Angels & Shepherds--Creation

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38

Key Verse: Luke 2:20 “As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.” (CEV)

Memory Verse for this rotation: “Do not be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy that is for all people.” Luke 2:10

Concepts to be learned by children:
* God cares equally for all people.
* God communicates with people in different ways.
* We can learn from the shepherds about how to respond to god.

Materials:
• Doughnuts & water for participants (found in the kitchen)
• Memory verse prompts
• Journals (Shepherds have)
• Pencils for journals (Shepherds have)
• 24 or 26 gauge wire
• Cylinder to wrap wire around
• Seed beads (or other small beads for halo)
• Bead for head in proportion to body
• Needle nose pliers

Objectives:
* Understand that shepherds were the first to be told of Jesus’ birth.
* Recognize that God’s message can be brought by angels.
* Students will create an angel craft as a physical reminder of the story.

Presenter Preparation:
Prior to Sunday Morning:
1. Read the scripture passage and consider its meanings.
2. Read through the lesson plan provided and ask any questions you have.
3. Plan your opening and closing prayers, if you decide not to use those provided.
4. Consider the age group you’ll be working with each week and any adjustments you’d like to make to the lesson.

Sunday Morning:
1. Retrieve doughnuts, a pitcher of water, cups, and napkins from the kitchen
2. Be sure the room is set up as you desire
3. Feel free to try a project to familiarize yourself with the process.
4. Look through supply box to familiarize yourself with its contents
5. Do any other preparations you feel necessary.
6. Know that we are thankful you are teaching!

Procedure:
A. Welcome & Introductions at approximately 9:50 a.m.

1. Have the appropriate number of snacks available for each of the participants prepared before they arrive.
2. Greet the children and introduce yourself, wear a name tag if possible. Shepherds have name tags for the children in their bags. If necessary, ask the shepherd to supply children without tags with a temporary badge.
3. Open with a brief prayer. An example might be: God, we thank you for your son, Jesus, who became like us and lived on the earth. Please help us to learn more about Jesus today. Amen.
4. Give the students their snack

B. Story Review/Telling at approximately 9:55 a.m. (This can be done as they enjoy their doughnuts)

Part 1

The story of Jesus begins with an angel telling Mary, Jesus’ mother, that she will give birth. Mary was a young woman and she did not think that she was good enough to give birth to a child as special as Jesus. Angels are sometimes used by God to carry messages to people. Mary was awake when the angel visited her, but an angel also came to Joseph in a dream. You may remember other lessons where angels came to people—Peter, Daniel, and the women at Jesus’ tomb. There were many others too, and they were frightened at first. Each time the angels began by saying, “Don’t be afraid!” These angels came from God and they brought messages of God’s friendship and caring.

Ask several questions to check for understanding. They might include something like:
1. Who told Mary that Jesus would be born?
2. How did Mary feel when the Angel arrived?
3. Who told Joseph that Jesus would be born?
4. How did Joseph feel when the Angel arrived?
5. How would you feel if an Angel came to tell you a message from God?

Part 2

In the Christmas story, after Jesus’ birth an angel appeared to shepherds watching their flocks of sheep. Often the job of a shepherd was given to young children or very old people. It was an important job to care for the safety of animals, but some people thought that shepherds were not as good as themselves. God thought that the Shepherds were as good as anyone else. Rich or poor, strong or week, young or old, or anything in between, God loves us all equally. God chose shepherds to be the first to know about Jesus’ birth. The angel told them the good news that , “This very day in King David’s hometown a savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him wrapped in cloth and lying in a bed of hay.”

Ask questions to check for understanding. They might include something like:

1. Did it matter to God that some people didn’t think the shepherds were very important people?
2. Were the Angels vague or specific in what they told the Shepherds?

Part 3

Suddenly, other angels came from heaven, singing, “Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.” The shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem to see what the angel had told them about. There, they found Mary and Joseph and the baby. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said. Afterwards they returned to their sheep, praising God and sharing the wonderful news with everyone they met.

Ask questions to check for understanding. They might include something like:

1. How did the shepherds respond to the information the angels gave them?
2. How can we be more like the shepherds with the things we are told?
3. Who might we share the good news of Jesus’ birth with? How?

C. Application:

1. Today we’re going to make an angel to remind us that the information the Angels told was for EVERYONE, even for us!
2. Follow the steps:

A. Wrap wire around cylinder leaving an eight- to 10-inch tail at the starting end. Wrap cylinder anywhere from 15 to 25 times. Try to not overlap the wire when wrapping.
B. When wrapping is completed, cut wire leaving an eight- to 10-inch tail. Carefully slip the wound wire from the cylinder and holding all the wires together wrap the tail ends around them one or two times to secure.
C. Select anywhere from three to six wires from the circle and bend them up away from the others. Press them together in the center and press to the top of the circle below. Wrap the tails of wire around them one or two times to secure them to the circles. The loops will form the wings.
D. Bend one tail wire straight up and thread it through the hole in the bead. String approximately 15 seed beads onto this wire, shape into a circle and push the wire back down through the hole in the bead. Twist the wire together with the first wire. Twist around the neck a time or two, then cut off any excess.
E. Push the body wires up in the center so that a slight upside down heart shape is obtained. Pull the wires apart to separate them. This will give the angel a base on which to stand. Separate the wing wires, and fan them out. Bend the circle of seed beads forward to form a halo.

D. Reflection/Closing beginning no later than 10:18 a.m.:

1. Let’s try saying the memory verse together: “Do not be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy that is for all people.” Luke 2:10 You may repeat as many times as you like, stopping to have the repeat pieces of the verse as you see fit.

OPTIONAL: If time, you may utilize the children’s journals to reflect on what they’ve learned. Journals are carried by the shepherds; they also have pencils. Have the students create a drawing of the angels they made today using pencil.

2. Close with a prayer.
Encourage children to offer petitions, if they’d like. It is helpful that with younger children you give them a prompt to go off of: Example: “Is there any person you’d like to ask God to bless” or “What is something you’re happy God created?” Using the last prompt, here is an example of a closing prayer: Lord, thank you for your love and care for the world and everything in it. Help us to be kind and obedient. We especially thank you for these things you’ve made ___kids can name things they are thankful for ____ Amen.

E. Tidy and Dismissal:
Be sure that they find a responsible person and that everyone has found one such person before you depart. Please take all supplies and put them in the box and return the box to the white cart found in the hallway. If you have any questions, concerns, or need additional supplies, please contact Stacy during the week

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FAITH WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE!