Advent Week 2 Sammy Shepherd & Wooly

Big Idea: Witnessing & Hope. Scripture Reading: Psalm 23 & Luke 2:8-12 Memory Verse: But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. (Luke 2:10) Craft: Shepherds Sheep - http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Shepherds-Sheep.html Snack Ideas: 1. Red and green jell-o made using Christmas cookie cutters. 2. Pretzels dipped in white or dark chocolate with a red or green M&M on top. Music Recommendations

Rev. Jeanne McIntosh November 2011 All rights reserved.

A Big Barrel of Carols Includes most of the traditional Christmas songs. However you must have a computer to operate since this is used with windows media and it does not have choreography for the songs. Lyrics and soundtracks are provided. No Wonder Musical DVD provides choreography and can be used with a DVD/TV player. Selections can be chosen that meet your needs. Props: A Shepherds costume and a lamb puppet. You can wear the costume and use a sheep puppet to help you with the lesson. Review: The Advent wreath means coming a special holiday in which we are looking forward to at Christmas. Many people looked for the coming of Jesus thousands of years ago. We celebrate his birth during the seasonal holiday of Christmas. The wreath points upward to heaven. All people who have their sins forgiven will go to heaven when Jesus returns or when they pass away from this life. That is something to look forward to in expectation. In the meantime, as the green of the wreath represents growth, we are to grow as Christians here on earth. We do that by praying, reading our bible, and exhibiting the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives. God will help us. Say: Hi Kids, this is Wooly. He is helping me with the lesson today. Make him feel welcome. Can you tell Wooly hello? In our lesson today, the Shepherds receive Hope. A Shepherd had an important job in taking care of the sheep. However, society did not look very highly on shepherds yet, God chose to use them to be one of the first missionaries in sharing the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. Our lamb here will help share with us the importance of how God looks
Rev. Jeanne McIntosh November 2011 All rights reserved.

at the heart rather than at how important we are or how much we know. He calls those who seem the most unlikely yet have a humble heart that is willing to serve Him. (You can present this lesson or have a guest speaker come in and do this lesson dressed as a shepherd and carrying a staff and stuffed lamb). Sammy Shepherd: One dark night, there were some Shepherds out in the field taking care of the sheep. There were so many sheep, and it took several shepherds to do this job. Some people did not trust the Shepherds. Wooly Lamb: Why did people not like the Shepherds? Sammy Shepherd: People did not think they were very smart or knew much. So they did not believe what they had to say. Wooly Lamb: That is not nice! Sammy Shepherd: I imagine that would make you sad if your friends at school made fun of you because you could not read well or do a math problem correctly on the board in front of the classroom. God loves us no matter what we know, or do not know. All he wants is for us to do is our very best. He will help us if we ask Him. One evening, the Shepherds were out in the field when suddenly they saw a strange sight. Wooly Lamb: That must have been scary. Sammy Shepherd: The Shepherds were very frightened. They fell to the ground and hid their faces in the grass. The Bible says they were terrified. Wooly Lamb: I would be scared, too!
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Sammy Shepherd: Suddenly, they heard a loud voice coming right from the sky. They shrank even deeper in the ground hiding their faces. Then, they heard a voice calmly speak these worlds, Dont be afraid, we bring good news to you. Good news! the Shepherds must have thought. This is the most terrifying experience they had ever had. Nothing good could come out if this. The voice continued, A Savoir has been born in the town of Bethlehem, who is Christ the Lord. You will find Him in a manger wrapped in some cloths. Wooly Lamb: Wow! That was SOME news! Sammy Shepherd: The Shepherds were so surprised hearing this news they hardly knew what to do. Come on, lets go said one of the Shepherds. Dont be so slow" said another Shepherd. We have some awesome news to tell the others, said another. These are some things they may have said at that time, but the Bible did not record all they said. The Shepherds hurried along their way to Bethlehem. On the way, they probably told everyone they met, A Savior has been born, who is Christ the Lord Come and see him. Wooly Lamb: Just like a missionary. Sammy Shepherd: That is right. They were among the first missionaries to spread the birth of the new baby, Jesus. Since the Shepherds were poor and did not make a lot of money, they had a lowly occupation and were even considered outcast in society in that time. They were not popular, and what they had to say was not considered very important. Their words would not have been
Rev. Jeanne McIntosh November 2011 All rights reserved.

considered a good testimony for someone on a jury like we have today. No one would trust what they had to say. Wooly Lamb: That is not very nice! If we look closely around us, we may find some people who are like the shepherds. You cannot depend on what they say, because they are untruthful. Regardless, we must love all people. There will be some we may be able to help who need food and clothing due to not making enough money. We can be a missionary to them by telling them about Jesus and giving them a hope in life. Yes, we can help reach out to those who are like the Shepherds giving hope to others who are less fortunate than we are. We can give them medicine if they need it. We can take a collection of food from our church, or take them presents for Christmas. A special card may cheer one who is discouraged. We can be kinds to those who are sad. We can invite others to church activities and make them feel welcome. Wooly Lamb: I am glad for the hope Jesus has given to me. I want to share his hope of salvation with my friends. I am glad Jesus gives hope to everyone alike.

Rev. Jeanne McIntosh November 2011 All rights reserved.

Lamb drama (Make sheep ears for two kids to wear and present this skit) Lamb 1: Wow! Its so dark out there tonight. Lamb 2: I cant see nothin Lamb 1: Look over there! Lamb 2: What do you see? Lamb 1: It looks like a wolf. Lamb 2: A wolf! I am scared of wolves. Lamb 1: Hurry, lets get closer to the other sheep. Lamb 2: Will the wolf leave us alone then? Lamb 1: Sure, if we stay close to the flock, the wolf will go away. Lamb 2: Where did you hear that? Lamb 1: Oh, I was listening in to the conversation of the shepherds last night. Lamb 2: Well, that sounds pretty good to me. Lamb 1: Did you see the angels last night? Lamb 2: No, but I heard a lot of talk about them. I heard they sounded so pretty singing. Lamb 1: You mean they sang? I did not hear that part.
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Lamb 2: Wellthat chanted maybe. I dont know, but they sure had a lot to say and even lit up the whole sky. Lamb 1: It must have been some sight to see. I wished I had not been sick last night in the barn. Lamb 2: They said a Savior was born Christ the Lord. Lamb 1: That is what I heard, too. Maybe we will get to see him. Lamb 2: You think the Shepherds will take us sometime? Lamb 1: Maybe if we are real good, they might consider it. Lamb 2: Come on lets get closer to those other sheep. That wolf is getting closer. Lamb 1: Wed better. I dont like that stare he is giving to us. Lamb 2: Hurry, lets run! Lamb 1: Ill race you. Get on your mark, get set, go! (Exit)

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The Shepherds Find Hope

S S I B Z M F L P E Y A G L J Y B S Z X M

H N G L M P P E

U N V E S S O P C E J

T U E B F S

M A D O M H R B U A G S H Q S

L V E P

M V A E H O W M Z L Y O C O J B X V Y S M H W O B Z Y V S E S

V X W Z O L X J P Y P G E A I

C R C X N P E N D Z E P S S T

D I

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A W J V F

L L N G X K V H M A G G U R U BABY LOVE SHEPHERDS HOPE SAMMY JESUS SHEEP

Jeanne created using discoveryeducation.com 2011

Rev. Jeanne McIntosh November 2011 All rights reserved.

Circle the Correctly Spelled Answer

1. What was Sammy in the story today? a. Shepherd b. Sheperd c. Sheeprd 2. Who came to give the Shepherds a message? a. Angles b. Angells c. Angels 3. Advent means. a. Coming b. Comging c. Comingg 4. Jesus came to save all? a. Peeeple b. People c. Peopl 5. We should always be willing to help. a. Othrs b. Otters c. Others
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Write a Message to the Shepherds

Draw a Sheep

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Advent Reading and Lighting of Candles

Teacher: The first candle we light is for the Advent Wreath as we wait for Christmas. Child 1: Thank you, God for your coming to earth as a baby. Child 2: And for dying on the cross for our sins. Light candle (Purple) Teacher: This second candle stands for the hope that we have in the Savor, Jesus Christ. Child 1: Hope is something that we have to look forward to, and that is only comes through Jesus. Child 2: I wish that all people would come to know Jesus as their Savior. Child 1: God so loved the world. Child 2: That He gave His only Son Jesus. Teacher: This second candle is lit to share that hope of his coming to the entire world. If we confess our sins, He will forgive us and give us life everlasting in Him. Let us be a witness of that Hope! Light candle (Purple)

Rev. Jeanne McIntosh November 2011 All rights reserved.

Memory Verse Game Write one word of the verse on separate pieces of cut out trumpets. Have the kids practice the verse several times. Pass out the trumpets to all the kids. Every time someone says the verse correctly, all kids blow their trumpets. (Use card stock). Do this several times for fun.

Alternate Game

Musical Chairs put a trumpet in all empty chairs with the exception of one less than the amount of children that are present in attendance. Play some music such as Angels We Have Heard in High. Play the verse only and stop the music. All kids must get walk around the chairs until the music stops and then pick up a trumpet. Whoever does not have a trumpet picks three other kids to sing the chorus of the song with them. Continue the game.

Rev. Jeanne McIntosh November 2011 All rights reserved.