Christmas in Five Letters - EVENT GUIDE
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CONTENTS<br />
01 Introduction<br />
02<br />
03<br />
05<br />
Event Overview<br />
Plann<strong>in</strong>g Timel<strong>in</strong>e<br />
Sett<strong>in</strong>g Up the Experience<br />
21 Registration<br />
22<br />
26<br />
Publicity Plan<br />
Time Frame<br />
28 Volunteers<br />
28<br />
29<br />
30<br />
Bits & Pieces<br />
After the Event<br />
Extra Resources
INTRODUCTION<br />
Each <strong>Christmas</strong> gives your church a chance to sw<strong>in</strong>g your doors wide open and throw a<br />
party for the newborn K<strong>in</strong>g—a party where everyone is welcome.<br />
This Event Guide will give you a step-by-step plan for how to provide a warm and<br />
welcom<strong>in</strong>g space for families <strong>in</strong> your community to have fun, make memories, and most<br />
importantly, reflect on the wonder of the God-with-us child com<strong>in</strong>g to be near us <strong>in</strong> our<br />
darkness, chaos, and brokenness.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce this event may be very different from anyth<strong>in</strong>g you’ve done before, here are five key<br />
dist<strong>in</strong>ctions that will help you set proper expectations for yourself and the outcomes for<br />
the event:<br />
It's children-centered and as such provides plenty of room for freedom, joy,<br />
spontaneity, and creativity. Kids love this event because they're allowed to be<br />
themselves!<br />
It’s community-focused and as such makes it easy for unchurched families to step their<br />
foot <strong>in</strong>to your church, have fun, and build relationships with other families.<br />
It's family-driven and self-guided which means that the entire family can show up and<br />
leave at any time they want and have a great time.<br />
It's engag<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong>teractive, mean<strong>in</strong>g that there are no observers at this event.<br />
Everyone is a participant.<br />
It’s a gift. By host<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Letters</strong> you’ll be offer<strong>in</strong>g the families <strong>in</strong> your<br />
community a beautiful gift—a chance to slow down amidst the holiday hustle and<br />
bustle, and enjoy moments of peace, joy and togetherness.<br />
And of course, <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Letters</strong> is all about JESUS!<br />
This is your chance to tell your people the wonderful news of God<br />
com<strong>in</strong>g to earth as a t<strong>in</strong>y baby and encourage them<br />
to make room for Jesus <strong>in</strong> their heart.<br />
|| 01 ||
<strong>EVENT</strong> OVERVIEW<br />
CHRISTMAS IN FIVE LETTERS<br />
A SACRED EXPERIENCE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY<br />
This event is comprised of three segments:<br />
<strong>Five</strong> Interactive Stations<br />
One or more Creative Stations<br />
Faith-at-Home kits<br />
INTERACTIVE STATIONS are self-guided, self-paced areas around your church where<br />
families will engage <strong>in</strong> immersive experiences of the events surround<strong>in</strong>g the first <strong>Christmas</strong>.<br />
Families will follow the <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Letters</strong> family guide where they'll f<strong>in</strong>d Scripture<br />
passages and <strong>in</strong>structions for each of the five stations.<br />
CREATIVE STATIONS are self-guided, self-paced stations where families will engage <strong>in</strong><br />
creative activities like manger build<strong>in</strong>g, cookie decorat<strong>in</strong>g, and/or rock pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
The FAITH-AT-HOME segment is when families receive a pack of the <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Five</strong><br />
<strong>Letters</strong> postcards, beautifully designed with Scripture, images of Jesus, and family friendly<br />
questions and activities. These postcards can be displayed at home <strong>in</strong> a special place<br />
where kids can regularly <strong>in</strong>teract with them.<br />
AGE RECOMMENDATION<br />
We recommend this experience for elementary-aged kids and their parents.<br />
Consider offer<strong>in</strong>g childcare for preschoolers dur<strong>in</strong>g this time to give parents<br />
the opportunity to attend with their older children.<br />
|| 02 ||
PLANNING TIMELINE<br />
6 weeks out<br />
Reserve date, time, location, rooms<br />
Promotion beg<strong>in</strong>s<br />
F<strong>in</strong>alize onl<strong>in</strong>e registration forms<br />
Open registration onl<strong>in</strong>e & <strong>in</strong>-person<br />
Social media push<br />
In-service promotion<br />
Send email <strong>in</strong>vite #1 to families <strong>in</strong><br />
the database<br />
Bullet<strong>in</strong> announcement #1<br />
4 weeks out<br />
Cont<strong>in</strong>ue social media push<br />
Cont<strong>in</strong>ue <strong>in</strong>-service promotion<br />
Send email <strong>in</strong>vite #2 to families <strong>in</strong><br />
the database<br />
Bullet<strong>in</strong> announcement #2<br />
Send volunteer recruitment <strong>in</strong>vite<br />
Purchase all supplies<br />
Create a layout/map of the event<br />
Determ<strong>in</strong>e tech needs<br />
Order/pr<strong>in</strong>t station posters<br />
|| 03 ||
1 week out<br />
Cont<strong>in</strong>ue social media push<br />
2 weeks out<br />
Cont<strong>in</strong>ue social media push<br />
Bullet<strong>in</strong> announcement #3<br />
Send an email rem<strong>in</strong>der to<br />
volunteers<br />
Send an email rem<strong>in</strong>der to<br />
registered families<br />
Load tech content/music playlists<br />
Pr<strong>in</strong>t layout/map for families<br />
(optional)<br />
Pr<strong>in</strong>t Family Guides<br />
Pr<strong>in</strong>t Faith-at-Home cards<br />
event day<br />
1 day before<br />
Send text rem<strong>in</strong>ders to volunteers<br />
Post social media rem<strong>in</strong>der<br />
Event set-up<br />
Supplies ready for each family<br />
Volunteer VIP Meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Send text or email rem<strong>in</strong>ders to<br />
families<br />
Ensure all supplies are ready<br />
|| 04 ||
SETTING UP<br />
As you set up your church, it is important for families<br />
to go through the experience <strong>in</strong> order, based on the<br />
word “JESUS,” and the Family Guide.<br />
To help families know how to navigate the experience,<br />
we suggest pr<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g large posters of each letter (see<br />
POSTERS FOLDER) and display<strong>in</strong>g them outside each<br />
room. Directional arrows can be placed on the floor<br />
with pa<strong>in</strong>ter’s tape or directional signage can be<br />
pr<strong>in</strong>ted and displayed.<br />
The follow<strong>in</strong>g order will give families the best<br />
experience based on the <strong>Christmas</strong> story timel<strong>in</strong>e:<br />
WELCOME STATION – Families sign <strong>in</strong> and<br />
receive their Family Guide.<br />
INTERACTIVE STATION J – Jesus... Foretold by<br />
Prophets<br />
INTERACTIVE STATION E – Jesus... Conceived by a Virg<strong>in</strong><br />
INTERACTIVE STATION S – Jesus... Proclaimed by Shepherds<br />
INTERACTIVE STATION U – Jesus... Worshipped by Magi<br />
INTERACTIVE STATION S – Jesus... Celebrated by Us<br />
CREATIVE STATION #1 – assembl<strong>in</strong>g wooden mangers<br />
CREATIVE STATION #2 – <strong>Christmas</strong> rock pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />
CREATIVE STATION #3 – <strong>Christmas</strong> cookies decorat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
FAITH-AT-HOME – Visual devotions to take home.<br />
|| 05 ||
Each station represents a different part of the<br />
<strong>Christmas</strong> story, therefore we recommend each<br />
letter of the experience have its own designated<br />
space or separate room, as the props will be<br />
different for each station.<br />
Check out these recommendations on how to set up<br />
each station, and feel free to add your own<br />
creativity to cont<strong>in</strong>ue to br<strong>in</strong>g them to life!<br />
WELCOME STATION<br />
Set up a few tables and chairs.<br />
This area should be located directly where families walk <strong>in</strong> and clearly marked with<br />
registration signage.<br />
Set out your registration materials and Family Guides.<br />
This might be the best spot for families to also pick up their FAITH-at-HOME postcards,<br />
either at the time of registration or when they leave the event.<br />
SUPPLIES:<br />
One table<br />
One tablecloth<br />
One or two chairs<br />
Map of the build<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Family Guides (for when they arrive)<br />
Faith-at-Home postcards (for when they leave)<br />
|| 06 ||
Check out this adorable<br />
<strong>Christmas</strong> Playset<br />
available exclusively at<br />
WeAreKidM<strong>in</strong>.com<br />
|| 07 ||
STATION J<br />
Hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah, Micah, and<br />
other prophets predicted that a Savior would come.<br />
At this station, families will get a chance to make their own predictions and celebrate the<br />
God who keeps His promises.<br />
Set up a table with five mystery boxes.<br />
Each box should have a number 1 through 5.<br />
For a more festive look, wrap the boxes <strong>in</strong> <strong>Christmas</strong> paper.<br />
To make it even more festive, set up a <strong>Christmas</strong> tree and place the five mystery boxes<br />
underneath the tree.<br />
Families will be <strong>in</strong>vited to shake the mystery boxes and make predictions about what’s<br />
<strong>in</strong>side each one.<br />
They’ll write their predictions <strong>in</strong> their Family Guide.<br />
Suggestions for what to put <strong>in</strong>side mystery boxes: 1) a roll of toilet paper, 2) a sponge,<br />
3) co<strong>in</strong>s, 4) a handful of macaroni, 5) LEGO bricks<br />
Set up a separate table with identical mystery boxes that are open.<br />
Families will get a chance to look <strong>in</strong>side to f<strong>in</strong>d out if their predictions are accurate.<br />
SUPPLIES:<br />
Mystery boxes (sealed)<br />
Mystery boxes (revealed)<br />
<strong>Christmas</strong> tree (optional)<br />
IDEA: If you’re expect<strong>in</strong>g a lot of families, set up several spots with the<br />
mystery boxes so that more than one family at a time can participate <strong>in</strong> this<br />
activity.<br />
|| 08 ||
STATION J - cont<strong>in</strong>ued<br />
Set up a PROPHET’S TABLE that will <strong>in</strong>clude:<br />
Oil lamp<br />
Scrolls with Messianic prophesies written on them<br />
Feather quill with <strong>in</strong>k bowl<br />
Families will be <strong>in</strong>vited to:<br />
Pick a scroll and read through the prophesies.<br />
Trace a Messianic prophecy <strong>in</strong> their Family Guide us<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>k quill.<br />
Spend a few moments <strong>in</strong> reflection and prayer.<br />
SUPPLIES:<br />
Oil lamp(s)<br />
Scrolls with Messianic prophesies written on them<br />
ACTIVE LINKS TO<br />
SAVE YOU TIME<br />
Feather quill with <strong>in</strong>k bowl<br />
Wet wipes and paper towels (just <strong>in</strong> case s<strong>in</strong>ce you’ll be deal<strong>in</strong>g with real <strong>in</strong>k)<br />
IDEA: If you want to remove any chance of the <strong>in</strong>k be<strong>in</strong>g spilled, go with ball po<strong>in</strong>t feather<br />
pens <strong>in</strong>stead. >>> CLICK HERE to see an example.<br />
Here are some of the prophecies you may want to write <strong>in</strong>side the scrolls:<br />
Isaiah 7:14<br />
Isaiah 9:6-7<br />
Micah 5:2<br />
Jeremiah 23:5<br />
Psalm 72:10-11<br />
|| 09 ||
STATION E<br />
Imag<strong>in</strong>e the shock felt by Mary, a simple teenager<br />
engaged to a local carpenter, when the angel Gabriel<br />
spoke of her role <strong>in</strong> the arrival of a Savior.<br />
At this station, families will learn that God still loves to surprise us by giv<strong>in</strong>g ord<strong>in</strong>ary<br />
people (like Mary and us) a part to play <strong>in</strong> His extraord<strong>in</strong>ary mission.<br />
This station has two parts: SURPRISE and CELEBRATION.<br />
For the SURPRISE segment, each family member will pick one envelope from the “You’ve<br />
Got Mail!” table. Then they will take turns open<strong>in</strong>g their envelopes, read<strong>in</strong>g their “surprise<br />
mail” and act<strong>in</strong>g out just how surprised they are <strong>in</strong> response to what they just read.<br />
SUPPLIES:<br />
Surprise envelopes with surprise messages<br />
A mailbox, table, or some other fun conta<strong>in</strong>er to hold the envelopes<br />
A trash can for used-up envelopes and messages<br />
CLICK ON THE PICTURE OF THE MAILBOX TO SEE AN ADORABLE<br />
OPTION FOR THIS STATION.<br />
YOUR LOCAL HOMEGOODS OR HOBBY LOBBY MIGHT HAVE<br />
GREAT OPTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS MAILBOXES.<br />
YOU COULD ALSO MAKE AND DECORATE ONE<br />
YOURSELF. DECORATE THE MAILBOX WITH LIGHTS<br />
AND/OR HELIUM BALLOONS.<br />
|| 10 ||
You've been chosen to have tea with none other than<br />
the K<strong>in</strong>g of England himself.<br />
Get ready to sip your favorite Earl Grey and chat about<br />
corgis and crown jewels.<br />
Br<strong>in</strong>g your best manners and practice your royal wave!<br />
Touchdown! You've been chosen to play <strong>in</strong> the NFL<br />
Super Bowl. Break out the touchdown dance because<br />
you're about to step onto the biggest stage <strong>in</strong> football!<br />
Don't forget your lucky jersey and a game face that can<br />
rival Patrick Mahomes’!
Houston, we have a surprise!<br />
You've been chosen to go on a mission to Mars<br />
with NASA. Pack your spacesuit and prepare to<br />
boldly go where no one has gone before.<br />
You've been chosen to be a Master Ice Cream Flavor<br />
Inventor. Your mission, should you accept it, is to<br />
create the wildest, wackiest ice cream flavors known to<br />
humank<strong>in</strong>d. Get ready to scoop, swirl, and spr<strong>in</strong>kle<br />
your way to ice cream glory!
You've been chosen for an extraord<strong>in</strong>ary adventure. Your<br />
assignment: Step <strong>in</strong>to a time mach<strong>in</strong>e and journey to a<br />
specific period <strong>in</strong> history. Witness significant historical<br />
events firsthand and document your observations. You'll<br />
play a vital role <strong>in</strong> unravel<strong>in</strong>g the mysteries of the past.<br />
You've been chosen for the lead role <strong>in</strong> the next<br />
blockbuster alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.<br />
Get ready to sh<strong>in</strong>e on the silver screen!<br />
P.S. You may want to start practic<strong>in</strong>g your Oscar<br />
acceptance speech.
You've been chosen to cook alongside Gordon<br />
Ramsay on his hit TV show, "Hell's Kitchen." He<br />
heard about your legendary grilled cheese sandwich<br />
and can't wait to see if you have the skills to handle<br />
his fiery temper <strong>in</strong> the kitchen!<br />
You've been chosen to s<strong>in</strong>g a duet with the one and only<br />
Adele at her upcom<strong>in</strong>g concert <strong>in</strong> your city. She heard<br />
you s<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the shower (yes, she has some serious<br />
connections) and was blown away. So get ready to say<br />
"Hello" to your newfound stardom!
STATION E - cont<strong>in</strong>ued<br />
The angel’s announcement that Mary would give birth to the<br />
Son of God must have confused and even frightened her.<br />
Yet she took God at His Word and accepted her call<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as<br />
you have said” (Luke 1:38).<br />
Later on, she magnified God <strong>in</strong> a song of praise.<br />
For the CELEBRATION segment, each family will write their own Song of Praise start<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
same way Mary began her song: “My soul magnifies the Lord, for He has...” and then they<br />
will list some specific ways they’ve seen God’s power <strong>in</strong> their lives and praise Him for how<br />
He came through for them.<br />
SUPPLIES:<br />
Permanent markers for families to write their praises<br />
Fun cutout shapes where families will write their praises<br />
A designated space where families will attach their praises<br />
IDEAS FOR FUN CUTOUTS (click on each item below for more details)<br />
Stars 9.5" x 10"<br />
Balloons 6" x 5"<br />
Hearts 6" x 6"<br />
Starbursts 4.7" x 6.3"<br />
Starbursts 5" x 6.6"<br />
Starbursts 9" x 6"<br />
Starbursts 11" x 7"<br />
|| 11 ||
STATION S<br />
It's <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g that Jesus' birth was first revealed to<br />
shepherds, who held a lowly status <strong>in</strong> society. They were<br />
considered so unreliable that their testimonies were<br />
<strong>in</strong>admissible <strong>in</strong> Jewish courts, and they were even deemed unclean by the religious<br />
establishment. Yet, God chose these humble shepherds to spread the message of the<br />
Messiah, mak<strong>in</strong>g them the world's first evangelists.<br />
As Luke recounts, the shepherds wasted no time <strong>in</strong> shar<strong>in</strong>g their remarkable encounter<br />
with the angels and the birth of the Savior. Those who heard their account were filled with<br />
excitement and amazement.<br />
At this station, family members will experience the challenges of the shepherd’s life as<br />
they compete <strong>in</strong> the Shepherd Showdown race and they will experience the joy of tell<strong>in</strong>g<br />
others about Jesus dur<strong>in</strong>g the Baa-lievers activity.<br />
SHEPHERD SHOWDOWN GAME<br />
Family members will compete by guid<strong>in</strong>g their "sheep" (potatoes) through a challeng<strong>in</strong>g<br />
zig-zag path marked with mask<strong>in</strong>g tape us<strong>in</strong>g only their shepherd's staff (broomstick).<br />
SUPPLIES:<br />
Potatoes (sheep)<br />
Broomsticks (shepherd's staff)<br />
Mask<strong>in</strong>g tape (path)<br />
Variations: To make it more challeng<strong>in</strong>g, you can add obstacles or<br />
<strong>in</strong>crease the length of the path.<br />
|| 12 ||
STATION S - cont<strong>in</strong>ued<br />
RULES<br />
1. Set up the zig-zag path on the floor with mask<strong>in</strong>g tape.<br />
2. Each player gets a potato (sheep) and a broomstick (shepherd's staff).<br />
3. On "Go," players must use either end of their broomsticks to gently guide their potatoes<br />
through the path without lett<strong>in</strong>g them roll outside.<br />
4. If a potato goes off the path, the player must stop, retrieve it, and cont<strong>in</strong>ue from where<br />
it left the path.<br />
5. The player who completes the path <strong>in</strong> the shortest time w<strong>in</strong>s.<br />
BAA-LIEVERS<br />
Family members will follow the prompts <strong>in</strong> their Family Guide and declare what Jesus<br />
means to them by writ<strong>in</strong>g their faith statements on sheep balloons.<br />
SUPPLIES:<br />
Permanent markers<br />
Sheep Balloons #1<br />
Sheep Balloons #2<br />
Sheep Balloons #3<br />
|| 13 ||
STATION U<br />
The Magi—whether there were only three or more than<br />
20 of them is not clear—did not visit Jesus shortly<br />
after He was born; they actually arrived months later<br />
and visited Jesus at the house where He and His parents were stay<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Though we don’t know many details about these men, we do know their purpose. They came<br />
to worship a k<strong>in</strong>g. It didn’t matter that the child didn’t live <strong>in</strong> a palace or that His parents<br />
weren’t wealthy; “they bowed down and worshipped Him.”<br />
At this station, families will take an honest look at what Jesus is worth to them and will have a<br />
chance to express their worship of Jesus as the K<strong>in</strong>g of k<strong>in</strong>gs and the Lord of lords.<br />
SMASHING IDOLS<br />
SUPPLIES:<br />
Play-Doh tubs<br />
At this station, families will primarily <strong>in</strong>teract with their Family Guides. In the end, each family<br />
member will be <strong>in</strong>vited to pick up a lump of Play-Doh and shape out a symbol or<br />
representation of someth<strong>in</strong>g that fights for the first place <strong>in</strong> their life. For example, money,<br />
people’s approval, stuff, good grades, friends, success, and so on.<br />
They will then have a chance to repent, “smash” their idols, and declare Jesus<br />
as the K<strong>in</strong>g of their life. They’ll f<strong>in</strong>ish by creat<strong>in</strong>g a new shape out of their<br />
lump – someth<strong>in</strong>g that represents Jesus to them or expresses what He’s<br />
worth to them.<br />
|| 14 ||
STATION S<br />
The angels rejoiced and celebrated the newborn K<strong>in</strong>g with s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g. The Magi took a long and<br />
dangerous journey so they could worship the K<strong>in</strong>g of K<strong>in</strong>gs and celebrate Him with their gifts.<br />
Simeon and Anna celebrated Jesus <strong>in</strong> their own unique ways – by simply behold<strong>in</strong>g Him,<br />
bless<strong>in</strong>g His parents, prais<strong>in</strong>g His Father, and proclaim<strong>in</strong>g Him to others.<br />
People whose hearts were soft and whose eyes were open were immediately moved <strong>in</strong> the<br />
presence of this God-child. They simply couldn’t conta<strong>in</strong> their joy.<br />
At this station, families will be <strong>in</strong>vited to express their joyful celebration <strong>in</strong> various ways like<br />
sign<strong>in</strong>g, danc<strong>in</strong>g, act<strong>in</strong>g, and pos<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> front of the camera.<br />
The ma<strong>in</strong> idea is to create an <strong>in</strong>teractive photo booth experience for families – a sett<strong>in</strong>g<br />
where they can have fun, make memories, and express joy.<br />
Be sure to have a friendly person to capture people’s emails (if you’ll be send<strong>in</strong>g digital<br />
images) or street addresses (if you’ll be mail<strong>in</strong>g out pr<strong>in</strong>ts). This will be a great way for you to<br />
stay <strong>in</strong> touch with your guests and show up <strong>in</strong> their Inbox or mailbox with pleasant surprises.<br />
If your budget allows, we highly recommend you rent a 360 Rotat<strong>in</strong>g Photo Booth. Families<br />
will have so much fun with it!<br />
Oriental Trad<strong>in</strong>g offers several Nativity backdrops you may want to explore for sett<strong>in</strong>g up a<br />
more traditional photo booth. Be sure to enlist the help of a professional photographer,<br />
especially if you’ll be mail<strong>in</strong>g out pr<strong>in</strong>ts.<br />
Check out Photo Booth Props <strong>in</strong> your Event Kit. Pr<strong>in</strong>t, lam<strong>in</strong>ate, add craft<br />
sticks and let the fun beg<strong>in</strong>! Inside the Nativity<br />
Character Set folder you’ll f<strong>in</strong>d puppets and<br />
masks which you could also use at this station.<br />
|| 15 ||
CREATIVE STATION #1<br />
Set up several tables. Cover the tables with plastic tablecloths.<br />
Set out smooth rocks, pa<strong>in</strong>t, and pa<strong>in</strong>tbrushes or pa<strong>in</strong>t pens.<br />
Set out small cups of water to clean the pa<strong>in</strong>tbrushes as kids change pa<strong>in</strong>t colors.<br />
At this station, families will be encouraged to pa<strong>in</strong>t Baby Jesus ROCKS, take them home, and<br />
then hide them throughout the community.<br />
The Family Guide conta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong>structions and extra designs for <strong>in</strong>spiration.<br />
SUPPLIES:<br />
Tables<br />
Plastic tablecloth<br />
Pa<strong>in</strong>tbrushes<br />
Tempera pa<strong>in</strong>t<br />
Acrylic pa<strong>in</strong>t<br />
Pa<strong>in</strong>t pens (optional)<br />
Smooth rocks<br />
Spray sealer<br />
ACTIVE LINKS TO<br />
SAVE YOU TIME<br />
|| 16 ||
CREATIVE STATION #2<br />
Cookie Preparation<br />
Bake a large batch of sugar cookies <strong>in</strong><br />
advance. You may want to <strong>in</strong>volve volunteers<br />
<strong>in</strong> the bak<strong>in</strong>g process. You may also buy them from a<br />
local bakery.<br />
Ensure you have a variety of cookie shapes and sizes. Consider g<strong>in</strong>gerbread cookies<br />
and other <strong>Christmas</strong>-themed shapes (stars, angels, sheep, <strong>Christmas</strong> tree, circles,<br />
squares, snowflakes, candy canes, etc.).<br />
Allow the cookies to cool completely before the event.<br />
Decorat<strong>in</strong>g Station Setup<br />
Arrange tables and chairs <strong>in</strong> a way that provides enough space for families to<br />
decorate their cookies.<br />
Set up decorat<strong>in</strong>g stations with <strong>in</strong>dividual workspaces for each family. Each station<br />
should <strong>in</strong>clude cookies, ic<strong>in</strong>g, food color<strong>in</strong>g, and decorat<strong>in</strong>g tools.<br />
Provide a variety of spr<strong>in</strong>kles, edible glitter, edible eyes, and small candies for<br />
decorat<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Atmosphere<br />
Incorporate some holiday music play<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the background to create a festive<br />
atmosphere.<br />
Take photos or videos dur<strong>in</strong>g this activity and share them on social media or your<br />
church's website to celebrate the holiday spirit.<br />
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CREATIVE STATION #3<br />
Set up several tables. Cover the tables with plastic tablecloths.<br />
Set out manger kits (pre-cut wood and nails) and hammers. Refer to the Manger Prep<br />
Insturctions.pdf <strong>in</strong>side your Event Kit for all the details.<br />
Set out step-by-step <strong>in</strong>structions on each table (see the next page).<br />
At this station, families will be <strong>in</strong>vited to assemble wooden mangers as a symbol of Christ’s<br />
humble birth.<br />
They will take their managers home to set up <strong>in</strong> front of their <strong>Christmas</strong> tree as a rem<strong>in</strong>der of<br />
what <strong>Christmas</strong> is all about – God com<strong>in</strong>g to us as a baby.<br />
On <strong>Christmas</strong> Day, they can place a doll represent<strong>in</strong>g baby Jesus <strong>in</strong>to the Manger to<br />
celebrate God’s greatest gift to us.<br />
They could also turn their manger <strong>in</strong>to a gift basket by fill<strong>in</strong>g it with baby items or a gift card<br />
and dropp<strong>in</strong>g it off at a local crisis pregnancy center.<br />
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FAITH-AT-HOME KIT<br />
FAITH-AT-HOME KIT <strong>in</strong>cludes a set of six pr<strong>in</strong>t-ready cards. You can f<strong>in</strong>d them <strong>in</strong>side your<br />
Event Kit.<br />
Pr<strong>in</strong>t them on cardstock. Cut them out and have them at the Welcome Station for families<br />
to pick up as they leave.<br />
Each beautiful card is based on the Interactive Stations families completed at the church,<br />
and <strong>in</strong>cludes Scripture read<strong>in</strong>g, heart-search<strong>in</strong>g questions, fun activity, and a prayer. This<br />
will be a great way to make it easier for parents to po<strong>in</strong>t their children to Jesus <strong>in</strong> the days<br />
lead<strong>in</strong>g up to <strong>Christmas</strong>.<br />
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FAMILY <strong>GUIDE</strong><br />
Each family will receive a <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Letters</strong> Family Guide at the Welcome Station,<br />
which they will use to navigate the event.<br />
The guide <strong>in</strong>cludes Scripture read<strong>in</strong>gs, activities, and <strong>in</strong>structions on what to do at each<br />
station.<br />
The guide follows the order based on the letters <strong>in</strong> the word JESUS, however, families don’t<br />
have to strictly follow that order.<br />
They can start at any station and make their way through the stations <strong>in</strong> the order of their<br />
choos<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Click on the image below to access the Canva template of the Family Guide. It will give you<br />
full freedom to add your logo, contact <strong>in</strong>formation and make changes to any station you<br />
want to.<br />
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REGISTRATION<br />
For your team to successfully prepare, it is recommended families pre-register and pay<br />
for the event ahead of time.<br />
It is also recommended to charge a small fee ($5-10 per family) for the event to create a<br />
level of commitment from each family.<br />
This is a nom<strong>in</strong>al fee and should be paid dur<strong>in</strong>g the pre-registration period.<br />
We suggest giv<strong>in</strong>g a pre-registration deadl<strong>in</strong>e of 7-10 days before the event.<br />
FORMS TO CREATE<br />
Onl<strong>in</strong>e Form (either through your website or Google Forms)<br />
In-person Paper Form<br />
Fee: Decide on the amount per family and how your m<strong>in</strong>istry will collect money<br />
(offer<strong>in</strong>g both onl<strong>in</strong>e and <strong>in</strong>-person options is the best way to go).<br />
Make it clear that you don't want money to be the reason someone doesn't come.<br />
Offer scholarships, discounts or altogether wave fees for s<strong>in</strong>gle parents.<br />
A well executed pre-registration strategy will give you a clear picture of how many<br />
people to expect and how many supplies to prepare.<br />
You'll want to prepare 20% more of everyth<strong>in</strong>g to be sure that you're ready for<br />
anyone who comes without registration.<br />
|| 21 ||
PUBLICITY PLAN<br />
Here’s content to help you promote the event on various platforms. Feel free to tweak and<br />
use it to best fit your needs.<br />
PARENT EMAIL #1<br />
Hey LifePo<strong>in</strong>te parents,<br />
This holiday season, we <strong>in</strong>vite you and your children to experience the heart of <strong>Christmas</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> a fresh and bond<strong>in</strong>g way.<br />
Our church is host<strong>in</strong>g CHRISTMAS <strong>in</strong> 5 LETTERS <strong>in</strong>teractive event for the whole family, and<br />
we don't want you to miss it.<br />
There will be seven [<strong>in</strong>sert your number] sensory-rich stations where you and your<br />
children will explore God’s amaz<strong>in</strong>g love and celebrate the birth of Christ our Savior.<br />
DATE: December 8<br />
PLACE: Church auditorium and select classrooms<br />
TIME: 6-8 PM<br />
This is a self-paced and self-guided event. Your family can come at any time while the<br />
event is open.<br />
The experience will take about 60-70 m<strong>in</strong>utes to complete, but you can stay as little or as<br />
long as you want.<br />
Registration is now open. You can register here (l<strong>in</strong>k to onl<strong>in</strong>e registration) or at church<br />
this Sunday! The cost is $5 per family.<br />
We hope you will <strong>in</strong>vite your friends and family to be a part of the experience<br />
and pray it will be life-chang<strong>in</strong>g for all who attend!<br />
(your name)<br />
|| 22 ||
PARENT EMAIL #2<br />
Hey LifePo<strong>in</strong>te parents,<br />
We cannot wait for the CHRISTMAS <strong>in</strong> 5 LETTERS family event on (date) at (time) at<br />
(place).<br />
Come and experience the <strong>Christmas</strong> story through the eyes of the prophets who foretold<br />
Christ’s birth and the ord<strong>in</strong>ary, small-town girl entrusted with the extraord<strong>in</strong>ary, God-sized<br />
task.<br />
You'll encounter the joy of the lowly shepherds who were the first ones to meet the longawaited<br />
K<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
You'll discover what the Magi must have felt when they saw the Child and His mother.<br />
And most importantly, you’ll have a chance as a family to celebrate and worship Jesus<br />
from your hearts.<br />
Please register onl<strong>in</strong>e (onl<strong>in</strong>e registration l<strong>in</strong>k) or <strong>in</strong> person at church on Sunday!<br />
This is a self-paced and self-guided event, so come any time while the event is open. The<br />
experience will take about 60-70 m<strong>in</strong>utes to complete.<br />
We hope you'll be able to jo<strong>in</strong> us and encounter our Pr<strong>in</strong>ce of Peace and Immanuel <strong>in</strong> a<br />
fresh and mean<strong>in</strong>gful way!<br />
I am here if you have any questions.<br />
(your signature)<br />
|| 22 ||
SOCIAL MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENTS + STRATEGY<br />
Post the CHRISTMAS <strong>in</strong> FIVE LETTERS theme slide with the follow<strong>in</strong>g message:<br />
Get ready to experience <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> a whole new way this year as the <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Five</strong><br />
<strong>Letters</strong> event comes to (name of your church) on (date and time).<br />
Check out details and how you can register at (onl<strong>in</strong>e registration l<strong>in</strong>k).<br />
We hope you'll be able to jo<strong>in</strong> us and encounter our Immanuel and Pr<strong>in</strong>ce of Peace <strong>in</strong> a<br />
fresh and mean<strong>in</strong>gful way!<br />
Create a Facebook Event on your kid’s m<strong>in</strong>istry page with<br />
all details and the CHRISTMAS <strong>in</strong> 5 LETTERS theme slide.<br />
Create a Facebook and Instagram Live video with<br />
all details of the event.<br />
Post the CHRISTMAS <strong>in</strong> FIVE LETTERS theme slide with the follow<strong>in</strong>g message:<br />
<strong>Christmas</strong> is just around the corner. Though <strong>Christmas</strong> decorations and activities are<br />
everywhere, it's hard to f<strong>in</strong>d anyth<strong>in</strong>g reflect<strong>in</strong>g the real mean<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>Christmas</strong> — God’s love<br />
break<strong>in</strong>g through and com<strong>in</strong>g to dwell with us!<br />
We hope you'll jo<strong>in</strong> us at the <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Letters</strong> family event where we will get <strong>in</strong>to<br />
God’s Word and celebrate the God who so loved the world.<br />
|| 23 ||
Be sure to check out the SOCIAL MEDIA folder <strong>in</strong> your digital event kit.<br />
There you will f<strong>in</strong>d several variations of the theme squares/slides to make it easy for you to<br />
show up <strong>in</strong> people's social media feeds with attractive graphics and clear, compell<strong>in</strong>g<br />
messages.<br />
Here are a few more posts you may want to use <strong>in</strong> comb<strong>in</strong>ation with the extra graphics.<br />
Hey LifePo<strong>in</strong>te parents,<br />
This <strong>Christmas</strong>, we <strong>in</strong>vite you and your children to take a journey <strong>in</strong>to the heart of God.<br />
Our church is host<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Letters</strong> event for the whole family, and we<br />
don't want you to miss it.<br />
There will be seven [<strong>in</strong>sert your number] multisensory stations where you and your<br />
children will explore God’s amaz<strong>in</strong>g love and celebrate the birth of Christ our Savior.<br />
Click the l<strong>in</strong>k for more details.<br />
We are count<strong>in</strong>g the days till the big day! CHRISTMAS <strong>in</strong> 5 LETTERS is <strong>in</strong> five days!<br />
Did you register? If not, there's still time.<br />
We are so excited for your family to experience <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> a fresh and mean<strong>in</strong>gful way as<br />
you witness Jesus...<br />
Foretold by Prophets<br />
Conceived by a Virg<strong>in</strong><br />
Proclaimed by Shepherds<br />
Worshipped by Magi<br />
Celebrated by Us<br />
|| 24 ||
BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS<br />
Get ready to experience <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> a whole new way this year through the <strong>Christmas</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Letters</strong> family event.<br />
CALL TO ACTION: Direct people to where they can get more <strong>in</strong>fo and sign up.<br />
Examples: QR code, website, <strong>in</strong>fo kiosk at the church, etc.<br />
We hope you'll be able to jo<strong>in</strong> us and encounter our Immanuel and Pr<strong>in</strong>ce of Peace <strong>in</strong> a<br />
fresh and mean<strong>in</strong>gful way!<br />
Our church is host<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Letters</strong> event for the whole family, and we<br />
don't want you to miss it.<br />
There will be seven [<strong>in</strong>sert your number] <strong>in</strong>teractive, multisensory stations where you<br />
and your children will explore God’s amaz<strong>in</strong>g love and celebrate the birth of Christ our<br />
Savior.<br />
CALL TO ACTION: Direct people to where they can get more <strong>in</strong>fo and sign up.<br />
Examples: QR code, website, <strong>in</strong>fo kiosk at the church, etc.<br />
Don't miss your chance! There’s still time to register for the <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Letters</strong><br />
family event! (date, time, place) Invite your friends and family to jo<strong>in</strong> us as we celebrate<br />
God’s <strong>in</strong>credible love that came to dwell with us.<br />
CALL TO ACTION: Direct people to where they can get more <strong>in</strong>fo and sign up.<br />
Examples: QR code, website, <strong>in</strong>fo kiosk at the church, etc.<br />
|| 25 ||
TIME FRAME<br />
There is no right or wrong date for host<strong>in</strong>g this event.<br />
Before you f<strong>in</strong>alize the date for this event, you may want to check your:<br />
CHURCH CALENDAR to make sure you won't be compet<strong>in</strong>g with someth<strong>in</strong>g youth or<br />
men's m<strong>in</strong>istries are do<strong>in</strong>g on the same day<br />
LOCAL SCHOOL CALENDAR to make sure you don't schedule your event dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
peak of spr<strong>in</strong>g break when most of the families will be travel<strong>in</strong>g<br />
COMMUNITY <strong>EVENT</strong>S CALENDAR to make sure you are not compet<strong>in</strong>g with the popular<br />
Music and Arts Festival <strong>in</strong> your area or someth<strong>in</strong>g like that.<br />
This event is completely self-guided and will take about an hour to an hour and a half to<br />
complete. We suggest offer<strong>in</strong>g a two-hour w<strong>in</strong>dow for the event to be open and allow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
families to come and go as they please.<br />
Interactive Stations should each take about 10 m<strong>in</strong>utes to complete.<br />
Creative Stations should each take about 30 to 45 m<strong>in</strong>utes to complete. Some families<br />
may want to go through the J-E-S-U-S stations together but split for Creative Stations.<br />
For example, dad may take the oldest son to go build a wooden manger, while mom may<br />
take the rest of the kids to a rock pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g station.<br />
Faith-at-Home part will happen when families leave.<br />
|| 26 ||
WHAT IF...<br />
If you’ve never hosted a self-paced, self-guided, “come and go as you please” event, you<br />
might be wonder<strong>in</strong>g:<br />
WHAT IF EVERYONE SHOWS UP AT ONCE AND WE’LL HAVE A LONG LINE OF PEOPLE<br />
WAITING TO GET ACCESS TO THE VERY FIRST STATION??<br />
It’s a valid concern yet the “bottleneck” problem can easily be prevented. Check out these<br />
practical tips:<br />
Give the first two stations the largest rooms you have available to you and create<br />
several activity centers with<strong>in</strong> those rooms so that several families can have their own<br />
unique experience at the same time. This would help you avoid a bottleneck effect right<br />
from the start.<br />
Keep <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d that families DON’T HAVE to go through all the stations <strong>in</strong> any particular<br />
order. For example, you could direct some families to start with the rock pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />
station, while others could be directed to beg<strong>in</strong> at the cookie decorat<strong>in</strong>g station. Follow<br />
a pattern where you do not overload any particular station.<br />
Guess what?! Self-guided means that families can really start their journey at ANY<br />
station! So, if someone wants to beg<strong>in</strong> at the letter E station, it’s totally OK. They will<br />
enjoy the event just as much. It’s not about the order of the stations, but the depth of<br />
shar<strong>in</strong>g and fun families experience at each station.<br />
|| 27 ||
VOLUNTEERS<br />
Volunteers are the rock stars of any event! They are the people that kids and families will<br />
<strong>in</strong>teract with so provide opportunities for volunteers to sh<strong>in</strong>e!<br />
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES<br />
Set-up & Tear-down Crew<br />
Assists with decorat<strong>in</strong>g and sett<strong>in</strong>g up for the event<br />
Assists <strong>in</strong> tak<strong>in</strong>g down all decorations, tables, chairs, etc.<br />
Assists <strong>in</strong> sett<strong>in</strong>g up for the next event <strong>in</strong> the space.<br />
Registration Team<br />
Checks <strong>in</strong> families (collects payments from walk-<strong>in</strong>s).<br />
Provides <strong>in</strong>struction to families as they enter.<br />
Hands out Family Guides when families arrive and Faith-at-Home sets when they leave.<br />
Station Leaders (1 per <strong>in</strong>teractive station, 2 per creative station)<br />
Provide oversight and ensure their designated station runs smoothly.<br />
Set up the station prior to the start of the event.<br />
Assist families <strong>in</strong> answer<strong>in</strong>g questions.<br />
Ensure décor and station elements are presentable and replenished dur<strong>in</strong>g the event.<br />
Tech Team<br />
Loads music content before the event.<br />
Ensures each space has the means to play designated music.<br />
Runs tech dur<strong>in</strong>g the event.<br />
|| 28 ||
BITS & PIECES<br />
GRAPHICS<br />
Your Event Kit conta<strong>in</strong>s various graphics that will help you promote this event.<br />
If you're <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> buy<strong>in</strong>g all source files ($75) so you could re-size and rebrand<br />
the materials, or create custom stickers, church <strong>in</strong>vitations, banners, door hangers,<br />
yard signs, or a countdown video us<strong>in</strong>g the orig<strong>in</strong>al artwork, let us know via email to:<br />
hello@wearekidm<strong>in</strong>.com<br />
FACEBOOK GROUP<br />
If you would like to exchange ideas with other church leaders host<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Letters</strong>, be sure to jo<strong>in</strong> THIS FACEBOOK GROUP.<br />
This group is a perfect place for you to ask your questions and keep us updated<br />
about your progress. Questions, hacks, ideas, web l<strong>in</strong>ks, pictures, and videos related<br />
to the event are all welcome.<br />
EVERYONE IS WELCOME<br />
Make it not just a Family Event but an Intergenerational Event <strong>in</strong>vit<strong>in</strong>g people of all<br />
ages to participate.<br />
SERMON SERIES<br />
Tell your senior pastor about this event, let him or her see the graphics and the<br />
topics. Who knows, it might give them a spark for a sermon series.<br />
STRETCH IT<br />
Don't have enough volunteers or enough space to offer this as a 1-day event?<br />
No problem! Spread it out between five midweek services. One station per<br />
service with people tak<strong>in</strong>g home only one card from the Faith-at-Home kit.<br />
|| 28 ||
AFTER THE <strong>EVENT</strong><br />
EXPRESS GRATITUDE<br />
After your event is over, be sure to thank the volunteers who served before and dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the event. Check out this cute APPRECIATION KIT your volunteers will love.<br />
EVALUATE YOUR <strong>EVENT</strong><br />
Did you meet your goals?<br />
How many people did you serve?<br />
Were you able to create a warm, welcom<strong>in</strong>g atmosphere?<br />
Did everyone seem to have a great time?<br />
What comments or questions do you remember hear<strong>in</strong>g?<br />
What overall impact did you have <strong>in</strong> your community?<br />
Make a list of th<strong>in</strong>gs you would do differently or th<strong>in</strong>gs you would add to the next event.<br />
Send a follow-up email to all the families that participated. Ask for their feedback about<br />
the event and extend an <strong>in</strong>vitation to visit your church or your next m<strong>in</strong>istry event.<br />
Share event photographs and stories on your social media platforms.<br />
If you hosted a photo booth and captured professional photographs, promptly email or<br />
mail them. Use this touch po<strong>in</strong>t as an opportunity to ask if there is any way you can pray<br />
for each family.<br />
Share event stories and photos with the leadership team of your church.<br />
Calendar your next family event.<br />
Your families will love EASTER IN FIVE LETTERS!<br />
|| 29 ||