FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: JOY

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

JOY
Read: Luke 2:8–20
("Shepherds Visit" on p277-281 in The Beginner's Bible)

Questions for kids:
What was the joyful news the angel brought?
Who was the baby that was born who made everyone so happy?
When do usually celebrate the baby who was born? (Christmas)
When are you joyful?
Can you show what you do when you are joyful? (Examples, smile, laugh, dance, jump, etc.)
Can you sing a joyful song? Dance a joyful dance?

Activities:
(1) Decorate cards for others or draw on a piece of paper a picture of yourself being joyful.

(2) Play some upbeat Christian music and dance the joy of the Lord. (A few song suggestions: Martha Munizzi’s Glorious, Fred Hammond’s The Spirit of the Lord). Have additional fun with freeze dance, or musical chairs.

Songs:
Joy to the World
Lyrics:
Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

"I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart" (Listen here)
Lyrics:
I've got the joy
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, (where?)
down in my heart, (where?), down in my heart,
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, (where?) down in my heart to stay.

Chorus:
And I'm so happy, so very happy. I've got the love of Jesus in my heart. And I'm so happy, so very happy. I've got the love of Jesus in my heart

Additional Verses:
I've got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart
I've got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart
I've got the wonderful love of my blessed redeemer way down in the depths of my heart

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: LOVE

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

LOVE
Read
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Questions for kids:
Who loves you?
Who do you love?
How do you show people that you love them?
How does God show us love?

ACTIVITY:
Some members of Bethel are sick or can't come to church on Sundays. We can show them that we love them by sending them cards. Draw a picture of something or someone you love, or a way that you show love (examples, praying for someone, hugs, smiling, etc.), or an example of how God's show us love. (Blank cards are available in the activity box outside the sanctuary. Place complete cards in the appropriate envelope. Cards will be available every week, so children are encouraged to draw as many cards as they'd like to.)

SONG:
Jesus Loves Me (Listen Here)

Lyrics
Yes Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to him belong
They are weak but he is strong

Yes Jesus loves me
Oh, yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so

Pressing on the upper way
Always guide me Lord I pray
Undeserving, and stubbornly never fail to love me still

Yes Jesus loves me
Oh yes Jesus loves me
Oh yes Jesus loves me, for the Bible tells me so
Yes Jesus loves me, love
Oh yes Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so
For the Bible tells me so

Children's Activity Box

Look for the new Children's Activity box in the foyer of the Bethel's main entrance! (It looks a little bit like our dog puppet Theophilus "Theo" the Faith Retriever.)

Inside it are:

Children's tithing envelopes

Activity worksheets

Blank greeting cards

Pencils

Pencil sharpener

Erasers
King's Kidz take-home practice CDs (when available)

Children are encouraged to use the activity sheets in church or at home. Please be sure to return the pencils or others items to the box before leaving church.

CREATE CARDS FOR OTHERS
Decorate the cover a greeting card with a design of the child's choice, then leave the completed card in the box's appropriate folder. Cards will be distributed to residents of nursing homes.

WANT TO ADD TO THE BOX?

Parents who want to contribute additional supplies to the box, we are always in need of few:

ERASABLE colored pencils

Erasers

AA batteries (for the pencil sharpener)

Small writing pads or drawing pads (with perforated pages)

Children's picture books
Blank writable CDs
CD envelopes
Quart and gallon "zipper" style plastic bags

Please no crayons, markers or pens.

HELP US MAINTAIN THE  ACTIVITY BOX
Kids and families can practice being good stewards by emptying the pencil sharpeners when full, returning pencils and materials to the box at the end of service (you can take your artwork/activity sheets and CDs home), and taking good care of any borrowed books, pencils or other materials so that others may use them in the future.