Scripture: Luke 1:26-38 and 2:1-7
Concepts:
·
God
brings new hope into the world through Jesus.
·
Jesus
came into the world to fulfill God’s plan.
Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:6 (CEV) “A child
has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names
will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.”
Objectives:
1.
Children
will act out the story of Jesus’ birth.
2.
The
class will perform the play for a class invited to come watch and their
parents.
Procedure:
Welcome and Introductions:
1.
Greet
the children and introduce yourself.
Wear your nametag.
2.
Explain
that today is a very special day in Apostle’s playhouse because the children
will act out the story of Jesus’ birth using special props and costumes made
just for telling this wonderful story. They will practice their play and then
get to perform it for a class that has been invited to watch and their parents.
Scripture/Bible Story:
Review the Bible story by either reading or retelling. Encourage the children to use their bibles in looking up verses. Read the verses to the class or have the children take turns reading.
After reading or retelling the story talk about some emotions that the characters experienced:
· How did Mary feel when an angel appeared before her? Afraid, amazed etc.
· Show how you would look if an angel appeared before you. Act amazed/frightened.
·
How do you think Mary and Joseph felt when they had to
walk to Bethlehem? Exhausted, hot.
·
How would you look if you walked this long way? Act out exhausted walk to Bethlehem.
·
How do you think Mary and Joseph felt when the baby was
born? Happy, etc.
·
Imagine you are holding your new baby for the first
time. Act out holding new baby tenderly
in your arms.
Application:
Assign parts and rehearse
play.
Encourage dramatic movement and action rather that just reading lines. A guest
class(es) will be scheduled to appear between 10:25 and 10:30.
Props: Manger, hay, animals will
be on the stage and should be moved into place when classes leave the great
hall. See diagram for suggested positions.
Costumes are specifically for the
Christmas story and will be found in labeled boxes or bags on or near the
stage.
Actors: Narrator (can be an adult
for very young classes)
Angel
: two or more
Emperor
Augustus
Mary
and Joseph
Inn
Keeper
Shepherd:
two or more
Animals
as desired such as sheep
Script: see attached, you may copy
script and highlight each actors parts or put lines on note cards. For the younger classes unless there is a
very confident reader in the group an adult should be the narrator. The
shepherd can help you select narrators and actors.
Prayer: Lead a prayer of your own
choosing thanking God for loving us and sending our savior Jesus.
OR
Lead
a repetition prayer using Mary’s Song of Praise Luke 1:46-48
Say
each line and have children repeat after you
Mary’s Song of Praise
With all my
heart
I praise the
Lord,
And I am glad
Because of God
my Savior.
He cares for
me,
His humble
servant.
Journal time: There
probably won’t be time for journal writing due to the length of this workshop
however if there is time ask children to illustrate Mary’s Song of Praise (copy
attached sheet).
Tidy and Dismissal: Ask children to help tidy
up. Put costumes in their specific boxes. Push manger, hay, and animals to the
side and cover with sheet.
Teacher preparation in
advance:
1. Read the scripture passages and attend the Faith Quest Leaders Bible Study.
2. Prepare a closing prayer.
3. Set up props.
Supply List
· costumes
· manger
· other props (animals)
· hay bale
Narrator
stands on the stage off to the side a little. Narrator’s words are cues to
action.
As
the story opens Mary is sitting on a cushion stirring something in a bowl,
humming.
Narrator: God’s Love is for everyone! Jesus came into the world to be the
Savior of all people. Our class is presenting the story of Jesus’ birth.
Welcome to our play.
God
sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth with a message for Mary.
The
angel greeted Mary and said….
Angel: You are blessed. The Lord
is with you.
Narrator: Mary was confused. Then the
angel said…
Angel: Don’t be afraid. God is
pleased with you. You will have a son and his name will be Jesus.
Mary: How can this happen? I am
not married.
Angel: God’s power will come over
you. Your child with be the Son of God.
Narrator: Mary feels peace now. She
folds her hands in prayer, bows her head and says….
Mary: I am the Lord’s servant.
Narrator: Mary is happy and sings
songs of praise to God.
Narrator: About this time Emperor
Augustus gave order for the names of all the people to be listed in record
books.
Emperor: (Holds scepter and large record book) Attention Everyone! I order
you to be listed in my record books.
Narrator: Everyone had to go to their
own town to be listed. Mary was engaged to Joseph so she went with him to
Bethlehem. She was going to have a baby soon.
Joseph: (goes to Mary) Mary we have to go to
Bethlehem to register. (helps her
up, they walk off front of stage across the front and up the side stairs. They
pretend like it is a long way. When they arrive Joseph pretends to knock at the
inn door.)
Narrator: When they arrive in Bethlehem they find there is no room at the inn for them to stay.
Innkeeper: (answers Joseph’s
knock) What do you
want? A room? There is no more rooms left, you can use the barn though.
Narrator: Joseph and Mary shared a
room with the animals and when baby Jesus was born they wrapped in cloth and
laid him in a manger. Mary and Joseph tenderly take care of baby Jesus.
Narrator: That night in the fields
near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an angel
appeared before them. The shepherds were afraid, but the angel said….
Angel: Don’t be afraid. I have
good news for you which will make everyone happy! This very day a Savior was
born; he is Christ the Lord. You will find him wrapped in warm clothes and
lying on a bed of hay.
Other angels: (join hands with the first angel and dance in a ring around the
shepherds) Praise
God in Heaven! Praise God in Heaven! Praise God in Heaven! (angels
scurry away)
Shepherds: (look at each other and say…) Let’s go to Bethlehem.
Narrator: So the shepherds hurried
off to Bethlehem. They found Mary and Joseph and saw baby Jesus lying in a
manger. They told Mary and Joseph what the angel had said.
Shepherd: An angel told us that this
is a very special baby, he is Christ the Lord our savior.
Narrator: The shepherds returned to
their sheep shouting praises to God. Joseph and Mary wondered at everything
that had happened and gave thanks to the Lord.
We
still give our thanks to God for loving us and sending Jesus to give our world
hope and love. Thank you for attending our play. Will our actors please take a
bow.
With
all my heart
I
praise the Lord,
And
I am glad
Because
of God my Savior.
He
cares for me,
His
humble servant.