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December Week 2
Handout front Emmanuel, God understands being a child
picture from http://www.coloring.ws/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.coloring.ws/bible/nw-nativity.gif
Handout back Scripture: Luke 2:8-12
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Song, “Mary Had a baby”
Mary had a baby (My Lord)
Mary had a baby (Oh My Lord)
Mary had a baby (My Lord)
The children keep a singing all the day long.
Where did she lay him (My Lord)
Where did she lay him (Oh My Lord)
Where did she lay him (My Lord)
The children keep a singing all the day long.
Laid him in a manger (My Lord)
Laid him in a manger (Oh My Lord)
Laid him in a manger (My Lord)
The children keep a singing all the day long.
Prayer
Happy Birthday Jesus dear
I send this pray. Please, listen, Please hear
Sometimes this big world is scary
Protect all children. Make Christmas merry
NOTE: The acolytes do not light the Christ Candle at the beginning of Chapel. Instead, they light the candles of hope and peace. As they light the candle of hope, ask all the children what is hope. Affirm their answers and let them know that hope is when we believe things can get better no matter how bad something might seem. Then ask them about peace as they light the peace candle. Be prepared that our small children know more about war and terrorism then most of us would want them to know. Remind them that the peace that God gives is a peace with ourselves and our neighbors. Peace happens when everyone is treated with fairness. ( Children insist on fairness especially to themselves.)
Materials needed:
The nativity set.
Also, you’ll need a baby bottle, baby blanket, diaper, and baby rattle/toy. These can be real or toy ones. Place them in a tote bag.
Lesson:
Read Scripture
This passage we read tells about when Jesus came to our world. On the night he was born, the gospel says that angels told shepherds about him. But that was Christmas when the angels appeared to the shepherds. Is today Christmas? ( wait for the children to respond) No, today is not Christmas. We are waiting for Christmas. We call this time of waiting the “Season of Advent.” The word “advent” comes from an old latin word meaning “coming.” because every Christmas we celebrate that someone very important is coming. Children, who comes to us at Christmas. ( They will excitedly yell out “Santa Claus.” ) Yes, we remember Saint Nicholas every Christmas whenever we are kind or help those who are poor, the Spirit of Saint Nicholas is acting with us. And here is a really cool thing. Are you ready? (wait. Look for them to have their eyes on you.) In a very real way we remember that God comes to be a person like us on Christmas. Jesus was born just like you and me. And in a real way, Jesus comes again to us at Christmas to show us how to live the way God wants us to live. God wants us to love God and to care for each other and that is just what Jesus did. But he started as a baby. He was a real baby with real baby needs. I have some things here in my bag that babies need. Here is a bottle. Why do babies need bottles. ( wait) Babies get hungry. Jesus would have known what it is like to be hungry and he would even have cried like babies do when they get hungry. ( place bottle in the stable) We’ll put this here so the baby Jesus will have it when he arrives. (blanket) So, why do you think I have a blanket? Babies need blankets to keep them warm. Baby Jesus would have known what it was like to be cold and he would need a blanket. Here is a rattle/ toy. Why do I have this for baby Jesus? Baby Jesus would have wanted to play like all babies and children do, so we’ll add a toy here in the stable for him. Oh, we must have this, it’s a diaper. Yep, baby Jesus would have poopy diapers just like you and I did when we were babies. ( the children will laugh). He needed grown ups to care for him just like all children do. In this way, God really understands what it is like to be a kid because God came as a baby in the person of Jesus.
Let’s sing our song.
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