Joseph Takes His Family to Safety in Egypt January 1/2 - Loop Kids

Lesson 5: Joseph Takes His Family to Safety in Egypt January 1/2 Bible Point: God guides us. Key Verse: “To those who believed in his name, he gave them the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 Getting Started 10 min Getting Started: Welcome As the children arrive, greet each one and welcome him or her with a smile. Allow the children to choose a free play station for the first ten minutes. At 10 minutes after service start let the children know in 1 minute you will start cleaning up. Start clean up time with the clean up song: Say, “I Am!” (tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know it”) “If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.” “I am!” (children respond) If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.” “I am!” (children respond) If you are cleaning up, If you are cleaning up, If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.” “I am!” (children respond) Teachers: Prepare you class for Community Time. Free Play Stations: 1. Toys 2. Books 3. Paper/ Crayons Worship 8-­‐10 Minutes Community Time: Worship Song Sheet Lead the kids in 2-­‐3 of the following songs (see attached song sheet for direction if needed) Jesus Loves Me Jesus Loves the Little Children This Little Light of Mine I’ve Got the Joy The Bible

Lesson As the teacher don’t be afraid to add your own voice, props and interactions to the story! 15 -­‐ 20 min Community Time: Lesson LL (Lesson Leader): Today’s Bible story tells us that God guides us. Let’s find out how God guides Joseph and showed him where to go with Mary and Jesus so they would be safe. We’re going to go on a journey like Mary, Joseph, and Jesus did. Before we start, we need a guide-­‐ someone to lead us to Bethlehem. On a large white board, draw three circles-­‐ one on each of the top corners of the board, and one on the bottom. In one circle write, “Bethlehem”, on another “Egypt”, and on the last “Nazareth”. Tape the bible character picture in the middle of the board-­‐ not on any circle. Who will be our guide? Choose a child to move the Joseph bible character to the circle marked “Bethlehem”. Bible – Bookmarked to Matthew 2 *White board with a few markers *Picture of a Joseph (about the size of adult hand) *3 or 4 wooden blocks God guided Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Later, the wise men brought gifts to Jesus when he was a small child living in Bethlehem. God knew that mean King Herod wanted to hurt little Kind Jesus, so God sent and angel to warn the wise men and Joseph. God’s angel told Joseph to quickly take Mary and Jesus and go to Egypt where God would care for them and keep them safe. God guided Joseph and his family to Egypt, and God will guide us and care for us too. Who will be our guide to Egypt? Choose a child to move the Joseph bible character to the circle marked “Egypt”. God guided Joseph and his family to Egypt. When they got to Egypt, God continued to take care of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus and kept them safe. Back in Bethlehem mean Kind Herod hunted all over for the baby king, but couldn’t find him. King Herod didn’t want anyone else to be king except him. Finally, mean King Herod died. Again, God sent his angel to tell Joseph that it was safe to take Mary and Jesus back. This time they were going to a town called Nazareth. God guided Joseph and his family to Nazareth, and God will guide us and care for us too. Who will be our guide to Nazareth? Choose a child to move the bible character to the circle marked “Nazareth”. God guided Joseph and his family to Nazareth. Joseph worked as a carpenter, building many different things from wood. Show the children a few wooden blocks. Through his whole journey, Joseph listened to and trusted God. God was his guide. Who guided Joseph to Egypt? (God) How do you think Joseph felt going to a new place? How can God guide you?

God was Joseph’s guide. He will guide us and take care of us. Circle Time 10-­‐15 min Circle Time: Key Verse Activity Have the children form a circle and sit down. Open your Bible to John 1:12. Bible: Bookmarked to John 1:12 LL: Our Key Verse from the Bible says, “To those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” This means that everyone who believes in Jesus gets to be in God’s family! Isn’t that exciting! Let’s say the verse together. Lead the children in repeating the verse. * Small, soft ball-­‐ to play catch We are God’s children and he loves us! He will always take care of us and guide us. He loves us because we are a part of his great big family! Let’s play a game that will help us understand the key verse. Show the children the small, soft ball. This ball reminds me of something that a family might want to play together. I will pass the ball to someone. If you get the ball, say one thing that you like to do with your family. Then pass the ball to someone who has not had it yet. We’ll keep going until everyone has a turn.

When everyone has gone, put the ball away. What is the best part of being in your family? (help them understand that it has to do with spending time together) If we are in God’s family, how do we spend time with God our Father? If we believe in Jesus, then we become God’s children! God loves spending time with you, the same way you like spending time with your family. Let’s say our key verse together one more time. Lead the children in saying the verse. Centers 20 Minutes Center 1: Carpenter Blocks Remind the children: God lead Jesus to many places, including Nazareth, where he worked as a carpenter. Set out the blocks (wooden If available) and tools and allow the children to create things like Joseph did. Encourage them to build stables, tables, chairs, etc.-­‐ things that Joseph may have made. Center 1: Building blocks (wooden if possible)-­‐ enough for 10 children to use at once *plastic tools-­‐ hammer, screws, etc. Center 2: Packed to Go Before class, gather a number of books, blocks, play clothes, and toys from around the room. Remind the children: Joseph and his family traveled to many lands, following God’s guidance (Bethlehem, Egypt, and Nazareth). The journeys were long and tiresome, but they trusted God. Let’s pretend that we have to travel to a far land. We should pack a suitcase to take with us. Place colored tape in a long, zigzag line on the floor, making a twisted path. Set out 2 suitcases and items to pack (books, play clothes, toys, etc.) at the beginning of each path. Give each child a turn at filling the suitcase (help them add a few heavy items like books or blocks). Then ask them to travel along the path, pulling the suitcase along with them. When they reach the end of the path, they will turn around and come back along the same path. Joseph and his family had to pack all of their belongings each time they traveled to a new land. It was difficult, but they trusted God and went anyway. Center 2: *Roll of colored tape *2 small suitcases or travel bags Center 3: Beast of Burden Before class, cut out 2 small donkey ears per child (will fit on a pom-­‐pom head). Explain to the children that in Bible times, it was common for people to travel on donkeys when they went on long journeys. The children will make Center 3: 2 sheet of brown construction paper 1 large craft

their own donkey by gluing two clothespins to opposite ends of a large craft stick. Have the children squeeze a clothespin open and place a drop of glue on the inside of the pin. Show them how to place one end of the craft stick inside the clothespin and then let go of the pen. Do the same on the other clothespin and place on the opposite end of the craft stick. The child should now have something resembling a sawhorse. Give the child a pom-­‐pom to glue to one end of the craft stick (to be the head). Then give them two cut ears to glue to the pom-­‐pom as ears. stick per child 2 spring loaded clothespins per child 1 large brown or gray pom-­pom per child *liquid glue Snack *Can be a center if you prefer Closing 10 minutes 10 Minutes Snack Prepare the snack for the children. Take time to stop and pray before the children eat. This is also a good time to ask children if they need to go to the restroom. Start clean up time with the clean up song: Graham Crackers Water/Cups Paper Towels/Napkins Say, “I Am!” (tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know it”) “If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.” “I am!” (children respond) If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.” “I am!” (children respond) If you are cleaning up, If you are cleaning up, If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.” “I am!” (children respond) Gather everyone for closing at your classrooms circle. LL: Today we learned that God guides us. Let’s remember through the week that he God guides us and cares for us. Closing Prayer Have the children sit down, fold their hands and repeat this prayer with

you. LL: Dear God, Thank you for guiding Joseph and keeping Jesus safe. Thank you for guiding us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Song Sheet This Little Light of MineThis little light of mine,I'm gonna let it shineThis little light of mine,I'm gonna let it shineThis little light of mine,I'm gonna let it shineLet it shine,Let it shine,Let it shine.Hide it under a bushel?No! I'm gonna let it shineHide it under a bushel?No! I'm gonna let it shineHide it under a bushel? No!I'm gonna let it shineLet it shine,Let it shine,Let it shine.Don't let Satan blow it out,I'm gonna let it shineDon't let Satan blow it out,I'm gonna let it shineDon't let Satan blow it out,I'm gonna let it shineLet it shine,Let it shine,Let it shine.Jesus Loves MeJesus 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! Yes, Jesus loves me!Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells meso.The BIBLEThe B-I-B-L-E,yeah that's the book for meI stand alone on the word of GodThe B-I-B-L-EJesus Loves the Little ChildrenJesus loves the little childrenAll the children of the worldBlack and yellow, red and whiteThey're all precious in His sightJesus loves the little children of theworldI’ve Got the JoyI've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in myheart.Where? Down in my heart!Where? Down in my heart!I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in myheart,down in my heartdown in my heart to stay.I’ve got the peace that passesunderstanding,Down in my heart,Where? Down in my heart!Where? Down in my heart!I’ve got the peace that passesunderstanding,down in my heartdown in my heart to stay.I’ve the got love of Jesus, love of JesusDown in my heart,Where? Down in my heart!Where? Down in my heart!I’ve the got love of Jesus, love of Jesus

down in my heart,down in my heart to stay.