December 25, 2016 Christmas Day Isa. 9:2 7 Ps. 96 Titus 2:11 14 Luke 2:1-14, (15 20) Happy Birthday, Jesus Goal for the Session Children will celebrate how God comes to us in the birth of Jesus. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Luke 2:1 14 (15 20) WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, Lewis R. Donelson The hidden and understated tone of the birth story itself gives way to the drama of an angel announcing the birth to shepherds and a heavenly choir singing a response. Of course, the low social status of shepherds reinforces the sense of political and social irony. The angel does not announce the birth of the Messiah to the elite, or even in normal public space, but to shepherds in the field with their sheep. In keeping with the usual course of such angelic announcements, the shepherds are terrified. The announcement of the unnamed angel focuses entirely on the messianic identity of Jesus. He is born in the city of David; he is a savior; he is the Messiah. Ironically, they will find this savior, this Messiah, in an animal manger. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Cynthia L. Rigby Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and the shepherds do not travel with the anticipation that they will arrive to a familiar, homemade Christmas. They are headed to that which is uncomfortable and utterly new. Mary and Joseph are moving further and further away from their homes as they make the journey to register. The Son has left his place at the side of the Father and gone into the far country in order to be God with us ( Emmanuel ). And the shepherds are minding the business of their own familiar domain when they are compelled, by the Good News of the angels, to travel and seek. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Ashley Cook Cleere Nothing in verses 1 7 suggests that Jesus birth was noteworthy. Despite the secluded location where Jesus was born, word of his arrival quickly gets out! According to the angel s song, the Messiah s birth conveys goodwill. No one is inconspicuous in the eyes of the savior. Jesus birth carries peace to those whom he favors. This pastoral word can compel households that once echoed with emptiness to resound with incomparable joy! NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Kimberly Bracken Long Take a deep look into the meaning of the birth of Christ, the possibility that gospel truth is found today in the lives and witness of people we would not see as strong or powerful. It is a mystery indeed that we celebrate on Christmas, one that reaches beyond even what Luke can tell us. The birth of Jesus is an incomprehensible inbreaking of the holy, as is his presence with us at the Table, and each and every day a mystery for which we can respond only with our thanks and praise. 1
Happy Birthday, Jesus FOCUS SCRIPTURE Luke 2:1 14 (15 20) YOU WILL NEED white fabric large white batterypowered candle Christmas ribbons and bows basket of small stones Bible Color Pack 8, 9, 30, 34 copies of Resource Sheets 1 and 2 on card stock scissors, glue sticks, crayons cake, forks, napkins Singing the Feast, 2016 2017; CD player For Responding option 1: balloon option 2: dish towels, robes, boxes, dolls option 3: Color Pack 30; Singing the Feast, 2016 2017; CD player; dish towels; cord or ribbon; rhythm instruments Light of Jesus (light of Jesus), Show the way (show the way). Shine in us forever (shine in us forever); This we pray (this we pray). 1 Focus on Your Teaching Children are naturally exuberant on Christmas, but be sensitive to children whose celebrations have been subdued because of family reasons. Try to focus the children s attention today on the birth of Christ by celebrating together with a birthday party. Children love birthday parties, and this will help them remember the baby in the manger, who is the real reason for all of the presents under the tree. O God, it is so hard to understand how Jesus was fully human and fully God. It is so hard to imagine the situation of his birth. Speak to my heart this Christmas Day, and help me move these children toward a deeper understanding of the mystery of your incarnation. Amen. n LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Before the session, prepare a birthday cake or cupcakes to enjoy with the children. Be sure to check with parents about food allergies or diabetes. If you are using option 1 in Responding, inflate a balloon, being mindful of any latex allergies. As you welcome learners, work together to place the white fabric in the center of your learning space. Place the white candle in the center and arrange Christmas ribbons and bows around it. Tell them the church uses the color white for important celebrations, like Christmas. Invite them to tell about their Christmas celebrations. Pass the basket of stones, asking each child to take one. As you light the candle, say, With the choir of angels we sing, Glory to God in the highest and peace to all people on earth. Take a stone and set it on the cloth as you tell something you want to thank God for today. Invite children to take turns doing the same. Sing the words in the sidebar to the tune of Frère Jacques. Have children sing the echo. Pray: Faithful God, We give thanks for the birth of your Son, Jesus. Be with us as we learn from your Word today. Amen. Extinguish the flames. 1. Lighting the Advent Candles with Children, pcusa.org/media/uploads/theologyandworship/pdfs/ lightingadventcandleswithchildren.pdf. Used with permission of the Office of Theology and Worship, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). 2
Happy Birthday, Jesus O Child Jesus, You Are So Lovely Jesucito de mi vida, eres niño como yo, por eso te quiero tanto y te doy mi corazón. O Child Jesus, you are so lovely, you are little just like me. That is why I love you so much, and I give my heart to you. Buen Jesús: tómalo; tuyo es, mío no. Buen Jesús: tómalo; tuyo es, mío no. O Child Jesus, you are so lovely, you are little just like me. That is why I love you so much, and I give my heart to you. Jesucito de mi vida, eres niño como yo, por eso te quiero tanto y te doy mi corazón. EXPLORING Display Color Pack 8 and 9, and invite children to tell their favorite parts of the story that these pictures tell. Invite learners to listen to O Child Jesus, You Are So Lovely (track 17 on Singing the Feast, 2016 2017) as they look at the pictures. Opening your Bible to Luke 2, tell learners that today you are going to dig deeper into this important Bible story. Give each child a copy of Resource Sheet 1 (At the Manger) and Resource Sheet 2 (Story Figures). Set out crayons, scissors, and glue sticks. Tell the story, using this version or one of your own: The government told Mary and Joseph that they had to travel to Bethlehem to be counted for paying taxes. (Pause for children to color and cut out figures of Joseph and Mary.) While they were in Bethlehem, baby Jesus was born. Mary wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger. (Pause for children to color and cut out the figure of baby Jesus.) Nearby, shepherds were watching their sheep in the fields. Suddenly God s angel appeared and the sky was shining brightly with God s glory. The shepherds were terrified! The angel said, Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. Today in Bethlehem, God s Savior has been born. You will find this child lying in a manger. Then, all at once, there were many angels praising God: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God s people on earth. (Pause for children to color and cut out figures of the shepherd and angel.) The shepherds wondered about what the angel said. One shepherd said, Let s go find this special baby. So they hurried to Bethlehem. They found Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. They told Mary and Joseph the amazing things the angel said about Jesus. Then, the shepherds went back to their fields, praising God for everything they had seen and heard on this holy night. After telling the story, ask children to hold up the correct figure to answer each question: P Who traveled to Bethlehem so they could be counted for paying taxes? P Who told the shepherds that Jesus had been born? P Who were the first people to visit baby Jesus? P Who is God s Son, our Savior? Form pairs and have children use their figures to tell the story to each other. When they are done, have them glue the figures in place on the manger scene and finish coloring it as desired. 3
Happy Birthday, Jesus Invite children to help you blow up balloons and hang streamers around your space. Enjoy birthday cake or cupcakes to celebrate that God s Son, Jesus, came to earth to love us, bring us closer to God, and show us how to live in God s ways. As you eat, discuss: P What is your favorite thing to do to celebrate Christmas Jesus birthday? P Why do you think the angels said the birth of Jesus is good news for all people? P Why is the birth of Jesus good news for you? EASY PREP RESPONDING Mark the activities you will use: 1. Good News Game Children will proclaim the angels message of good news in their own words as they play a game. Bat an inflated balloon into the air, calling out the name of a child to catch it. This child says one way to tell other people about Jesus birth or one thing about the Christmas story that is important. 2. Race to the Manger Enjoy some high-spirited fun with your class as you recall the shepherds journey to Bethlehem. Form two teams. At the starting line for each team, place a bathrobe. Give each player a dish towel to use as a swaddling cloth. At the other side of the room, place two boxes ( mangers ), with a doll in each one. Have teams line up at the starting line. The first player puts on a shepherd robe and runs to the manger, where he or she wraps the dish towel around the doll and carefully puts it back in the manger. The player then runs back to the starting line and passes the robe to the next person, who repeats the action. The first team to get all their cloths wrapped around their doll wins. After the game, ask: What did the shepherds hurry to do after they saw baby Jesus? Who can you hurry to tell this good news? If you don t have rhythm instruments, hit wooden blocks together, shake rice or pebbles in a plastic bottle, or shake keys or jingle bells. Hallelujah Hallelujah,... Let us praise God.... We are blessings,... Hear our prayer now,.. 3. Shepherd Song Celebrate the birth of Christ and share the good news! Play O Child Jesus, You Are So Lovely (Color Pack 30, track 17 on Singing the Feast, 2016 2017) and learn the song. Invite volunteers to play rhythm instruments as you sing. Provide dish towels to make shepherd headdresses, tying them in place with cord or ribbon. Ask learners to imagine they are the shepherds at the stable to meet baby Jesus as they sing. CLOSING Gather around the candle. Invite children to tell one thing about the story of Jesus birth that makes them wonder. Celebrate by singing Hallelujah (Color Pack 34, track 9 on Singing the Feast, 2016 2017). Recall the angels words by asking learners to repeat each line after you: Teacher: Glory to God Children: In the highest! Teacher: And on earth Children: Peace to all people! Say a personal good-bye to each child, thanking her or him for helping you celebrate the birth of Jesus. 4
December 25, 2016 Happy Birthday, Jesus Grades K 2 Resource Sheet 1 At the Manger 2016 Westminster John Knox Press Winter 2016 2017 5
December 25, 2016 Happy Birthday, Jesus Grades K 2 Resource Sheet 2 Story Figures 2016 Westminster John Knox Press Winter 2016 2017 6