GIFTS TO WRAP: Teacher can have small boxes available for children to wrap a small piece of candy or other small gifts that they would like to give to someone who needs encouragement. Each little gift will have a slip of paper to place inside that will say JESUS IS THE BEST GIFT... or THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS IS JESUS COMING TO EARTH TO GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE.

UNWRAP A GIFT: Teacher can have gifts hidden around a designated place for children to HUNT for the gift. INSIDE each gift could be a small candy but the most important will be a slip of paper in each gift that will have something that Jesus gives to us. Children will take turns opening their gift and reading something that Jesus gives to some or all of us... such as hearing, sight, walking, health, parents, church, His Word, etc.

CALENDAR ART:  Children can each be given a calendar for December to decorate with JESUS BIRTHDAY and what THEY would like to GIVE to JESUS at Christmas! JESUS' BIRTHDAY can be drawn or written on the 25th and the other days can have the other ideas of "What can "I" give to JESUS"? (Suggestion for children to say "I'll give him ME"!

JESUS/CHRISTMAS ACROSTIC:  A large poster can have JESUS written down on one side and CHRISTMAS written toward the other side. Children can give ideas for what JESUS gives to US and the children can then give ideas on the CHRISTMAS side of what WE can give to JESUS!!

"JESUS IS THE BEST GIFT" POSTER:  Children can cover a large poster board or a bulletin board or light weight wood with a solid color Christmas wrapping and decorate with a wide ribbon and then children can add big brightly-colored, cut-out letters for JESUS IS THE BEST GIFT. (If the class is small, one child could tape or glue on the letters for a whole word on the poster).

BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR JESUS:  Teacher can have a decorated birthday cake for Jesus --- with ribbon and a bow on the cake to look like a GIFT. Children can sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jesus and enjoy a piece of the cake for His birthday!

"WHO GETS THE GIFT?" GAME:  Teacher can tell the children that some gifts last for a short time and some gifts last for a long time but Jesus lasts FOREVER! The teacher can give a GIFT to one child but whenever a whistle is blown or whenever the teacher starts to sing or some other type of "notice", the child will hand the gift back to the teacher who will hand that gift to someone else! This game can last for the duration of the classtime and letting the children know through out the class that THIS GIFT is only for a short time, but JESUS' gift of eternal life is FOREVER when we repent and trust in Him! Teacher can then give each child a little gift to open or take home, if desired.

Song:  "You Gave Us Hope" by Ralph Merrifield

Lead Sheet (PDF) - Vocal part only

Sheet Music (PDF) - Vocal part with piano accompaniment

Piano Accompaniment (MP3) Right click and save to your computer. 1X with introduction.

This song is Copyright © 2003 by Ralph Merrifield.  Duplication of the music for non-profit use is permitted and encouraged.  For more free worship music visit the New Hope Music web site.