The Children's Address
• In today's Old Testament lesson, God speaks about the necessity of making a new covenant (agreement) with His people.
• By the way do you know how many books there are in the Old Testament? (Discuss)
• An easy way to remember both books of the bible is this way.
• How many letters in the word Old (3). How many letters in New? (3) Now what about Testament (9)
• For the OT you push the numbers together 3 and 9 to give you 39
• In the NT you multiply them. 3 x 9 = 27.
• Now you have become a mini theologian
• Back to God's word today
• The wonderful thing about a new day is that you can always start afresh
• Many of us do this at the beginning of a new year. We call these New Year resolutions.
• Can you think of some of the things people decide they would like to start a fresh with (Discuss)
• Some of us honour these new pledges, but many quickly forget about them.
• When God promises a new agreement, he always keeps his promise.
• At home there are times when you are asked to be responsible for something. It may not be everyday. Maybe sharing the job with siblings.
• Some of these things could include keeping your room tidy. Not leaving things where you dropped them. Taking turns to dry the dishes or load/unload the dishwasher etc
• Can you think of other things you may be asked to do? (Discuss)
• Today we are going to make a covenant box (an agreement box)
• In this we are going to put the things we are prepared to do to help the family.
• Then when Mum or Dad or looking for extra help when they are tired or very busy, they can take one of these slips out that says (eg: Helping clean up the yard etc), then you would offer to help with no complaining.
• As a Christian we are expected to follow the example of Jesus. He would never let us down if he promises something and so we need to do the same when we promise something.

Kids Church Activity:
• Today's activity is about having a change of attitude towards other members of your family
• It will be a little like making a new contact or agreement with them. Because they do so much for you, this is one way for you to show you appreciate their care and love.
• Give children each a margarine tub and several construction paper strips. Show them how to weave the strips through the slits in the margarine tubs to make baskets.

   
• Cut several strips in half to use as handles and staple a handle to each child's basket.
• Give each child a photocopy of the "Helping Baskets" handout
• Say to the children: "The strips on your handout tell different ways you can help your family. You can fill in more ways to help on the blank strips. Cut out the strips and put them in your basket. Show the basket to your family and have them draw a strip whenever they need help."
• As children are working, help them think of specific ways they can help their families. For example, if they have younger siblings, they could help by playing with a brother or sister while their parents are busy.
• When children have finished cutting out their strips, say: " When you help others, good things will happen in your family, too."