Tag: wise men

Epiphany Ideas

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The 6th of January (though some will celebrate on Sunday 3rd) marks the day when, traditionally, Christians celebrate the visit of the wise men to the Holy Family. Here are some ideas to help if you’re joining in!

Star Compass

You will need: needles, magnets, craft foam scissors, a big bowl, water, a compass or phone with a compass app,

Cut a star shape out of the craft foam. Your needle will have a sharp end and an end with an eye. Your magnet will either be labelled with a north and south pole or will have two sides. Take your needle and rub the sharp end of it over the North end of the magnet 30 times (rub in the same direction every time). If your magnet is not labelled, just choose one of the sides to start with. Now take the eye end of the needle, and rub it 30 times in the same direction over the south end (or other side) of the magnet. Thread the needle through the foam star and float the star on the water. Watch as one end of the needle gravitates and points towards the North and think about how the wise men followed the direction of the star.

Talk about: What or who helps you know where to go in your life? Are you good at knowing the way? What or who do you follow?

Pray: Ask God to help you to see the right way to go in life.

Watch the Epiphany Story Video

Make an Epiphany King Cake

Make a garland with paper stars

Print on paper with star shaped cookie cutters dipped in paint

Make and decorate star shaped biscuits

Epiphany Star Biscuits

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Even though Christmas day is over, Christmas is not!

This is a great activity to do with children as you celebrate the wise men arriving in Bethlehem at Epiphany after following the star.  If you have access to an oven, you can bake the biscuits with the children during your session. Alternatively, bake the biscuits beforehand and let the children decorate them!

You will need: An oven, greaseproof paper, a baking tray, 200g butter, 250g plain flour, 75g cornflour, 100g icing sugar, a pinch of salt, star cookie cutters, icing and sprinkles to decorate

  1. Set the oven to 180C and preheat.
  2. Beat butter and icing sugar together until fluffy.
  3. Sift in flour, cornflour and salt and mix together to make a dough.
  4. Roll out dough to the thickness of a £1 coin and cut star shapes with the cookie cutter
  5. Put star shapes on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper and bake in the oven for 15-20 mins
  6. Cool on a cooling tray and then decorate with icing and sprinkles!

Talk about:

What is it like to go on a long journey? How do you know where to go? What does it feel like to find something you have been looking for?What do you think the wise men felt and thought when they found Jesus?

Pray: Eat the biscuits and pray that this year we will all come to find out more about Jesus and how much he loves us.

Epiphany Session for Junior Church

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Next Sunday will mark the Epiphany- the day we celebrate the time that the Wise Men reach the stable to visit Jesus. Here is a session you can use with a Junior church group of mixed ages to celebrate the occasion!

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Story: Read the story of the wise men visiting Jesus from a children’s Bible. The Lion Storyteller Bible is a definite favourite!

Activity: Make a ‘star’ with a torch and black paper. Check out this link to see how it’s done. Switch the lights  off and follow the star around the room!

Talk about:

What part of the story did you like best?

Which character did you like the best?

Which part of the story is about you?

What is it like to go on a long journey?

Have you ever searched for something?

What did it feel like when you found it?

What present would you give to a baby king?

Activity choices: Choose one or more of these and use the creation time to speak to the children about the story and anything that struck them during the talk time.

  • Use Lego, recycling junk or play dough to make a gift for the baby or to recreate part of the story.
  • Make a collection of ‘wise men’ by decorating paper towel rolls. In the carol ‘We Three Kings’ we sing about ‘three kings’, but in the Bible there is no number given so there could have been any number!
  • Cut star shapes out of card and use them as stencils to paint, draw or chalk round
  • Make Model Magic or clay stars and decorate them.

Prayer

You will need: A large sheet of paper and lots of sticky stars

Pray for

  • People who are travelling a long way- that God will look after them
  • People who are looking for something- that they find it
  • People who want to find out more about Jesus.

When you say ‘amen’ to each prayer, get everyone to stick a star sticker on a big sheet of paper.