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Collective Worship Resource


Christmas - Finding the real meaning through Christmas cards

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AGE: Infants and Juniors

THEME: Christmas - Finding the real meaning through Christmas cards

AIM:
To use Christmas cards as a starting point for reflecting on the 'real' meaning of Christmas.

PREPARATION:
You will need:
  • a selection of Christmas cards including one showing a nativity scene
  • a selected group of approx 6 children with one of their own Christmas cards which they particularly like - try to include children from each year group.

INTRODUCTION:
Ask each of the children to talk about the card they have chosen. They should include some information about the sender, what the card depicts and why they like it.

Ask the 'assembled' group whether they know anything about how and when the custom of sending Christmas cards first began. Explain that many of our Christmas customs are really quite new and only became popular during Queen Victoria's reign, e.g. Christmas trees, carol singers, crackers and cards.

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS CARD:
In 1843, Sir Henry Cole, realising that he would not be able to find time to write letters to all his friends at Christmas, asked an artist to design a card that he could send to each of his friends. On the front, the artist drew a picture of friends eating and drinking in a merry Christmas scene, but on the other side were pictures of the poor being clothed and fed to remind everyone that Christmas is also a time to remember those in need.

DEVELOPMENT:
Using your own selected group of cards as illustration, make the following points:
  • cards keep us in touch with people who have moved away
  • cards don't need to be expensive - a home made one can be very special
  • sometimes we get a lot of cards showing all kinds of scenes/pictures, e.g. robins, snowman, humorous characters, Father Christmas, etc., but not many show pictures of the first Christmas.
Talk about the nativity card in your selection. Recall how Sir Harry Cole tried to remind his friends of the real meaning of Christmas. Explain how the nativity picture also reminds us of the real message of Christmas - Jesus was born in a poor stable, into an ordinary family. For Christians, Christmas is a time when they remember the birth of Jesus and how he came into the world to bring hope to the poor and needy.

READING:
Read, or ask a child to read, the section in St Luke's gospel about the birth of Jesus (Luke 2 selected verses from 8 to 20).

HYMN / SONG:
Sing any of the well known Christmas carols, 'Once in Royal David's City' or a modern carol which focuses on the birth of Jesus, e.g. 'Born in the Night, Mary's Child'.

PRAYER AND REFLECTION:
Ask children to sit quietly while you read out one or two appropriate messages contained in the cards. Then, using the response - Help us to remember:

LEADER:  Let us give thanks for all the people who have sent us cards - our friends, family and neighbours.
ALL:  Help us to remember.
LEADER:  Let us think about all those, this Christmas, who are poor and in need.
ALL:  Help us to remember.
LEADER:  Let us think about the story of the first Christmas and the birth of Jesus into an ordinary family.
ALL:  Help us to remember.

ENDING:
Another carol/Christmas song may be sung or children could lead out to appropriate Christmas background music.

LINKS WITH OTHER AREAS OF THE CURRICULUM:
ART / DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY:  Design and make a Christmas card.
RE: 
  • Work on the Christmas story.
  • Celebrating Christmas in Church and the worldwide Christian community.
HISTORY - VICTORIANS:  Particularly some key characters whose work involved helping the poor and needy, e.g. Dr Barnardo.
GEOGRAPHY:  Look at different ways in which Christmas cards from different cultures depict the Nativity, e.g. Asia, South America, Africa.

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Copyright © Culham Institute 2000-2012