Angels & Shepherds--Wood

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 sent Jesus because God love us.
* 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)
• Bibles
• Green Hymnals
• White Board
• White Board Marker
• White Board Eraser
• Guitar?

Objectives:
* To use familiar Christmas carols to learn how God used shepherds and angels to communicate with people and learn about Jesus.

Presenter Preparation:
Prior to Sunday Morning:
1. Read the scripture passage and consider its meanings.
2. Read through the lesson plan provided and ask Stacy about 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. Do any other preparations you feel necessary.
4. 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)

Many of the Christmas songs we sing tell some part of the Christmas story and today we’re going to look at one part of that story. We’re going to read Luke 2:1-20. Read aloud, having the children follow along, or have the children turns reading aloud, depending on the age group.

C. Application:
1. Divide the white board into two columns. Label one half “Shepherds” and the other “Angels”.
2. Open a discussion with the children about how the shepherds felt when the angel came. Then, a list of the things that the shepherds might have said to one other after the angel left.
3. Finally, have the children make a list of the words the angels said in the Bible story and write those on the angel side.
4. OLDER STUDENTS: Have the students look at the Christmas songs in the hymnals. Have the compare what was written in the Bible and what they had written on the whiteboard compares to the things written in the hymns.

HYMNS TO CHECK OUT: Silent Night, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, It Cam Upon the Midnight Clear, Angels We Have Heard on High, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, The First Noel, Angels from the Realms of Glory,

YOUNGER STUDENTS: Let them listen to the songs. Have them think about the similarities between the Bible story and what they wrote on the white board versus what the songs portray.

GOAL: The goal of this time is to help the children make the connections that:
A. the angels are one of the ways the God communicates with people
B. the shepherds response of going to Bethlehem and helping to spread the new of Jesus’ birth shows us that we should follow God’s directions just as enthusiastically
C. God sent Jesus because he love us
D. by seeing how God chose to have the angels tell the humble shepherds about Jesus’ birth
E. God cares equally for all people.

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 draw a picture that shows music telling the Christmas story.

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!