Family Time with God: December

How to use this section: On this page, you'll find Fun Stuff, monthly activities for your family, and Did You Know, an interesting story to tell your kids. On the pages that follow, you'll learn a new Bible verse a week. The verses are divided into three parts: Preschoolers memorize the words in bold. Elementary kids memorize the words in bold and italics. Teens and parents learn the complete verse.

Fun Stuff

Harvest Place Cards (November 26)

You'll need:

• 1" x 4" pieces of heavy paper in an autumn color such as tan, orange, or sage green, one piece for each person who will be at Thanksgiving dinner
• hole punch
• markers
• pieces of raffia or jute ribbon big enough to tie a bow
• a piece of fruit with a stem (apple, pear, plum, etc.) for each person at the table

Write each person's name on a piece of the paper and punch a hole in one corner. Thread the jute or raffia through the hole and tie the card around the stem of the fruit.

Christmas Star Cookies (December 11)

You'll need:

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 11/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 13/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 package chocolate stars

Cream together shortening, brown sugar, and peanut butter until smooth. Stir in egg, milk, and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the batter until well blended. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 375°. When cookies are still warm, press one chocolate star onto each.

Make a Tambourine (January 8)

You'll need:

• two paper plates
• hole punch, yarn

Decorate the back sides of the plates with stickers, markers, and glitter. Put the two paper plates together front-to-front and punch holes around the edge of the plates about every half-inch. Lace the plates together, stopping about 3/4 of the way around to put the beans or pebbles inside the plates. Finish lacing the plates together and tie tightly enough so no beans or pebbles can escape. Play beautiful music with your tambourine!

Did You Know …

… that Fanny Crosby (January 21) wrote around nine thousand hymns, many of which are still sung around the world today? Some of her most well-known songs include "Blessed Assurance", "To God Be the Glory," and "Tell Me the Story of Jesus."

Crosby sang beautifully and played both the harp and piano. Along with songwriting, she enjoyed memorizing God's Word. She could recite Genesis through Deuteronomy, the four Gospels, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and most of Psalms.

Amazingly, she accomplished all this even though she was blind.

What Is Awana?

Awana® is a nondenominational youth ministry committed to reaching boys and girls with the gospel of Christ and training them to serve him. To learn more about Awana and locate an Awana club near you, visit www.awana.org/about.asp

December

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