_Harken unto all these words, my children, for the comfort of
mother and the glory of God._
1. Be obedient unto her good word.
2. Always show her a joyful face--Be an indoor sun to her.
3. Put cross words far from your lips and always speak the truth.
4. Don't fail to be thankful and always say so with your lips.
5. Learn quiet ways: it will comfort mother's head.
6. Always be contented when mother has done her best.
7. Be a loving child and kiss your mother first.
8. Never forget your baby days, for then mother was all the
world to you.
9. Be courteous to your mother for she is the first lady in the
land to you.
10. Be a strong Christian, for mother always wished the best
things for you and this is the best of the best.
Read these lines over slowly and let the children repeat them after
you. Urge them to wear a flower in mother's memory. Secure a few
extra flowers, and ask some little girl or boy to come forward and
deposit the flowers on the table in memory of the "forgotten mother,"
the mother whose children have forgotten her.
If you so desire, it might be well to place a single flower on the
Bible on the pulpit in memory of Mary the mother of Jesus.
=Peace Day. May 18=
Read for that day as your Scripture lesson Psalm 48, where it is
declared that the weapons of war are to be turned into farm tools and
that wars are to cease.
Read also Isaiah 2:4, where it is declared that nation shall not lift
sword against nation. Prepare a large white flag. This is the flag of
peace.
Ask the children to stand around this flag as you tell them the story
of the birth of the Prince of Peace who came to give peace on earth
and good-will among men.
=Memorial Day. May 30=
Read as your Bible lesson for that day Psalm 46, announcing the end
of war.
Read Psalm 47 where the nations are called upon to praise God, and
read also Matthew 22:15-22 describing the duty of citizens. Secure a
wreath of flowers, place it upon the flag, and tell the audience the
story of the brave men who died for their country and their flag.
Close by singing the National Hymn. Ask that all the children wear
small flags, and have them march around the room singing together the
Battle Hymn of the Republic.
=Flag Day. June 14=
Read as your Scripture lesson Psalm 46. After you have read this
lesson, ask some of the children to come forward with flags and stand
around the reader while he reads Psalms 67 and 72. Tell the story of
the making of the flag in Philadelphia by Betsy Ross.
=School Closing Day=
Read as the Bible lesson Ecclesiastes 12, and urge them in their
youthful days to remember God.
Read also Matthew 25:14-30, in which the use of the individual talent
is urged.
Tell them that "school-days" are not all over, the real school of
life has just begun. The Bible is the greater text-book of the school
of life.
=Children's Day. June=
Let the children conduct this service, all but the address, you may
give this yourself or secure another to do it for you.
Draw lessons from the flowers, bring in a bird in its cage, and read
Matthew 6:19-34.
Tell the story of the Ark, the biggest bird-cage ever made, and what
the Raven and Dove did in the great flood story. After the lesson, if
possible let them put the flowers you have been using on the graves
of the little children of the church who have died during the past
year.
=Independence Day. July 4=
This day should always be kept as a religious day. The noise of
gunpowder should no longer be heard. It should be a day exalting
peace, not commemorating bloodshed, therefore cause the decorations
to be white intertwined with the flag. Let the little girls dress in
white and the boys wear a white flower or have white bands around
their arms.
War love must be crushed for the sake of the best things. The idea
that might is power plunged the world into the great World War. The
only war the kingdom of heaven knows is war against war and all its
evil things. Display the conquest flag, and tell the story how the
Cross of Jesus is marching on to save this old world from sin.
Close by telling them that when they forsake all sin and come to
Jesus and are saved, they are an assembly of braves and have put
their names to the new declaration of independence.
=Labor Day. September (First Monday)=
For the Scripture lesson for this day read the story of "the laborer
being worthy of his hire," as you will find it recorded in Luke
10:1-11. Also the call for laborers for the vineyard, as written in
Matthew 20:1-15.
Take a walk into the carpenter-shop of Nazareth and watch Jesus
working at his trade at the carpenter's bench. Talk of Jesus as the
model Carpenter. Use the carpenter tools as object-lessons: the saw a
separator from wrong. A divider of good things, Jesus shared his life
with the world as a saw divides the board.
The hammer can be used to show how to fix things in their places so
they will stay fixed. Jesus nailed down his commandments as fixed
laws by which the world was to be saved.
Show the rule, and talk about the Golden Rule that measures things
correctly, and gives a wonderful standard by which we should govern
our acts among men.
Display the plane, an instrument to smooth things out and to take off
the rough places. Love is that plane, and Jesus always used it to
smooth out the hard and ugly places that hate had made in life. So
continue to talk about Jesus and his tools. Put up a cardboard sign
on the outside of the church containing a message for the laboring
man. Let it read, "'God bless the working man' is the prayer of the
Children of this Church."
=Columbus Day. October 12=
Tell the story of Abraham, who, like Columbus, went forth on a
wonderful adventure. You will find this recorded in Genesis 12:1-10.
Show the children pictures of ships which sail the deep sea.
Show them a handful of reeds, and explain that Columbus discovered
floating in the sea a number of weeds which did not grow in his
country and therefore reasoned they must come from an unknown land.
Write on a piece of large white paper the word "AMERICA"; roll it up
and hide it, and then during the meeting ask some boy or girl to
pretend to be Columbus, and let him go forth to find the new world.
If he fails to find the parchment let another child try. Let the
fortunate child who does at last find it come back to the platform,
and then give him a new name--call him the "Discoverer."
Teach the lesson that all of us are starting out in life to "find
things," but the best thing to find is the truth. Place in his hands
a Bible and say, This will be your guide to all truth, follow its
light, and you will find the Cross which is the door to salvation and
to heaven.
=Hallowe'en. October 31=
Read as the Scripture lesson for this service Romans 1:1-12. It
announces the fact that we are all called to be saints. Every good
boy and girl made good by being saved is a saint according to the New
Testament.
Hallowe'en is the eve before All Saints' Day, and the term means
"Holy Evening."
It does not seem much like an holy evening when we remember it is a
time of unearthly noises, witches, spirits, ghosts, elfish creatures,
etc., the time when fortunes are supposed to be told in many a walnut
shell or in a tub with a burning candle. All of this superstition
belongs to the realm of frolics.
Display some post-cards with pictures of witches on them and say, "We
do not fear these witches because they don't live," but tell them of
the true witches, lying, stealing, profanity, falsehood, anger,
temper, etc., which are all witches that we should fear for they are
real and seek to get into our hearts at all times.
Explain the "new" meaning of the decoration you use for this special
season, "the black and orange." Let the black stand for the night of
sin, and the orange, the color of the rising sun, for the dawn of the
day of truth and the coming of the light. Darken the room, and let a
child from the rear with a lighted candle represent the light that
God sends into our world of darkness. This is a simple but
entertaining pastime.
For the conclusion of the service have a peanut party.
Hallowe'en is the season of nuts of all kinds. So the peanut can be
used to the best advantage because it can be easily secured
everywhere. Secure a number of peanuts and hide them in all parts of
the room, explain this to the children, and at your command let them
all start in to find them. The one finding the largest number should
be given some simple little prize. Ask them to drop them all in a
large bowl, then ask six children to shut their eyes, and reach in
one hand and take out a handful, and the one having the number
nearest to 25 will receive another simple little prize.
Conclude by having a peanut auction. Prepare a number of parcels
containing simple little things such as an apple, a stick of candy,
an orange, a bunch of raisins, a lead-pencil, etc. Wrap these
articles up in large bundles so the contents cannot be guessed by the
shape. Ask some merry-hearted lad to be the auctioneer and sell the
package to the highest bidder, payment to be made of course in
peanuts, which at last you cast on the floor--asking the children to
help themselves. If so desired serve peanut sandwiches as a special
refreshment.
=Election Day. November= (first Tuesday after first Monday)
Read as the Scripture lesson Romans 13. This teaches the lesson that
we are to be subject unto authority. Read also Matthew 22:15-22,
which gives us a lesson of the "citizen's duty."
Secure if possible a sample ballot. Display it before the children,
and explain how the people of proper ages vote. After this, in the
place of the names of the candidates and party write such words as
Temperance, Good Citizenship, Good Schoolhouses, Full Churches, and
Large Sunday Schools, and say we can all vote for all of these. Put
down your cross mark under each name. Sing "America," salute the
flag, and all say, "God Bless Our Native Land." Let us help to make
it God's Great Land.
=Armistice Day. November 11=
For the Scripture lesson read about the time when wars shall cease,
as you will find it mentioned in Psalms 46 and 47, and also in Isaiah
2:1-11, describing the time when nation shall not lift sword against
nation.
Talk about the World War and display the flags of all nations. Have a
large white flag prepared, and call it Armistice Day, that great day
when the guns ceased firing. As you say this ask the children who
hold the flags of all nations to come forward and stand around the
white flag in a circle. Tell how glad the people were on that day,
and describe the noises the children made. But this day did not bring
lasting peace among the nations, for there is a whisper about war
coming back again, and nations seem to be preparing for that event.
The only peace which shall last and endure is the Peace of God--the
world can never take that peace away.
Ask a boy to come to the platform holding a large cross in his hand,
and as he does this let all the nations kneel around it. The power of
the Cross alone will give the nations of the world God's wonderful
peace; until then there will be no lasting peace among the peoples of
the world.
=Thanksgiving Day. November= (last Thursday of month)
Read Isaiah 12 as a thanksgiving song, also read 2 Samuel 22:1-18,
which contains the same thought. Psalms 92, 100, and 136 are called
thanksgiving songs. Ask some boy or girl to read these lessons.
Read Luke 17:11-19, the story of a good thanksgiving example. Read
this lesson at the close of the meeting. Display on the table some
fruits, also some large vegetables, all showing how good God is in
his wonderful gifts at harvest-time.
Tell the story of the early settlers, and why the first Thanksgiving
proclamation was made.
Thanksgiving Day is Old Home Day. The separated family come together
in one glad reunion, and the young folks go bounding to see grandma
and grandpa, and all have a good time.
Now tell the children we will all consider ourselves one big family,
and so prepare for a good time. Pass around a number of candles, and
when each has received one, ask the children to eat them. The candles
are made out of apples; the wick is made of a bit of almond, which on
being lit will blaze for a minute. After this suspend a hoop in the
doorway and make snowballs of tissue-paper by crushing them into
round shapes. Give each scholar four balls, and standing them a given
number of feet away, see how many of the balls each can put through
the hoop at the first trial. Give the child who can do this a bag of
peanuts as a reward.
If you wish an exclusive religious service for that day, secure a
small-sized tree and place it on the platform, Distribute small paper
hearts, and ask the children to write on them the reason they are
thankful, and at the proper time ask them to bring the heart to the
platform. After you have read them to the children, pin them on the
tree and call the tree the Thanksgiving Tree. It should grow all the
year around in everybody's home.
=Christmas Eve. December 24=
Ask the children to keep their eyes on the door. Turn down the lights
of the room until only a dim light is seen. Tell them the Christmas
Eve story. Long ago the people had a kind of Christmas fancy that the
Child Jesus came to earth again each Christmas Eve and wandered about
the streets looking for some one to recognize him and take him into
their house.
Through the winter night he tramps on, cold and homeless, so the
story goes, peeping in at the windows where evergreen wreaths and
warm fires make all who live in that house comfortable and happy. At
last some one is sure to see the dim face outside the window, and
will fling wide open the door and bid him come in, and give the
little stranger loving welcome to all their comforts. Here recite the
text Revelation 3:20: "Behold I stand at the door and knock." Open
the door of the heart, for the real Christ is there tonight and every
other night also. Did you ever notice that the paneling of the door
resembles a cross, so it is true of the door of the heart, we must
take up his cross in our heart first, and then the door will open
wide to let Jesus in. Open the door of the heart to Jesus on
Christmas Eve, and that will make every day a Merry Christmas.
It is a good plan to read by candle-light a Christmas story. Place a
lighted candle on the table, extinguish all other lights, and say,
"Now listen to a Christmas Eve story," and then read Luke's account
of the Nativity.
Wish the little folks a Merry Christmas and send them early to their
homes.
=Christmas Day. December 25=
For a good Christmas lesson read the story of the Nativity as
recorded in the second chapter of Luke. Read also the story of the
Wise-men as written in Matthew 2:1-12.
Secure nine tall candles, and as you light them remark how beautiful
the candle-light looks on Christmas night, for this is the happy eve
of twinkling lights. Even the stars throb and glow as if trying to
smile on little children. You will notice that I have here nine
candles, each candle standing for a letter in the word Christmas.
Let us see what each sparkling Christmas light says to us. This first
light stands for the lights of the inn, the place where Joseph and
Mary went the night Jesus was born. This light made plain the path to
the rear of the inn where they found the manger crib that God had
prepared for the little Son. It was a humble nest, but it was all the
inn-keeper had to offer his guests. They were lights of welcome to
Jesus, and so Merry Christmas was born there. He who walks in the
light of humility walks in the Christmas light.
The next light represents the light from the camp-fires of the
Shepherds, around which they gathered and read the words of the Great
Prophet of Israel as to the Coming One, while they watched their
flocks by night. These were quiet lamps of patient waiting. They were
lamps of faith which made stout their courage as they believed with
all the heart. Jesus was coming soon, and so God rewarded their
faith, for their fires were not extinguished until he came indeed. We
should keep the camp-fires burning while we are waiting for his
glorious coming again. Every Christmastime should cause us to be glad
because he did come once, and we have his promise he will come again.
Never let that lamp of hope die out.
The next light stands for the heavenly light shining in the skies.
For a bright light shone about them, "the Light of the World" was
about to be born. This light was full of angels who sang by that
golden light the story of "peace on earth and good-will toward men."
The next light represents the light of the stable lantern which the
shepherds brought with them. They were the lamps of the "seeker,"
they had heard of the little Saviour, and they went forth to seek
him. Always carry the seeker's light with you, for it is the
_finding_ light. As Bobby Burns puts it, "They never seek the Lord in
vain who seek the Lord aright."
The next light represents the starlight which the Wise-men saw. They
followed it, and it brought them to the place where the young child
lay. The wisest men of this world are led by heaven's lamp of truth.
Holding up a Bible, say, "This is the lamp from Heaven, follow it and
you will at last find the Christ on his throne where it is Christmas
every day."
The next light represents the lamp of the house where the Wise-men
found Jesus and his mother. What a wonderful house that must have
been. It was a house glorified because Jesus had once lived there in
all of his heavenly beauty. Let Jesus into your house, and it will be
full of golden lamps which will make the home all glorious within.
What did those lamps see? They saw the gifts of gold which the
Wise-men brought, and it seemed to turn to a shining crown and the
babe's voice was the voice of the little King. They shone upon a
beautiful urn of frankincense. This is a pure gum from a certain
Arabian tree which when burned gives a sweet-smelling smoke. In
history it has always been used as a symbol of prayer and praise.
This gift meant that all the world was to pray to him and praise him
with all their heart. These home lamps saw also a golden cup of
myrrh. This is a bitter gum and very precious. It used to be wrapped
up with the coverings of those who died. It was to teach us that into
the baby's life some day the cross would come, and the winding-sheet
with its precious myrrh would prepare his precious body for the
grave; so that house was made beautiful by the shadow of the wondrous
Cross.
Let the Christmas light come into your heart, and all the people will
see in you the beautiful life of peace, contentment, faith, love, and
joy.
The next light represents the light which Jesus brings to the dark
places of the world. He is a light which shines through the darkness.
Here tell the story of heathen countries waiting for the light. He is
the Light of the World.
The next light represents the light of his church. Paul Revere saw
the lights flashing from the tower of Old North Church of Boston, and
on his fleet-footed horse dashed down through the valley spreading
the message of alarm to the people of the sleeping homes. Every true
church is a light-house. It warns us of the power of sin. It shows us
the way of the Cross.
The next light represents the lamp of heaven. Jesus came to open the
doors of heaven, where there is eternal light, and to bid us enter
and be at rest. When he ascended he left a light in the window for us
all, which is his good promise that "Where I am there ye shall be
also." These are the Merry Christmas lights. Once, years ago and
miles away, there was an ancient castle. It was the home of the
silent and absent Prince. It was always dark and gloomy, no light
could be seen in its windows day or night. There was an old tradition
that some time the Prince would return, and then the lights would
appear at every window and the bells would chime out most merrily.
Often the quiet villagers would look up at the castle on the hill and
wonder if the Prince would ever return, and if their eyes should ever
see the long-promised lights. One night the people of the village
were startled by the sound of bells, and from every window of the
castle beautiful lights were shining. The Prince had returned, and
there was great joy among the people. Let us light these nine
Christmas lights now, and we shall all have a Merry Christmas, for
the long-expected Prince from heaven has come to this old dark
castle, the world dwelling in darkness.
=Wilson's Birthday. December 28=
Read as the special Scripture lesson for the hour Isaiah 11:1-10,
which describes the man of peace. Read also Proverbs 3:13-26, which
describes the scholar and education. Secure a picture of the late
President and dwell on his dreams of peace.
=New Year's Eve=
It is hardly possible that you will hold a watch-meeting for the
juniors, but the following program will make a good order for adults
as well as for such children who will attend with them. Secure a
number of candles, one for each hour of the service. If the service
commences at eight o'clock and continues until midnight, put four
lighted candles on the table, one for each hour, and extinguish one
at the end of each hour, and you will have one candle left for the
last hour. This will be impressive.
At the last moment of the hour extinguish this candle and in total
darkness let the old year pass out. At the first minute of the New
Year turn on all the lights, arise, and sing, and after the Lord's
Prayer, in which they all join, say to the people "A happy New Year
to all," and the meeting has ended, and the New Year begun.
As an additional feature for this meeting prepare as large a book as
possible with all the pages white and say, This is your book of the
New Year. It is a fresh start for you, There will be nothing written
on its pages of white except what you write there. Begin tonight and
go straight and keep white. Write over the first page, "In the
beginning God." That makes the start right, so it will always be
white. Write this on the fresh page of every day also, and you will
go straight for the whole year.
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