session essentials...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

© 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

http://www.MorehouseEducation.org

core sessionyour b

asic and co

mple

te session

2


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.



enhance your core

sessio

n w

ith enrich

me

nt a

ctivities

enrichment

3


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.



enhance your core

sessio

n w

ith enrich

me

nt a

ctivities

enrichment

4



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

form

atio

n and bonus m

ate

rials



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


helps for catechistsbackground in

form

atio

n and bonus m

ate

rials


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


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


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


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


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





PK-WB-AD04-DL-A-Angel Wing Template


Angel Wing Template

Winter • Year B


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

Com

mon

sense an

d the experts agree: faith

form

ation m

ust occu

r in th

e hom

e. Th

e chu

rch’s edu

cational program

s have a m

uch

better ch

ance of su

ccess if these efforts are expan

ded an

d enrich

ed by the fam

ilies wh

ere children

spen

d a hu

ge proportion of th

eir time.

Th

is resource is design

ed to help fam

ilies an

d chu

rches m

eet that n

eed. Often

parents

wan

t to participate in th

eir children’s religiou

s edu

cations, bu

t aren’t sure h

ow to do it. T

hese

pages give families m

any w

ays to bring th

e Su

nday readin

gs into th

e hom

e. At H

ome w

ith the G

ood New

s is designed for th

e parents of

children

aged preschool th

rough

grade six.

Each

reproducible page con

tains:

•B

ibleBackgroun

d

Th

is section lists th

e readings for each

Su

nday an

d briefly explain

s how

they relate

to each oth

er or to a comm

on th

eme.

•W

hatYourChildD

idThisW

eek

Th

is section su

mm

arizes wh

at Presch

ool/ K

indergarten

, Prim

ary and In

termediate

groups did in

their session

s. It gives parents

a specific startin

g point for a con

versation

about w

hat th

eir children

learned or

accomplish

ed. For parents w

ho are n

ew to

an experien

tial, lectionary-based approach

, it serves as an

introdu

ction th

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?

© 2014 Morehouse Education Resources. All rights reserved. www.livingthegoodnews.com • 1-800-242-1918 • Permission is hereby granted to reproduce these pages for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Documents

session essentials...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