LoveCameDown
Illustrated by Philippa
Martin
Puzzle Answers
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EDITOR Cara Mott
DEPUTY EDITOR AND KA! JAM CO-ORDINATOR Ibukun Baku
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jacob Adams
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Philippa Martin
PROOFREADER Chris Horne CONTACT US Phone Office – 020 7367 4910
Territorial Headquarters Switchboard – 0845 634 0101 Email kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk
Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Love Came Down
ait – how is it already nearly Christmas? We can’t believe it’s been a whole year since we last sang ‘Jingle Bells’ at the top of our lungs, or peaked out of our windows to try to catch a glimpse of Father Christmas. This year’s gone so quickly that, up until we told Patch yesterday, he still thought it was the summer holidays!
But if we’ve been reading our calendars properly, then it’s definitely time to get excited. So put on your best Christmas jumper and turn on your favourite festive tunes, because it’s time to read the Kids Alive! Christmas Special!
This year, we’re celebrating something that’s at the heart of Christmas – love! Christmas really is all about showing love to others, isn’t it? We might do that by helping to cook a scrumptious dinner or by donating to a food bank. We might even give away a spectacular present.
That’s actually how God showed love to the world at the very first Christmas! Around 2,000 years ago, God gave the world a present, and this present wasn’t found in a stocking or under a Christmas tree … it was found in a manger. This present was a baby called Jesus, and he was the most spectacular gift ever to be given – because Jesus is God! God came down to Earth to make a way for us to join his family, and he did this because he loves us. In fact, God has more love for us than Santa has presents to deliver on Christmas Eve. So since it’s nearly Christmas, get excited! Show love to the people around you and celebrate the love of God!
When I was a kid, my mum would write down every gift we were given, so that my brothers and I could send thank-you letters after Christmas. Now I do the same thing with my daughters, because showing our appreciation for what people give us is so important.
But how can we thank God for a gift that’s so big? For the gift of Jesus, do we need a giant thank-you letter?
God wants us to show our thanks in our everyday choices and love-filled actions. We say thank you by believing in him and trusting that he loves us. We show our gratitude by talking to him, reading the Bible and being kind to others – just as Jesus teaches us to. Let’s all show our thanks to God by trying to live like Jesus every day. Let your life be a giant thank-you letter that God can see in action!
Illustrated by
Philippa Martin
Mexico
Join... Joy to the World
Christmas is the perfect opportunity to get excited about the birth of Jesus – no matter where you live. Did you know that people from different countries celebrate the Christmas story in lots of unique ways? Join us as we discover unique Christmas traditions from around the world!
One of the most unique Christmas traditions in Mexico is Las Posadas. For nine nights in a row, children will knock on the doors of their friends’ and neighbours’ houses to sing them a song.
This song is all about how Mary and Joseph (Jesus’ mum and dad) looked for a room to stay in when they arrived in the town of Bethlehem, not long before Jesus was born. Kids will then be invited into one of the houses for a party, where there might be fireworks – and there may even be a piñata!
Families in Mexico will also often have models of the Christmas story in their homes, which are known as nacimientos. Some of the figures can be as large as a person! On the night of Christmas Eve, as a reminder of what Christmas is all about, a model of the baby Jesus is often added to a manger.
KA! JAM is the coolest Bible activity club around. As a member you’ll go on amazing adventures through the Bible learning about Jesus. Each activity sheet is filled with lots of great stuff about being a Christian. You’ll also receive our mini-mag, Chatterbox which is filled with jokes, games and much more. And to top it off, there are loads of awesome prizes to be won!
To join KA! JAM and complete the Bible activity courses online, go to salvationist.org.uk/kajam.
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PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS.
When I Grow Up
What do you want to be when you grow up? To help you learn about a job that you might be interested in, we’ve asked a grown-up to tell us all about what they do for work. It’s time to meet a…
Patch’s
Problem...?
Sleigh Manager!
? ? ? ? ? ?
HELLO, READERS, I’VE LOST A VERY IMPORTANT OBJECT SOMEWHERE IN THE ISSUE. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HELP ME FIND IT? I HAVE A CLUE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HERE.
Hi, my name’s Rudolph and I’m a sleigh manager. I help to guide Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve, so that he can deliver presents to kids that live all around the world. And – oh deer … I mean, oh dear! Do I really have to do this? I haven’t got that much time to spare!
Since Christmas Day is not too far away, there are so many jobs to do. I’ve got to help Prancer and Vixen with testing the new reins on the sleigh. Plus, Mrs Claus has dropped her television remote under her sofa and she wants to use my shiny nose to find it!
Fine, fine – I’ll tell you about my job. A normal day of work involves practising for our big adventure on Christmas Eve. It also involves eating far too many carrots, racing around the North Pole Toy Factory with Dasher and even sometimes wrapping a present or two!
My favourite thing about the job is that I get to travel around the whole world. I’ve seen so many spectacular sights, such as the Eiffel Tower, the London Eye and the pyramids in Egypt! I really, truly have the best job in the world, and I’d recommend it to anyone (as long as they’re a reindeer, have a red nose that glows and can fly)! Anyway, I’ve got to go – Mrs Claus needs my help. Happy Christmas, everyone!
CHILLY CHALLENGE
Enter the five-letter answers to the clues between the given numbers
1–2 Christmas carol, ‘Once in Royal _ _ _ _ _’s City’
3–4 Jesus was born on the _ _ _ _ _ Christmas
5–6 Lion from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
7–8 Christian Christmas song
9–10 Christmas plant with red berries
Why does Santa always enter through the chimney? Because it soots him!
Answers on Page 2 love came down
11–12 Christmas carol, ‘In The _ _ _ _ _ Midwinter’ b
e
s
o
by Neil Locker
Who delivers presents to dogs? Santa Paws!
What goes, ‘Oh, Oh, Oh’? Santa walking backwards!
How do elves like their tea? Short and sweet!
The NativityStoryPart 1
Find the right cable that goes from the switch to light up the Christmas tree
Haha,haha,haha!
B C
Ho ho, ha ha, he he! He he, he he!
SANTA’S SURPRISE
Read the clues on Santa’s sacks to work out who the reindeer is
I’m the oldest and strongest reindeer on Santa’s team all the presents are delivered on time captain and it’s my responsibility to call out directions when we’re flying
Ha ha, ha ha, ha ha!
How much did Santa pay for his sleigh? Nothing, it was on the house!
What did one Christmas tree say to the other? ‘Lighten up!’ What do you get when you cross a Christmas tree with an apple? A pineapple!
Ho ho, ho ho! He he, he he!
What did one snowman say to the other?
‘Do you smell carrots?’
Ho ho, ha ha, he he!
by Neil Locker
across:
Answers
on Page 2
3 Body of water. 5 Santa’s vehicle. 6 Unusual or not even. 7 Row of bushes around a garden. 8 Perfect. 11 Obtain or acquire. 12 Christmas carol, ‘Hark! The _ _ _ _ _ _ Angels Sing’. 13 ‘The Twelve Days Of Christmas’ gift, _ _ _ turtle doves. down: 1 ‘_ _ _ _ tidings of great joy I bring’. 2 Hope for or desire. 3 ‘Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle _ _ _ _’. 4 Period before Christmas. 6 ‘We three kings of _ _ _ _ _ _ are’. 9 Sound reflection. 10 ‘The little _ _ _ _ Jesus asleep on the hay’. 11 Gift from the wise men.
MyFirst Camera Insta Competition
What are you most looking forward to about Christmas Day? Is it discovering a present with your name on it under the Christmas tree? Perhaps it’s tucking into a delicious Christmas dinner, with lots of turkey and (if you don’t think they taste absolutely disgusting) Brussels sprouts! Maybe it’s going to church to celebrate the birth of Jesus or sitting with your family to play a game together. We reckon that you won’t want to forget any of these brilliant Christmassy moments, which is why the myFirst Camera Insta 20 is so fantastic. With this camera, you can snap photos and then print them straight away. This means that you can decorate your room with pictures of your favourite moments. Or you can snap a photo of someone you love and gift it to them, so that they can remember Christmas Day too!
For the opportunity to win your own myFirst Camera Insta 20, answer the question below and email your full name, age, address and answer to kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk
Remember to put ‘MyFirst Camera Insta Competition’ in the subject box. Your entry needs to reach us by Friday 16 January when the winners will be chosen. You can also enter by filling in the details on the coupon below and posting it to: MyFirst Camera Insta Competition, Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ.
Name:
Address:
Four Six Eight
How many Brussels sprouts are on this page?
DESIGN A CHRISTMAS TREE
For lots of people a big part of Christmas is decorating their Christmas tree. Do you have a star or an angel on top? What colour baubles do you have? How about tinsel – is your family a big fan or not? To celebrate Christmas this year, we’re asking you to show some festive flair by drawing a tree design in the box below – you can show us what the Christmas tree in your home looks like, or use your imagination to create the Christmas tree you wish you could have! If you’d like to share your artwork with other readers, email your creation to: kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk Make sure you write ‘Design a Christmas Tree’ in the subject box and give us your full name, age and address. Alternatively, you can post your colouring to: Your Space, Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ. One last reminder, if you’re sending by post remember to fill in the details below so we know who you are. We send a gift to everyone whose design we publish, so don’t miss out!
Address:
Name: Age:
Postcode:
Age? 12.
Chocolate.
Core y Emme line
Favourite Christmas food?
Favourite Christmas film?
Home Alone.
Favourite Christmas carol?
‘O Holy Night’.
Favourite Nativity character and why? The Angel Gabriel, because if there was no angel, Mary wouldn’t have known about Jesus.
Tell us a Christmas joke. What is one of the best Christmas presents you can get? A broken drum –you just can’t beat it!
Any family Christmas traditions? Extra presents on the table at dinner.
Star or angel on the Christmas tree? Star.
Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Favourite part of Christmas?
Food and being with my family.
What is your hope for Christmas? That everyone will have fun.
Christmas Reader
Happy Birthday to You!B Birthday t to
Happy Birthday to You! Happy B Birthday t to HappyYou!Birthday to You! Happy B Birthday t to 1December – age 7
Age? 6.
Favourite Christmas food?
Christmas roast dinner.
Favourite Christmas film?
The Snowman.
Favourite Christmas carol?
‘Bethlehem’ – it’s a song we’re learning for my Nativity play at school.
Favourite Nativity character and why? Mary, Joseph and Jesus, because they are the main people in the story.
Tell us a Christmas joke. How do you know that a Christmas tree is feeling sick? Because it’s green!
Any family Christmas traditions? I go to The Salvation Army on Christmas Day, see my family and play games. And my grandma buys everyone a chocolate orange!
Star or angel on the Christmas tree? Star.
Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Rudolph.
Favourite part of Christmas? Getting presents.
What is your hope for Christmas? Lots of snow!
Reader Profiles Nokutenda Murtagh
Age? 7.
Favourite Christmas food?
Roast dinner.
Favourite Christmas film?
That Christmas.
Favourite Christmas carol?
‘Silent Night’.
Favourite Nativity character and why? Jesus, because he loves me.
Tell us a Christmas joke. What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? ‘It’s Christmas, Eve!’
Any family Christmas traditions? We all celebrate Christmas as a big family with our cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.
Star or angel on the Christmas tree? Star.
Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Favourite part of Christmas? Presents.
What is your hope for Christmas? That everyone enjoys Christmas.
Age? 6.
Favourite Christmas food? Turkey.
Favourite Christmas film?
The Polar Express.
Favourite Christmas carol?
‘A Starry Night’.
Favourite Nativity character and why? Angel Gabriel, because he flies.
Tell us a Christmas joke. What happened to the boy who kept eating Christmas decorations? He got tinsel-itis!
Any family Christmas traditions? Reading The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve.
Star or angel on the Christmas tree? Angel.
Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Frosty.
Favourite part of Christmas? Giving and receiving presents. What is your hope for Christmas? Having fun with my family. Hopefully having snowball fights and making snowmen.
patch has put our christmas presents under the tree. i can never resist trying to guess what he’s got me.
Don’t worry, OlivE. you won’t miss out. This is for you.
caught you, olive! I knew you’d try to find out what your present was, so I thought I’d give you a fun suRprise!
if i just have a teensy feel of my present, I’m sure patch will be none the wiser.
Thanks, Patch. Happy Christmas, readers!
