Use the Holidays to Build Christlike Character in Your Kids

The holidays are coming quickly, and with them come crazy schedules. Consider trying something different (and a little more flexible) this year. With these three holiday-themed HighPoint kits, your kids will learn the character of Jesus and some great application during the holidays.

Use Good vs. Evil to address Halloween.

What's the Point?
I will stay away from evil and choose what’s good!

Life Verse
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans12:21, NIV)

Bible Focus
Adam and Eve, Saul and the Witch of Endor, and others

Use Gratefulness to celebrate Thanksgiving.

What's the Point?
I will be grateful because God has done so much for me!

Life Verse
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV)

Bible Character
Naaman, Hannah & Samuel, and others

Use Worship to celebrate Christmas.

What's the Point?
I will worship God in all I say and do!

Life Verse
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14, NIV)

Bible Focus
Mary, Joseph, and others in the Christmas story

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HighPoint®

Unforgettable Christmas Programs—Just Add Families!

By Julie Horner

1. Keep it simple
Because the holidays are so busy, parents really appreciate programs that don’t take a lot of extra time. That’s why programs like Double Take! by Dennis Hartin are a great choice. Written in three acts with only a few actors appearing in more than one scene means the three sections can practice separately or simultaneously.

Choosing to focus on sharing the message more than producing a perfect performance can ease the stress too. Even the most practiced young (and old!) actors can freeze during the show, so I often hide lines in scrolls and other props. Letting kids sing along to recorded songs rather than background tracks takes the stress out of remembering all the words when staring at an audience-filled room. Plus I always remind the audience that kids are trying out new talents and ministry, not presenting apolished performance.

Probably the easiest WOW is Handbells. A guaranteed crowd pleaser, these simple instruments require just a little practice for the note card-flipping conductor and only a run through or two for the kids. I’ve had success with two year olds (paired with an older partner) as well as letting the kids choose a partner straight out of the audience, which is a great and unexpected way to get families involved. To learn more about Handbells, click here.

2. Involve “kids” of all ages
Stretching the cast to include more than kids makes the program great for families. This year with Double Take!, I’ll invite two talented teens and their families to lead the Matthew and Luke perspectives. As they reach out and include their parents and grandparents as well as their friends, the Christmas program will make a fun holiday memoryfor everyone.

Last year I divided the Christmas program into three scenes (Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds, and the Wisemen). Two scenes were led by kids and their families, and they had a great time interpreting the story in creative ways. The shepherd scene was coordinated by the youth pastor and presented by the youth group. I’m still not sure how Michael the archangel morphed into a moon walking rock star, but it definitely made the program unforgettable for everyone!

3. Add an unforgettable element
The moon-walking angel might be hard to top, but I enjoy the challenge of keeping the audience guessing. Jeopardy-playing wisemen and telling the story backwards are a few ways Hartin has spiced up the story in previous programs. Singing YMCA rewritten as Worship the K-I-N-G surprised the audience another year. An unexpected benefit of mixing in modern elements is how it pleasantly surprises the non-churched family members who attend the performance. And that leads to the most important unforgettable part of all—the salvation message. Because the actors often invite friends and family members, I always weave in the purpose of Jesus’ birth somewhere. Closing with hints of the Easter story or adding a simple invitation for salvation are the best ways of all to retell the most life-changing story in an unforgettable way.

©2008 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Permission to duplicate for local church use only.

Guitar Praise: Guitar Hero for Christian Music

Following on the heels of the Christian Dance Dance Revolution knock-off Dance Praise comes Guitar Praise: Solid Rock, also from the company Digital Praise, whose motto is "glorifying god through interactive media."

The game comes with a wireless guitar controller and a CD-ROM to let Christian shredders rock along to 50 religious tracks including dc Talk's "Jesus Freak," Bride's "Same Ol' Sinner" and Spur 58's "Sleepwalkers."
According to the game's description, "onscreen lyrics reflect Christian values (so that)
vocalists can sing their hearts out as their friends play the guitar." As with Guitar Hero, players unlock new guitars and sounds as they progress through the game.

Guitar Praise ($100), slated for a mid-September release, will be playable on Macs or PCs, and two guitars (additional one costs $70) can be connected simultaneously for tandem jams on guitar and bass.

Article courtsey Wired.com Written by Eliot Van Buskirk August 29, 2008 9:11:38 AM

We are working on getting Guitar Praise at GPH, but we do have Dance Praise! Buy it here.

Have you tried either? Did you buy Guitar Hero for your kids, or do you not allow it at your church/home? I want to hear from you!