Happy New Year!

 May your family have a joyful and blessed New Year!

Catholic Sprouts: Nativity Set

 Catholic Sprouts has a free download, a Nativity Set.  It looks similar to their Felt Nativity Set.  You could use the free patterns to create a fun, felt set for kiddos.  Have you seen the preview for CatChat’s Great Journey?  Look at the Program Overview to see the outline for Advent and Christmas.  The kids could make their own nativity sets.  Fun, right?

St. John Paul II

When we teach CCD or help with VBS, we include saints.  One of our favorite saints is St. John Paul II. There are so many resources for St. John Paul II!  Here is a tryptych—perfect for CCD!  You need copies printed on card stock and markers or colored pencils.  Make a paper bag puppet.  This purchased pattern set is worth buying.  I use the template for Faith and VBS to make any Saint we are studying.  My favorite is St. JPII.  Catholic Icing also has How to Draw St. Pope John Paul II.  Fold a Bishop’s Mitre.  Color his image.  Let’s celebrate a great Saint!

Merry Christmas!

 The children at Kadena AFB in Okinawa held a lively, eight minute Christmas pageant.

CatChat has a new VBS.

 Check out CatChat’s VBS Series.  There are now seven programs, including the latest one, The Great Journey with Jesus.  Look at the preview material.  This series is great!  Our church has been using these programs for several years.  We do add a few things—but never subtract!  I like a few more hands-on activities in Faith and a few crafts with a bit more substance, such as peg dolls.  We keep Saints Bingo, song practice,  or games on hand for after Snack, when kids can get a bit restless.  By all means take a look!

Make Ornaments!

 Rob and I are subbing the next two weeks for CCD.  I have a plethora of ornaments to make—and book marks.  The kids are going to make presents!  Many of the families. In CCD struggle.  I want the kids to have an opportunity to make presents for their families.  I searched my boxes of VBS and CCD materials and located a bunch.  I buy these small crafts on clearance or Temu.  Keep an eye on c,ear ace after Christmas.  I can’t wait to see their faces!