Angels & Shepherds--Theater

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:
• Water
• Journals (Shepherds have)
• Pencils for journals (Shepherds have)
• Popcorn and making supplies
• Movie, “Christmas Is”
• TV/VCR

Objectives:
* Will view the video, “Christmas Is”.
* Children will discuss the importance of the shepherds in brining the message of the birth of Jesus ot the world.
* Older children will discuss the birth of Jesus as the fulfillment of ancient prophecy.

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.
5. Watch the video, if you desire.

Sunday Morning:
1. Make the popcorn
2. Retrieve a pitcher of water, cups, and napkins from the kitchen
3. Be sure the room is set up as you desire
4. Make sure the video is ready to go.
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.

1. Give a brief outline of the video.
Benji is a boy in a Christmas play. He is to be a shepherd in the Christmas play, but he thinks that isn’t a very important role. Then a strange thing happens. IN a dream, Benji goes back in time 2000 years to the night that Jesus was born. He learns how important the poor shepherds were in bringing God’s message to us about the birth of Jesus.

C. Application:
1. Watch the video
2. At the end discuss the movie with childre, by first reminding them that Benji is dreaming or thinking about the night of Jesus’ birth.

The story goes back in time to the time of Jesus’ birth. All of Judea, Jesus’ country, had been capturesd by the Romans. The Roman Emprie in those days was bigger and more powerful than the United States today. The Roman soldiers were the police and the government. The Jewish people had to do what the Roman soldiers told them and pay their taxes to the Roman government. Imagine if the United States was taken over by another country, if we had no say in the government, and if we had to pay our taxes to another country. How would we feel? The people were very poor because of this situation in their country. Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, but had to go to Bethlehem so that the government could count them and make sure they paid their taxes. The trip was about 80 miles. They had to walk and Mary was about to have a baby.

3. What did Benji learn about the role of the shepherds? How did Benji act like a modern day shepherd? He told his friend to come and see the play. What does this story tell us about how to be a good shepherd? What does the word Messiah (Hebrew)/Christ (Greek) mean? Savior

OLDER STUDENTS: Discuss how the Old Testament books written many years before Jesus was born, told about the birth of a Messiah or Savior. The Jewish people knew about this prediction or prophecy (refer to the scene in the video when the Jewish people in the inn were discussing this.). Many Jewish people expected that the Savior would be born into a powerful royal family and kcick out all the soldiers and people from foreign coutnris and lead the Jewish people to magnificent vicgtory. They did not expect the Savior to be born into a poor family in a barn.
Look up one of these predictions in Micah 5:2-5. Micah was written hundres of years before Jesus was born. See how it talks about the birth of a great ruler. Verse 2: Ephrathah is a district where Bethlehem is located. Who is the ruler? (Jesus) The ancient line refers to a descendent of King David. Bethlehem is the City of David. Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem because they belonged to the “line” or the family of David and so would the baby Jesus. Can you see how the Jews might have expected Jesus to be a great king to be born to important pople? Jesus is a great king, but in a different way.

Look at another prediction of Jesus birth. Ask half the class to look up Isaiah 9:6. Ask the other half to read Luke 2:11. Isaiah was written 800 yeas before Jesus was born. Read the Isaiah verse, then the Luke verse. The Luke verse describes what the angels tell the shepherds. Discuss the similarities between the two passages. Discuss how Jesus’ birth is the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a “Savior”, a “prince of peace”—God’s royalty!

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 Benji the shepherd.

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 or put a note in her mailbox, which is located by the office. Thanks!

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FAITH WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE!