• Decorations Tell the Story
  As your family or congregation decorates a Christmas tree, or places a nativity set (crèche) in a prominent place in your home or church, read the story of Christ’s birth from Matthew 1:18–25, 2:1–12, or Luke 2:1–20. Invite each person to retell the story to one another and to guests when they come. Some may want to make their own crèches out of self-drying clay, cutout paper figures mounted on cardboard, or other craft supplies. The Christmas tree itself is adorned with ornaments that tell the story. The star on top represents the star that guided the Magi to the Christ child. Angels represent those who came to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. Bells remind us of the angels’ announcement and song to the shepherds. The candy cane has been a symbol of a shepherd’s crook. Candles are a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world. You, your congregation, or your family may have other ornaments and treasures that share the sacred story at Christmas.
• Treasure in Clay Jars
  Take several imitation gems from costume jewelry and wrap this “treasure” in balls of clay, and dry to harden. Make sure to use clay or a molding substance that will dry; if you live in an area with clay in the soil, use it.
  
  Give each person a hardened ball of clay and ask them to describe what they are holding. Ask questions like “Is it beautiful?” and “Do you think it’s valuable?” Write their answers on a chalk or white board or large sheet of paper.
  
  Read aloud the “Treasure in Clay” story. Then ask each person to crack the clay on a piece of newspaper on the floor or a table or if outdoors, hit the clay on pavement or large rocks. Using 2 Corinthians 4:7 talk about the treasure in clay vessels. What is the treasure? Do we have to break the clay to get to the treasure? How does this sacred story help us understand God’s love for us?

• Heart, Soul, and Mind
  Read Matthew 22:37–40. Understanding scripture helps us increase our love for God, others, and self. Jesus gave the great commandments to love God with heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. In an all ages group read “The Most Important Things” in the Lectionary Story Bible, Year A, 228. Discuss: How do we give our minds? How do we give our hearts? How do we give our souls?
  
  

  See & Say Bible Verses for Children by Daphna Flegal, Abingdon Press, 1999

  Add sign language to key words in the scripture. See Sign & Say Bible Verses for Children, edited by Daphna Flegal, Abingdon Press, 1999, to learn the signs. If you know someone who signs, ask them to teach your group. Apply the same signs to the song “Love the Lord” performed by Lincoln Brewster. (See www.ccli.com for music permissions.)

• Holy Week Story Walk
  The story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection is a common thread of renewal and hope for all Christian denominations (Mark 11—16). Invite the community of Christian believers and seekers in your neighborhood or town to explore and celebrate Holy Week together, by creating seven learning stations. At each station, share the scripture story, discussion, and related activities. Download the resource sheet for this event.  

• Pantomiming Jesus Stories
  Find favorite stories that tell of Jesus reaching out to others. Divide the larger group into smaller groups of multiple generations. Have each group choose a story, and create a pantomime of the story for the other groups to guess. Once the stories are well rehearsed, share with the wider community as “street actors” at an event like a holiday parade, city fair, art fair, or other venue. Stories to choose can include, but aren’t limited to:
  • Jesus healing a blind man (John 9:1–41)
  • Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:5–42)
  • Jesus calls the tax collector (Matthew 9:9–13)
  • Jesus eating with Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–5)

(Personal Spiritual Practices are those that we do alone, but they can be learned and practiced in an all-ages group setting. Use an all-ages activity to learn these practices together, always encouraging participants to continue practicing individually.)

• Dwelling in the Word
  Doctrine and Covenants 161:5 tells us that the sacred story of scripture and faith empowers and illuminates. It does so not only when we study scripture, but when we “dwell in the word.” “Dwelling in the Word” is a practice of meditating on scripture. Choose a favorite scripture story or text, or use a scripture text from a lectionary. Find a peaceful place and pray to open yourself to the meaning of the scripture. Read the text out loud; then read it silently. Reflect or write in your journal your response:
  
  
  • What are the words, images, or phrases saying to me?
  • How can these words, images or phrases help me to grow as a disciple of Christ?
  • What does God want me to understand or feel?
  • What response is God inviting from me?
  Close with a prayer of gratitude for sacred stories of scripture that can become part of our personal story.
• Breath Prayers
  Breath prayers help focus our attention on God’s presence in our personal sacred story. Use a prayer word or scripture phrase with a pattern of relaxed, peaceful breathing. Choose a scripture phrase as your Breath Prayer and recite it over and over as you breathe in and breathe out. Feel the presence of God. Some texts are:
  • Here I am, send me. (1 Samuel 3:4)
  • Breathe on me, breath of God. (hymn by Edwin Hatch)
  • Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
• Repeating and Receiving Scripture
  Small fragments of scripture can shape our spiritual lives. The scripture, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NRSV), is familiar and powerful. Pray with this scripture by repeating and reducing it, leaving off one word or part at a time, and then adding it back on. Look for other scripture texts that can be adapted to this pattern, for instance, Deuteronomy 6:5. What happens when you engage scripture in this way?
  
  Be still, and know that I am God!
  Be still, and know that I am.
  Be still, and know.
  Be still.
  Be.
  Be still.
  Be still, and know.
  Be still, and know that I am. Be still, and know that I am God!

• Time Capsule
  As a group, study the book Community of Christ: An Illustrated History. If your group found a time capsule representing our church’s history, what would you expect to find in it? Have each group member make a list and then share it with the group. Listen to why each included specific items. What would be the most valuable items to put in a time capsule to pass on to others?
• You Have Heard it Said…But I Say to You…
  In Matthew 5:21–48, the pattern “You have heard it said…but I say to you…” is often repeated as Jesus encouraged people to follow God’s ways more deeply than was taught in the Hebrew Scriptures—not to abandon what they already knew, but to build on it.  Working together in smaller groups rewrite the following verses from Matthew in your own words following the pattern “You have heard it said…but I say to you…” (Matthew 5:21–26, Matthew 5:38–42, Matthew 5:43–48) Discover what is at the center of Jesus’ teaching. Share your thoughts and ideas with the larger group. Practice to present this modern version of Matthew as the call to worship in a worship service.

• Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman, Scholastic Inc., ISBN: 9780590472807

  Something from Nothing
  Read together the adapted Jewish folktale Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman. Grandpa trims away the worn parts of Joseph’s baby blanket and uses it to make him a jacket in the first of its many transformations into ever smaller items: a vest, a tie, a handkerchief, and a button as each item in turn becomes worn. When the button is lost, Joseph declares: “There is just enough material here to make...a wonderful story!” Bring an item that has special meaning to your discipleship and share its story with your group. Display all the group’s special items in a worship setting.

• Bible Literacy
  Community of Christ uses Seasons of the Spirit, lectionary-based curriculum, as do many other Christian denominations. Join with another Christian congregation to study Seasons of the Spirit together and learn the meaning of the scripture stories and the impact they have had on discipleship. What relationships will grow as you study together? What is the value or possible outcome of creating that relationship with another Christian denomination?
• Share Your Sacred Story
  Plan a setting to share the “sacred story” of the congregation or mission center. Create a timeline with photos and key dates and display in the fellowship hall or other central location. How did it get started? Who were some of the founding members? How long has it been in existence? What has been its mission, its impact on people? How does it continue to grow? What relationships were fostered along the way, or continue to this day? Encourage past and present members of the congregation or mission center to bring or send their photos and stories to share.
• Scripture Journal
  Keep a scripture journal. Using a daily devotional book (such as Daily Bread from Herald House) or selecting your own daily scripture passages, read and comment on one passage each day. Take notes in a journal. Read your notes at the end of the week. What did you learn? How is the sacred story unfolding before you?

• Scripture Affirmation
  Read Community of Christ scripture affirmations. Use the discussion questions for group reflection. How can children and youth grow in their knowledge and understanding of scriptures? How can the study of scripture help us grow spiritually?
• Treasure Hunt
  Host an Easter treasure hunt. Instead of a mad grab for candy-filled eggs, give each child a basket to carry to five Bible story stations. Teens or adults will read a Bible story to the children, give them a symbol of God’s love (a small wooden fish with a Bible verse inscription, a tiny cross, or a sticker) to put in their basket. After the children have been to all the stations, gather them in a central location for a summary and song. Then give each one candy or treats as they leave.
• Children’s Christmas Event
  Host a Christmas event for children—read the story of Jesus’ birth (from Matthew: 1—2 or Luke: 1—2), create a live nativity scene, make star ornaments (cut yellow or gold paper into star shapes, decorate with glitter to make them sparkle, attach a string for hanging). All ages can help with preparation (snacks, crafts, music, props) and can volunteer to read, direct activities and clean up.

• Hymn Writers and Composers: Disciples in Action
  Use the histories and origins of hymns and songs as examples of disciples in action. Many have been moved by the story of John Newton, a slave trader in the late 1700s, who wrote Amazing Grace after surviving a devastating storm at sea. The stories behind many well-known hymns are available at websites like www.lectionary.org/hymnstories.htm. Over 600 stories on hymns are being collected for the Community of Christ Sings hymnal.
• Share Your Sacred Story
  Complete the following thoughts as a way to prepare a personal testimony to share with a friend or seeker:
  • The things I am most excited about are…
  • I feel God loves me because…
  • I felt God especially close when…
  • Because I have chosen to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, my life has changed in these ways…
  In pairs or small groups practice sharing these thoughts. Listen closely to the comments of all. Provide feedback to others in your group about things that interest you about their stories. Find others outside the congregation to share your story with, and listen to theirs. From Vibrant Witness: Who, Me?
• Scripture Library
  Doctrine and Covenants 16:1c–d counsels: “Rely on all things written concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel, and my Rock.” In a congregation library or bookshelf, provide books of the Scriptures and good theological guides that can be checked out or used at church (for example, in discipleship preparation classes). Include children’s versions of the Bible. Refer to the list of recommended publishers which have a similar theological frame of reference as Community of Christ.
• Learning the Sacred Stories
  Familiarize children, those who are new to church, and those who have not studied the Bible, with sacred stories. Through drama, Christian education, or worship, identify “Who’s Who” in the Bible, follow up throughout the year with specific stories and scripture readings about each one. Create a poster with the names and pictures of each Biblical figure to reinforce the lessons.

• Read Scripture Daily
  The apostle Paul tells us that scripture is inspired by God and useful for learning how to be disciples of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 3:16–17) Make an ongoing commitment to read scripture daily to become familiar with the sacred story. Encourage children and youth to read and study scripture as part of their weekly routine. Set aside time at home to read and talk about scripture. Do not concern yourselves with memorizing verses, but seek deeper meaning and broader understanding. How does sharing the sacred story build a stronger bond between you, your family, friends, and God?
• Off the Shelf and Onto the Table
  Give scripture an accessible place in your home. Make it easy for people to see and inviting for them to pick up and read. Include illustrated or age-appropriate Bibles, such as The Lectionary Story Bible for children. Whenever a child picks up their Bible, talk with them about a picture or read to them. How does scripture lead us to Christ, the living word?