and New
Testaments regarding the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Stories of Old and
New Testaments regarding the advent of Jesus the Messiah: (10 minutes)
Mini-lecture
and visual aid:
· Ask
the students: “What stories do you know from the Old Testament?” (Write answers such as King
David who had been a shepherd, Joseph who was sold as a slave and rose to
prominence in Egypt in the Old Testament, Joseph the husband of Mary in the New
Testament, Moses who parted the Red Sea, Mary who was asked by God to be the
Mother of Jesus, the Son of God, Noah who built the ark and saved his family
and the animals of the world)
· Ask the group: “What stories do you know from the
New Testament?” (Write
answers such as the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the miracles Lord Jesus
performed and names of the disciples of Jesus)
· Explain: “The Old Testament told us that Jesus would arrive.” The New Testament shows us that Jesus was
born in Bethlehem, as had been foretold by the prophets in the Old Testament
· Draw a simple bridge or cross between the
two columns, showing Jesus as the link between them.
3. Group Activity: Bible exploration: (10 minutes):
Objective: discover the Presence of Jesus in Old and New Testaments
Materials: Bibles or printed verses, paper,
pencils
Method: Allow students to work in pairs or small
groups
Pair of verses: Give each group a pair of verses to look up and discuss:
Sharing: Each group shares briefly what they found: proof that the Old Testament promised the advent of Jesus. Further, the New Testament shows that the ancient promises were fulfilled.
4. Character match-up Game: (10 minutes):
Objective:
Connect Old
Testament figures to the way they pointed to the advent of Jesus.
Materials:
Printed
cards or paper slips with names and clues.
Instructions:
Create two
sets of cards:
·
“Saved
us from sin” (Adam → Jesus
is the New Adam)
·
“Saved
people through water” (Noah
→ Baptism)
·
“Led
people to freedom” (Moses →
Jesus leads us to salvation)
·
“A
shepherd king” (David →
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and King)
·
“Three
days in the fish” (Jonah →
Jesus’ resurrection after three days)
·
“Spoke
of the coming Messiah” (Isaiah
→ Jesus fulfilled prophecy).
5. Role Play: (10 minutes)
Objective: Help children understand how Jesus
fulfils Old Testament promises.
Instructions:
Choose children to act out short scenes:
After each role play, explain how that shows God’s plan being fulfilled from the Old Testament to the New Testament.
OR
6. Creative reflection: (10 minutes):
Option A (younger children): draw a story about the Nativity of Jesus from the New
Testament.
Option B (older children): write a short
reflection: “Why do you think God sent Jesus to earth as our Saviour?”
7. Closing prayer: (5 minutes):
Activity:
Gather the
children in a circle. They can close their eyes and clasp their hands together
in prayerful manner.
Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, thank You for being with us from the beginning of time. Thank You
for keeping Your promises and showing us Your love. Help us to see You in all
the stories of the Bible and in our lives each day. Amen.”
HOMEWORK:
Ask each child to draw a picture showing a story from the Old
Testament that reminds them of Jesus (such as Moses parting the sea). Beneath
the picture, they can write one sentence: “This story reminds me of Jesus
because …”
Colouring Kingdom
CHRISTIAN TEACHING
Foreword
Dear children
and teachers,
Welcome! This colouring book has been made especially for you.
The book is a special guide which leads us to know Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Jesus is not just a name in history or a figure in stories.
He is alive, and He
loves each one of us deeply. He calls you by name. He walks with you, listens
to you, and wants to fill your life with courage, hope and joy.
Each page shows a beautiful moment from our Christian faith.
As you colour, you are not just filling in shapes, you are bringing to life the
story of God’s Love for us. Listen to the gentle Voice of Jesus calling you
closer while you colour pictures about the Kingdom of God.
Every design in this book reminds us of something special. We
remember how Jesus teaches us and saints inspire us. By colouring, we realise
how God calls us to grow in kindness, prayer and holiness.
This colouring book is companion to Catechism Book One. Colouring
pages may be used at home or in catechism class activities.
As we enjoy the beauty of God’s creation, let us colour with
holy imagination.
May this book bring you joy, peace and a heart that shines
with God’s love.
Blessings,
Catherine Nicolette Whittle DD
In Christ's love
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K1Ov3HjkVnv6bsxsjgmvAO5fZSDo4e0J/view?usp=sharing
Dear children
and teachers,
Welcome to a most exciting journey; a journey of the heart, mind
and soul. This catechism book is not just any book. It is a special guide that
leads us to know the greatest Person who ever lived: Jesus Christ, the Son of
God. This book is the first in the Children’s praise series of catechism books.
Jesus is not just a name in history or a figure in stories.
He is alive, and He loves each one of us deeply. He calls you by name. The
Saviour walks with you and listens to you. He wants to fill your life with hope
and joy. In this catechism book, we will learn who Jesus is and what He taught.
We will find out how He gave His Life so that we could live forever with Him.
For you, dear children, this book will help answer the
questions your heart may be asking: Who made me? Why am I here? Does God
love me? Yes, He does. Through every page, you will discover more about His
amazing love.
For you, dear teachers, this is more than a curriculum. The
teaching in this book is a sacred mission. Remember that parents are the first
teachers. Parents and catechists help to shape young hearts to know truth, love
Jesus and follow Him. You sow seeds that will grow into faith, love and holy
lives.
Read this book with open hearts. Listen not only to words,
but to the gentle Voice of Jesus calling us.
May this book lead all to love Jesus more each day. To know
Him is to love Him. This is the greatest happiness of all.
With prayers and joy,
Catherine Nicolette Whittle D.D.
In Christ's love
“Remember always, that Jesus loves the little children”
Letters of love and faith, which show St Paul wants us to know
Hello everyone!
Today, we’re going to talk about some very special letters
written by a man named St Paul. He
was one of the greatest missionaries in the early Church. But did you know he
was also one of the greatest letter writers of all time?
St Paul did not have emails or text messages. He wrote real
letters—long ones!—to churches and friends to encourage them, correct them, and
most of all, to remind them how much God loves them.
Let's look at a few of these letters and find out what St Paul
wanted his friends—and us—to realize.
To the Galatians: You are saved by God's grace, not by rules.
The Galatians were confused. Some people told them they had
to follow lots of old rules to be close to God.
But St Paul said, No! You are saved because Jesus loves you and died for you—not because you follow every little rule.
To the Colossians: Jesus is first in everything.
To the Thessalonians: Keep the faith—and never give up!
These were some of St Paul’s earliest letters. The
Thessalonians were excited about their faith—but also worried
about when Jesus would come again.
Saints Timothy and Titus were young! But St Paul believed in them.
To St Philemon: Love your neighbour—even when it is hard.
This letter is short—but powerful. St Paul writes to Philemon
about a man named Onesimus, a runaway slave who had become a Christian.
St Paul asked St Philemon to welcome him back—not as a slave, but
as a brother in Christ.
Words of encouragement:
Boys and girls, all these letters were written a long time
ago—but the messages are still for us today!
So next time you open your Bible and see one of St Paul’s
letters, remember: it’s not just a letter to Galatians or St Timothy… it’s
also a letter to you.
Because God still speaks through His Word—and He’s calling
each of us to live with faith, hope, and love.
Image inspiration Chatgpt and CN Whittle
Building the Church, one heart at a time, through the letters of St Paul
Greetings, children!
Today, I want to take you on a little journey—not across
countries, but across the early days of the Church, through the powerful
letters of a man named Saint Paul.
Now, who was St Paul?
He wasn’t always a friend of Jesus. In fact, at first, he
tried to stop Christians! But then something amazing happened. Jesus appeared
to him in a bright light, and from that day, Paul’s life changed forever. He
became one of the greatest missionaries the Church has ever known.
St Paul didn’t just stay in one place. He travelled from
city to city—by boat, by foot, through desert countryside and storms—because he wanted
to tell everyone about Jesus. But St Paul did not just visit people. He started
communities, founded churches, and then wrote letters to help them
grow strong in their faith.
Let’s look at a few of those churches and what St Paul taught
them:
1. The Church in Corinth – (Letters to the Corinthians)
Corinth was a big, busy city with people from all over. But
there were problems—fighting, pride and confusion. St Paul wrote to the Corinthians in the church saying:
“You are the Body of Christ.” (1 Cor 12:27)
What does that mean? It means we are all important in the
Church. Some are teachers, some are helpers, some are encouragers—but together,
we are one team in Jesus. Just like in your catechism class, everyone matters!
2. The Church in Philippi – (Letter to the Philippians)
This was one of St Paul’s favourite communities. Even when St Paul
was in prison, he wrote to them with joy!
“Rejoice in the Lord always!” (Phil 4:4)
Even in hard times, St Paul reminded them—and us—that Jesus is
our joy. We can smile, sing, and share His love no matter what happens.
3. The Church in Ephesus – (Letter to the Ephesians)
Paul taught the people in Ephesus that being a Christian
means living with love and unity.
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one
another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph 4:32)
That’s something we can all do—in our families, schools, and
churches. Be kind. Be forgiving. Be like Jesus.
4. The Church in Rome – (Letter to the Romans)
St Paul wrote to the Romans to explain how God's love is for everyone—not
just a few people.
“Nothing can separate us from the love of God.” (Rom 8:39)
Isn’t that amazing? No matter what happens—when we feel
afraid, or when we make mistakes—God still loves us.
What Can We Learn?
St Paul didn’t just build church buildings—he built communities
of faith. He helped people believe, pray, and live like Jesus. And guess
what? That work still continues today—in you!
Every time you:
…you are helping build the Church just like St Paul
did!
Words of encouragement:
So, children, remember this: You may not travel across the
world like St Paul, but you can still be a missionary. You can still help
build the Church—one heart at a time—by sharing the love of Jesus
wherever you are.
Let’s ask Jesus to make us brave, joyful, and kind, just
like St Paul.
Amen!
Image inspiration Chatgpt and CN Whittle
Going where God sends you
