Let's Celebrate 160!

Introduction

Founded by William and Catherine Booth in 1865, The Salvation Army is a Christian church and a charity that believes in putting faith into action by helping people.

• We worship God and follow the teachings of Jesus that are found in the Bible.
• We want to share the good news about Jesus – he inspires us to help others.
• We love to worship God, to praise him and to thank him for all he has done for us and given us.
• We are called an Army because we fight against injustice by showing love to others.

The Salvation Army is a worldwide organisation that is at work in 131 countries* where …

• We help people who are in need.
• We help people who are homeless or unemployed. We help people struggling with addictions. We help older people, families, young people and children.
• We want to end poverty and stop modern slavery.
• We help everyone where possible – people of all faiths and backgrounds.
• We treat everyone with respect and dignity.

This year, The Salvation Army is celebrating its 160th birthday, and this session is to invite everyone attending our parent-and-toddler groups to join in the celebrations.

*At time of writing

Bible Story

The Great Feast, Luke 14:15-24; The Big Bible Story Book, Maggie Barfield

Ask people to share when their birthday is. You may need to ask the adults to help their children with this. Is there anyone with a birthday this week? Talk about how we like celebrating birthdays and the things we do to celebrate them.

It is The Salvation Army’s birthday! But I wonder if anyone knows how old The Salvation Army is? 

Let the children and adults guess different ages, and then tell them that on 2 July 2025 The Salvation Army is 160 years old – which is a lot of birthday cake candles to blow out! Talk about how The Salvation Army has been working in communities across the United Kingdom for 160 years, and how it also now works in 131 different countries around the world, and so today we are having a party to celebrate.

Jesus told a story about a big party to teach us something about God.

Read Luke 14:15-24.

Jesus told this story to help us understand that God wants everyone to know that they are invited to be part of his family and to enjoy his goodness, and that includes you and me!

So today we are having a party to celebrate how much God loves us all, and to thank him for The Salvation Army as it celebrates its 160th birthday.

Song Suggestions

1. Theme Song (Tune: Traditional)

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday, Salvation Army,

Happy Birthday to you!

2. Play a Salvation Army band march and invite the children to march around, waving flags, banging drums, and playing tambourines.
3. Use a selection of songs for a Praise Party:
   • ‘Praise Train’, Dance Fit Tots, Praise Train - Lyric Video – www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0eF1-IXV84
   • ‘Joyful Noise’, Yancy & Little Praise Party https://youtu.be/cUQzYojcnVk
   • ‘Great Big God’, Vineyard Worship https://youtu.be/0K3TUFFpmhA
   • ‘The Wiggle Song’, New Wine https://youtu.be/GEZIcBJoYeU 

Craft/Activity Ideas

• Decorate birthday buns or biscuits with red, yellow and blue icing, sweets and sprinkles; or have a large birthday cake for everyone to share at snack time. Be aware of allergies.

• Make simple party hats or crowns and decorate with bright stickers.

• Make Salvation Army flags by colouring the template using finger paints or collage materials, and add to a stick SIGNS & SYMBOLS Pupil worksheets KS1:Layout 1.qxd
  www.salvationist.org.uk/sites/salvationists/files/resources/2020-02/Signs%20And%20Symbols%20Worksheet%20KS1.pdf
• Using paper plates and empty plastic cartons, make simple tambourines or drums to use when marching around.

For more craft and activity ideas: https://uk.pinterest.com/FamilyMinistriesUKIT/salvation-army-160/

Special Activity – What is The Salvation Army?

If you want to explore more about The Salvation Army, wrap each of the items suggested below in birthday paper, and put them in a box that is also wrapped as a birthday present. Get different children to unwrap each parcel and then explain how it helps us learn something about The Salvation Army.

You could also do this as a pass the parcel game by passing the box as some Salvation Army band music plays, and when the music stops get the child to choose one of the parcels to unwrap. 

• Small globe – This shows all the various places in our world; The Salvation Army is found in 131 other countries.

• Children’s Bible – The Bible is an incredibly special book to members of The Salvation Army because it teaches about Jesus. We believe Jesus is an especially important person. He helped lots of people when he lived on earth and that is why The Salvation Army wants to help so many people today.

• Small house – The Salvation Army helps people who don’t have a home by giving them food, clothes and a place to stay. They can also help them to find a new home.

• Cup – When there is a flood or a fire, The Salvation Army is always there to help. This cup shows that Salvation Army members give drinks to people who are hurt and also to the people who are helping, like the fire-fighters or the police. They will also give them food and will comfort them if they are upset.

• Various play people of different ages, or a family photo – The Salvation Army cares for people of all ages; it helps by giving food parcels to people in need and giving toys at Christmas; by cooking meals for older people who may be lonely. Talk here about some of that work that your corps does.

• Child’s musical instrument – In The Salvation Army we like to play lots of different instruments and to sing or dance to show God how much we love him.

Sensory Play

• Make or buy red, yellow and blue play-dough.
• Have a selection of instruments for children to try. You could invite members of the Salvation Army band to come and play and get the children to join in.

Use an old Salvation Army flag as a parachute and play games running underneath it. 

Prayer

Get everyone to join in ‘Hip! Hip! Hooray!’ 

‘Hip! Hip! Hooray!’ – Let’s celebrate God that loves us all today!

‘Hip! Hip! Hooray!’ – Let’s thank God for 160 years of The Salvation Army!

‘Hip! Hip! Hooray!’ – Let’s praise God as we enjoy our party together!

Amen.