session essentials...session for the 2nd sunday of advent. children can hold angel dolls while...
TRANSCRIPT
© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
session essentialsP r eschoo l /K i nde r ga r t en
1
Question of the WeekAccording to today’s gospel, what is really important about Christmas?
Helps for Catechists ◆ More about Today’s Scriptures◆ Reflection◆ The Scriptures and the Catechism◆ Faith Formation and the Arts, Part 4◆ The World of the Bible: Angel
Enrichment ◆ Discover the Good News◆ Singing Together ◆ Advent Action Rhyme: Look for
Jesus◆ Dressing Angels (dolls, fabric scraps
or crepe paper, yarn, gold pipe cleaners or foil, hole punch, rubber bands)
◆ Free Play: Crèche Play (simple crèche sets, baskets of natural materials)
◆ Info: Young Children and the Gospel
◆ Info: Where You’ll Find Everything Else
Core Session ◆ Getting Started (paper-link
calendar made in the session for 1st Advent)
◆ Crèche Play (simple crèche set, baskets of natural materials)
◆ Gospel Story: Mary and the Angel
◆ Story-Review Games ◆ Praying Together (Advent
wreath or candles)
With Mary we joyfully await the birth of Jesus.◆ In today’s gospel, an angel announces to Mary the birth of God’s own child. ◆ Young children are often impatient for Christmas by now. This is the experience of the
Church as it waits—with impatience!—for the fullness of God’s kingdom realized in Jesus.
◆ In today’s session we explore the gospel story and the seasonal themes of angels, babies and gifts through crafts, games and stories.
MysteryRevealed
ScriptureLuke 1:26-38
4 th Sunday o f A d ven t – B
Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 4th Sunday of Advent – B
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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Getting Started (5-10 minutes)Advent activities begun in the session for the 1st Sunday of Advent remind children that today we celebrate Advent, the time we get ready for Jesus.
Gather children around the paper-link Advent calendar made in the session for the 1st Sunday of Advent.
Explain:◆ We are getting ready for Christmas during this
special time called Advent.◆ There are 28 days in Advent this year.◆ For each day of Advent, we can tear off one of these
paper strips.◆ Today we will tear off seven more strips because
seven days of Advent have gone by. Touch the remaining seven strips one-by-one as you count aloud how many days remain in Advent.
Gospel Story (5-10 minutes)Mary and the AngelFocus: You can use crèche figures of Mary and the angel as visual focal points for today’s story.
An angel, an angel came down from heaven.An angel, an angel, God’s angel.
Mary looked up, and what did she see?An angel, an angel, God’s angel.
“I have good news,” said the angel. “You will have a baby boy. You will name him Jesus.”An angel, an angel, God’s angel.
“How can this happen to me?” said Mary.
“God will make it happen,” said the angel.
“Then yes,” said Mary. “I will do what God wants.”So the angel left Mary.An angel, an angel, God’s angel.
Story-Review Game (5-10 minutes)Go, God’s AngelsChildren play a story-review game introduced in the session for the 2nd Sunday of Advent. Children can hold angel dolls while playing this game, but the game works without dolls, too. To dress dolls as angels, see the Enrichment activity Story Craft: Dressing Angels on page 3.
Each child holds hands or an angel doll aloft while moving slowly toward the center of the room. When you give the signal, “Go, God’s angels,” the children run out toward the edges and corners of the room, calling out, “Good news! Good news from God!”
Vary the game by:◆ asking children to take turns giving the signal◆ asking children to give other messages from today’s
story, such as, “A baby will be born!” or “Jesus is coming!”
Praying Together (5 minutes)Gather around an Advent wreath or four pillar candles. Say:◆ We have four Advent candles.◆ There is one candle for each week until Christmas.◆ We will light another candle each week.
Light four candles. Then softly repeat the words and motions of the action rhyme from today’s Getting Started activity as a closing prayer.
Note: Distribute this week’s At Home with the Good News to children before they leave, or e-mail it to their parents after the session.
Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 4th Sunday of Advent – B
enhance your core
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enrichment
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© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Discover the Good News (5-10 minutes)In today’s Discover the Good News you’ll find an illustrated version of today’s story. You’ll also find a simple counting activity that invites children to discover the remaining days until Christmas. In general you can expect young children to understand numbers more or less equal to their age. They may be able to recite numbers from one to ten, but they will often be able to precisely count out three jelly beans—but not ten.
Singing Together (5-10 minutes)From Singing the Good News, sing together:◆ “All the Angels” (songbook p. 17)◆ “Prepare the Way” (songbook p. 16, also available as
an MP3)
Note: To access both the songbook and its attached MP3 files, open your Winter-B Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Singing the Good News.
You can also teach children an Advent hymn, such as the refrain to “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”
Advent Action Rhyme (5-10 minutes)Look for JesusReview with children this Advent action-rhyme introduced in the session for the 1st Sunday of Advent:
The golden sun, (Hold arms to front, waist-level, in circle.)
Begins to rise;(Slowly lift circle over head.)
Bright morning light now fills the skies.(Slowly open arms to side, palms up.)
Look for Jesus! Look and say,(Frame eyes with hands.)
“Will Jesus come to us today?”(Stretch raised arms to front, fold and cross them over chest.)
The evening sky grows dark and deep.All the world falls fast asleep.(Reverse morning movements: Hold arms to side, bring together over head to form setting sun. Then bring hands together and lay head on them, as on a pillow.)
Look for Jesus with all your might.(Frame eyes with hands.)
Will Jesus come to us tonight?(Stretch raised arms to front, then fold and cross them over chest.)
By morning sun (Hold arms in circle.)
Or evening moon,(Pillow head on hands.)
“Look!” says Jesus.(Frame eyes.)
“I’m coming soon.”(Cross arms over chest.)
Story Craft (10-20 minutes)Dressing AngelsChildren help you dress dolls as angels.
To dress dolls, no sewing is necessary; instead, estimate the size and cut the fabric or crepe paper to fit. Use yarn or strips of fabric or crepe paper to tie the fabric around the dolls. Each angel needs a robe, a pair of wings and a halo made from pipe cleaners or foil strips. Wings may be cut from interfacing fabric or poster board; punch holes in the center section. Thread a rubber band through the holes and use the loops to hold the wings on the doll’s shoulders.
As the children help you dress the dolls, invite their free play and storytelling about angels. As you work explain:◆ The Bible tells many stories about angels.◆ In some stories, angels look like young men in
white robes.◆ In some stories, angels look like wild animals with
wings.◆ In all the stories, angels do a special job. Angels
always tell good news from God.
The finished dolls can be used as a visual focus for today’s story. After the story, make the dolls available for free play.
Note: In the absence of dolls, you can print, cut out and decorate angels using the Angel Stencil Patterns, attached to this document.
Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 4th Sunday of Advent – B
enhance your core
sessio
n w
ith enrich
me
nt a
ctivities
enrichment
4
© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 4th Sunday of Advent – B
Free Play (10-20 minutes)Crèche PlayChildren explore the stories of the Nativity cycle through free play. As in the session for the 1st Sunday of Advent, we recommend that you provide this free-play area throughout the weeks of Advent and Christmas.
Cover a box, stool or small table with a cloth. Arrange the crèche figures on the table. Place baskets of natural materials nearby, such as evergreen branches, pine cones, twigs and stones. Invite two or three children at a time to explore this free-play area.
Because some children may worry about whether or not they may touch the crèche figures, emphasize the children’s freedom to touch, move and rearrange the figures and materials.
Young Children and the Gospel
Today is the 4th and last Sunday of Advent, the season in which we prepare the way of the Lord. Today’s gospel tells the story of the angel’s message to Mary: she would bear the Son of God. Today’s session invites young children to celebrate the joy of Jesus’ coming birth.
However, not all the children in the group may perceive today as a good day. These negative feelings can range from the common stressful feelings experienced by many children as Christmas draws near to the deeper, more damaging feelings of children caught in unhappy lives. Be sensitive to children’s needs as you conduct today’s session. Make sure that children need not manufacture good feelings in order to take part in any activity.
Where You’ll Find Everything Else
◆ Attached to this Session Plan you will find:— Backgrounds and reflections for today’s
readings, titled More about Today’s Scriptures.— A copy of today’s Gospel Story: Mary and the
Angel, which can be distributed or e-mailed to children and their families.
— An optional Christmas Card Craft.— An Angel Wing Template for use in today’s
Story Craft.— Angel Stencil Patterns for use in today’s Story
Craft (in the absence of dolls to dress).— Instructions for an optional Story-Review Game:
Go Find Mary.— An enlarged-text version of the Advent Action
Rhyme: Look for Jesus.◆ Open your Winter-B Seasonal Resources folder, then
click on Seasonal Articles to find:— Information on Winter-B’s Models of the Faith.— For catechists and/or families, an Advent
Overview.— For catechists and/or families, a Christmas
Overview.— Two articles for catechists and/or families by
Roger Hutchison titled Tapping into the Power of Art and Faith Formation and the Arts.
— A reproducible handout for catechists and/or families on The O Antiphons.
— For catechists and/or families, a article exploring A Season for Mary.
5
helps for catechistsbackground in
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ate
rials
© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 4th Sunday of Advent – B
More about Today’s ScripturesToday’s readings invite us to respond to the wonder and mystery of God with a clear and joyful “yes.” In 2 Samuel, God surprises David with the promise of an eternal kingdom to David’s heir. In his letter to the Romans, Paul proclaims that in Jesus Christ the mystery of the ages is revealed. In today’s gospel, Mary opens her spirit, soul and body to the mystery and word of God.
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 161 and 2 Samuel tell of David’s reign. They are court histories probably written during Solomon’s reign. Chapter 7 explains why David, whose reign was considered the high point of Jewish history, did not build the temple, although he desired to do so. The
chapter is divided into Nathan’s prophecy (vv. 1-17) and David’s prayer (vv. 18-29).
The Hebrew word sometimes translated “house” is alternately played on in several ways in the passage. It
means “palace” (v. 1), “temple” (v. 5), “dynasty” (v. 11) and “family status” (v. 18). This chapter became the basis for the establishment of the Davidic covenant, in which God swore that David’s line on the throne would never cease.
After the fall of Jerusalem and the overthrow of the monarchy (587 BC), the Davidic covenant came to be understood as God’s assurance of a future ideal king from David’s line, and this hope became an essential part of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah.
Romans 16:25-27Today’s reading is an expression of praise or doxology closing Paul’s letter to the Romans. The good news that Paul makes known, the proclamation about Jesus Christ, is the “revelation of the mystery” (v. 25) of God’s plan of salvation not only for Jews but also for Gentiles that was hidden in the Old Testament and now has been made known in Christ.
Though the Old Testament did not explain this mystery in advance, now, in retrospect, it reveals the significance of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection as the fulfillment of God’s plan and the inclusion of the Gentiles. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit enabled
Christians to comprehend the prophecies of the Old Testament and through them to discover God’s astounding plan for the salvation not only of Jews but for Gentiles as well.
Luke 1:26-38 Luke’s infancy narratives show that the meaning of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection was already implicit in the events of his conception and birth. He emphasizes the theological significance of these events and so proclaims the gospel message.
The annunciation to Mary is similar to the annuncia-tion to Zechariah in 1:5-23. Gabriel, the angel who heralds the fulfillment of God’s salvation in Daniel (Daniel 9:20-25), now appears to Mary to herald the birth of Jesus.
The angel greets Mary as God’s wonderfully graced one. He then reveals that she is to bear a son who will be a powerful Davidic King and, in fact, God’s own Son. Mary questions how this can be, but Gabriel replies that God’s power, the Holy Spirit, will come upon Mary and create this new life in her. Thus, the divine origin of Jesus’ earthly history is affirmed.
As with Mary, so the life of God is conceived and nurtured in each of us. But it happens only through God’s power, not our own. We need only cooperate as God’s willing servants.
ReflectionSome commentators point to a pattern in Mary’s encounter with Gabriel that parallels the process many people have when God enters their lives. The first response is fear or awe. Mary “was much perplexed by his words” (Luke 1:29), just as any of us would be, finding it incomprehensible that we have found favor with God. Surely the all-powerful God doesn’t need one who’s as scatter-brained, selfish, disorganized or downright shifty as we think ourselves?
The next stage is puzzlement. Mary asks, “How can this be?” (v. 34). The angel, used to human limitations, doesn’t strike her down for honest wonder. We mustn’t be afraid to voice our questions and doubts to God; God can handle them. The angel’s words open a third stage: “Nothing will be impossible with God” (v. 37). That hinge makes what seems preposterous doable. Such assurance of a larger plan enables Mary to respond generously and confidently.
“God comes to our aid so that our eyes, accustomed to darkness, may be gradually opened to the full light of truth.”
—St. Gregory of Nyssa
6
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Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 4th Sunday of Advent – B
The only door through which we pass into the future is trust. Mary models total acceptance of whatever God wants: “Let it be with me according to your word” (v. 38). Next time we encounter a project or relation-ship which first makes us fearful, we should remember Mary’s process. It doesn’t happen instantly, but it ends perfectly.
The Scriptures and the CatechismThe long preparation (CCC, #50–67) for celebrating Jesus’ incarnation (CCC, #456–78) is once again almost completed. Like Mary, each of us is invited to respond with a resounding “yes” to the invitation to have the gift of God’s life (grace) begin in us (CCC, #1987–2005). As individuals and as the community of disciples, we are the body of Christ and must continue his saving work in our world today (CCC, #770–76).
Faith Formation and the Arts, Part 4 by Roger W. HutchisonAweRun your fingers across the carved marble of the baptismal font in your worship space. Gaze up at the
contemporary banners that fill the walls. Watch as the small pieces of stained glass explode with light and glitter like colored jewels filling the space around you with a peaceful and healing glow.
Have you ever seen a baby begin to lift its head and look around the church? There are colors everywhere! There are candles that flicker. There are sounds and sensations. The baby’s eyes are wide, full of curiosity and excitement.
These are AWEsome moments. Our challenge is to find a way to hold fast to this sense of awe from childhood throughout adulthood.
King David wrote in Psalm 8:
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God…
The World of the BibleAngelAn angel (Greek, angellos) was a spiritual messenger sent by God for a particular purpose. Sometimes they conveyed information while at other times they carried out God’s judgment or punishment.
Especially in the earlier books of the Old Testament, it is not always clear whether the angel of the Lord is the form that God takes to interact with humans or is actually a different being from God. By the New Testament time, angels were thought of as distinct spiritual beings whose task was to serve God by their
heavenly worship and by sharing in God’s struggle against evil.
The three named angels from the Bible—Michael, Gabriel and Raphael––are venerated in both Jewish and Christian traditions. They also represent the primary
roles of angels. Michael (Hebrew, Who is like the Lord?) is a warrior against evil, “captain of the heavenly host” (Revelation 12:7-9) and special protector of Israel (Daniel 12:1) and of the Church. Gabriel (Hebrew, God is mighty) is a messenger who announces the Messiah’s coming (Daniel 9) and the births of John the Baptist and Jesus (Luke 1). Raphael (Hebrew, God heals) serves as a guardian angel protecting Tobiah on his journey (Tobit 5-12).
“There are three forms of visual art: Painting is art to look at, sculpture is art you can walk around, and architecture is art you can walk through.”
––Dan Rice
“The heart is a small vessel, but all things are contained in it. God is there, the angels are there, and there also is life and the Kingdom, the heavenly cities and the treasures of grace.”
––Dimitri of Rostov
Winter • Year B
©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
Gospel Story:Mary and the Angel
Focus: You can use crèche figures of Mary and the angel as visual focal points for today’s story.
An angel, an angel came down from heaven.An angel, an angel, God’s angel.
Mary looked up, and what did she see?An angel, an angel, God’s angel.
“I have good news,” said the angel. “You will have a baby boy. You will name him Jesus.”An angel, an angel, God’s angel.
“How can this happen to me?” said Mary.“God will make it happen,” said the angel.
“Then yes,” said Mary. “I will do what God wants.”So the angel left Mary.An angel, an angel, God’s angel.
PK-WB-AD04-DL-C-Gospel Story_Mary and the Angel
Winter • Year B
©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
More about Today’s Scriptures4th Sunday of Advent
00-WB-AD04-SB-C-More about Today_s Scriptures
Today’s readings invite us to respond to the wonder and mystery of God with a clear and joyful “yes.” In 2 Samuel, God surprises David with the promise of an eternal kingdom to David’s heir. In his letter to the Romans, Paul proclaims that in Jesus Christ the mystery of the ages is revealed. In today’s gospel, Mary opens her spirit, soul and body to the mystery and word of God.
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
1 and 2 Samuel tell of David’s reign. They are court histories probably written during
Solomon’s reign. Chapter 7 explains why David, whose reign was considered the high point of Jewish history, did not build the temple,
although he desired to do so. The chapter is divided into Nathan’s prophecy (vv. 1-17) and David’s prayer (vv. 18-29).
The Hebrew word sometimes translated “house” is alternately played on in several ways in the passage. It means “palace” (v. 1), “temple” (v. 5), “dynasty” (v. 11) and “family status” (v. 18). This chapter became the basis for the establishment of the Davidic covenant, in which God swore that David’s line on the throne would never cease.
After the fall of Jerusalem and the overthrow of the monarchy (587 BC), the Davidic covenant came to be understood as God’s assurance of a future ideal king from David’s line, and this hope became an essential part of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah.
Romans 16:25-27
Today’s reading is an expression of praise or doxology closing Paul’s letter to the Romans. The good news that Paul makes known, the procla-mation about Jesus Christ, is the “revelation of the mystery” (v. 25) of God’s plan of salvation not only for Jews but also for Gentiles that was hidden in the Old Testament and now has been made known in Christ.
Though the Old Testament did not explain this mystery in advance, now, in retrospect, it reveals the significance of Jesus’ life, death and resur-rection as the fulfillment of God’s plan and the inclusion of the Gentiles. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit enabled Christians to comprehend the prophecies of the Old Testament and through them to discover God’s astounding plan for the salvation not only of Jews but for Gentiles as well.
Luke 1:26-38
Luke’s infancy narratives show that the meaning of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection was already implicit in the events of his conception and birth. He emphasizes the theological signifi-cance of these events and so proclaims the gospel message.
The annunciation to Mary is similar to the annunciation to Zechariah in 1:5-23. Gabriel, the angel who heralds the fulfillment of God’s salvation in Daniel (Daniel 9:20-25), now appears to Mary to herald the birth of Jesus.
The angel greets Mary as God’s wonderfully graced one. He then reveals that she is to bear a son who will be a powerful Davidic King and, in fact, God’s own Son. Mary questions how this
“God comes to our aid so that our eyes, accustomed to darkness, may be gradually opened to the full light of truth.”
—Gregory of Nyssa
Winter • Year B
©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
More about Today’s Scriptures4th Sunday of Advent
00-WB-AD04-SB-C-More about Today_s Scriptures
can be, but Gabriel replies that God’s power, the Holy Spirit, will come upon Mary and create this new life in her. Thus, the divine origin of Jesus’ earthly history is affirmed.
As with Mary, so the life of God is conceived and nurtured in each of us. But it happens only through God’s power, not our own. We need only cooperate as God’s willing servants.
ReflectionSome commentators point to a pattern in Mary’s encounter with Gabriel that parallels the process many people have when God enters their lives. The first response is fear or awe. Mary “was much perplexed by his words” (Luke 1:29), just as any of us would be, finding it incompre-hensible that we have found favor with God. Surely the all-powerful God doesn’t need one who’s as scatter-brained, selfish, disorganized or downright shifty as we think ourselves?
The next stage is puzzlement. Mary asks, “How can this be?” (v. 34). The angel, used to human limitations, doesn’t strike her down for honest wonder. We mustn’t be afraid to voice our questions and doubts to God; God can handle them. The angel’s words open a third stage: “Nothing will be impossible with God” (v. 37). That hinge makes what seems preposterous doable.
Such assurance of a larger plan enables Mary to respond generously and confidently.
The only door through which we pass into the future is trust. Mary models total acceptance of whatever God wants: “Let it be with me according to your word” (v. 38). Next time we encounter a project or relationship that first makes us fearful, we should remember Mary’s process. It doesn’t happen instantly, but it ends perfectly.
Winter • Year B
©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
PK-WB-AD04-DL-A-Advent Action Rhyme_Look for Jesus
Advent Action Rhyme: Look for Jesus
The golden sun, Hold arms to front, waist-level, in circle.Begins to rise;Slowly lift circle over head.Bright morning light now fills the skies.Slowly open arms to side, palms up.Look for Jesus! Look and say,Frame eyes with hands.
“Will Jesus come to us today?”Stretch raised arms to front, then fold and cross them over chest.The evening sky grows dark and deep.All the world falls fast asleep.Reverse morning movements: Hold arms to side, bring together over head to form setting sun. Then bring hands together and lay head on them, as on a pillow.Look for Jesus with all your might.Frame eyes with hands.Will Jesus come to us tonight?Stretch raised arms to front, then fold and cross them over chest.
By morning sun Hold arms in circle.Or evening moon,Pillow head on hands.“Look!” says Jesus.Frame eyes.“I’m coming soon.”Cross arms over chest.
Winter • Year B
©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
In this activity, children make Christmas cards to take home.
Materials:angel Stencil Patterns (attached to the
session plan)oaktag or heavy posterboardspray bottletempera paintsmocks, table coverings, drop cloths, paper
towels or wipeswhite paperdiscarded newspaperstones for weights
Directions:Before the session glue the stencil patterns below to a sheet of oaktag. Cut apart the patterns and cut away interiors to make stencils. In the session cover a work surface with newspapers. Pour paint into the spray bottle.
Explain:•An angel told Mary the good news about
Jesus’ birth.•You can share this good news with
someone by making a Christmas card and giving it to someone.
Encourage children to name people they would like to receive these cards. Show children how to follow these directions to make the cards:•Fold a piece of white paper in half.• Inside the cards, children can write their
names, dictate short messages for you to write or draw pictures.
•Put one card at a time, blank cover up, on the work surface.
•Put a piece of newspaper between the layers of the card.
•Let the card’s maker position the angel stencils on the front of the card.
•Use pebbles to weigh down the stencils. (The weights are necessary because the cardboard will curl as it becomes wet.)
•Assist each child with spraying. Hold the sprayer six to eight inches away from the paper and spray just enough to color the paper without soaking it.
Do not try to make the color even; the finished card will be darker in some places than others. Remove patterns carefully and use on another card. Dry each card flat so the paint will not run. Send the dried cards home with each child.
PK-WB-AD04-DL-A-Christmas Card Craft
Christmas-Card Craft
©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918
PK-WB-AD04-DL-A-Angel Stencil Patterns
©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918
PK-WB-AD04-DL-A-Angel Stencil Patterns
©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918
PK-WB-AD04-DL-A-Angel Stencil Patterns
PK-WB-AD04-DL-A-Angel Wing Template
©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918
Angel Wing Template
Winter • Year B
©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.
This variation of Hide and Seek is based on today’s story.
Ask a volunteer to be the Angel. Ask another volunteer to be Mary. While the Angel hides its eyes, Mary hides somewhere in the room. At your signal, the Angel looks for Mary. The other children can help by giving clues to the Angel. When the Angel finds Mary, he or she can tell good news; for example:
You will have a baby. Jesus is coming.
PK-WB-AD04-DL-A-Story Review Game
Story-Review Game: Go Find Mary
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at will
increase th
eir familiarity.
•P
rayerStarter
Th
ese can be u
sed at hom
e, after a meal,
at bedtime or w
hen
ever a family gath
ers to pray togeth
er. On
e person can
serve as th
e leader, reading alou
d the w
ords of the
prayer or the prom
pt that in
vites others to
participate.
•Parentin
gTip
Health
y parentin
g is a skill learned over
time. T
hese su
ggestions give paren
ts con
crete ideas for cherish
ing th
eir children
an
d makin
g the C
hristian
message th
eir w
ay of life at hom
e.
How
to U
se This R
esource
Brin
gin
g th
e Sunday R
eadin
gs to
Your Fa
mily
•FamilyD
iscussionQ
uestion
In th
is section appears a qu
estion based on
th
e gospel. Since m
ost families don’t h
ave lon
g, un
interru
pted time for discu
ssion,
this qu
estion can
come u
p in th
e car after ch
urch
, durin
g the w
ait at the drive-in
ban
k or fast food restauran
t, or at bedtime.
Paren
ts can adapt it to th
e ages and
interests of th
eir children
.
•GospelR
eflection
T
his m
editation on
the gospel lin
ks Jesus’
story and ou
r daily lives. People w
ho pray
over the gospels regu
larly can begin
to m
ake them
the tem
plate for the w
ay they
live. Th
us, th
ey can tran
sform th
e message
from w
ords proclaimed in
chu
rch to valu
es en
shrin
ed in th
e heart.
Wh
ile some fam
ilies may h
ave time for
extended refl
ection on
the readin
gs and
utilize all th
e sections of th
e page, others m
ay h
ave time for on
ly a quick Fam
ily Discu
ssion
Qu
estion or P
arentin
g Tip. A
ll parents w
ill wan
t to see w
hat th
eir children
did in th
eir session so
they can
discuss it w
ith th
em afterw
ards.
Reprodu
ce the pages an
d arrange a system
of distribu
tion so th
at they can
be sent h
ome w
ith
the oldest or you
ngest ch
ild in a fam
ily, the
chu
rch n
ewsletter or an
y regular bu
lletin.
WheretoU
seThisR
esourceT
his resou
rce may be h
elpful in
a variety of settin
gs, and especially for:
• C
hristian
Edu
cation settin
gs wh
ere parent
involvem
ent is cru
cial•
Intergen
erational edu
cational settin
gs•
Schools w
ith den
omin
ational spon
sorship
wh
o wan
t to involve fam
ilies more
Brin
gin
g th
e Sunday R
eadin
gs to
Your Fa
mily
Today’s readings invite us to respond to the wonder and mystery of God with a clear and joyful “yes.” In 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16, God overwhelms David with the promise of an eternal kingdom
to his heir. In Romans 16:25-17, Paul proclaims that in Jesus Christ the mystery of the ages is revealed. In Luke 1:26-38, Mary opens her spirit, soul and body to the mystery and word of God.
Preschool/Kindergarten children heard the story of
the angel’s message to Mary. They explored again the
holiday themes of angels, babies and gifts. Activities
included reviewing Advent with a calendar and
rhyme and dressing dolls as angels. The children
played a story-review game and a variation of Hide
and Seek.
Primary (Grades 1-3) expressed their feelings about
news—positive or negative. They heard and discussed
the good news the angel brings to Mary: she would
bear the Son of God. The session included playing a
story-review game, running a relay race and making
collage pictures.
Intermediate (Grades 4-6) participants explored
messages from God. They pantomimed contempo-
rary messengers, then explored the role of God’s spe-
cial messengers: the angels. Contemporary roleplays
invited group members to consider messages God
might give people today. Members used broad strokes
of color to portray the Annunciation.
Fourth Sunday of Advent • Year B
With your children, make two
paper dolls or sock puppets of
Gabriel and Mary. Invite the
children to use these and act out
their dialogue.
Some commentators point to a pattern in Mary’s encounter with Gabriel that parallels the process many people have when God enters their lives. The first response is fear or awe. Mary “was much perplexed by his words” (Luke 1:29), just as any of us would be, finding it incomprehensible that we have found favor with God. Surely the all-powerful God doesn’t need one who’s as scatter-brained, selfish, disorganized or downright shifty as we think ourselves?
The next stage is puzzlement. Mary asks, “How can this be?” (v. 34). The angel, used to human limitations, doesn’t strike her down for honest wonder. We mustn’t be afraid to voice our questions and
doubts to God; God can handle them. The angel’s words open a third stage: “Nothing will be impossible with God” (v. 37). That hinge makes what seems preposterous doable. Such assurance of a larger plan enables Mary to respond generously and confidently.
The only door through which we pass into the future is trust. Mary models total acceptance of whatever God wants: “…let it be with me according to your word” (v. 38). Next time we encounter a project or relationship which first makes us fearful, we should remember Mary’s process. It doesn’t happen instantly, but it ends perfectly.
Read Luke’s account of the nativity together, in a children’s Bible or an illustrated children’s version of the story.
To increase children’s familiarity with today’s gospel, list words such as Galilee, Nazareth,
Gabriel and Elizabeth. Ask children how many hidden words they can find in each long word. (For instance, from Gabriel come rib, bear, lie...)
According to today’s gospel, what is really important about Christmas?
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