RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 22817, 27 November 1937, Page 6

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

[By Forward..!

CHRISTMAS PLANS FOR THE JUNIOR DEPARTMENT.

By the time the children reach the junior department the Christmas stories will probably be well known, and may need to be presented in a new way in order to keep up the interest of the children, although these stories never grow old. The wise teacher will plan beforehand just how these are to he presented. Then, too, junior children should be made to feel that Christmas is a time for giving, rather than for. getting, and this also needs careful planning. A Christmas tree is not necessary in the junior de-, partment, though it may add a touch of the Christmas spirit. The best way of preparing for Christmas is to. plan ways of helping others. _ During the weeks preceding the Christmas service the thought of giving should be presented by short talks. Perhaps the children are to bo asked to earn or save some money to be used for. a special purpose, as is done in the “ Break-of-Day Christmas Gift.” In this case each week for about four weeks, the object for which the money is to be given can be discussed, and short stones told on various aspects of the work. Perhaps the children are to be asked to bring gifts suitable for other boys and girls who are not likely to have many gifts at Christmas. These may be toys, books in good condition, and other things dear to tho hearts of children, as well as goods such as eggs, fruit, groceries, nuts, etc., which might help to make a happier Christmas for some one in need. The more definite and personal the giving can - be, the greater is its value. Children’s rest homes, health camps, or orphanages will be glad of the gifts, while the agent of the. Patients’ and Prisoners* Aid Society - will ' welcome gifts' ih ihoney or kind. The culmination of all these talks and stories will be tho bringing of the gifts to the; Christmas service in the department.: - Sometimes tho stories may bo presented by reading the passages from the Gospels which tell them so beautifully, interspersed with ■ suitable hymns and carols,, solos, or recitations.This is the simplest form of service, and takes the least preparation. After: the opening music, when all are ready for, worship, the leader repeats asj a call to worship: “ Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy; for unto you is born a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” All sing as a praise verse the first verse and chorus of ‘ Who is He in Yonder Stall?’ John in., 16, is then repeated by all, and is followed by a prayer of thanksgiving. A reader, specially prepared, then reads Luke ii., 7-16, or the children may read it in unison if they are accustomed to doing so. This may be followed by the singing of a hymn telling the story of the shepherds, such as * See-.. in,. Yonder Manger Low.’ The reading continues in Matthew ii.: 1 and 2 and 8-11, telling the story of the Wise Men. A child recites a poem about the. Wise Men, and this is followed > by a carol or a hymn such as ‘ As With Gladness Men of Old.’ The following poem-may be used:— ,

There came three Kings ere break |of All on Epiphanie. Their gifts they bare,- both rich and' rare, All, nil Lord Christ, for Thee. | Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are there; ■ Where, is the King? 0 where? O where? 0 where is the King? 0 where? The star shone brightly overhead, The air was calm and still; O’er Bethlehem’s holds its rays were shed, The dew lay on the hill. We see no throne, no palace fair, Where is the King? O whore? 0 where P 0 where is the King? 0 where? An old man knelt at a manger low, A babe lay in a stall; The starlight played on the infant brow, Deep silence lay o’er all. A maiden bent o’er the baho in prayer. There is the King; O there; O there; 0 there is the King! 0 there! The leader will then refer -to the gifts being brought this day as the children’s gifts’ to' the King, through the ‘ “ least of these His brethren,” The gifts will be brought forward (if they were not put in place at the beginning of the service), the offering will be taken up and all dedicated in prayer. - '' ' 1 A story ■ suitable for the -Christmas season may then be told, such as ‘lf 1 Had Hot Como, 1 4 Christmas Round the World,’ ‘ The First Christmas Rose,” etc. The writer'once media beautiful story which was found in a child’s story book. It was called ‘Faith, Hope,’ and' Lovo, ’ and the Greatest of-These'is Love.’ in an allegorical way it told of a monk whose illuminated text came to life, and the stories of the manger, the angels, the shepherds, and the wise men were all introduced into the tale.,; It told the old, old stories'with a vivid freshness. Unfortunately it has . gone with the child who owned the book.

- Perhaps the most effective _ way of presenting the Christmas stories is by dramatising them. This may be done very simply, or in a prepared dramatisation. A simple; form once used was as fellows;—■ , Reader reads Luke ii., 7: all sing ‘ Away in a Manger.’ Reader reads verses 8-14; all sing ‘See in Yonder Manger Low,’ certain children chosen as shepherds singing the verses in which the shepherds answer. A shepherd says, “ Let us now go oven unto Bethlehonr and see this thing which has oomo to pass.” They approach tho manger (a small sand tray filled with straw), and kneel before it for :a moment. They sing a shepherds’ carol and slowly retire. Reader reads Matt., ii., l-11. The children chosen as Wise Men enter slowly, singing ‘ We Three lyings of Orient Are,’ present their gifts, and kneel for a moment at the manger, then rise and slowly retire. Reader reads verso 12. AH sing As With Gladness,’ and the offering is taken up and dedicated. A form of dramatisation which took a little more preparation was a Christmas play in threo scones. The first showed a shepherd’s hut near Bethlehem, where a shepherd’s wife, little boy, and baby watch the hillside as the bright light appears. Tho boy goes to see what has happened. A solo is sung, ‘ Lovo Came Down at Christmas.’ Scene 2 shows the same hut. The boy has returned to report that tho shepherds have disappeared, and he does not' know where they arc. A solo is sung, ‘ Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem.’ Scene 3 depicts tho return of the shepherds, who toll their story ns closely as possible in Scripture words. A carol is thou snug, ' Blessed Child of Christmas.’ This completes the dramatisation. Pictures which may bo used to advantage, in the Christmas service are Lerolle’s ‘ Arrival of tho Shepherds,’ Correggio’s _ ‘ Holy Night,’ and any Madonna pictures. There is a wealth of worship material in hymns, carols,

poems, and stories from which to choose. In addition to hymns mentioned above, other favourites are ‘Silent Night,’ ‘The First Nowell,’ ‘ While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks,’ ‘ From the Eastern Mountains,’ etc. The worship service offers an opportunity to keep before the children the real meaning of Christmas and the offering is the climax of the service. Whoso bears his brother’s burden, Whoso shares anothoris woe, Brings his frankincense to Jesus With the'men of Jong ago. METHODIST SUNDAY, SCHOOL ; UNION. On Monday, November 15, the annual meeting of the above union was held in the Central Mission. Tea was much appreciated by all present, and the .Mission Sunday school staff was suitably thanked for its hospitality by Mr E. J. King. . 1 . The first ..business was the election of a representative to synod, Mr G. Densem being appointed. In the unavoidable absence of the secretary (Mr W. O. Brown) the president (Mr A. T. MTndoe) gave a brief resume of the year’s . activities, which revealed that, in spite of the small- attendances members had much to be thankful for, the .meetifags being marked by enthusiasm. The one regret was that a larger number of teachers; had not been able to avail themselves; of the opportunities of instruction offered in further equipping themselves for teaching; , The union visitors, Miss 6. ‘H. Kane and Mr E. J. . King, briefly reported on the schools visited during the past quarter. These were greatly appreciated, and the , hope expressed that these helpful comments might be forwarded to every school for ■ the consideration of teachers; ' Mr, A; H. Reed then brought forward a ‘ proposal to be sent on to Synod, and conference of'a. change of policy of the youth department. The recommendation was to the effect that, instead of the brief and occasional yisits of tho youth director, from which Sunday school work as a whole .could’ hope, to benefit, better results might be'achieved and unnecessary expense saved, were the director to work from a centre, radiating reformation, suggestions, and inspiration by post, thus reaching all ministers and Sunday schools' at regular monthly or other stated intervals. After a brief but enlightening discussion a vote was taken, and, with a single exception, it was unanimously decided to forward the proposal to synod. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted: President, Mr A. T. MTndoe; vice-presidents, Miss E. Blackwood and Mr J. H. Shilcock; secretary, Mr W. O. Brown; treasurer and reporter, Mr T. 0. Kennedy; district correspondent, Mr W. 0. Brown: school visitors,- Miss G. H.' Kane and Mr E. J. King; examination convener, Mr W. W. Ashby; union reEresentatives to Bible class unions, [isa Hetherington and Mr G. King; delegates to Young People’s Committee—the president, Mr E. J. King, and Miss Blackwood.