Advent IV .Christmas for Kids, Debbie & The Sunday School Children

CALL TO WORSHIP   In every soul, there is a part that yearns to feel God’s presence. In every mind, there are mysteries that can only be answered by things of heaven. As we gather in the time and place, we open our hearts, our souls and minds to experience the story of how God visited the earth. Let us be ready and waiting as we call upon his presence….Come, Emmanuel, God be with us


WELCOME           We’re so happy you could join us today!
 
SCRIPTURE: To a maid whose name was Mary, the angel Gabriel came. “Fear not,” the angel told her, “I come to bring good news;       Good news I come to tell you, good news, I say, good news.
 
“MARY DID YOU KNOW”        Morgan & Elizabeth Waller

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
“Prepare The Way Of The Lord” - 
 
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, as we think about the coming of Jesus Christ, we light the candle of love.
(Fourth candle is lit)
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us! This is how God showed His love. He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.
A new command I give: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PRESENTATION – “A very special Night”

          We have some places, some people and some animals in this story.
 
(Show Mary and Joseph)
          The first people in the story are Mary and Joseph. 
          In those days the people who made decisions for the surrounding towns decided that they should count everyone that lived in that area of the world. So Joseph had to take Mary to the town of Bethlehem to be counted.
It would take Mary and Joseph a long time to get to Bethlehem. They didn't have cars back then, so they had to walk.  (Everybody stand up and walk on the spot.)  It would take 3 or 4 days of walking.  Mary was already very tired and just wanted to rest or sleep, because she going to have a baby very soon. No way Mary could walk that far? 
 
(Show donkey)
          Mary needed to rest.  (Ask children if they now what Mary could do.)
When Mary and Joseph reached the town of Bethlehem they did not know anyone that lived living there, no one whose house they could go to sleep at, and all the places where people who were just coming for a short visit to the town could stay at were already full.
 
          (Put cow and donkey in stable to far left, then Mary and Joseph)
         Finally, a kind man helped them out, and said they could rest in a small barn (a stable) he owned, where animals usually stayed (Ask children what animals are in the stable)
          Mary and Joseph were thankful that they at least had a place to lie down. It was warm, and there was plenty of straw to lie on.
 (Need something for straw)
          That night an exciting, wonderful thing happened.
 
Choir:    “Mary had a Baby”
         
          (Put baby Jesus between Mary and Joseph)
          Mary had a baby!   But it wasn't just any baby, it was (Ask the children the baby’s name) It was?  ….Baby Jesus!
          The little baby  Jesus fell asleep in Mary's arms then she wrapped him in pieces of cloth and a blanket and  gently put baby Jesus down on some clean straw in a an open wooden box that farm animal food was usually put into.
 
 
 
Choirs Sings:   a cappella   
(To tune Skinnamarinky, Dink  Dink by Sharon Lois and Bram)
 
          Listen little children now, what does Jesus do?
          He Loves you!
          Listen little children now, what does Jesus do?
          He Loves you!
          He loves you in the morning, and in the afternoon,
          He loves you in the evening under…neath the moooon!
          Listen little children now, what does Jesus do?
          He  Loves   You.
 
 
(Put shepherds in front of choir with the two sheep below).
          (Ask the children what kind of animals these are?  And if they could stay in the stable?   That same night two shepherds, men whose job was taking care of sheep, were standing on a hill talking and watching their sheep in their fields. 
 
          Suddenly there was a lot of light. So much light the two shepherds had to close their eyes for a minute.  (Everybody close your eyes and keep them closed). 
 
Someone in choir holds up the angel.
          When they opened their eyes to see what was going on, a beautiful angel was standing in the air just above them with her arms opened wide.
The two shepherds looked at each other to make sure they were not dreaming but it was real, because both of them were seeing the same thing. All at once they were very afraid, but they didn't run because they were too surprised to do anything.
          Then the angel spoke to them. "Do not be afraid. I'm here to bring you something very good for all people that just happened tonight.Tonight in Bethlehem a very special baby has been born, He is the one that will save the world. You will know the baby because He will be wrapped in cloths, and laying in a manger."
 
Suddenly, just like that the angel was gone (make angel disappear)
 
And they could hear a large group of angels, say together,
 
(Choir)        "Glory to God, and peace to all people on earth."
 
          The two shepherds were so surprised and excited, did everyone know this very good thing that just happened, or just them? They had to go see this special baby the angels were talking about.
 
(One person walks shepherds quickly to stable, some else bounces sheep up and down following the shepherds them baahing.) 
 They ran as fast as they could, and soon found Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. 
 
(put shepherds in front of Mary and Joseph to left, sheep alongside to left)
          The shepherds dropped to their knees when they saw Jesus, they were feeling so happy they had found the very special baby Jesus, they were full of joy.  They even felt like singing.  Let us sing.
 
Choirs Sing:  To the tune (Joy to the World by Three Dogs Night)
              
           Joy to the world.
           All the Boys and Girls now
           Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
           Joy to you and me.
 
 
          (Show three Kings) Now wise men or Kings. They knew about many things, things that most people could not understand. 
 
          (Show the camel)
          Three wise men were going from one town to another.  What kind of animal do you think they would ride on? 
          (Point to star) and the wise men saw a very strange star in the sky.  The wise men had learned that this strange star meant that a very special baby had been born, a baby that would be a prince of peace or a very special King and this baby would do many special things to save the world when he grew up.
 
          (Hold and move the Kings slowly over towards Jesus. )
          The wise men did not know exactly where the baby was, but they followed the star in the east. They followed the star until it hung right over the very place where Jesus was.
         
          When the wise men finally had arrived where Mary and Joseph were at they were very excited and happy. They found baby Jesus laying in the manager
 
          (Put the Kings in front of Jesus to the right) and they bowed down and worshipped him. 
 
          The Kings had brought gifts for baby Jesus. They were gold, frankincense and myrrh. These were very expensive gifts, gifts that you would give to a King, not to a baby.
 
          The story of Christmas is special, full of miracles and strange visitors all coming to visit a very special baby that someday would become the Saviour of our world.   Happy Birthday Jesus
 
Choir sings:    God’s Surprise

WE WISH YOU A MERY CHRISTMAS
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year

Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year

We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year