Mary Hears Good News LESSON 1. WHO? Mary, angel, Mary s cousin Elizabeth

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1 LESSON 1 Mary Hears Good News The promise of a coming Messiah wove a bright thread of hope throughout the fabric of Israel s long history. Throughout thousands of years, the expectation of the Messiah, the anointed one, was sometimes submerged as Israel worshiped false gods or focused on their own system of laws. But the hope was never abandoned; it shone brightest in times of great difficulty. This hope caused people to do extraordinary things and to joyfully suffer astounding troubles. Unlike the prophets of old, we are not only privileged to know about the fulfillment of this promise, but we have also experienced Him. We have been sought out in love by the Messiah, in whom dwells all the fullness of God! The deliverer has extended His promise of freedom, originally given to Israel, to each of us. The fulfillment of this promise is so deep, this love is so lavish, that it s beyond us to fully understand. But we can share the joy and excitement of the reality of Jesus with the children in our classes. Read 1 John 4:7-12 and realize once again that Jesus is the fulfillment of God s promise! Lead your children in celebrating and thanking God as the celebration of this season begins. Get Ready to Teach WHO? Mary, angel, Mary s cousin Elizabeth WHAT? God sent an angel to tell Mary that His Son, Jesus, would be born (Luke 1:26-56) WHEN & WHERE? In the city of Nazareth when Herod the Great ruled Palestine WHY? To help children thank God for His promise to send His Son, Jesus BIBLE VERSE God loved us and sent his Son. (See 1 John 4:10.) GOALS During each segment of this session, help each child to 1. ANSWER a question to tell who talked to Mary 2. TELL that Mary was glad to hear God s promise to send Jesus 3. THANK God for His promise to send Jesus The lesson overview on the second page of each lesson is a key ingredient in helping you teach successfully. Prepare for each session by reading this overview, choosing which Bible Learning Activities you and other teachers or helpers will lead and collecting the required materials. Then, when you arrive at your classroom before the session actually begins, you can quickly arrange the room and the materials to create an effective learning environment. 1

2 God loved us and sent his Son. (See 1 John 4:10.) fold Picture 3 Name LESSON 1 Teacher prefolds page. Child colors page and attaches Cat and Basket stickers anywhere on page. Child folds and opens page to show story action. Who talked to Mary? What can we say to thank God for His promise? Picture 1

3 Gospel Light. It is illegal to photocopy or reproduce this material in any form without permission. Picture 2

4 LESSON 1 Cat Basket

5 LESSON 1 STEP MINUTES Teachers guide small groups of children in one or more activities. STEP MINUTES One teacher leads this large group time. STEP ACTIVITY AND AIM CHOOSE ONE OR MORE OF THESE OPTIONS: ART CENTER... Color papers to find hidden angels and talk about God s promise to send Jesus MUSIC CENTER... Make and play rhythm sticks and thank God for keeping His promise to send Jesus DRAMATIC PLAY CENTER... Arrange Christmas decorations and talk about God s promise to send Jesus NATURE CENTER... Make dough impressions and talk about things that remind them of God s promise to send Jesus COME TOGETHER... Sing and do motions for a fun song BIBLE VERSE... Clap hands while listening to 1 John 4:10 PRAYER... Thank God for His promise to send Jesus SONG... Sing Good News, which tells about the good news of God s promise BIBLE STORY... Listen to find out the special promise that an angel told Mary ACTIVITY PAGE... Fold a page to retell the Bible story and talk about God s promise to send Jesus MATERIALS Bible, dark-colored construction paper, candle, white chalk Bible, Shake It Up! cassette/cd and player, red and green construction paper, tape, stickers Bible, Poster 1 from Visual Resources, table, a variety of Christmas decorations Bible, play dough, small pine branches, pinecones None Bible None Shake It Up! songbook and cassette/cd and player Bible, Figures 1-4 from Visual Resources, unbreakable angel ornament or figurine, flannel board Bible, Lesson 1 Activity Page and stickers for yourself and each child, crayons or markers 5-10 MINUTES Teachers guide small groups of children to complete Activity Pages. 2 Enrichment Activities (see last page of this lesson) can be used at any time during this session: when children need a change of pace, to extend the session to 75 minutes, or during transition time at the beginning or end of the session.

6 STEP Bible Learning Activity Time minutes LESSON 1 Tear out this Bible Tuck-In and place it in your Bible so that children see you teaching from your Bible. Art Center Collect Bible, dark-colored construction paper, candle, white chalk. Prepare Use bottom of candle to draw a simple angel on each child s paper. DO Children rub chalk over papers and discover the angel pictures. Briefly talk about the Bible story as children work. TALK ABOUT Our Bible story today is about a special promise. God sent someone to tell Mary about this promise. Rub chalk over your whole paper to find who the messenger was. What is this a picture of? (An angel.) An angel told Mary that she was going to have a baby. This baby would be God s Son. The baby s name would be Jesus. God sent Jesus because He loves us. Refer to open Bible. The Bible says, God loved us and sent his Son. What can you say to thank God for His promise? Pray with children. TEACHING TIP Before giving papers to children, demonstrate the activity by using a candle to draw a small star on a paper and then rubbing chalk over the star to display the image. Distribute papers. Color your paper like I did to find a special picture. Tip for Younger Children Instead of using candle to draw an angel, use marker to draw simple angel shapes on white paper. Children color angels. fold Music Center Collect Bible, Shake It Up! cassette/cd and player, red and green construction paper, tape, stickers; optional stapler, two small jingle bells for each child. Prepare Make one rhythm stick for each child, rolling and taping sheets of paper as shown. (Optional: Staple sticks at one end.) Preroll additional sheets of paper so that children will be able to roll and tape paper for themselves. DO Demonstrate use of the rhythm sticks by tapping two sticks together. Give each child a rhythm stick you prepared. Help children make additional sticks and decorate them with stickers. (Optional: Child inserts bell into each rhythm stick. Help child staple ends of sticks closed.) Children tap rhythm sticks together as they listen to Good News from cassette/cd. TALK ABOUT Our Bible story today tells about a special promise. An angel told Mary that she was going to have a baby. The baby would be God s Son, Jesus. God sent His Son because He loves us. Open your Bible to 1 John 4:10 and point to the Bible verse. The Bible says, God loved us and sent his Son. Mary thanked God for His promise to send Jesus. We can thank God, too. Carlos, tap your rhythm sticks together. One, two, three, four. We can make music to thank God for Jesus. Teaching Tip Use high-quality construction paper to make rhythm sticks. 3

7 LESSON 1 Dramatic Play Center Nature Center Collect Bible, Poster 1 from Visual Resources, table, a variety of Christmas decorations (candles, wreaths, unbreakable nativity set, tablecloth, garlands, etc.); optional unbreakable ornaments, small Christmas tree. DO Talk with children about Poster 1. Children arrange Christmas decorations on table. (Optional: Children decorate small Christmas tree.) TALK ABOUT Show Poster 1. What are these people doing? At Christmastime we remember God s promise to send Jesus. Open Bible to 1 John 4:10. The Bible says, God loved us and sent his Son. God promised to send Jesus. God loves us. I like to decorate my house to show that I am glad God promised to send His Son. What are some decorations you have seen? Let s decorate our room for Christmas. We can decorate this table to show that we thank God for sending Jesus. Pray, Thank You, God, for sending Jesus. We love You. In Jesus name, amen. TEACHING TIP If possible, keep decorations available throughout the Christmas season, encouraging children to rearrange items each week. Tip for Younger Children Make sure decorations and ornaments you bring are unbreakable and large enough to not be a choking hazard. (Choke testers are available from educational supply stores.) fold Collect Bible, play dough, small pine branches, pinecones. DO Children play with dough. Demonstrate how to flatten dough and press pine branches and/or pinecones into it in order to show the pattern of the branches or cones. Children copy your actions. TALK ABOUT Open your Bible to 1 John 4:10 and point to the Bible verse. Our Bible says, God loved us and sent his Son. God s Son is Jesus. God promised to send Jesus because He loves us. I m glad God promised to send Jesus to be born. Some people use pine branches and pinecones like these to decorate their homes at Christmas. We can decorate to show we are glad God promised to send Jesus. Let s thank God for His promise to send Jesus. Lead children in a brief prayer. TEACHING TIP Santa Claus may be a big issue among your children. Comment, It s fun to talk about Santa. It is even better to know the real reason to be glad at Christmastime. We are glad because Jesus was born! Tip for Younger Children Do not expect children to make impressions with the play dough. Children may want to simply squeeze and tear the dough. As children play, continue to use the Talk About suggestions. Tear out this Bible Tuck-In and place it in your Bible so that children see you teaching from your Bible. 4

8 STEP Bible Story Time minutes LESSON 1 Tear out this Bible Tuck-In and place it in your Bible so that children see you teaching from your Bible. Collect Bible, Figures 1-4 from Visual Resources, Shake It Up! songbook and cassette/cd and player, unbreakable angel ornament or figurine, flannel board. COME TOGETHER Use this song to signal the beginning of Bible Story Time. Doing the suggested motions, sing the following words to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat : Stretch, stretch, stretch up high. Bend down to the ground. Jump and smile at a friend. Then we ll all sit down. BIBLE VERSE Open your Bible to 1 John 4:10. The Bible says, God loved us and sent his Son. Repeat Bible verse several times. That means God loves Megan, and God loves Darren. Continue, naming each child. Then lead children in clapping once for every other word as you repeat the verse. God promised to send Jesus. We can thank God that He kept His promise. Enrichment Idea Bring several rhythm instruments. Children take turns playing rhythm instruments while you repeat 1 John 4:10 several times. PRAYER Dear God, we re glad You promised to send Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for keeping Your promise. In Jesus name, amen. fold SONG: GOOD NEWS Play Good News (p. 21 in songbook) on cassette/cd several times. This song tells us good news. It s good news to know that God kept His promise to send His Son, Jesus. Good news, children! Yes, I ve got good news. Repeat three more times. A tiny baby born in the night, A tiny baby came to show God s love. Good news, children! Yes, I ve got good news. Repeat three more times. Jesus was that baby born in the night; (Nod.) Jesus was that baby who showed God s love. Good news, children! Yes, I ve got good news. Repeat three more times. Teaching Tip As you sing the song, name children in your class in place of the word children. Invite children to stand up and clap when they hear their names. BIBLE STORY Use angel ornament or figurine and Figures 1-4 to help tell the Bible story on the back of this page. 5

9 LESSON 1 Mary Hears Good News LUKE 1:26-56 INTRODUCTION Show angel ornament or figurine. Sometimes we use angel figures like these as decorations. But in the Bible, God sometimes sent real angels to tell people special messages. Listen to find out the special promise that an angel told Mary. GOD S PROMISE A long, long time ago, God promised He would send His special Son. God s people waited and waited and waited. They wanted God to send His Son. One person who waited for God s promise was a young woman named Mary. MARY S NEWS One day Mary was alone. She looked up. Standing right there beside her was an angel! Mary had never seen an angel before! Hello, Mary, the angel said. God is with you. Mary was surprised and afraid. Mary wondered why the angel had come to talk to her. Don t be afraid, Mary, the angel said. God loves you. He has chosen you to be the mother of a very special baby. You will name the baby Jesus. This special baby will be God s own Son! Mary was glad to hear this promise! fold MARY S VISIT How exciting! Mary wanted to tell her cousin Elizabeth the good news. Mary quickly packed for the long trip to Elizabeth s house. She walked all the way to Elizabeth s house. When Mary arrived, Elizabeth said, Mary, you re a special woman and your baby is very special. Mary was glad. She thanked God. She told God she loved Him. God s promise made so long ago was now going to come true! CONCLUSION We re glad to know about God s promise, too. We can thank God for His promise to send Jesus. The Bible says, God loved us and sent his Son. Tear out this Bible Tuck-In and place it in your Bible so that children see you teaching from your Bible. 6

10 STEP Bible Sharing Time 5-10 minutes LESSON 1 Tear out this Bible Tuck-In and place it in your Bible so that children see you teaching from your Bible. Activity Page Collect Bible, Lesson 1 Activity Page and stickers for yourself and each child, crayons or markers; optional fabric squares, glue. Prepare Fold and open Activity Pages. In class, children will find it easy to fold pages following the prefolded lines. DO Before distributing pages, use your Activity Page to demonstrate how to complete the page. Briefly review story action. Point to the Bible verse. The Bible says, God loved us and sent his Son. We can thank God for His promise to send Jesus. Pray with children. Dear God, thank You for promising to send Jesus. In Jesus name, amen. Then distribute Activity Pages for children to complete. Assist as needed. (Optional: Child glues fabric squares to clothes.) TALK ABOUT Fold your page to show first picture. Point to Mary in this picture. What is Mary doing? Open page and show second picture. Who talked to Mary? What did God promise? Show third picture. Who did Mary tell about God s promise? Mary was glad to hear God s promise. Mary thanked God. She told God that she loved Him. We can thank God for His promise, too. We can tell God that we love Him. Pray with children. Thank You, God, for Your promise to send Jesus. We love You. In Jesus name, amen. DISMISSAL One teacher guides children in transition activities until parents or next session s staff arrive. Children retrieve all take-home materials (art projects, Activity Pages, FamilyTime take-home papers) from designated place. 7

11 LESSON 1 Enrichment Activities BIBLE STORY BOOK CORNER Materials Children s books that are about Jesus birth. Our Bible story today told about an angel s visit to Mary. Let s look in these books to find pictures of angels. When you see an angel, put your finger on your head. Look through books with children to find pictures of angels. Repeat with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. BIBLE VERSE FINGER PLAY: RING THE BELLS Materials None; optional bells. The Bible says, God loved us and sent his Son. We can thank God for sending Jesus. Let s clap our hands and pretend to ring bells to show that we thank God. Say the poem below using the pictured motions. (Optional: Give bells to children. Children ring bells as you repeat the poem.) Repeat several times, inviting children to do the motions with you. (Optional: Sing the words to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat. ) Ring, ring, ring the bells, Ring them loud and clear To tell the people everywhere That Christmastime is here. Clap, clap, clap your hands, Clap them loud and clear To tell the people everywhere That Christmastime is here. BIBLE STORY GAME: GOOD NEWS! Materials None. Mary was glad to hear the angel s good news. The good news was God s promise to send His Son, Jesus. Mary went to tell Elizabeth the good news. Let s play a game to tell good news. Invite a volunteer to stand on one side of the room. Other children stand on the opposite side of the room. With children, take giant steps to walk to the volunteer, counting how many steps are taken. One step, two steps, three steps, four steps here we are! Good news! God promised to send Jesus! (Optional: Invite all children to call out Good news! to the volunteer.) Repeat with baby steps, hops, etc. BIBLE VERSE SONG: GOD LOVED US Materials Shake It Up! songbook and cassette/cd and player. Sing God Loved Us (p. 24 in songbook) with children. Use the melody on the cassette/cd or sing the words of the Bible verse God loved us and sent his Son to the tune of Are You Sleeping? God loved us, (Clap three times.) God loved us, (Clap three times.) God loved us, (Clap three times.) God loved us and sent His Son. Spoken: (Give one instruction before each repetition of song.) Very softly. A little louder. Even louder! Tear out this Bible Tuck-In and place it in your Bible so that children see you teaching from your Bible. 8 Repeat song three more times.

12 Fig. 4, Elizabeth, Winter A Fig. 3, Mary, Winter A Fig. 2, Angel, Winter A Fig. 1, Mary, Winter A Gospel Light. It is illegal to photocopy or reproduce this material in any form without permission. Lesson 1 Figures 1-5 Winter A Fig. 5, Joseph, Winter A

13 Fig. 7, Joseph, Winter A Fig. 6, Mary & Joseph, Winter A Fig. 8, Innkeeper, Winter A Fig. 9, Mary & Jesus, Winter A Gospel Light. It is illegal to photocopy or reproduce this material in any form without permission. Lesson 2 Figures 6-9 Winter A