OBJECT-LESSONS FOR SPECIAL DAYS
OBJECTS: A Large Collection of Simple Objects Herein
Described
Holidays, festival seasons, and historical events are always interesting to the little people and may be made of large value to them.
As these days come around, and public attention is thus called to them, you can use these special seasons as an occasion for the presentation of certain important truths suggested by them and to help the children see and feel the real good for which the days stand.
You can thus cause these days to stand for something more than events past. You can make them gleam with truths worth while for the present. Some of these events noted in this chapter vary as to their dates in the several States and countries; this matter you can rearrange to fit your own State. Of course other festival days and special seasons will occur to you, and you can fit them into your schedule of events according to your liking.
Some of the objects are very simple, but they may suggest others to you of greater importance. The Scripture reading for certain of the days will give you an opportunity to line up religious truths also with the event you are noting.
Here is a partial list of some of the special seasons and holidays.
New Year's Day. January First
The Forward Look Day would be a good name also for this day.
Read Philippians 3:1-14.
Use a blank book with the figures of the New Year on its cover. Explain that the New Year is like a blank book of 365 pages. What shall I write on its pages? Put a verse of Scripture on the top of each page. Live by its teachings and commit to memory each day's verse on its day. That will give you a clean page, not a blank one, but one written all over with God's truth. Each action of yours will be like a quill. It will write down the story of your life.
You may also use a string of beads to illustrate that truth. Secure a piece of strong white thread, and call this the string of time. Place on this string one bead at a time, 365 in all; these beads you call the days of the year. Every seventh bead should be a large and unusual one which we will call the Sabbath Day. If that day is a common day of pleasure put a plain bead as the seventh bead. Instruct them to make every seventh bead the best of all the beads by keeping the day holy; it will be holy unto the Lord.
Snowflake Day. In January
Read as a Scripture lesson Job 37:1-14 or Psalm 147.
This can be used any day in the winter. If there is a large fall of snow on the ground, it can be used at that time with good effect. Cut out a number of small stars and pin them on a background and say: "Once upon a time there was a little boy who had just discovered that every snowflake was like a little star in shape and exclaimed to his Mother as he watched them fall, 'Oh, Mother, it's snowing stars.' Yes, he was right; if every flake could be examined under a large magnifying-glass we would find each flake to be a tiny star. Some people never tire looking at the beautiful flakes falling down over street and field. How wonderful to watch God snow stars. The snowflake is a six-pointed star. That is the shape of the Bible star. Ancient history tells us that on the shield of David there was a six-pointed star. It was called the star of David. It is so called by the Jews at the present time. How beautiful it is to have a White Christmas. The wonderful snow covering the ground with spotless white. How much more wonderful it is to remember that each snowflake is a six-pointed star covering the ground with the stars of David, reminding us that there is born this day, in the City of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord."
Franklin's Birthday. January 17
The selected Scripture for that day could be Solomon's description of the man of thrift as found described in Proverbs 6:6-11.
Secure a boy's kite, and tell the part it played where Franklin brought down the lightning from the sky to serve man. We also bring down prayer power from above, for by Prayer we bring down God's power to serve us.
McKinley's Birthday. January 29
Read Matthew 5:1-12 wherein Jesus describes the well-balanced man. President McKinley was a man thus put together. Secure a picture of him if possible, and comment on the main features of his life. Like Lincoln and Garfield, he gave his life for the right and God. We may not be called upon to surrender our life as did President McKinley for the cause of humanity, but we can do what God likes just as much—we can live for him and his cause.
Ground-Hog Day. February 2
Tell the old story of how this little animal is believed by some to tell certain things about the weather, so they watch to see him peep out of his little hole in the ground. Pin up some pictures of an animal on a background and tell a few short stories about them.
Missionary Day. February
Show a map of the heathen country and secure some small idols or curios from some missionary headquarters and exhibit them to the children. Tell the audience that though we may smile at these ugly shapes the heathen people revere them and cling to them as their only hope. They will not give them up because we just say they are false gods. They will fight for them and often suffer more for their gods than we will for the true God. A returned missionary told the following story. He was holding special meetings for the children and trying to reach them by teaching them to sing the little Christian songs our mothers taught us. At once the heathen priests opened a children's meeting directly opposite to his place of meeting. The missionary taught the children to sing,
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Because he first loved me.
The heathen priest taught the children to sing by the same tune the words:
Oh, how I love Buddha,
Because he first loved me.
So you see we must fight a long battle and endure much for Jesus before we will put the name of Jesus in the place of Buddha in the hearts of the people of the heathen land. Here exhibit a Conquest Flag which stands for warfare. The war is on—but Jesus will conquer. The Conquest Flag tells us this.
Lincoln's Birthday. February 12
Read as the Scripture lesson how God chose Moses to be the Emancipator of the Hebrews, Exodus 3:11-22.
His was a heart trust in God. Read this truth in Psalm 91.
Secure a broken chain to represent the millions made free from the bondage of slavery.
Sing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and also "America."
Secure a large picture of Lincoln and have it displayed before the audience as you speak of him as Father Abraham the Liberator. Mention his strong faith in God; this was the big sword with which he fought the big battles of the Union Army.
Boys' Day. Any Day
In some of our great cities they now celebrate what is known as "Boys' Week." The boys run the town for an hour. In Philadelphia, Pa., Hon. W. Freeland Kendrick at this present writing is now our mayor; for one hour he surrendered his office to a bright boy of the town, and all the city was glad to give the boy the first place.
This goes to prove that the boy has his opportunity in this present day, and it is a great opportunity, for it means that the boy can come to his own if he will.
If you have a Boy Scout organization in your church ask one or more of them to come to the platform or to serve on the floor as ushers. Use also the members of the other boy organizations you may have in the church. Have the entire program conducted by bright boys and reserve for yourself only the place of the speaker.
Japan is a children's country. They have lots of holidays which always make children glad. There is something quaint and happy in them. There is a special holiday which they call the "Boys' Festival." On a pole in front of almost every house in Japan there flies a great "paper fish." These are made hollow so that the wind can come in at the opening of the mouth and fill the paper fish with air, and thus the fish seems to swing about in the air with a lifelike wriggle.
Every fish kite in front of the house means that a boy lives in that house. The parents are glad to make that fact known and are proud of it. The paper fish is made after the pattern of the carp, which is a favorite fish in that country. It is a vigorous fish, and no current seems to be too strong for it. It swims against the current, and when it comes to a waterfall it jumps high into the air and falls into the water beyond the falls. They claim that nothing can stop it when it determines to go ahead. Because it is such a wonderful fish they have made it a badge for their boys. They want their boys to be just as steady and courageous. Let all the boys of the wide world learn this lesson. Plow your way throughout the adverse current of life.
Let it be said of every boy, "Nothing can stop him." Come to Jesus; that is the kind of boy he makes, and that boy will make good.
Now you ask me, "Do they forget little girls in Japan?" Never, only they hang a doll on the pole instead of a fish. If you are located near a Japanese bazaar you may be able to get this paper fish. Secure one if possible; it will write the lesson on the eyes and memory of the children.
St. Valentine's Day. February 14
Tell the story of godly men who in ancient times were called saints. Read Psalm 16 as the lesson.
Secure a number of paper hearts and distribute them to some of the older children and ask them to write on the heart some good deed; then collect the hearts, put them on a small tree which you have placed on the platform, and call it the Tree of Good Deeds. Show that each one can make the life like this tree if it is rooted in the heart of Jesus. Secure now a large white heart, and pin it to the root of the tree which stands for the heart of Jesus from which all good comes. If your life is like this tree of Goodness it is greater than any saint who ever lived.
Edison's Birthday. February 11
Secure if possible the picture of this modern miracle man and tell the story of his discoveries. Secure an electric wire, an electric lamp, and a phonograph record. Explain that he was a "light" man, not that he created light, but he knew how to make men see it. So we should all be light-givers. The light is locked up in God's wonderful battery, the Great Bible. We are the wires; if we let God's truth current shine through us the world will see God's light. We are living epistles known and read of all men because they see in us God's light.
Washington's Birthday. February 22
Read as the Bible lesson 1 Samuel 18:5-16.
Secure a toy hatchet and tell the story of the cherry tree. Secure a colonial hat and tell the story of Washington's soldier days. Secure an old colonial flag, that is, thirteen Stars and Bars, and tell the story of our first national struggle.
Longfellow's Birthday. February 27
As the Scripture lesson read Psalm 95.
As an example of poetic beauty, also read Psalm 96; it contains the same strong lines. Secure his picture if possible. Give a short reading from his poetic work. Call attention to the fact that the Bible gave him the master type of the highest class poetry.
Ash Wednesday
Read Matthew 6:16-21, which will give the Bible idea of fasting. Secure a piece of purple goods, which stands for a penitential heart. Every day should be Ash Wednesday; that is, it should be confession day, for every day brings its load of sins, and the thing to do with them is to confess them; this makes every day Ash Wednesday. Write the word "Sin" on a card, and say if we bring our sins to God and confess them he will forgive and cast them behind his back. As you say these words drop behind your back the card with "Sins" marked upon it. This was the way the ancient kings did when they were forgiving the criminal. They tore up the charges and cast the torn parts behind their backs, which meant there was nothing against the offender now. This was the way a little boy made Ash Wednesday out of Christmas. It was a cold and snowy day. The ice was thick in the middle of the streets where the horses were trying to walk, but many of them were falling because of the slippery places. So the little fellow felt "sorry for the poor horses" as he expressed it; he therefore slipped out of the house with a box of ashes, and covered the ice with the ashes; after this the horses would not slip. That was Ash Christmas, The truest Ash Wednesday lasts through every day of the year.
St. Patrick's Day. March 17
St. Patrick was one of the early missionaries to Ireland. He held great revival meetings as did Billy Sunday, and thousands were converted to the true God. Today the shamrock is used as the national leaf. It is said he chose it because it taught the lesson of the Trinity, having its leaf divided into three large blades.
Cut out a large leaf after this fashion and say: St. Patrick was the great preacher of the Trinity, He told them about the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. He was an object-teacher.
Holy Week. Week Before Easter
This is sometimes called Passion Week because it has to do with the sufferings of Jesus during his last week. Common objects can be used for each day: Sunday, a palm-leaf, and on each following day select some object mentioned in the Scripture used on that day.
Good Friday
This is Crucifixion Day. The great Day of Atonement.
There were three crosses on the green hill of Calvary that day. There are three crosses now among men. Secure three small crosses. Let the first one be painted black. This is the cross of people who reject Jesus, as did the impenitent thief. The second is a purple cross; this stands for the people who are sorry for their sins and do truly repent with the heart, as did the penitent thief. The other is the red cross, the cross on which Jesus died and shed his precious blood.
Everything depends upon which side of this red cross we take our stand; if on the black side, then we are lost forever; if on the purple side, then we are saved forever. Ask the children to come forward if they will accept Jesus and take their stand by the purple cross. Then it will be Good Friday in their hearts.
Saturday Night
A representation of a spear like the one carried by the Roman guard who stood at the door of the tomb all day. Read Matthew 27:62-66.
Easter Day
Read Matthew 28:1-10; also 1 Corinthians 15:1-20.
Secure a small tree, not an evergreen tree, but a common tree with leaves just commencing to appear on its branches. This is the Easter tree just awakening from the grave of winter. Only a few months ago the winds whistled through its bare branches, and the snow nestled on its limbs in peace. It was to all appearances dead.
But the gentle sun began to shine, and the soft winds began to blow, and the tree life returned again. It was the resurrection day for the tree, and when the green leaves bloomed it was an Easter tree. In ancient times in a great gay cathedral far away on Easter dawn the people assembled to greet the return of Easter Day. The great choirs marched in, singing their glad tones. At the end of the procession the bishop marched, carrying in his hands a great tall candle five feet high and six inches thick. He set it into a stone socket on the top step of the altar. Silence fell upon the great crowd as they worshiped in the dark and waited for the dawn.
The sunshine was just commencing to creep through the cathedral windows and at last the sun's ray had touched the tip of the great candle. The bishop took from his robes a burning-glass lens and held it over the candle wick centering the sun's ray upon it. The wick smoked, then glowed, and burst into flame. The Easter sunrise had lighted the Easter candle. The choirs sang a hymn of joy. The people pressed forward and lit their pieces of tinder from this candle, and as they did so they said, "Christ is risen indeed."
They carried the flickering light to their houses, from which they lit their hearthfires. Soon the kindling caught, the logs began to smoke, the fire began to glow, and over it they cooked their Easter breakfast. Tradition says they never let it go out for one year, until Good Friday came again. May all of us take from this service today a Resurrection Light that will never be extinguished. "Christ is risen today," is an everlasting light. Let us live in this light evermore.
Miracle Day. May
Miracles are everywhere these early May days.
Just watch the new leaves come forth and you will believe in miracles. They seem so feathery that they resemble the wings of the beautiful butterfly. They are as tender as rose petals, and yet they have forced themselves through the tree's armor of wood, and not a single leaf is torn by the struggle. The days of miracles have not gone by, every day is a miracle day when God's May days return.
Remember the story of the miracle of water turning into wine. That was the Master's first miracle. But every time the rain falls on the grape-vines God is turning water into wine. If I can believe in the miracle of the vineyard I can believe in the miracle of Cana. In Cana Jesus did in a second what in the vineyard he does in a season. It was only a question of time. I believe in miracles because I see them every May day and every other day.
Tree Day. Early Springtime
Read Psalm 1.
He shall be like a "tree planted." This is the meaning of Tree Day. The time for the planting of a tree. Show a little acorn and say, There is a miniature tree in this little acorn. Plant it, and therefrom a mighty tree will finally come forth. So little acts bloom forth into forces of strength and glory.
Little good words are acorns. Plant lots of them. Trees help the little birds, for they fly into the branches for safety when pursued by some wild, larger bird.
Trees mean homes for the next generation. They will live in the houses the timbers will give. If possible, secure a young tree and have a service of planting after the meeting is over. Name that tree after the Junior Society of your church.
Forefather's Day. April 18
For this day read Proverbs 22:17-19, which exhorts us not to remove the landmarks of the fathers.
Tell the story of the Pilgrim Fathers. Make up an Indian hat which would stand for the Indians with whom they had to battle when they landed on our shores. Secure an old Bible and say, This old book contained their laws of living. Secure a school rule which you say stands for the exactness of their daily living.
Remember our Revolutionary Forefathers also, and to visualize this idea secure if possible a colonial gun or some old-fashioned piece of furniture, such as was used in those days by those old worthies, secure also if possible a facsimile of the Declaration of Independence and call the names of the mighty men who signed it. Introduce the Forefathers of the past to the children of the present day—it will be a wonderful meeting. Ask the children to stand as you read the names of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence. Tell them where the original of the famous old document is still carefully preserved, guarded now against the destructive action of the light, and urge them to use their earliest opportunity to see this Declaration for themselves.
Mother's Day. May 10
Read 1 Timothy 5:1-10, and speak of the great need for a holy respect for mothers.
Read Ruth, chapter one, and tell them the story of an old-fashioned mother who was kind and good.
Read Exodus 20:1-12, and tell the little hearers that they are to honor their father and mother.
Read Matthew 15:1-11, and tell over again the duty of honoring the parents which God has given us.
I have used with good results a little card containing some timely words for children. The title of the card is "Mother's Ten Commandments."
MOTHER MINE—C. H. WOOLSTON
Harken unto all these words, my children, for the comfort of
mother and the glory of God.
1. Be obedient unto her good word.
2. Always show her a joyful face—Be an indoor sun to her.
3. Put cross words far from your lips and always speak the truth.
4. Don't fail to be thankful and always say so with your lips.
5. Learn quiet ways: it will comfort mother's head.
6. Always be contented when mother has done her best.
7. Be a loving child and kiss your mother first.
8. Never forget your baby days, for then mother was all the world to you.
9. Be courteous to your mother for she is the first lady in the land to you.
10. Be a strong Christian, for mother always wished the best things for you and this is the best of the best.
Read these lines over slowly and let the children repeat them after you. Urge them to wear a flower in mother's memory. Secure a few extra flowers, and ask some little girl or boy to come forward and deposit the flowers on the table in memory of the "forgotten mother," the mother whose children have forgotten her.
If you so desire, it might be well to place a single flower on the Bible on the pulpit in memory of Mary the mother of Jesus.
Peace Day. May 18
Read for that day as your Scripture lesson Psalm 48, where it is declared that the weapons of war are to be turned into farm tools and that wars are to cease.
Read also Isaiah 2:4, where it is declared that nation shall not lift sword against nation. Prepare a large white flag. This is the flag of peace.
Ask the children to stand around this flag as you tell them the story of the birth of the Prince of Peace who came to give peace on earth and good-will among men.
Memorial Day. May 30
Read as your Bible lesson for that day Psalm 46, announcing the end of war.
Read Psalm 47 where the nations are called upon to praise God, and read also Matthew 22:15-22 describing the duty of citizens. Secure a wreath of flowers, place it upon the flag, and tell the audience the story of the brave men who died for their country and their flag. Close by singing the National Hymn. Ask that all the children wear small flags, and have them march around the room singing together the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Flag Day. June 14
Read as your Scripture lesson Psalm 46. After you have read this lesson, ask some of the children to come forward with flags and stand around the reader while he reads Psalms 67 and 72. Tell the story of the making of the flag in Philadelphia by Betsy Ross.
School Closing Day
Read as the Bible lesson Ecclesiastes 12, and urge them in their youthful days to remember God.
Read also Matthew 25:14-30, in which the use of the individual talent is urged.
Tell them that "school-days" are not all over, the real school of life has just begun. The Bible is the greater text-book of the school of life.
Children's Day. June
Let the children conduct this service, all but the address, you may give this yourself or secure another to do it for you.
Draw lessons from the flowers, bring in a bird in its cage, and read Matthew 6:19-34.
Tell the story of the Ark, the biggest bird-cage ever made, and what the Raven and Dove did in the great flood story. After the lesson, if possible let them put the flowers you have been using on the graves of the little children of the church who have died during the past year.
Independence Day. July 4
This day should always be kept as a religious day. The noise of gunpowder should no longer be heard. It should be a day exalting peace, not commemorating bloodshed, therefore cause the decorations to be white intertwined with the flag. Let the little girls dress in white and the boys wear a white flower or have white bands around their arms.
War love must be crushed for the sake of the best things. The idea that might is power plunged the world into the great World War. The only war the kingdom of heaven knows is war against war and all its evil things. Display the conquest flag, and tell the story how the Cross of Jesus is marching on to save this old world from sin.
Close by telling them that when they forsake all sin and come to Jesus and are saved, they are an assembly of braves and have put their names to the new declaration of independence.
Labor Day. September (First Monday)
For the Scripture lesson for this day read the story of "the laborer being worthy of his hire," as you will find it recorded in Luke 10:1-11. Also the call for laborers for the vineyard, as written in Matthew 20:1-15.
Take a walk into the carpenter-shop of Nazareth and watch Jesus working at his trade at the carpenter's bench. Talk of Jesus as the model Carpenter. Use the carpenter tools as object-lessons: the saw a separator from wrong. A divider of good things, Jesus shared his life with the world as a saw divides the board.
The hammer can be used to show how to fix things in their places so they will stay fixed. Jesus nailed down his commandments as fixed laws by which the world was to be saved.
Show the rule, and talk about the Golden Rule that measures things correctly, and gives a wonderful standard by which we should govern our acts among men.
Display the plane, an instrument to smooth things out and to take off the rough places. Love is that plane, and Jesus always used it to smooth out the hard and ugly places that hate had made in life. So continue to talk about Jesus and his tools. Put up a cardboard sign on the outside of the church containing a message for the laboring man. Let it read, "'God bless the working man' is the prayer of the Children of this Church."
Columbus Day. October 12
Tell the story of Abraham, who, like Columbus, went forth on a wonderful adventure. You will find this recorded in Genesis 12:1-10.
Show the children pictures of ships which sail the deep sea.
Show them a handful of reeds, and explain that Columbus discovered floating in the sea a number of weeds which did not grow in his country and therefore reasoned they must come from an unknown land.
Write on a piece of large white paper the word "AMERICA"; roll it up and hide it, and then during the meeting ask some boy or girl to pretend to be Columbus, and let him go forth to find the new world. If he fails to find the parchment let another child try. Let the fortunate child who does at last find it come back to the platform, and then give him a new name—call him the "Discoverer."
Teach the lesson that all of us are starting out in life to "find things," but the best thing to find is the truth. Place in his hands a Bible and say, This will be your guide to all truth, follow its light, and you will find the Cross which is the door to salvation and to heaven.
Hallowe'en. October 31
Read as the Scripture lesson for this service Romans 1:1-12. It announces the fact that we are all called to be saints. Every good boy and girl made good by being saved is a saint according to the New Testament.
Hallowe'en is the eve before All Saints' Day, and the term means "Holy Evening."
It does not seem much like an holy evening when we remember it is a time of unearthly noises, witches, spirits, ghosts, elfish creatures, etc., the time when fortunes are supposed to be told in many a walnut shell or in a tub with a burning candle. All of this superstition belongs to the realm of frolics.
Display some post-cards with pictures of witches on them and say, "We do not fear these witches because they don't live," but tell them of the true witches, lying, stealing, profanity, falsehood, anger, temper, etc., which are all witches that we should fear for they are real and seek to get into our hearts at all times.
Explain the "new" meaning of the decoration you use for this special season, "the black and orange." Let the black stand for the night of sin, and the orange, the color of the rising sun, for the dawn of the day of truth and the coming of the light. Darken the room, and let a child from the rear with a lighted candle represent the light that God sends into our world of darkness. This is a simple but entertaining pastime.
For the conclusion of the service have a peanut party.
Hallowe'en is the season of nuts of all kinds. So the peanut can be used to the best advantage because it can be easily secured everywhere. Secure a number of peanuts and hide them in all parts of the room, explain this to the children, and at your command let them all start in to find them. The one finding the largest number should be given some simple little prize. Ask them to drop them all in a large bowl, then ask six children to shut their eyes, and reach in one hand and take out a handful, and the one having the number nearest to 25 will receive another simple little prize.
Conclude by having a peanut auction. Prepare a number of parcels containing simple little things such as an apple, a stick of candy, an orange, a bunch of raisins, a lead-pencil, etc. Wrap these articles up in large bundles so the contents cannot be guessed by the shape. Ask some merry-hearted lad to be the auctioneer and sell the package to the highest bidder, payment to be made of course in peanuts, which at last you cast on the floor— asking the children to help themselves. If so desired serve peanut sandwiches as a special refreshment.
Election Day. November (first Tuesday after first Monday)
Read as the Scripture lesson Romans 13. This teaches the lesson that we are to be subject unto authority. Read also Matthew 22:15-22, which gives us a lesson of the "citizen's duty."
Secure if possible a sample ballot. Display it before the children, and explain how the people of proper ages vote. After this, in the place of the names of the candidates and party write such words as Temperance, Good Citizenship, Good Schoolhouses, Full Churches, and Large Sunday Schools, and say we can all vote for all of these. Put down your cross mark under each name. Sing "America," salute the flag, and all say, "God Bless Our Native Land." Let us help to make it God's Great Land.
Armistice Day. November 11
For the Scripture lesson read about the time when wars shall cease, as you will find it mentioned in Psalms 46 and 47, and also in Isaiah 2:1-11, describing the time when nation shall not lift sword against nation.
Talk about the World War and display the flags of all nations. Have a large white flag prepared, and call it Armistice Day, that great day when the guns ceased firing. As you say this ask the children who hold the flags of all nations to come forward and stand around the white flag in a circle. Tell how glad the people were on that day, and describe the noises the children made. But this day did not bring lasting peace among the nations, for there is a whisper about war coming back again, and nations seem to be preparing for that event. The only peace which shall last and endure is the Peace of God—the world can never take that peace away.
Ask a boy to come to the platform holding a large cross in his hand, and as he does this let all the nations kneel around it. The power of the Cross alone will give the nations of the world God's wonderful peace; until then there will be no lasting peace among the peoples of the world.
Thanksgiving Day. November (last Thursday of month)
Read Isaiah 12 as a thanksgiving song, also read 2 Samuel 22:1-18, which contains the same thought. Psalms 92, 100, and 136 are called thanksgiving songs. Ask some boy or girl to read these lessons.
Read Luke 17:11-19, the story of a good thanksgiving example. Read this lesson at the close of the meeting. Display on the table some fruits, also some large vegetables, all showing how good God is in his wonderful gifts at harvest-time.
Tell the story of the early settlers, and why the first Thanksgiving proclamation was made.
Thanksgiving Day is Old Home Day. The separated family come together in one glad reunion, and the young folks go bounding to see grandma and grandpa, and all have a good time.
Now tell the children we will all consider ourselves one big family, and so prepare for a good time. Pass around a number of candles, and when each has received one, ask the children to eat them. The candles are made out of apples; the wick is made of a bit of almond, which on being lit will blaze for a minute. After this suspend a hoop in the doorway and make snowballs of tissue-paper by crushing them into round shapes. Give each scholar four balls, and standing them a given number of feet away, see how many of the balls each can put through the hoop at the first trial. Give the child who can do this a bag of peanuts as a reward.
If you wish an exclusive religious service for that day, secure a small-sized tree and place it on the platform, Distribute small paper hearts, and ask the children to write on them the reason they are thankful, and at the proper time ask them to bring the heart to the platform. After you have read them to the children, pin them on the tree and call the tree the Thanksgiving Tree. It should grow all the year around in everybody's home.
Christmas Eve. December 24
Ask the children to keep their eyes on the door. Turn down the lights of the room until only a dim light is seen. Tell them the Christmas Eve story. Long ago the people had a kind of Christmas fancy that the Child Jesus came to earth again each Christmas Eve and wandered about the streets looking for some one to recognize him and take him into their house.
Through the winter night he tramps on, cold and homeless, so the story goes, peeping in at the windows where evergreen wreaths and warm fires make all who live in that house comfortable and happy. At last some one is sure to see the dim face outside the window, and will fling wide open the door and bid him come in, and give the little stranger loving welcome to all their comforts. Here recite the text Revelation 3:20: "Behold I stand at the door and knock." Open the door of the heart, for the real Christ is there tonight and every other night also. Did you ever notice that the paneling of the door resembles a cross, so it is true of the door of the heart, we must take up his cross in our heart first, and then the door will open wide to let Jesus in. Open the door of the heart to Jesus on Christmas Eve, and that will make every day a Merry Christmas.
It is a good plan to read by candle-light a Christmas story. Place a lighted candle on the table, extinguish all other lights, and say, "Now listen to a Christmas Eve story," and then read Luke's account of the Nativity.
Wish the little folks a Merry Christmas and send them early to their homes.
Christmas Day. December 25
For a good Christmas lesson read the story of the Nativity as recorded in the second chapter of Luke. Read also the story of the Wise-men as written in Matthew 2:1-12.
Secure nine tall candles, and as you light them remark how beautiful the candle-light looks on Christmas night, for this is the happy eve of twinkling lights. Even the stars throb and glow as if trying to smile on little children. You will notice that I have here nine candles, each candle standing for a letter in the word Christmas.
Let us see what each sparkling Christmas light says to us. This first light stands for the lights of the inn, the place where Joseph and Mary went the night Jesus was born. This light made plain the path to the rear of the inn where they found the manger crib that God had prepared for the little Son. It was a humble nest, but it was all the inn-keeper had to offer his guests. They were lights of welcome to Jesus, and so Merry Christmas was born there. He who walks in the light of humility walks in the Christmas light.
The next light represents the light from the camp-fires of the Shepherds, around which they gathered and read the words of the Great Prophet of Israel as to the Coming One, while they watched their flocks by night. These were quiet lamps of patient waiting. They were lamps of faith which made stout their courage as they believed with all the heart. Jesus was coming soon, and so God rewarded their faith, for their fires were not extinguished until he came indeed. We should keep the camp-fires burning while we are waiting for his glorious coming again. Every Christmastime should cause us to be glad because he did come once, and we have his promise he will come again. Never let that lamp of hope die out.
The next light stands for the heavenly light shining in the skies. For a bright light shone about them, "the Light of the World" was about to be born. This light was full of angels who sang by that golden light the story of "peace on earth and good-will toward men."
The next light represents the light of the stable lantern which the shepherds brought with them. They were the lamps of the "seeker," they had heard of the little Saviour, and they went forth to seek him. Always carry the seeker's light with you, for it is the finding light. As Bobby Burns puts it, "They never seek the Lord in vain who seek the Lord aright."
The next light represents the starlight which the Wise-men saw. They followed it, and it brought them to the place where the young child lay. The wisest men of this world are led by heaven's lamp of truth. Holding up a Bible, say, "This is the lamp from Heaven, follow it and you will at last find the Christ on his throne where it is Christmas every day."
The next light represents the lamp of the house where the Wise-men found Jesus and his mother. What a wonderful house that must have been. It was a house glorified because Jesus had once lived there in all of his heavenly beauty. Let Jesus into your house, and it will be full of golden lamps which will make the home all glorious within.
What did those lamps see? They saw the gifts of gold which the Wise-men brought, and it seemed to turn to a shining crown and the babe's voice was the voice of the little King. They shone upon a beautiful urn of frankincense. This is a pure gum from a certain Arabian tree which when burned gives a sweet-smelling smoke. In history it has always been used as a symbol of prayer and praise. This gift meant that all the world was to pray to him and praise him with all their heart. These home lamps saw also a golden cup of myrrh. This is a bitter gum and very precious. It used to be wrapped up with the coverings of those who died. It was to teach us that into the baby's life some day the cross would come, and the winding-sheet with its precious myrrh would prepare his precious body for the grave; so that house was made beautiful by the shadow of the wondrous Cross.
Let the Christmas light come into your heart, and all the people will see in you the beautiful life of peace, contentment, faith, love, and joy.
The next light represents the light which Jesus brings to the dark places of the world. He is a light which shines through the darkness. Here tell the story of heathen countries waiting for the light. He is the Light of the World.
The next light represents the light of his church. Paul Revere saw the lights flashing from the tower of Old North Church of Boston, and on his fleet-footed horse dashed down through the valley spreading the message of alarm to the people of the sleeping homes. Every true church is a light-house. It warns us of the power of sin. It shows us the way of the Cross.
The next light represents the lamp of heaven. Jesus came to open the doors of heaven, where there is eternal light, and to bid us enter and be at rest. When he ascended he left a light in the window for us all, which is his good promise that "Where I am there ye shall be also." These are the Merry Christmas lights. Once, years ago and miles away, there was an ancient castle. It was the home of the silent and absent Prince. It was always dark and gloomy, no light could be seen in its windows day or night. There was an old tradition that some time the Prince would return, and then the lights would appear at every window and the bells would chime out most merrily. Often the quiet villagers would look up at the castle on the hill and wonder if the Prince would ever return, and if their eyes should ever see the long-promised lights. One night the people of the village were startled by the sound of bells, and from every window of the castle beautiful lights were shining. The Prince had returned, and there was great joy among the people. Let us light these nine Christmas lights now, and we shall all have a Merry Christmas, for the long-expected Prince from heaven has come to this old dark castle, the world dwelling in darkness.
Wilson's Birthday. December 28
Read as the special Scripture lesson for the hour Isaiah 11:1-10, which describes the man of peace. Read also Proverbs 3:13-26, which describes the scholar and education. Secure a picture of the late President and dwell on his dreams of peace.
New Year's Eve
It is hardly possible that you will hold a watch-meeting for the juniors, but the following program will make a good order for adults as well as for such children who will attend with them. Secure a number of candles, one for each hour of the service. If the service commences at eight o'clock and continues until midnight, put four lighted candles on the table, one for each hour, and extinguish one at the end of each hour, and you will have one candle left for the last hour. This will be impressive.
At the last moment of the hour extinguish this candle and in total darkness let the old year pass out. At the first minute of the New Year turn on all the lights, arise, and sing, and after the Lord's Prayer, in which they all join, say to the people "A happy New Year to all," and the meeting has ended, and the New Year begun.
As an additional feature for this meeting prepare as large a book as possible with all the pages white and say, This is your book of the New Year. It is a fresh start for you, There will be nothing written on its pages of white except what you write there. Begin tonight and go straight and keep white. Write over the first page, "In the beginning God." That makes the start right, so it will always be white. Write this on the fresh page of every day also, and you will go straight for the whole year.
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