1. Welcome everyone to Large Group worship! Introduce the Connect Question Connect Question: What’s your favorite Christmas movie or book? (Examples: A Christmas Carol, or How the Grinch Stole Christmas) Turn to the person next to you and share your answer!

2. Let’s review our Remember Verse together! It’s very exciting this month. See if anyone has memorized it, or wants to try, then read the verse as a group. Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to his people and purchased their freedom. Luke 1:68

3. Worship Time:

4. Have you ever been the first person to know about good news, but you had to keep the good news secret? Encourage the kids to answer. Maybe your mom told you she was going to have a baby, or maybe you found out about a surprise party?

5. What was it like to hold onto that news and not tell anyone? Allow answers. Today we’re going to hear about the biggest news ever—the news that God was sending His Son, Jesus, to earth. Before we learn more, let’s pray together. Lead children in a Prayer of Release. Tech: After prayer, cue Timeline Animation and slide

6. From the very beginning of The Big God Story, when Adam and Eve sinned, God had the best news ever: He would send the Redeemer, Jesus, to bring people into relationship with Him again. But God wouldn’t just send the Messiah any time. He knew the timing had to be just right.

7. God did provide clues along the way. He gave men and women called prophets different hints about what the Messiah would be like. The Israelites kept thinking about these hints as they waited for the day when they would meet their promised Redeemer. Finally, after waiting for hundreds of years, God was ready to reveal His Son to the world.

8. The first person God told was Jesus’ mother, Mary. Mary was a young woman when an angel told her she would soon have a baby—but not just any baby! This baby is the promised Redeemer! Read Luke 1:30–33 NEXT SLIDE (Tech: Cue Slides)

9. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very pleased with you. You will give birth to a son. You must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king. He will rule forever over his people, who came from Jacob’s family. His kingdom will never end.”

10. I wonder how Mary felt when she got the news. Does anyone have any ideas? As the kids answer, have “Mary” poke her head out from behind the stage. Mary: Did I hear someone say my name? Storyteller: Um … who are you? Mary: My name is Mary. Did I hear you talking about me and my son, Jesus?

11. Storyteller: Whoa! You’re Mary? Well, I guess we don’t need to imagine how Mary felt about the news! She can just tell us! Mary: Well, I mean, I had heard about the coming Messiah my entire life. I knew all the prophecies. But I never imagined I would be the one giving birth to the Messiah—the Redeemer! I was surprised that God would use someone like me. I was just a young woman.

12. Storyteller: Wow! Thanks for sharing with us. Mary: You’re welcome! I’m so happy I could be here with you! Mary exits. Storyteller: Well, that was interesting … I wasn’t expecting that to happen. But, like Mary said, an angel told her she would have a child—the Messiah. This news definitely surprised Mary. But she felt so thankful that God had blessed her that she couldn’t help but praise Him!

13. Many months later, the time came for Mary to give birth. However, Mary and her soon-to-be husband, Joseph, were traveling at the time. Read Luke 2:4–5 (Tech: Cue Slide) “They went from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem, the town of David. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family line of David. He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was expecting a baby.”

14. Tech: Cue Clip-clop sound effect. Storyteller looks around, trying to figure out where the noise is coming from, but eventually gives up and continues. In Mary and Joseph’s time, people didn’t have cars or planes. So they used animals to travel. Tech: Cue Clip-clop sound effect again. Storyteller looks around again and then gives up.

15. It’s hard enough traveling that way, let alone being so close to having a baby! It was probably a very difficult trip. Donkey: You bet it was a difficult trip! Storyteller: What in the world? You … you’re a donkey! How did you get in here?

16. Donkey: I sure am a donkey! How did I get here? I came with Mary. Have you seen her? She rode into Bethlehem on my back, and I have to find her … but I can’t seem to figure out where she is. Storyteller (looking stunned): Yes, we’ve seen her. She went that way (point toward curtain). So you’re the donkey she rode on the way to Bethlehem?

17. Donkey: I sure am! Boy, that was a rough trip! It was really far. And it was dusty and hot. I mean, have you ever carried a pregnant woman on your back? Let me tell you, it isn’t fun. It’s heavy! Looks around. No offense, Mary. Storyteller: I never thought of it that way… Donkey: Well, it is! Humph! I better get going. Donkey exits. Storyteller: Okay, well, have a safe trip back!

18. As I was saying, Mary and Joseph were traveling very far to Bethlehem. After they arrived, it was time to have the baby! But there was no room for Joseph and Mary to stay, not even in a guest room. When the time came and Mary had the baby, she wrapped Him in cloth and laid Him in a manger. A manger is the feeding place for animals.

19. Read Luke 2:6–7 (Tech: Cue Slide) While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born. She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. That’s because there was no guest room where they could stay.

20. Can you believe that the Savior of the world—God’s Son—was sleeping in a manger? Jesus is the King of Kings, so He deserved to be born in a palace! However, even at His birth, Jesus had a humble life.

21. After the baby was born, an angel of the Lord appeared to a group of shepherds and told them all about the birth of Jesus. Read Luke 2:8–15 (Tech: Cue Slides) There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were taking care of their sheep. An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified…

22. …But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news. It will bring great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God…

23. …They said, “May glory be given to God in the highest heaven! And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!” The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem. Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

24. The shepherds hurried into Bethlehem to find the promised baby—the Messiah. Shepherd (walks in, looking worn out but happy): Well, hello friends! Shepherd sits down. I’m weary from my journey into town but what a wonderful day it has been!

25. Storyteller: Wait a second. Let me guess: You’re a shepherd, right? Shepherd: Yes, I’m a shepherd. My friends and I were out in the fields, tending to our flock. Then an angel appeared to us! The angel told us we could find the Savior in a manger in Bethlehem. Storyteller: Wow! What was it like to see baby Jesus?

26. Shepherd: Oh, I can’t even find the words to tell you what a blessing it was. We were so excited that we told a lot of people what we saw. Then we returned to the fields praising God for all we saw! I need to go now, I think I heard a sheep calling for me. Cups ear to listen. Then, Shepherd exits. Storyteller: Goodbye!

27. Jesus is The Promise God made in the beginning of the Bible. Even today we can hold onto God’s promises. Because God kept His promises in the past, we know He will keep them in the future! After all, hasn’t God made another promise to us? He promised to come back again one day and allow us to be his best friend and live with Him forever!

28. After Adam and Eve first sinned, God promised to send the Redeemer. And on that Christmas night long ago, God fulfilled that promise. He sent Jesus, also called Immanuel, which means, “God with us.” It’s amazing that God loved us so much that He sent His own Son to restore our relationship with Him.

29. That’s really why we celebrate. It’s not about the presents, the tree, or the food. It’s about Jesus, God’s promised Son, who came to earth to be with us. Let’s thank God for being with us—and for being a faithful, loving God who always keeps His promises. Close in prayer before moving to RESPOND Tech: Cue Response Slide & Music.

30. You’re going to have a chance today to write or draw a thank you to God! You can thank God for His promises or thank Him for keeping His promises in the future. When I dismiss you, take a star and write your thank you. Once you finish, you can come place your star on the Christmas tree. Once kids have a chance to respond, dismiss by grade!