12/18/11 Winter Unit 1: Good News of Great Joy Lesson 4

8/4/2019 12/18/11 Winter Unit 1: Good News of Great Joy Lesson 4

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KEY CONCEPT MOTIONS:

Every time you say the key concept during the lesson, use these motions:Thank You, God, [hold both hands overhead, palms open upward]

for Baby Jesus [cradle arms and pretend to rock a baby].

BibleSummaryLuke 1:26-38; 2:1-20

An angel told Maryshe would have ababy: Gods Son,Jesus. Joseph andMary traveled fromNazareth to

Bethlehem for thecensus. When theyarrived, there was noplace for them tospend the night, sothey stayed in a stable.While they were there,Jesus was born. Marywrapped Him incloths and laid Himin a manger. Angelsappeared to shepherds

who were tendingtheir sheep in thefields. The angelspraised God and toldthe shepherds whereto find Baby Jesus.The shepherdsvisited Him andwere amazed.

Bible VerseI bring you good

news of great joy . . .

a Savior has been

born to you, He is

Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

LESSON 4: CHRISTMAS WEEK SERVICEUNIT 1:

In the Beginning . . . Growing into a Life of Faith

Good Newsof Great Joy Thank You,

God,

for Baby Jesus

ObjectivesKNOW WHAT:

Children will hear the Christmas story,including the angels, the birth of Jesus,and the shepherds hearing the good news.

SO WHAT:

Children will learn that God sent His Son,Jesus, as a baby to show His love.

NOW WHAT:Children will participate in activities tocelebrate the good news of Jesus birth.

Spiritual FormationCelebration and Thankfulness

People NeededTeacher, Helper, 4 Kids from the class

Supplies(Labeled visuals below can be found inthe Lesson 4 Visual folder on the WinterQuarter CDs.)

CD playerMusic for singing The Beginners Bible Folder for script Head piece, shawl, or scarf for Mary Shirt or tunic for Joseph Halo for angel Toy sheep for shepherd Stick horse or wagon

(to use as a donkey) Backpack

Doll (Baby Jesus) Light blanket or sheet Towel to wrap Baby Jesus

Bench or chairManger (or box) 3 Picture cards: Family,

Grandparents, Friends(Lesson 4 LG 9Lesson 4 LG 11)

Crayons For each child:

1 Instrument (maracas, jingle bells,drums, etc.) (optional) 1 Scarf (optional) Key Concept sticker (Lesson 4 LG 12) Two-sided take-home coloring sheet

(Lesson 4 LG 13, Lesson 4 LG 14) Snack

Thank You,God,

for Baby Jesus.

KeyConcept

1 Winter Quarter 2007 Willow Creek Community Church / Sunday School Teachers Guidebook / Lesson 4


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UNIT 1:

Good Newsof Great Joy

Notes:

2 Winter Quarter

In Advance Recruit a Helper to operate the music CDs. This week, the Helper will also help walk the

kid volunteers through their roles in the Christmas story.

Determine which songs you will use and be prepared to lead the children in singing.

Song suggestions: Upbeat song, that kids can clap along to, for transition from Activity Stations to the

Creative Bible Teaching (consider using the same song for all 15 lessons or using adifferent song for each unit)

Jingle Bells (optional: from a childrens Christmas CD) Its Christmastime (Jump for JoyCD) Who Was There (Jump for JoyCD) Good, Good News (Jump for JoyCD)

Gather the supplies as listed above and arrange your classroom as follows:

Designate one area or corner of the room as your teaching area. Set up props that will

be used during the lesson and consider covering them with a sheet or a large piece offabric to keep them from curious kids during Activity Stations. Also consider placing aline of tape on the floor to help keep kids out of the teaching area.

Leave the tree from previous lessons in place. Set the bench or chair to one side andplace the manger/box at the center of the teaching area. Place all props to one side wherethe Helper can easily reach them and give them to the kids as needed.

Prepare the materials that will be given to each of the children. To prepare the stickers,print or copy the pages onto Avery label sheets #5294. Consider cutting the stickers apartfor easier distribution. This week, copy the Family Activity and Coloring Sheet on sepa-rate sheets of paper (instead of front-to-back) and staple together a set for each child.This way they can cut out their puppets without having print on the back.

Print out the lesson and practice the teaching time. The Teacher will narrate theChristmas story from the side while the Helper helps the kid volunteers through theirroles. The kids do NOT need to practice before the teaching time.

Teachers Prep

REVIEW LUKE 2:8-20. As you study the passage, notice the shepherds great excitement asthey spread the news of Jesus birth. Pray and ask God how you can share the good news and

joy of Jesus birth with the people in your workplace or neighborhood. Be open to Godspromptings. And as you spread the good news, do it with great joy . . . the joy of knowing

that Gods Son, Jesus, was born. Consider, too, how you can spread the good news and joy ofJesus birth to the children you know. Maybe it will be through praying they will understandChristmas is about celebrating that Jesus, Gods Son, was born. Maybe it will be in showingextra joy while leading or worshipping with the children. Whatever it is, know that yourfaithfulness in serving His kids is having a great impact on the Kingdom.

2007 Willow Creek Community Church / Sunday School Teachers Guidebook / Lesson 4


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UNIT 1:


Creative Bible Teaching

(15 MINUTES)

[Play upbeat music as children transition to the teaching area. Encourage kids to clap their handsalong with you. Clap in a variety of styles like overhead, on your knees, on your belly, etc.]

TEACHER:

Merry Christmas! My name is _____________, and Im so glad youre here today. Can yousay Merry Christmas? [Kids respond.] That was great! Its going to be a great day. We aregoing to celebrate Christmas. Wiggle your fingers if you like Christmas! [Wiggle fingers.]There are lots of things to like about Christmas. Clap your hands if you like Christmas pres-ents! [Clap hands.] Pat your tummy if you like Christmas cookies. [Pat tummy.] Pat yourhead if you like Christmas songs. [Pat head.] Wow! Lots of you like Christmas songs. We cansing a Christmas song right now. Lets stand up and sing Jingle Bells.

[Invite children to shake pretend bells during the song. Shake the bells up high, down low, oneach side, twist while singing, and jump while shaking.]

MUSIC

Song suggestion: Jingle Bells

[Invite kids to sit down on the count of three.]

TEACHER:

[Whisper.] Guess what? We get to do some more Christmas things. We get to hear theChristmas story from the Bible. This is our helper, _____________ [Helper]. She/he mightcome over and ask you to help us tell the story. If you would like to do that, just come with______________ [Helper] and she/he will show you want to do. Doesnt that sound fun?

Click on your listening ears. Click! Click! [Tug on each earlobe.] Now lets put on our special

eyes. Shookum! Shookum! [Hold hands to eyes, one at a time, shaping glasses.] I think I seeMary now! [Kneel in the center of the teaching area. Throughout the story, make sure that youstay out of the path of the volunteer characters.]

[The Helper picks a girl from the class to be Mary, places the scarf around her shoulders, andleads Mary to bench/chair. The Helper encourages Mary to lie on bench and pretend to sleep.]


Activity Stations(20 MINUTES)

Choose which activity stations you will use from the list included in the Activity Stationsfolder.


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TEACHER:

[To kids.] Thats Mary. And do you remember who came to talk to Mary? [Allow kids torespond.] Thats right! An angel.

[The Helper picks a child from the class and places a halo on his or her head. The Helper walksthe child over to Mary, pretending to float by gracefully raising arms and lowering arms.]

TEACHER:The angel said, Dont be afraid Mary. You are going to have a baby. Gods Son. The babysname will be Jesus.

[The Helper takes Marys hand and points up, then helps her stand up.]

TEACHER:

Mary said, Me? A baby? Im going to have a baby! Thank You, God, for Baby Jesus!

[The Helper removes the angels halo and has him/her return to his/her seat. The Helper sitswith Mary as they wait for the next scene.]

TEACHER:

Did you see that? An angel just visited Mary. The angel said, Dont be afraid. [Shake headback and forth.] Say that with me. Dont be afraid. [Shake head back and forth.] Then theangel said, Youre going to have a baby. [Cradle arms back and forth.] Say that with me,Youre going to have a baby. [Cradle arms back and forth.] And the babys name will be . . .[point up and allow kids to answer] . . . Jesus.

[The Helper picks a Joseph and places the shirt or tunic on him. The Helper walks Joseph overbeside Mary. They act out what the Teacher describes.]

TEACHER:

There is more to the Christmas story. There was a man named Joseph. He loved Mary.

[The Helper has Mary and Joseph give each other a side hug.]

TEACHER:

Joseph loved Mary, and Mary loved Joseph. Give yourselves a great big hug. [Hug self.] Marytold Joseph that she was going to have a baby. Gods Son. And the babys name would beJesus. Mary told Joseph about the angel coming to visit her.

[The Helper takes Marys hand and points up to heaven, then rocks her arms back and forth.The Helper takes them both to the side of the teaching area and places the backpack on Josephsback. Mary gets on the donkey (stick horse or wagon), and the Helper walks them around as if

they are on a long trip.]

TEACHER:

Then Mary and Joseph went on a trip to a far away place. Mary got on a donkey and theywent far . . . far . . . far away. Watch as Mary and Joseph go on their trip. Pat your hands on

your knees and pretend to be the donkey walking. [Model walking hands on knees.] Werewalking, were walking with Mary and Joseph. Were walking, were walking with Mary andJoseph . . . and stop! When they got there, they had to find a place to sleep. Watch!



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UNIT 1:


[The Helper walks Mary and Joseph to the middle and stands them behind the manger.]

TEACHER:

Joseph said, This stable is the only place I could find to sleep. Mary said, This stable has alot of animals. There are sheep, cows, donkeys, and pigs. But it will be okay.

[The Helper brings Joseph to the front of the manger, opens the backpack, takes out the blanket

or sheet and spreads it out.]

TEACHER:

Joseph said, Lets try to get some sleep.

[The Helper has Joseph and Mary lie down with their backs to the children. The Helper turnsher/his back to the audience, quickly takes the doll out of the backpack, and gives it to Mary sothe kids cant see it.]

TEACHER:

[Stand behind manger. Start in a whisper.] Shhhh. Mary and Joseph went to sleep. They wentto sleep with all the animals. There were cows. What sound does a cow make? [Kids respondmoo.] There were donkeys. What sound do donkeys make? [Make donkey ears as the kidsrespond hee-haw.] What sound do pigs make? [Kids respond oink.] Oh! . . . [whisper] butremember, Mary and Joseph were sleeping. And that night, something very special hap-pened. A baby started to cry. [Sit on Marys chair/bench at the side of the teaching area.]

[The Helper has Mary and Joseph stand up and move behind the manger. The Helper wraps BabyJesus in a towel and helps Mary place Him in the manger. Mary and Joseph look at Baby Jesus.]

TEACHER:

Mary said, I am so happy! Baby Jesus is born! God gave us Baby Jesus! And Joseph said,God loves us so much, He gave us Baby Jesus. Thank You, God, for Baby Jesus! And Mary

said, Thank You, God, for Baby Jesus!

Did you see the special thing that happened? Baby Jesus was born! Pretend to rock babyJesus. [Cradle arms back and forth.] God loved us so much, He gave us Baby Jesus. ThankYou, God, [hold both hands overhead, palms open upward] for Baby Jesus [cradle armsand pretend to rock a baby]! Thank You, God, [hold both hands overhead, palms openupward] for Baby Jesus [cradle arms and pretend to rock a baby]! Lets stand up and singa song about Baby Jesus!

[During the song, Mary and Joseph stay in front. The Helper gets the angel from the class againand puts a halo on him/her. The Helper also picks a child to be the shepherd and hands him/herthe toy sheep to hold.]

MUSICSong suggestion: Its Christmastime

[Invite kids to sit on the count of three.]

TEACHER:

There is more to the story. The angels were so happy Jesus was born, they wanted to telleveryone, even the shepherds. Watch! I think I see a shepherd now!



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6 Winter Quarter

[The Helper walks the shepherd up front and has the angel wait to the side, behind theChristmas tree if its a standing tree.]

TEACHER:

Baa, baa, baa, baa. The shepherd said, Its been a long day of taking care of the sheep. Igave them food and combed their hair, and tonight, I have to take care of my sheep bywatching them and keeping them safe. Let me make sure they are all here. One, two, three . . .

[The Helper brings the angel over to the shepherd, pretending to float again.]

TEACHER:

The angel said, Jesus is born! Jesus is born! Jesus is born!

[The Helper takes the halo and returns the angel volunteer to his or her seat.]

TEACHER:

The shepherd said, I want to go see Baby Jesus! Im going on a trip to go see Baby Jesus.

[The Helper walks the shepherd slowly around the room in a circle back towards the manger.The Teacher follows them.]

TEACHER:

The shepherd is going on a long trip to go see Baby Jesus! Lets pretend to walk with theshepherd by patting our hands on our knees. [Pat hands on knees.] Were walking, werewalking to go see Baby Jesus. Were walking, were walking to go see Baby Jesus. Lets watchas the shepherd sees Baby Jesus.

[The Helper has the shepherd set down the sheep on the floor and stand next to the manger. ]

TEACHER:

The shepherd said,There He is. There is Baby Jesus! And Mary said, God loves us somuch, He gave us Baby Jesus! And Joseph said,Thank You, God, for Baby Jesus! And theshepherd said, Thank You, God, for Baby Jesus! I want to tell everyone about Baby Jesus!

[The Helper runs the shepherd to the right.]

TEACHER:

Jesus is born!

[The Helper runs the shepherd to the left.]

TEACHER:

Jesus is born!

[The Helper runs the shepherd to the center.]

TEACHER:

Jesus is born! Thank You, God, for Baby Jesus! Friends, lets all say thank You to God. Canyou stand with me? Thank You, God, [hold both hands overhead, palms open upward] forBaby Jesus [cradle arms and pretend to rock a baby]! Lets try our deep voices. Thank You,God, [hold both hands overhead, palms open upward] for Baby Jesus [cradle arms and

2007 Willow Creek Community Church / Sunday School Teachers Guidebook / Lesson 4


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UNIT 1:



pretend to rock a baby]! Lets try our quiet voices. Thank You, God, [hold both hands over-head, palms open upward] for Baby Jesus [cradle arms and pretend to rock a baby]!

[The Helper gathers the costumes and sheep from Mary, Joseph, and the shepherd and takesthem back to sit down.]

TEACHER:

Friends, lets all clap for the great job these kids did! [Applaud.] God gave us Baby Jesus!That makes me so happy. Lets sing a song about the Christmas story in the Bible.

MUSICSong suggestion: Who Was There

TEACHER:

I love to sing songs about Jesus, because Jesus is born! Lets have some more fun singingwith our scarves.

[Scarves are optional. If they are used, encourage the children to twirl their scarves in circles, on

the side, above their heads, by their toes, and throw them up in the air and try to catch them.]

MUSICSong suggestion: Good, Good News

[Collect scarves and invite children to sit down.]

Life Application Activity(10 MINUTES)

TEACHER:

Dont you just love the Christmas story? We arent done yet, though. Right now Im going topretend Im Mary. [Or Joseph. Hold the Baby Jesus doll.] I want to show you Baby Jesus. Godgave us Baby Jesus. [Show doll.] Pretend you are holding a baby like I hold Baby Jesus.[Encourage children to pretend to rock a baby.]

Joseph [or Mary] and I take care of Baby Jesus. We feed Him. Lets pretend to feed BabyJesus. [Model by making munching noises and spooning food to Baby Jesus.] Thank You, God,for Baby Jesus.

We put Baby Jesus to bed to go to sleep. Lets pretend to put Baby Jesus to sleep. [Model by

laying doll in a pretend bed. Pretend to put a blanket on him.] Shhhh . . . Baby Jesus is sleep-ing. Thank You, God, for Baby Jesus.

We hug and love Baby Jesus. Lets pretend to hug and love Baby Jesus. [Hug self.] Thank YouGod, [hold both hands overhead, palms open upward] for Baby Jesus [cradle arms and

pretend to rock a baby]! Thank You, God, [hold both hands overhead, palms open upward]for Baby Jesus [cradle arms and pretend to rock a baby]!


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Friends, you are so good at taking care of babies. Good job. Now we are going to see what itwas like to be an angel and tell people about Baby Jesus. God gave us Baby Jesus. I love say-ing, Thank You, God, for Baby Jesus by playing with instruments with my friends.

[Teacher and Helper pass out instruments to children. Shake them in a variety of styles: high inthe air, down by the toes, on each side, jumping up and down, and marching. Tell the childrento freeze four or five times. Each time you freeze say, Thank You, God, for Baby Jesus!]

TEACHER:

Wow, that was fun! Now lets pretend to be the shepherd in the Christmas story. The shep-herds took care of sheep. They were the very first people to see Baby Jesus. After seeing BabyJesus, they were so excited they went and told everybody they knew about Baby Jesus. Godgave Baby Jesus to everyone. I brought some special pictures of people, because I love tellingpeople that Baby Jesus is born.

Look at the first picture of people. [Display Family picture.] This is a family. There is amommy and a daddy. Wiggle your fingers for your family. [Wiggle fingers.] We can tell ourfamilies that Jesus is born!

Look at this picture. [Show Grandparents picture.] Who do you see? I see a grandma and agrandpa. Pat your head for grandmas and grandpas. [Pat head.] We can tell our grandmasand grandpas that Jesus is born!

Look at the next picture. [Show Friends picture.] These are friends playing. Clap your handsfor your friends. [Clap.] We can tell our friends that Jesus is born! Lets tell everyone . . .Jesus is born! Jesus is born! Jesus is born! Thank You, God, [hold both hands overhead,

palms open upward] for Baby Jesus [cradle arms and pretend to rock a baby]! Thank You,God, [hold both hands overhead, palms open upward] for Baby Jesus [cradle arms and

pretend to rock a baby]!

Today we heard the Christmas story, and we want to say, Thank You, God, for Baby Jesus.[Lead the children in the following finger play.]

Open them. [Open hands.] Close them. [Close hands.]Open them. [Open hands.] Close them. [Close hands.]Give a little clap. [Clap hands.]Open them. [Open hands.] Close them. [Close hands.]Open them. [Open hands.] Close them. [Close hands.]Fold them in your lap. [Fold hands in lap.]

[Invite the children to repeat after you as you pray.]Dear God,

Thank You for Baby Jesus.Please help ustell others about Baby Jesus.Thank You for our snack.In Jesus Name,Amen.

Lesson 4 LG 10

Lesson 4 LG 9

Lesson 4 LG 11


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UNIT 1:



Snack and Coloring Activity(15 MINUTES)

This is the time for you and the children to build community. A great way to let the kids knowyou care about them as individuals is to ask them questions about themselves.

GIVE each child a snack to eat.GIVE each child a Key Concept sticker to put on their shirt while they are eating their snack.GIVE each child a coloring sheet to color while they are waiting to be picked up. Tell themthey can cut out the story characters at home to make their own finger puppets, and thenretell the Christmas Story.ASK each child a question or two:

What was your favorite part of the Christmas story? Which character in the story would you like to play?

Lesson 4 LG 13

ThankYou

,God

,

forBabyJesus!

Lesson 4 LG 12

Thank You, God, for Baby Jesus.

Baby Jesus is Born (Luke 2:1-7)

Documents

12/18/11 Winter Unit 1: Good News of Great Joy Lesson 4