This flexible resource for children aged 5-11 years contains three short session outlines for use in midweek groups during the first three weeks of Advent. It sits alongside Gifted’s worship package, exploring the same themes.
Each week explores a psalm and passage from Matthew’s Gospel. If children are unfamiliar with the key figures of the Gospel, such as John the Baptist and Jesus, offer some background information or watch a video such as the one suggested in Advent 2.
The sessions all explore the Journey of a Lifetime ‘Tune in’ approach to growing in faith, and are linked with a Methodist Way of Life. Each session offers a range of activities within the three sections:
- Tune in to God, the world and each other
- What is God saying?
- What next?
Choose one activity from each of these three sections to build an hour-long session plan for your children’s full engagement.
You can adapt these ideas for a range of settings: school groups, after school clubs, Junior Church or midweek groups. Shape the outlines to work for the children and young people you know in your church and community:
- Keep in mind the nature and needs of your group, amending the activities and ideas to help everyone access them well.
- Consider ways for children to lead discussions, ask questions, share their responses and suggest a ‘What next?’ that is relevant for them.
- Other ideas might arise in the process, so make time to explore these together (even if it means diverting from the original session plan!).
Enjoy using Gifted’s children’s activities to draw close to God as we wait in anticipation of Christ’s birth!
Advent 1: You are a gift (30 November 2025)
Advent 2: The Orange in the Stocking (7 December 2025)
Advent 3: Give Hope (14 December 2025)
Advent 1: You are a gift
30 November 2025
Bible readings: Psalm 122, Matthew 24:36–44
Object: Wrapped-up present
Methodist Way of Life: Live
Tune in to God, the world and each other
Psalm Beat
Materials Print out copies of Psalm 122, scissors, blank paper, glue, pots, pans, spoons, shakers or instruments.
Activity Psalms were usually sung rather than read. Start off by singing Psalm 122 together, rather than reading it. Then break the group into twos and threes, asking each group to choose two different verses of the psalm to make into their own song lyrics. They may want to cut out the words and sentences and stick them on paper to make new verses. Or children can use spoons, pots and pans or instruments to work out a rhythm and beat to their new lyrics.
Open up the Bible
Materials Large versions of the passage from Matthew printed at A3 size.
Activity Read these verses and highlight what Jesus asks us to do. Talk together about this.
Wondering together
Materials Print out a child-friendly version of Psalm 122.
Activity Cut up the passage into the separate verses. Hand these out to children who are happy and willing to read. Read the passage aloud using different tones of voice: whispering, slowly, quickly, loudly. Wonder together about which is a favourite verse, a confusing verse, a verse we’d like to say to a friend.
Advent Journey Discovery Box
Materials Cardboard box or shoe box, shredded paper, Christmas wrapping paper, scissors, glue, small gift box or gift bag. Battery tealight candle, small gift box, A5 paper, felt-tip pens or pencils, tissue paper, black card, small clear bottle, eco glitter or small coloured beads, water, small sticks to make the cross and string to tie it together.
Activity Wrap the box and place the shredded paper inside. This box will travel with children throughout advent, on each Sunday, add in an item as described below. At home, children switch on the tealight, take each of the items out of the box to reflect on their advent journey, then say a prayer and place the items back into the box. Encourage the children to add their own advent journey items during the week.
Week One Add a small gift box with a self-portrait inside, and a battery tealight candle. Each child draws a small self-portrait on A5 paper and lists their gifts and skills on the reverse of their portrait. This is then folded up and put inside the small gift box.
Week Two Take time to explore with children what they did with their box in the week. Make a tissue paper mosaic heart to represent caring (part of a Methodist Way of Life) and a mosaic star to show the way. These can be held up to the light.
Week Three Take time to explore with children what they did with their box in the week.Add a glittery bottle and a cross: the glittery bottle represents giving hope to the world and the joy, awe and wonder of the birth of Jesus to come; the cross represents prayer and hope for all.
What is God saying?
Refining fire candle craft
Materials Tealight candles, tissue paper, glue, fine markers.
Activity Decorate candle holders with words like hope, ready, peace, or with images of flames and stars. As you light the candle, remind children that Jesus is coming, and of the refining light of Christ preparing us to be a gift to the world.
Prayer doodling
Materials Felt-tip pens and paper
Activity What things/images are described in these Bible passages? Draw some of them as a ‘prayer doodle’. Start with a blank sheet of paper and write your chosen verse from one of the passages in the centre. Draw a shape around the words – this is a prayer space for children. Start to doodle around it – this is their prayer as they draw and write words, sharing them with God. This can be done quietly or spoken aloud to God whilst doodling. Saying ‘Amen’ can be helpful when moving on to a new doodle or prayer moment. (Idea adapted from Kathryn Shirey, How to Pray with Prayer Doodles - Prayer & Possibilities (prayerandpossibilities.com))
Places of peace
Materials Large sheets of paper, felt-tip pens, photographs of local places (optional).
Activity Ask everyone to draw (or use the photographs) a map of the local area – think in terms of homes, schools, community spaces, important hubs such as doctor's surgeries, rather than a street map. Draw responses to the questions ‘What places matter to us? What does peace, or shalom, look like in this place? What would we hope to see?’
You are a gift!
Materials An orange ball – or actual orange
Activity As the children sit in a circle, ask them to roll the ball to each other and say aloud one way that person is a ‘gift’ to the group. How does that person help others or show kindness or make a difference? Older children might like to play this against the clock: see if they can pass the ball between all the group in five minutes or less! Or divide into smaller groups and see which one finishes first. Reflect together on how it felt to hear others say these things about us.
What next?
Thank you cards for the community
Materials Blank greetings cards (order from Methodist Publishing here), pens, stickers, stamps, envelopes.
Activity Invite participants to write cards to deliver to neighbours, teachers and school staff, local workers, or community spaces. For example, children could write:
- For lunchtime supervisors: Thank you for always taking the time to chat with me during the lunch break. I always enjoy talking with you.
- For the school crossing patrol: Thank you for helping me to cross the road safely.
- For a neighbour: Thank you for always throwing my ball back when it lands in your garden!
Praying for peace
Materials White or cream card, dove-shaped template, scissors, coat hanger, cotton thread.
Activity Draw round the dove template and cut out. Spend time reflecting on where there is a need for peace and write short prayers on the doves. Hang them from the coat hanger using the thread and display so all can join in and pray.
Get ready
Materials Small boxes with sweet treats in, wrapped with paper and ribbon, a luggage tag, felt-tip pens.
Activity Fill the boxes with sweet treats and wrap them. Write on the luggage tag ways we can try to bring about peace this advent. What could we say or do that would make a difference at home, school and in the world around us? Keep the boxes until Christmas and then share them as a group.
Advent 2: The Orange in the Stocking
7 December 2025
Bible readings: Psalm 72:1–7, 18–19, Matthew 3:1–12
Object: Orange/stocking
Methodist Way of Life: Care
Tune in to God, the world and each other
Who was John the Baptist?
Materials Screen to display video
Activity Show this video to find out more about the life and ministry of John the Baptist – what did God call him to do?
Signs of justice
Materials Child-friendly Bible or app
Activity Read Psalm 72 and look for signs of justice in these verses, reflecting on who is being helped. Pick out any of the difficult words such as ‘righteousness’ or ‘oppressors’ and talk about what these may mean.
Puppet storytelling
Materials Socks, felt fabric or paper, googly eyes, scissors, glue, felt-tip pens, other scraps of fabric, thread or decorations.
Use an A4 paper template such as this one here.
Activity Make puppets for each of the characters in the Matthew 3 passage: John, people in the crowd and the Pharisees and Sadducees. Now retell the story using the puppets. Follow this up by using the puppets to wonder together about each of the characters, their part in the story and who might be “the one who is more powerful than I” who will come after John.What is God saying?
Fruit of the Spirit tree
Materials Large poster or cardboard tree outline, coloured paper or card (cut into fruit shapes), pens, glue or Blu-Tack.
Activity Invite each person to write on a fruit one quality they’ve seen grow in someone else in the group or community, such as kindness, joy or patience. Add the fruit to a shared ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ tree. Use Paul’s list from Galatians 5:22–23 as labels around the tree or create a mini version for each person to take home.
Fruit salad
Materials Selection of fruit (bear in mind any allergies), chopping board, plate or bowl, knives (safety ones for younger children).
Activity Prepare the fruit for a fruit salad. What needs to be peeled away or removed in order to eat it? Why is that? Enjoy the sensory experience of touching, smelling, tasting and eating the fruit – maybe trying something new.
Reflection Which fruits or flavours did we prefer? How does this help us to understand the range of fruits of the Spirit and how God gives various ones to each of us? Wonder together about which fruit might best describe us.
Run-around Peace
Materials Five sheets of paper with each letter of the word “Peace” written separately on each one, device to play Christmas music on, timer.
Activity Place the five sheets around the room/space. Play the Christmas music and invite children to dance along. When the music stops, go and stand by one of the letters. Can they think of one way to show peace that begins with that letter? Give them two minutes then play the music again and choose a different letter. Reflect together on how many different ways were thought of to be peacemakers.
What next?
Fruit Garland of Justice
Materials Cardboard fruit shapes, string, clothes pegs, pens.
Activity Write on each fruit an example of someone using their skills, abilities and influence as a gift – for justice, compassion or healing (past or present, global or local). String the fruits into a garland to hang in a prayer space or community room. Reflect together about ways to help make justice happen where the children are.
Stocking fillers
Materials A fabric stocking, small slips of paper, felt-tip pens.
Activity Write each of the fruits of the Spirit on a slip of paper and put them in the stocking. Take out one of the slips and seek to try and live that out during the day or week ahead. Eg kindness – find ways to be kind to classmates, siblings and friends. Reflect together whether some of the fruits of the Spirit were easier than others.
Advent 3: Give Hope
14 December 2025
Bible readings: Psalm 146:5–10, Matthew 11:2–11
Object: Poinsettia
Methodist Way of Life: Serve
Tune in to God, the world and each other
Hear the word
Materials Dwell Bible app
Activity Listen to a reading of both passages. There is an option to choose a child’s speaking voice.
Discover more about John the Baptist
Materials Screen to display video
Activity Watch Matthew 11:2–11 as Jesus speaks about John the Baptist
Read the word
Materials Large, printed, child-friendly versions of Psalm 146:5–10.
Activity In pairs or threes, highlight all the things that God has done and continues to do. How many can we find? Reflect together which of these matters a lot to us – why is that?
What is God saying?
Sing ‘Colours of Day’
Materials A sing-along version of the song ‘Colours of Day’, device to play music, such as a phone and Bluetooth speaker.
Activity Reflect together on the line “Tell the people of Jesus, let his love show” and share ideas of how we can let Jesus’ love show through the people we are and the places we go.
Poinsettia printing
Materials Leaves and petals of a poinsettia, red and green paint, large sheet of paper, felt-tip pens.
Activity Cover the leaves and petals with a thin layer of paint and press them against the paper to create a large picture of the poinsettia. Once the picture is dry, write on the leaves and petal prints ways we can serve, help and tell others about the Good News of Jesus’ love.
Good news
Materials Bibles with both passages in
Activity After reading both the passages, write newspaper headlines that capture the essence of the passage, eg ‘God makes everything!’ or ‘John’s followers report back on Jesus’. How creative can the children be in summing these up? Alternatively, imagine being a presenter in a news studio going to a reporter at the scene who is describing what is happening. Present this as a brief drama sketch.
Race for Hope!
Materials Cardboard tubes (baton), wrapping paper, sweets between layers.
Activity Organise the children into teams with half of the members at each end of the room/space. Give each one a cardboard baton and start the relay race. Each time the baton is handed over unwrap one layer, eat a sweet and say one way we can show God’s hope to others through something we say or do.
What next?
Healing Hands Wreath
Materials Paper or foam sheet hand shapes, felt-tip pens, scissors, glue or sticky tape, string or hoop for wreath.
Activity Trace each participant’s hand on paper or foam sheet. On each hand, write or draw ways to show God’s healing and care (eg welcoming strangers, helping the oppressed, sharing good news). Assemble the hands into a wreath as a sign of a community working together to bring restoration. Reflect together on God’s mission and how we can join in with ‘healing hands’.
People Prayers
Materials Paper, felt-tip pens, scissors.
Activity Cut out a paper chain of paper people by folding a sheet of paper and cutting around the outline of a ‘person’ shape from the folded edge. Write the name of someone known to the children on each ‘person’: someone in your community who cares for others, eg a teacher, a nurse, a carer, a refuse collector. Pray for them and the work they do. Create a long chain with all the people taped together that represents your community.
Sharing good news
Materials Sheets of paper, felt-tip pens.
Activity Design a ‘Good News' poster using the newspaper headlines that were imagined earlier to display in a window at home or in church. Make it colourful and eye catching, with details of a service at your church that people are invited to.