By Rev. Doug Forbes

This year many of the craft and discount stores are featuring wonderful selections of bead kits. Some of these kits contain all the letters on the alphabet with each bead featuring a different letter. Your students could use these kits to put names, short Bible verses or Bible references on key chains, necklaces or bracelets.

For the Alphabet Beads activity you need: Bibles, Bible concordances, scissors, letter and colorful beads, and string or yarn.

Begin with a simple Bible study. Ask your students to use their Bibles and concordances to find favorite Bible verses that have special meaning to them. Allow time for each child to share a favorite verse and explain why it is important to him or her.

Let each child decide what they wish to make, a key chain, necklace or bracelet. Help them select a piece of string or yarn, cut it to the proper length, and tie a knot two inches from one end to hold the beads.

Have your students lay out the Bible reference or Bible verse they have chosen on the table in the correct order using letter beads, and add colorful beads between the words. They may want to creatively make a pattern of colorful beads at each end of their Bible verse or reference to enhance their works of art. Once they have put their beads on the string they can tie a knot at the end to keep the beads close together. Make a loop at one end of the string if making a key chain. Simply tie the two ends together to complete necklaces and bracelets. (You may wish to purchase metal key rings to tie at the end of the key chains.)

For an alternate activity your young people could make key chains, necklaces or bracelets with their names on them. You could begin this activity by asking your students to see how many names they could find in the Bible in a period of time. Then you could explain that everyone’s name is important to God, including their own. Read John 3:16, discuss God’s great love and make the name key chains, necklaces or bracelets.

If you have enough time and materials your students could make extra Bible verse, Bible reference or name key chains, necklaces or bracelets to give as gifts.