Gloria Sparklers Lesson Guide 9am /11am / 1pm ________ years old classroom

23/11/2018 (Please Do Not Remove)

Mary Praised God

Bible Passage: Luke 1:26-56
Main Point: God chose Mary to be Jesus’ mother.
Key Passage: 1 Timothy 1:15
Big Picture Question: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man.

• Teacher please allow extra time to practise Christmas songs and the
actions [Lyrics on last page of this guide]
• Video titled “Christmas Songs” is located in the lesson folder
• Accompaniment instrumental parts are also in the lesson folder

Leader/Volunteers BIBLE STUDY

God’s people had not heard a clear message from God for hundreds of years. Then one
day, Gabriel—an angel of the Lord—told a man that his wife, Elizabeth, was going to
have a baby. The baby’s name would be John. Then the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary
and told her that she would have a baby, and her baby would be God’s Son.

Mary and Elizabeth were relatives. Elizabeth was old and barren; she and her husband,
Zechariah, had no children. Mary was a young girl—likely in her early teens. She was a
virgin, engaged to be married to Joseph. The announcements of these pregnancies were
miraculous for both women. Both babies had been foretold by the prophet Isaiah—John in
Isaiah 40:3 and Jesus in Isaiah 7:14.

The angel Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth was pregnant too, and Mary hurried to see her.
The journey would not have been easy. Mary traveled nearly one hundred miles to see
Elizabeth, and her arrival brought great joy to both Elizabeth and Elizabeth’s unborn baby.
In the presence of the unborn Messiah, John leaped in Elizabeth’s womb. Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Spirit, and she said, “Mary, you are blessed!”

The story of Mary’s visit with Elizabeth gives us a remarkable picture of women living by
faith. Being a young, unwed pregnant woman could have caused Mary to worry. Instead,
her response is marked by her trust in God. Mary’s song reflects her knowledge of God’s
Word and her understanding of who God is.

Mary worshiped God because the coming of the promised Savior was good news! As you
teach, remind kids that people had been waiting hundreds of years for the Messiah. Being
the mother of Jesus would be no small task, but Mary trusted that God was in charge.
 Teacher please allow extra time to practise
Christmas Songs [see LAST PAGE] PROGRAM

Time Activity Leader Leader

08:40 Check In Collect volunteer name tag, apron/T-shirt; discuss roles
10:40 & who leads etc (if not already done so); pray with
12:30 team [1pm team please help with set up from 12:30pm]

08.45 Receive Receive kids with warm welcome, greet parents,

10:45 Time remind children to leave shoes in the allocated area
12:45

09:00 Play Time Free play

11:00
13:00

09:15 Clean Up Remind children to put toys back in the bin

11:15
13:15

09:18 Huddle a) a) a) Welcome – Birthdays, First Timers (kid and

11:18 Up Time volunteer), House Rules, Prayer (pp 4-5)
13:18 b) b) b) Song Time – (see suggested songs in folder)
c) c) c) Transition to Story [page 5]
d) d) d) Story: Mary Praised God [p 6]
/ Bible Story Video [page 7]
e) e) e) Memory Verse – [page 8]
f) f) f) Games see games suggestions [page 9]

Craft / Bible Story Coloring & Tell-A-Story [page 9]

Coloring

09:50 Biscuit Give thanks, distribute sanitizer, water & maximum 2

11:50 Time biscuits per child [see more suggestions on page 10]
13:50

10: 00 Review / Review Questions [page 7] / Video [page 7] /

12:00 Video / Big Picture Question [page 7]
14:00 BPQ

10:13 / Prayer Closing prayer or prayer requests [page 8]

12:13

10:15 / Transition Please refer to the pick-up procedure on pages 3 & 10

12:15 to End /
Dismiss

Volunteers please stay for snacks, review of class & fellowship with others
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A Few Reminders for Volunteers:
• Pray Always – Pray for the children who will be in your class. Pray for the volunteers
who will be serving with you. Pray for God to be glorified! Pray together before
class, ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, wisdom and power to serve.

• Arrive Early – Please arrive at least 20 minutes before class start. The children start to
arrive from 8:45am, they love being welcomed and supervised by the adults in the
classroom.

• Lesson Preparation – Come well prepared to teach, lead or assist. Be involved during
the class (sit with the children, help them with craft etc). Everybody’s input is
important. Go through the lesson plan before the class so that every volunteer knows
what is expected. (Class Leader will delegate and discuss the tasks for every
volunteer before class so that everyone understands his/her roles & responsibilities.)

• Mobile Phones – Avoid using mobile phone during class. Children love your full
attention and interaction with them. Please be reminded that no video or photography
in the classroom.

• Bathroom Breaks - Rule of 3 or more. Take at least 2 children to the washroom at one
time or 2 adults to go with 1 child.

Dismissal
• Lead Teacher should stand just outside the classroom door to greet the parents as
they hand over the security label. One or two other volunteers will help bring the
child to the Lead Teacher who will release the child to the parent(s). The best way is to
go to the child, gently tap him/her on the shoulder (avoid yelling the name of the child
from the door) and then bring the child to the Lead Teacher.
• Please have the children seated, watching video or play calming game near the
door area during Pick-Up time. Avoid having the children running around during
this time as it would be very difficult to get their attention. Remember to turn down
the volume of the music/video during this time.
• Check that the parent and child tags match and collect them both at the door before
allowing the child to leave. (It is possible to have the parents help match the child’s
sticker on the flipchart if it is out of reach)
• If parent lost their security tag, he/she should be sent to the Check-In desk for
approval (never allow a child to go to a parent unless they have the security tag).
• As children leave with their parents, remember to say: “It was wonderful having
you join us today, see you next week!”

Class Leader please communicate any issues happened during class

using an Incident Report Form and submit to Courtney immediately
after class so appropriate follow-up action could be taken
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Check In / Playtime
One teacher takes control of sign-in:
• One tag will go on the child; another will go on the paper flipchart, and one for the
parents to be used for checkout. Place the Pick-Up sticker on the flipchart to check the
child out.
• If someone is new to the church or not in our database, they can fill out a guest booklet.
Please make sure that their phone number is filled in, in case we need to contact them and
any special instructions for the care of their child.
• One teacher leads orderly free play
• Avoid having the children running around in the classroom during this time, the
room is too small for running, the children may get hurt or get into a “hyper state”

Welcome time
Greet each kid as he or she arrives. During this time, welcome the first timers, greet those
who are celebrating their birthday this week, review the classroom rules, and lead the kids
in opening prayer.

Say • We all love to hear good news. Sometimes, the news might be so good, it can be
hard to believe it. Today we will learn about Mary, and some news she heard that was
amazing and still true!

Rules for Children in the class:

- Always review the classroom rules with the kids to set expectations:
1. Pay attention to the teachers
2. Raise your hand if you want to speak
3. Be nice to your friends and teachers
4. No toys allowed during Story Time
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 Dear Teachers/Assistant Teachers,

The Lesson Guide we had was intended for kids ages 6-7. Please simplify
the activities and language (especially text for Bible Story) accordingly.

We will try to find a more age appropriate video for Sparklers.

Apology for any inconvenience caused.

Welcome Activities
Hopscotch
• tape
• paper
Use tape to mark out a hopscotch board on the floor. Give each child a sheet of paper to
crumple into a ball. One at a time, kids will toss their paper wads onto the hopscotch board
and jump through it. Only one foot may land in each square at a time except within the
square with a paper wad. Kids will pick up the paper wad on the way back to the start.

Say • We don’t usually think of jumping as something babies do, especially while still in
their moms’ bellies! Today we will learn about a time a baby jumped in his mom’s
belly. What do you think made a baby jump for joy?

Transition to tell the story

• countdown video (optional) [In today's lesson folder]

To gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the
countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy.
Invite preschoolers to pretend to carry a letter as they move to Bible study.

Introduce the Bible story

Have any of you ever received news of a coming baby? [Allow responses.] How did it make
you feel? [Allow responses.] Interesting!
Well, today our story is about a different baby. All babies are gifts from God, but this
particular baby was the best gift from God ever. His mommy could hardly believe it when
she heard He would be coming. His name would be Jesus.
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The BIBLE STORY

 Mary Praised God
Luke 1:26-56

One day, God sent an angel named Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth. The
angel went to visit a young virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to
Joseph, a descendant of King David.
The angel said to Mary, “Rejoice! You have found favor with God. He is with
you.” Mary was very afraid and puzzled. Why would God find favor with her? She had
done nothing special.
The angel told Mary to not be afraid. He told Mary that she was going to have a
very special and unique baby, and they would call the baby Jesus, which means “the
Lord saves.” The angel explained that the baby would be great—He would be God’s Son!
He would even be a king—the King God had promised would come.
Mary asked the angel, “How can that happen? I am not married yet.”
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come, and a miracle will happen. The baby
will be God’s Son.”
The angel Gabriel told Mary, “Nothing will be impossible with God!” He told Mary that
her relative Elizabeth was pregnant, even though she was old and did not have any
children.
Mary replied, “I belong to God. May everything happen just as you said.” Then the
angel left her.
Mary hurried to her relative Elizabeth’s house. When she arrived, the baby inside
Elizabeth leaped for joy! The Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth and she said, “What an honor,
Mary! Your baby will be blessed too!”
Mary was so happy. She praised God with a song about how great God is. Mary
knew every family in the future would say she was blessed because God was going to do
great things through Jesus. God was keeping His promise to Abraham to bless the
whole world through Jesus.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. Then she went home.

Christ Connection: Mary was willing to follow God’s plan, even though being Jesus’
mother would not be easy. Mary wanted to bring praise to God. Likewise, Jesus brought
praise to His Father by willingly dying on the cross to save people from sin.

Bible Storytelling Tips

Move with the story: Designate Nazareth and the hill country (where Elizabeth lived) on the stage. Start the story in
Nazareth and move to the hill country when the angel departs.
Leap for joy: Invite kids to leap when Elizabeth tells Mary that John leapt within her womb.
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Watch the Bible Story Video
Try to play video after snacks as the last activity, this will help the children stay seated and
remain calm when the parents pick them up.
• Bible
• bookmark
• “Mary Praised God" video

Place a bookmark at Luke 1 in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently
display the open Bible.
Say • God is so kind to give us the Bible. The Bible tells us how to live and how we
should do things at church, but most of all the Bible tells about Jesus! Today’s Bible
story comes from 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus.
Show the video or tell the Bible story using the provided storytelling helps. Use the
bolded version of the Bible story for young preschoolers.

It is good to pause the video and explain/elaborate/ask questions to the children

throughout the video to help them understand

Bible Story Review

Say • God chose Mary to be Jesus’ mother. God chose Elizabeth to have a special son,
too. But even though her son would have an important job, he would be a man like
other men. Mary’s baby would be different. What makes Jesus different? Jesus is
fully God and fully man. That means that Jesus alone has the ability to bring us back
to God through His death and resurrection.

Review questions:
1. Who told Mary she was going to have a baby? (the angel Gabriel; Luke 1:26-
27,31)
2. How did Mary feel about the angel’s announcement? (afraid, deeply puzzled;
Luke 1:29)
3. What did the angel say the baby’s name would be? (Jesus, Luke 1:31)
4. The angel said the baby would be whose Son? (God’s Son; Luke 1:32,35)
5. Who else did the angel say was going to have a baby? (Mary’s relative
Elizabeth, Luke 1:36)
6. What did Elizabeth’s baby do when Mary came to the house? (He leaped for joy,
Luke 1:41)
7. How did Mary praise God? (with a song, Luke 1:46-55)
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 Memory Verse
1 Timothy 1:15
Here is a trustworthy saying
that deserve full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners.

• Work with kids to develop a simple rhythm to clap as you say the key passage.
• After repeating the passage a few times, challenge kids to recite the passage from
memory.

Learn the big picture question

Today’s story is about Mary and the time she heard she would be the mother of Jesus,
God’s Son! She knew that Jesus was not going to be like any other baby. Listen
closely for more evidence of our big picture question and answer. What makes Jesus
different? Jesus is fully God and fully man.

Prayer Requests
Say: Why do we pray? (Answer: To open our hearts to God and talk to Him!) Ask the
group if anyone has any prayer requests. Write their prayer requests in the notebook, then
finish by praying, being sure to pray for each request. (Suggestion: divide children into
small groups of 3 or 4 people, assign volunteers to lead the group in prayer)

Here is a space for you to write down some prayer requests

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Games / Activities
Option 1: Rhythm shakers
• plastic egg or any plastic container
• dry rice
• duct tape

Give each kid a plastic egg or container. Help kids put a small handful of dry rice into
their egg and close it. Use duct tape to seal the eggs shut. Kids will sit in a circle and play
a rhythm game.
Select a kid to go first. She will shake a short pattern. The next kid will repeat her
pattern and add a short pattern of his own. Each subsequent kid will attempt to shake the
previous patterns before adding to it. Then, kids may shake along to the key passage or
unit theme songs.

Say • Rhythm is an important part of music, and music is a common way to praise and
worship God. God chose Mary to be Jesus’ mother.

Option 2: Jumping jack tag

Select one kid to be It. She will chase the other kids to tag them. Tagged kids must do
jumping jacks for 30 seconds before rejoining the game. If It is able to tag everyone in the
room in 30 seconds or less (that is, all the kids are doing jumping jacks at once) she wins.
Every few minutes, select a new kid to be It and play again.

Say • When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, they both had babies in their bellies.
Elizabeth’s son could tell that Mary’s son was close and jumped for joy inside her! John
knew that Jesus was the Messiah, even before either of them were born.

Coloring

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Snack
• countdown video (optional)
• snack food
• water, paper cups and napkins/sanitizer

Play the countdown video to signal the end of activities. Guide preschoolers to clean their
areas. Take a restroom break and wash hands. Gather preschoolers for snack time. Thank
God for the snack.

Transition to End
• books
• puzzles
• Bible Story Coloring Page
• crayons

When a child finishes his snack, guide him to throw away any trash. He may select a
book or puzzle to examine, play quietly with a favorite toy, or color the Bible story
coloring page.

If parents are picking up their children at this time, tell them something that their child
enjoyed doing or did well during the session. Distribute the preschool big picture cards
for families.

Thank you for serving at Sparklers today, we value and appreciate your time & effort
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 Christmas Songs
Dear teachers/volunteers, 3. Little Drummer Boy (start 2:50)

Thank you for practicing these Christmas Come, they told me

songs with the children. Please teach Pa rum pum pum pum
them the actions as well, especially the Our newborn King to see
younger children who may not remember Pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring
the lyrics.
Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King
Pa rum pum pum pum
Rehearsal will be at 3pm, November 30th, Ra pum pum pum
Ra pum pum pum
Christmas Concert: 3pm December 7h
So to honor Him, pa rum pump um pum
When we come
1. This Little Light of Mine 4. Silver Bells (start 4:15)

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it
shine (3X)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Hide it under the bushels NO, I’m gonna
let it shine (3X)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine
(3X)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
2. Silent Night (start 1:40 in video)
Silent night, Oh holy night
All is calm, All is bright
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling
Of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear
Silver bells
Silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling
Hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas Day
5. We wish you a Merry Christmas
(start 6:40)
We wish you a Merry Christmas (3X)
And A Happy New Year

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
Holy Infant so tender and mild Good tidings for Christmas
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly And a happy new year
peace
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