FHE Lesson: The Good Shepherd and The Meaning of The Bells & The Candy Cane

The Pratt's FHE Lessons & Links

1. Opening Song: "Christmas Bells", page 54 in The Children's Songbook, etc.
For older children, sing, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" page 214 (hymn book), Christmas Bells Are Ringing, etc.

2. Opening Prayer

3. Poem or scripture reading

4. Lesson

John 10

For Younger Children: The Good Shepherd Flannel Board Story, Friend, Jan. 1999
For Older Children:      A Shepherd's Love, Friend, April 1982

Do one of the above lessons.

Show your family the candy cane.  The candy cane represents the shepherd's crook.  It bring the stray sheep back to the fold.  Jesus (GAK 240 Jesus the Christ) is the Good Shepherd.  In John 10:4, it reads: "And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.".  Everyone is very important to our Heavenly Father and Jesus.  How can we be good examples to others?  How can we be missionaries? (How can we help Jesus bring his sheep back to the fold?)

5. Activity:

The bell "rings out to-guide lost sheep back to the fold". 

Let's pretend we are in a field.  Give a bell to each person being the sheep.  Give a family member a stick that has the end wrapped with aluminum foil (curve it to look like a crook).  Have the sheep hid. Have the shepherd find the sheep by ringing their bells.  Repeat this as many times as you like.

6. Treats:

Make sugar cookies or dairy-free sugar cookies bells or candy canes with your children.  Frost and decorate them.  If you make candy cane cookies, frost them white and make strips by sprinkling colored red sugar on them.

Eat candy canes

Take a plate of cookies or candy canes to a non-member family's home or a less active family in your ward.

7. Closing Song: (A Christmas song or Other Sheep Have I, Friend, Jan. 1977)

8. Closing Prayer
 

Other Resources
The Meaning of Christmas
The True Meaning of Christmas Go down to "Reason for the Season"


Copyright © 2000, 2003 Barbara Pratt.  All rights reserved.
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