Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following:

• When have you had to wait for something important to happen?
• What are some things you could hardly wait to receive?

Discussion

Talk about the words of the Troparion. Make sure students know that "nativity" means birth, and that a "feast" in the Church is a special day of celebration. So the "Nativity Feast" is the Church's celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ on earth. Ask students what other name we give this feast; the answer of course is Christmas. Point out that the Magi were wise men for far away lands, astronomers who paid attention to the stars. They were brought by a special star to the cave where the baby Jesus, the holy Son of God, was born. Jesus Christ is theSun of Righteousness. (You may want to review some of this in the weeks to come. For this lesson, ask: Did the Magi have to wait to see the Sun of Righteousness? (Yes, they traveled far from their home countries.)

Nativity Icon

 Put out the bowl of treats (making sure you have something appropriate for any child with allergies or dietary restrictions), saying that we must wait until the end of class to share them. If children become agitated at not having the treats right now, put them away and say you will bring them out at the end of class. Discuss how we have to wait for many things: for mealtime, our turn during games, our birthdays, etc. During the Nativity Fast, we are waiting for a special birthday, the birthday of God's Son, Jesus.

Show the children the icon of the Nativity.  Help the children identify the various figures in the Nativity icon: Mary, Joseph, the animals, the shepherds, the magi, and especially the anticipated baby Jesus.

How does it feel to have to wait for something you want to happen? Is it difficult to wait?

We wait through the weeks of the Nativity Fast, until Christmas Day when we celebrate the birthday of Christ. Not until the day of Christmas will we hear the priest exclaim, “Christ is Born!” And we will answer, “Glorify Him!” But what does it mean to “glorify” Him? When we answer, “Glorify Him,” we rejoice and celebrate with all of creation (and all those in the icon) that Jesus Christ, the Son of God the Father, has been born so that God could be here in our midst to help and save us.
Say: As you can see in the icon, the Magi had to wait and follow a star to the cave where Jesus lay. The shepherds, hoping and waiting for Christ, went with haste to Bethlehem praising, rejoicing, and celebrating the upcoming birth of Jesus. So too, we can go through these days of the Nativity Fast, sometimes called Advent, waiting as the shepherds did and finally arriving at the feast of the Nativity. Like the Magi, our hearts can praise His glorious and miraculous birth, so that on Christmas day we may sing with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!” So, what do we say when our priest says, “Christ is Born!”? We will answer, “Glorify Him!” (Practice with the children by exclaiming, “Christ is Born!” with them answering each time “Glorify Him!”)

Advent Calendar

Talk with the children about calendars: how they help us to keep track of important days/dates to remember, e.g., birthdays, anniversaries, important events, etc. Ask if their mother or father writes important things on a calendar at home. Are their birthdays marked in a special way on a calendar? Distribute empty calendar pages (see the list of church commemorations provided with calendar). Discuss a different commemoration each week as you go through the unit, and give each child a sticker to paste in their calendar.

Additional Activity

Older children could create an aid, such as a paper chain, which can help their families prepare for the Nativity. They can begin the paper chain with the first session, creating seven links. On each link, the child can list one thing he or she can do to help others or to anticipate the coming of Christ. Encourage them to think of such actions as praying before the Icon of the Nativity, working on a service project, being kind to siblings, etc. Brainstorm a list of things they could do to anticipate the coming of Christ.

Wrap Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:

• How will the Advent calendar help you wait for the Birth of Christ?
• Sometimes, does waiting for something make it even better when it comes?
• Talk about some words from the hymn that will be used for the closing prayer. the word "virgin" refers to Mary, the Mother of God. "Transcendent" means greater than any other. “Unapproachable” does not mean that Jesus is frightening or not accessible; rather, in this context “unapproachable” means we should approach Him with love and respect, because He is God.
  
• Enjoy the treats together.
  

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following:

• How do we feel when we get something?
  
• How do we feel about the person who gave us a gift?
• How would we feel if we received a nice gift and didn't  know who gave it to us? 
• How do we feel when we give a gift?

Troparion of St. Nicholas

Distribute the Resource Handout Troparion of St. Nicholas to the class.  Recite or sing the Troparion (Tone 4 ) several times and discuss with the class its general meaning. Ask: How is it possible that a person can get riches through their poverty, which means extreme poorness? (Let children give answers and express their ideas; help them see that many people who give up trying to get worldly wealth then have time and energy to give to prayer and doing good to others. These things give us spiritual riches--closeness to God, real love for other people, and the assurance that God's promises of His Kingdom are real. Nicholas and many others, long ago as well as today, have this experience of a special kind of "riches.")

Cards for Shut-ins

Materials needed for a charitable project include an explanatory note for the children to take home so their parents can be aware and give approval. Each child will make a card for a specific shut-in  in the parish. Talk about what a shut-in  is and what their lives might be like.

Decorate the cards with bright colors to attract attention, or use holiday stickers for decoration. Have the students write a note to the shut-in for whom they are making the card. Plan to distribute the cards. Consider, for those children who are willing, having the shut-in become a “prayer partner” during the Nativity Fast, with the child communicating regularly with the shut-in through cards.

Shoes

Some cultures leave shoes out so that St. Nicholas can fill them with treats. This could be done outside the classroom door during class for a wonderful surprise. This could be done on the exact day of St. Nicholas’s commemoration, the eve of December 6th. Consider holding a festival for children close to this feast day, when the children could leave shoes out at the beginning of the session on a Saturday morning. During the festival, the children could make banners of St. Nicholas to be used for the Festal Liturgy in a procession of children before the Little Entrance.
If the bishop is coming for a visit soon, the children could learn to sing the greeting hymn for the bishop (see the book Orthodox Hymns for Children).

Wrap Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:

Closing Prayer

The Life of St. Nicholas

Read one of the following attached Resource Stories with the class:

• The Life of St. Nicholas
• Saint Nicholas of Myra
• St. Nicholas Archbishop of Myra in Lycia

Pause often to emphasize St. Nicholas' good deeds, kindness and generosity.  Also pause often to ask students to make “text-to-self” or “text-to-world” connections--times in their lives when they or people they know of helped someone or did acts of kindness and generosity, as the saint did.

Divide the class into groups of 3 or 4. Have each group choose an event from the saint's life and do a brief role play. Afterward, ask each group to tell why they chose the event they did. This can lead to an interesting discussion (which can be brief) of what in the life of St. Nicholas appeals to each child (or group) the most.

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Activity

Play a recording of the Kontakion for the Nativity of Christ, or Christmas Kontakion.

Note:  Attached to this lesson is an MP3 file which you can download and burn to a CD for use in class.

Discussion Starter

After playing the kontakion ask the following:

• How does knowing this kontakion help us to understand the birth of Christ?
• What kind of a person do you think wrote this hymn?
• How can the hymns of the church (the kontakia) help us to learn more about saints, and to understand them better?
•  How can these saints help us to learn more about ourselves?

As you discuss this hymn, define “kontakion” as a sermon in verse accompanied by music.  Also, remind the students that “transcendent” means greater than any others, or above the material universe. “Unapproachable” does not mean that Jesus is frightening or not accessible; rather, in this context “unapproachable” means we should approach Him with love and respect because He is God.

The Life of St. Romanos

Read this brief account of the life of St. Romanos with the class:

Romanos was born in Syria in the fifth century. He moved to the city of Constantinople and helped the bishop and priests in the great church of Hagia Sophia. At night he stayed alone and prayed, often sleeping in a field or in a smaller church outside the city.

Romanos was not a good singer or reader. Once, on Christmas Eve, the feast of the Nativity of Christ, he began to read some prayer verses as part of the service. His reading was so bad and hard to understand that someone had to replace him, and people laughed at him.

Romanos was embarrassed and sad. He poured out his grief in front of the icon of the Mother of God, and a wondrous thing happened--she spoke to him in a gentle, loving voice. She gave him a scroll (a rolled-up paper with musical notes written on it) and told him to eat it. This may seem strange to us, but it was a wonderful gift from the Mother of God, because the next day Romanus was able to sing and even to write or compose hymns. In the church on the evening of that Christmas Day he sang, in a beautiful voice, the first hymn he ever wrote. It was the Christmas Kontakion, which begins, "Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One..."

Romanus was made a deacon, and became a teacher of singing and songs. We still sing many of the hymns he wrote. For his wonderful service to the Orthodox Church, and for all the beautiful music he created, Romanus was made a saint.

Note: You may want to consult the Resource Handout The Life of St. Romanus for more details. Also in the Resource section is the lengthy Kontakion on the Nativity of Christ. Though the children are a bit young to study this, you may want to look through it, for your own interest and edification as an example of St. Romanus' writing. Note its many Biblical references and the way they are tied to our experience as Christians.

The Lives of St. Barbara & St. Herman

Read the life of St. Barbara which is given in full as a resource, and the life of St. Herman in the Resource Handouts for St. Herman attached to this lesson. After reading both with the class, ask:

How is St. Barbara a model for us? How is St. Herman a model for us?

Which areas of their lives most impress you? What could you take from their examples for your own life as an Orthodox Christian?

Activity

Teach the kontakion as it is sung today in your parish. (There are various versions with slightly different words; for example the text of the hymn and the recorded version, both in this lesson, are somewhat different.)

Extra Activity

Wrap Up

As students are preparing for closing prayer, ask the following, and let students give their own answers:

• How will you read and listen to the kontakia in the future differently?
• What is the importance of the kontakia we read today about St. Barbara and St. Herman?
• How do these kontakia help us to understand the saints better and eventually ourselves?

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following:

• Did Jesus have a family?
• Who were his mother and earthly father?(Mary and Joseph)
  
• Who were his grandparents? (Mary's parents were Joachim and Anna)
  

This is Your Family

Identify different members of your family. Add their names to the branches of the trees. Have children find small pictures that could represent their  mother, father, brothers, sisters, etc. For example, a picture of a camera might represent a family member sho takes a lot of pictures, or a picture of a pool might represent someone who likes to swim. These can be added to the tree. Say to each child, “This is your family.”

Jesus’ Family

Just as you have a family, Jesus’ family was very important to Him, also. We remember Jesus’ family in our church services. Just as we made the trees with our families, Jesus also had grandmas and grandpas. Have each child make small drawings of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Joachim and Anna and add them to the tree. Explain that we read the names of all of Jesus’ grandpas and grandmas and great-grandpas, etc. in church on the Sunday before the Nativity Feast.

Child of God

Have each child write the words “Child of God” onto a round medallion. Have the children add a Polaroid picture of themselves on the reverse side. Decorate in any manner, and add to the Family Tree drawing, by punching a hole in the tree drawing and adding the medallion with yarn. Or, the child can wear the medallion home.

Extra Activity: Reading Time

Read the two pages of the Old Testament prophecies about the family of Jesus from Christ in the Old Testament: Prophecy Illustrated (“Song of David” and “Root of Jesse”). Show the children the beautiful pictures. Remind them that these verses are about Jesus’ ancestors.

Wrap Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, review the following:

• Who were Jesus’ ancestors?
• Who are your ancestors?

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Questions

Begin by asking the following:

• When have you had to wait for something to happen?
• What are some things you could hardly wait to receive?

Talk about the words of the Troparion. Make sure children know that "nativity" means birth, and that the Feast of the Nativity is the feast day of the birth of Jesus Christ as a child on earth. Ask: What other name do we give this feast day? (Christmas.) Then ask: What is a feast day? (A special day that we celebrate in church.) Explain that Magi were wise men and astronomers from far away countries.  Point out that the Magi, who studied the stars, were led by a special star to Jesus Christ, the holy baby being born in a cave.  Point out that the Sun of Righteousness Is Jesus Christ. (Note: You may want to review these words and meanings each week as you go through the unit lessons.) For this lesson, ask:  Did the Magi have to wait to see the Sun of Righteousness? (Yes, they traveled a long way from the far countries they lived in.)

Nativity Icon

Put out the bowl of treats, making sure that you have something appropriate for any child with allergies or dietary restrictions. Tell the children that you are going to wait until the end of class to share the treats. If children become upset at not having the treats right now, put them away and say that you will bring them out at the end of class. Discuss how we have to wait for many things: for mealtime, our turn during games, our birthdays, etc.

During the Nativity Fast, these weeks before Christmas or the Nativity of Jesus Christ, we are waiting for a special birthday, the birthday of God's Son, Jesus. Help the children identify the various figures in the Nativity icon: Mary, Joseph, the animals, the shepherds, the magi, and especially the anticipated baby Jesus. How does it feel to have to wait for something you want to happen? Is it difficult to wait?

We wait through the weeks until Christmas Day when we celebrate the birthday of Christ. Not until the day of Christmas will we hear the priest exclaim, “Christ is Born!” And we will answer, “Glorify Him!” But what does it mean to “glorify” Him? When we answer back, “Glorify Him,” we rejoice and celebrate with all of creation (and all those in the icon) that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father, has been born so that God could be here in our midst to help and save us.

Say: As you can see in the icon, the Magi had to wait and follow a star to the cave where Jesus lay. Likewise, the shepherds, hoping and waiting for Christ, went with haste to Bethlehem praising, rejoicing, and celebrating the upcoming birth of Jesus. We also should go through these days of Advent as the shepherds did and arrive at the feast of the Nativity.   Ask the children: How can we go through the days of Advent waiting as the shepherds did to greet the feast of the Nativity? (They can try to help others, be cheerful, and be ready to greet the birth of Jesus Christ with joy.)

Share these thoughts with the childre in your own words.  Ask:  How can we like the Magi, praise His glorious and miraculous birth so that on Christmas day we may sing with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”  What do we say when our priest says, “Christ is Born!”? We answer, “Glorify Him!”

Note: Practice with the children by exclaiming, “Christ is Born!” with them answering each time “Glorify Him!”

Resource Project: Advent Calendar

Discussion Starter

Talk with younger children about calendars: how they help us to keep track of important days/dates to remember, e.g., birthdays, anniversaries, important events, etc.

• Ask if their mother or father writes important things on a calendar at home. Are their birthdays marked in a special way on a calendar?
• Distribute empty calendars (see list of dates and commemorations provided with calendar).
• Discuss a different commemoration each week and give each child a sticker to paste in their calendar.
• For more information on individual saints see www.oca.org Feasts and Saints.

Wrap Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:

How will the Advent calendar help you wait for the Birth of Christ?

Sometimes, does waiting for something make it even better when it comes?

Before you say the words of the closing prayer, the Kontakion of St. Romanos, make sure the children know that "the virgin" refers to Mary, and that “transcendent” means greater than any others. 

“Unapproachable” does not mean that Jesus is frightening or that we cannot be near Him. In this context “unapproachable” means that He deserves our respect and love more than anyone else because He is God.

Closing Prayer

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following:

• St. Nicholas was a great bishop. He lived a long time ago. Do we still have bishops today? (Let children name any bishops they know of.)
  
• What is a bishop? (Let children give ideas; tell them that a bishop is in charge of many parishes in an area. He helps the priests in his parishes, and makes sure things in the parishes are being done in the right way. You might say, "Our bishop, who is Bishop (name) is in charge of all the parishes in________" , and then name your diocese. Make sure children know that a parish is the group of people who are members of a certain church. Say, "We are members of  (name) Orthodox Church. That is our parish."
  
• Who is our bishop and why is a bishop an important part of our parish family? Let children give the bishop's name, and their ideas about why he is so important in the parish family.)
  
• Can you recall a time when the bishop visited our parish?

Story of St. Nicholas

Read the Resource Story Story of St. Nicholas.  Pause often to emphasize his good deeds, kindness and generosity.

Discussion Questions

Pause often to ask students to make text-to-self connections--times in their lives when they helped someone or did acts of kindness and generosity, as the story is describing.

• Discuss how St. Nicholas often gave gifts to others and no one knew who gave them. 
• Ask students to “say something” in response to key points in the story, which you will have marked ahead of time. These are special points in the story at which you would like the children's reactions.
  

Nativity Charity Boxes

As described in the Resource Activity attached to this lesson, decorate the charity boxes (which can be any size and shape you choose) with bright colors to attract attention, or use holiday stickers for decoration.

Extra Activity: St. Nicholas Shoes

Wrap Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, review the following:

• Who is our bishop?
• What does a bishop do? 
  Use the Resource Link The Orthodox Church in America Episcopacy attached to this lesson obtain a picture of your diocesan bishop.
  
• What is one thing that Bishop Nicholas of Myra did to help others?

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

(Review words as needed; see previous lesson.)

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following:

• Have you ever tried to do something that you really wanted to do well, but that you were not very good at? 
• Do you think there could be any saints who also tried hard to do something, but failed?(Make sure children know that saints are people who tried very hard to pray, to do as God wants us to do, and who lived good and holy lives. But saints failed at things sometimes, too.)
  

Activity

Tell the children that today we have a story about a saint who gave a lot to the Orthodox Church, and that his story has special meaning for us during this Nativity season. Then play a recording of the Christmas hymn. Ask the children to listen for what is being said. Read the following story about St. Romanus to the class:

Romanus was born many years ago in the country of Syria. He moved to the city of Constantinople and became a helper to the priests and bishop in the great church of Hagia Sophia. But he spent his nights praying alone, sometimes in a field or in a smaller church outside the city.

One Christmas Eve, the eve of the feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, Romanus read some of the prayers and verses in church. But he was a terrible reader! Nobody could understand what he was saying, and another reader had to take his place. People even laughed at him.

Romanus was miserable, embarrassed, and very unhappy. But the next day, the Mother of God, Mary, spoke to him in a loving and gentle voice as he prayed before her icon and told her how sad he was. She gave him a scroll ( rolled-up paper with musical notes on it) and told him to eat it. That may seem strange to us, but it was her gift to the young man. Once he ate the scroll, he was able to sing and to write hymns (which are prayers in music).

That evening at the service, Romanus was able to sing in a beautiful voice. What did he sing? The very first hymn he wrote, the Nativity hymn that starts, "Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One..."

Romanus became a deacon in the church, and a teacher of singing and songs. He wrote so many beautiful hymns and lived such a good life that many years later the Church made him a saint. Romanus did what he loved most, thanks to the loving kindness of the Mother of God.

Today, in our churches, we still sing many of the hymns that this great saint wrote. They are called "kontakia"

Note: You may wish to consult the Resource Handout The Life of St. Romanos for more details. Attached to this lesson is an MP3 file of the Nativity kontakion which you can download and burn to a CD for use in class. Also in the Resource section is the lengthy Kontakion on the Nativity of Christ. The children are too young to study this, but for your own edification and interest you may wish to look through it, and note its many Biblical references, as an example of other hymns written by St. Romanus.

Discussion Question

Discuss the story of St. Romanos using the following questions as a guide:

• Did anything in the story surprise you? What did Romanos have to wait for?
• In what way was he given a gift? How did he use that gift to help the Church? (He used the gift of singing and hymn writing which he received from the Mother of God to write hymns that make our worship services in church beautiful.)
• Do you think that the saints were human, with their own disappointments, limitations, and sometimes even embarrassment? (Yes, as St.Romanos shows us.)
• Suppose St. Romanos had said, “It is too embarrassing to sing in Church with this horrible voice! People make fun of me. I’m going to quit!” What would be different about his story?
• What do you think makes a saint a saint? (Let children give their own ideas.)
  
• Someone a long time ago said that a saint is someone who falls down and gets up, and falls down, and gets up, and falls down, and gets up again. What do you think this means? How does it apply to St. Romanos? How could it apply to you, or other people? (Let children give their ideas. Of course this means that we all do wrong things, or try and can't do what we want to do. But we don't give up, we try and try again, asking for God's help.)
  

Saint Romanos Prayer

Students will compose a prayer to St. Romanos asking him to help them.   For example: 

Dear St. Romanos,
Help me to be nice to my friends.
Love,

Color The Image of St. Romanos

Students can color the image of St. Romanos from the primary resource website above. As they do so, ask them why they think St. Romanos is holding a paper in his hand. What is it? (It is a scroll with old-fashioned musical notes on it, like the one the saint was told to swallow by the Mother of God.)

Extra Activity

Consider performing a play, based on the story above, of the life of St. Romanos. Use a tortilla for the scroll. This could be a Christmas Program for the entire parish, or for the rest of the Church School children. If you do this, you could  invite the choir director (well ahead of time) to come to this class session and tell something about other music written by St. Romanus. The director could also teach the children to sing the Nativity Kontakion.

Wrap Up

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following:

Did Jesus have a family? Who were his mother and earthly father? Who were his grandparents? (Mary and Joseph; Joachim and Anna were Mary's parents.)

Identify different members of your family. Add their names to the branches of the trees (with assistance). Find and add small pictures that could represent each family member: mother, father, brothers, sisters, etc. For example, a picture of a camera might represent someone who is a good photographer; a picture of a pool might represent someone who is on swim team, etc. Stress to the children, “This is your family.”

Tell the children: Just as you have a family, Jesus’ family was very important to Him.  We remember Jesus’ family in our church services. Just as we made the trees showing our families, Jesus also had grandmas and grandpas.

Activity

Add to the family tree small drawings of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Joachim and Anna. Tell the children that we read the names of all of Jesus’ grandpas and grandmas and great-grandpas, etc. in church on the Sunday before the Nativity Feast.

Extra Activity

Story Reading

Wrap Up

Who were Jesus’ ancestors? Who are your ancestors?

Closing Prayer

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following: Where was Jesus born? Who was present at His birth?

Activity

Using the icon of the feast as a reference point, read the book Prepare O Bethlehem: The Feast of the Nativity. Illustrated for Children by Niko Chocheli. St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2000. Point out the main figures in the icon as they occur in the story. Or, you could read the story of the birth of Jesus written for young children based on Luke 2: 1 – 20 as told by Sophie Koulomzin.

http://dce.oca.org/Sections/Resources/Resources/97.pdf

As you read the story, have a child point out the main figures, including the angels, the shepherds, Mary, the Christ child, the cattle, the sheep, the Magi, the Star, the handmaidens washing the child, and Joseph. The old man or bent-over figure talking to Joseph is not a good person--he is the devil, trying to tell Joseph not to worship God or His Son who is being born. The baby Jesus appears more than once in the icon. Ask students to tell you where (lying in the manger, and also being washed--this shows that He was a real baby who needed to have baths as we do!)

Alternate Activity

From the hymn on page 44 of the book The Services of Christmas: "What shall we offer Thee..." Make a collage of the different offerings or “offerers” in the hymn. Younger children can memorize the phrases for the different gifts, and make colorful cardboard cut-outs to correspond with shapes in the different parts of the Nativity Icon. (Note: The outline of each piece can be traced on a large sheet of poster board, which is available in white or various colors.Then older children can help the younger ones tape their "gifts" in the proper places. The older children can also write on the poster board words from the hymn: thanks, wonder, manger, etc.

Matching Game

Another idea for the “What shall we offer Thee…" (see below) verse, for middle elementary children: Create a matching game. Cut seven strips of green paper or stiff card stock (about 1” by 3”) and put one word on each: hymn, star, gifts, wonder, cave, manger, Virgin Mother. Attach them with adhesive-backed Velcro strips to a felt board (or attach seven envelopes to a piece of poster board like seven separate “pockets.). On seven strips of red card stock, write these words: angels, heavens, wise men, shepherds, earth, wilderness, we (ourselves) and attach Velcro to them also. Have the students try to match the gifts with the persons or elements of creation that are making the offering. [Note: This same activity may be used with younger children if the strips have pictures of the objects or persons that are mentioned in the hymn.]

Activity

Practice the Nativity greeting: Christ is born! Glorify Him! Several times. Each time, ask the children who is glorifying Christ in the icon of the Nativity.

Wrap Up

As children are cleaning up and preparing for the closing prayer, review the following:

• What is the special greeting that we in the church use for Christmas?
• Who was present at the birth of Christ?

Closing Prayer

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following: 

• Show the two gift-wrapped boxes. Ask the class what they might expect to be inside each box. List on a sheet as many suggestions they brainstorm as possible.
• Then ask them, “Based on your expectations, which box would you choose?”

Note: To reinforce the message of the short story, have participants lift each box. The weight of the rock in the larger box may lead them to believe it will contain something of some value.

Discussion Questions

• What are some things you anticipate?
  
• Talk about a time when the event you anticipated did not live up to your expectations.
  
• How did you react?
  
• Were you disappointed, angry, sad?
  
• Did this experience change the way you now anticipate things?
  

Short Story

Read the short story, “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry.  Try some of the reading strategies attached to this lesson. Discuss the above questions, this time as they relate to Jim and Della in the story.

Discussion Review

After reading "The Gift of the Magi", discuss the following:

• What are some of the things you anticipate as Christmas draws near?
• Do you think your expectations are realistic?
• Do you think Jim and Della’s expectations were realistic?
• How did Jim and Della deal with the fact of the reality they had to face?
• How do you deal with the reality that your expectations are not always fulfilled?
• How could you modify your expectations of Christmas so that there is a better chance of their being fulfilled? (This would be a good time to discuss the constant "hype" and commercialism that can lead us to have unrealistic expectations of the Christmas season and holiday. Encourage discussion of the fact that the Church calls us to prepare for the Nativity in a quiet, thoughtful way by giving us a Lenten period. The event we prepare for is monumental, but it comes quietly with the birth of a child who is not mighty in the world's view.)
  

The Winter Pascha

Read the Resource Handout The Winter Pascha together in class. Then, discuss the following to continue the discussion above:

• How did Mary, Joseph and the Magi prepare for the birth of Christ? (Let participants come up with their own answers, based on what they know about each person. Suggest that Mary and Joseph did not have much opportunity to prepare because of the journey they had to make.)
  
• What opportunities does the Church give us to receive the gift of Christ’s Nativity? (Special prayers, hymns, and services which call us to prepare with joy to receive Christ, and also to make special efforts to serve others. Let participants come up with their own answers in addition to these suggestions.)
  
• How does the Winter Pascha prepare us in the same way as Great Lent? How is it different? (As noted, the two Lenten seasons both call us to prepare in quiet, meditative ways. The only real difference is in the events each season prepares us for--otherwise, they are very similar.)
  

He is Approaching. He is Coming.

Read aloud in unison the Resource Handout He is approaching, He is coming.  Discuss how the icon of the Nativity helps us to understand this verse. Point out the key figures in the icon of the Nativity.

Wrap-Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:  Open the boxes and discuss the contents. Did they meet their expectations? (Perhaps the larger box might be thought to contain a more valuable gift. But the small box contains a depiction, in the icon, of the truly valuable gift--God becoming man for our sake.)

Prayer Reflection

Examine the words of the Closing Prayer.  How do these words help us to prepare for the Nativity of Christ?

Before saying the closing prayer, clarify the following:  "Transcendent" means greater than any other, or supreme. “Unapproachable” does not mean that Jesus is frightening or not accessible; rather, stress that in this context “unapproachable” means we should approach Him with awe and due respect.

Let participants come up with their own ideas about how the words of the prayer help us prepare. Suggestion: "For our sake the eternal God was born as a little child" suggests the huge gift that God gives to us by humbling Himself, becoming one of us, and saving us from death. Discuss: How do we prepare ourselves to receive, and be worthy of, such a gift?

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

The Life of St. Nicholas

Read one of the following attached Resource Stories with the class:

• The Life of St. Nicholas
• Saint Nicholas of Myra
• St. Nicholas Archbishop of Myra in Lycia

Discuss: Which of St. Nicholas' qualities or actions do you find most appealing? Which do you feel would make good models for your own life?

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Wrap Up

As students are preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:

• How will you read and listen to the kontakia in the future differently?
• What is the importance of the kontakia we read today about St. Barbara and St. Herman?
• How do these kontakia help us to understand the saints better and eventually ourselves?

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Activity

Begin by playing a recording of the Christmas Konation, which is found in the Resources for this lesson as an MP3 file which you can download and burn to a CD. Ask students to listen for what is being expressed, and then write their ideas on the chalkboard or a poster.

After listening to the recording, distribute copies of the Kontakion on the Nativity of Christ, a pdf in the Resources for this lesson. Have participants find these parts of the Kontakion: the prelude, the stanzas or ikoi (strophes), and the refrain. Have them find the number of stanzas in the hymn.(Answers: The prelude begins "Today the Virgin...); the first stanza begins "Bethlehem has opened..."; the refrain of each stanza is "a little child, God before the ages"; there are 24 stanzas.

Read the 22nd stanza together. It begins "When the blameless Virgin saw..." Ask participants to name the "trinity of gifts" the Mother of God asks her Son to accept. (These are the well-known gifts of the Magi--gold, frankincense and myrrh. They are named in the 21st stanza.) Ask: What 3 things does she ask her Son for? (Temperate seasons, growth of the crops and fruit, and the well-being of all people on earth.)

Make sure participants understand tht both the hymn they heard and this Kontakion were written by St. Romanos. If necessary, review the meaning of "transcendent" (greater than all others or supreme) and "unapproachable" (not inaccessible but worthy of utmost respect) again.

The Life of St. Romanos

Read the Resource Handout The life of St. Romanos with the class. Discuss the meaning of the story of how he began to sing in church and compose hymns for the services.

The Lives of St. Barbara & St. Herman

Read with the class the life of St. Barbara, given in full in the Resource section, and the life of St. Herman in the Resource Handouts. After reading both, ask:

In what ways do you find these saints, or any one of them, to be models or heroes?

What do you find most appealing, or most significant, in what each of them, or any one of them, did?

We say that saints are "friends of God." But human friendships are an important part of our life with God. How were these saints friends to others? Who were their friends?

(Participants' answers may vary, which could lead to a good discussion.)

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by telling the following story:

Once upon a time, there was a farmer who was having a run of bad luck. Her health was deteriorating, there were crop failures that year, and she had problems with her children. Her faith in God was wearing thin. It was hard to believe that God could understand and care about the struggles of ordinary human beings. Then, to add to her troubles, a bad storm began to brew. As she hurried out to get the animals into the barn, she noticed a flock of birds overhead, frantically searching for shelter.

As she watched them fly in one direction and then another, she felt sorry for them and tried to think of a way to shoo them through the open barn door to safety. But the noise of the animals and her own shouting only seemed to frighten the birds more. She thought to herself, “Poor little things! If only I could become one of them! Then they would trust me, and I could lead them to safety!” She stopped in her tracks and whispered, “Now I understand why You did it that way.”

Take some time to discuss the story. Encourage the students to answer these questions:

• How does this story relate to our understanding of the incarnation of Jesus Christ? Do you think the story might be useful in teaching younger children about the Incarnation? (Let participants give their opinions--especially those who are teachers)
  
• Why do you think God chose to become a human being instead of appearing in all of His glory?
• All human babies have a family tree, the generations of people who came before them. Who were Jesus’ ancestors? (Look together at the genealogies in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38).
  

The Genealogy of Christ

Do the Jesse Tree Symbols activity with the class following the outlined instructions in the attached Activity Resource.

Wrap Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:

• Why is it important to remember in church all of the ancestors of Jesus?
• Why are there so many generations mentioned in Matthew and read in church?
• How are we prepared for the coming of Christ in the Old Testament?

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Messages of the Promised Messiah

Distribute the Resource Handout  Messages of the Promised Messiah to participants. .  Begin by having the class read Isaiah 11:1-10 aloud, taking turns with the verses. 

List four attributes of the coming Savior (most of the answers will come from verses 1 – 5). Then list four “wonders” that will take place when the Savior fully reigns (answers will come form verses 6 – 8).   As you discuss each of the points, have participants write them down on the lines provided in the first part of their handout.  Ask: “Which attributes of the Savior do you think are the most important? Which of the 'wonders' would you most like to see?"

Next, to continue the investigation into the importance of Isaiah, have participants work together or in groups and Look up the passages in the second part of the handout and fill in the blanks from the book of Isaiah 

Now that you have read these quotes and also have read Isaiah 11: 1 - 10, ask the class what mental picture they are getting of the kind of world which will be brought about by the coming of the promised Messiah? Discuss briefly.

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following:

• Who are those that “worshipped the stars”?
• Where are they in the icon of the Nativity? Who is the “Sun of Righteousness”?
• Where is He in the icon?
• Why is He also referred to as the “Orient from on high”?
• What is the star that is referred to in the Troparion of the Nativity?

Key Concept: Incarnate

Write the word INCARNATE on the chalkboard or in large letters on a large sheet of paper. Have the students look up the word in the diction aries and write what they believe are the key meanings on the chalkboard or paper.

Then Discuss the following concepts with the class:

• What does it mean when someone says: "She personifies love itself." "He is the spitting image of his father." "I really see a lot of her mother in her." "He's the incarnation of the devil himself."
• Are any of these statements related to our understanding of incarnate? How?

Extra Activity

Distribute the resource Handouts The Nativity of Christ by Veselin Kesich.   If possible, read several versions of Matthew 2:1-12 from the attached Resource Handouts.  If time does not permit, allow students to take copies home to explore further on their own time.

The Nativity Gospels: Compare & Contrast

Distribute to the Resource Handout: The Nativity Gospels: Compare & Contrast to the class. Each student should get their own copy.  Have students read the two texts included in the handout silently.  Instruct them to fill out the chart as they are reading.  Then, have them present and discuss the differences they noted.

Wrap Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:

• What is the significance of Christ’s birth “as a little child”?
• What are some of the many phrases and names that describe Jesus Christ?
• How does the world today receive Christ differently from when He was born?

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Show the two boxes you have prepared. Then:

• Ask the class what they might expect to be inside each box. List on a chalkboard or sheet suggestions they come up with.
  
• Ask: “Based on your expectations, which box would you choose?”
• Tell the class you will open the boxes and discuss their reactions at the end of the lesson.

Discussion Questions

•  What are some things you anticipate?
• Have you ever had a time when the event you anticipated did not live up to your expectations?
• If so, how did you react? Were you disappointed, angry, sad, felt cheated?
• Did this experience change the way you now anticipate things?

Short Story

Read the short story, “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry.  Try some of the reading strategies attached to this lesson. Discuss the above questions, this time as they relate to Jim and Della in the story.

Discussion Review

After reading "The Gift of the Magi", discuss the following:

• What are some of the things you anticipate as Christmas draws near?
• Do you think your expectations are realistic?
• Do you think Jim and Della’s expectations were realistic?
• How did Jim and Della deal with the fact of the reality they had to face?
• How do you deal with the reality that your expectations are not always fulfilled?
• How could you modify your expectations of Christmas so that there is a better chance of their being fulfilled?
• In the previous lesson, you and your class talked about the fact that Jesus Christ was a different kind of King from earthly kings, and was born in a way very much humbler than many of them. What do you think this tells us about our expectations of what God will do, and how He will do it?

The Winter Pascha

Read the Resource Handout The Winter Pascha together in class. Then, discuss the following to continue the discussion above:

• How did Mary, Joseph and the Magi prepare for the birth of Christ?
• What opportunities does the Church give us to receive the gift of Christ’s Nativity?
• How does the Winter Pascha prepare us in the same way as Great Lent? How is it different?

Let students give their own answers, based on the WInter Pascha text and their personal  experience in the Church.

He is Approaching. He is Coming.

Distribute the Resource Handout "He is Coming, He is Approaching." Read aloud in unison the verse, which is part of our worship, a few days before Christmas, in the Orthodox Church. Discuss: This verse is about preparation, and has certain sense of urgency. What can we do to prepare ourselves for the Birth of Our Lord? Do you feel there is any urgency about this? (The Church teaches us that preparation is always important because we do not know when our lives will end, or when the Day of Judgment will come.)

Extra Activity

Have each student write the above verse from the Resource Handout He is approaching, He is Coming on a card, decorate it with stickers and glitter if they choose to, and keep it close at hand as a reminder of what we anticipate during the Nativity Fast, also called Advent.

Wrap-Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closingrayer, open the boxes and discuss the contents. Ask: Did the contents meet their expectations?

Prayer Reflection

Examine the words of the Closing Prayer.  How do these words help us to prepare for the Nativity of Christ?

Before saying the closing prayer, clarify the following:  “Unapproachable” does not mean that Jesus is frightening or not accessible; rather, stress that in this context “unapproachable” means we should approach Him with awe and due respect.

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following:

• What are all the things you can think of that you know about Santa Claus? (List students' comments on the chalkboard or butcher paper)
• Where do you think most people get their information about Santa Claus if they are not regular churchgoers?
• Do you think the information most people have about him is complete, or accurate? Why or why not?

Film or Reading on Santa Claus/St. Nicholas

Show the A & E Biography Film (or Biography Channel Film) Santa Claus about the life of St. Nicholas and the development of the character of "Santa Claus". If you are not able to show the film, go ahead to the written materials on St. Nicholas given as Resources for this lesson. The Resource St. Nicholas Archbishop of Myra in Lycia will give you information on the saint's life. St. Nicholas in Wikipedia will give you information on how the saint became known as Santa Claus, and how he is celebrated in various countries and cultures.

You can make a hard copy and mark the parts of the material you want to use, and also show the illustrations to the class.

Discussion Questions

After the video or after reading , ask the students what words or phrases from the original list they might like to change now that they have more information. Ask:

Do you think it is important to know that "Santa Claus" is based on a real person?

What are some of the main differences between Saint Nicholas and the popular character of Santa Claus? What do you think is the most significant difference?

Let students give their own answers to these questions.

The Holy Life of St. Nicholas

Read together the Troparion and Kontakion for St. Nicholas, which are in the Resources. Talk together about the phrases "your humility exalted you" and "your poverty enriched you." Ask students to tell what they think these phrases mean.

 Remind students of the saint's good deeds, kindness and generosity.  Ask students to make “text-to-self” or “text-to-world” connections--times in their life when they helped someone or did acts of kindness and generosity.

Extra Activity: Long Term Service Project

Wrap-Up

As students are preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:  How might the real St. Nicholas have more meaning in talking about how we should live than the character of Santa Claus?

Let students give their own answers.

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think St. Nicholas gave gifts anonymously?
• Is it hard to be anonymous in doing good things? Would you be willing to do things that would help others, and that were costly to you in time, effort, and money, and never have anyone know that it was you who did those things? What are some reasons to be anonymous, and are there any reasons NOT to be anonymous?
  

Let students give their own answers.

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

After playing the kontakion ask the following:

• How does knowing this kontakion help us to understand the birth of Christ?
• What kind of a person do you think wrote this hymn?

Review the words of the Christmas Kontakion, which is also the closing prayer for the lesson. As you discuss this hymn, define “kontakion”.  (A sermon in verse accompanied by music.)   Also, remind the students that “transcendent” means surpassing others, supreme, or above the material universe. “Unapproachable” does not mean that Jesus is frightening or not accessible; rather, stress that in this context “unapproachable” means we should approach Him with awe and due respect.

Activity

Begin by playing a recording of the Christmas Kontakion, which is in the Resources for this lesson as an MP3 file which you can download and burn to a CD to use in class. Ask students to listen for what is being expressed, and write their ideas on the chalkboard or a poster.

Next, distribute copies of the Kontakion on the Nativity of Christ, a pdf in the Resources for this lesson. Have the students find these parts of the Kontakion: prelude, stanzas or ikoi (strophes), and refrain.  Also have them check to see how many stanzas are in this kontakion. (Answers: The prelude begins "Today the Virgin..."; the first stanza begins "Bethlehem has opened..."; the refrain of each stanza is "a little child, God before the ages"; there are 24 stanzas.

Read together the 22nd stanza. Ask students: What is the "trinity of gifts" that the Mother of God asks her Son to accept? (The gold, frankincense and myrrh brought to the baby Jesus are mentioned in the 21st stanza--look at them with the class.)  Ask: What three gifts does the Mother ask her Son for? (Temperate seasons, growth of fruits and crops, the well-being of all people. Note that all three gifts are for the benefit of every human being; the Mother of God is our mother as well!)

The Life of St. Romanos

Read the Resource Handout The Life of St. Romanos with the class. Ask students: Do you see the life of St. Romanos as an example to follow?

The Lives of St. Barbara & St. Herman

Read the life of St. Barbara, given in full in the Resource section, and the life of St. Herman in the Resource Handouts. After reading these, ask:

In what ways do you find any of these saints to be models or heroes?

What is most appealing to you in what each (or any one of them) did?

We say that saints are "friends of God." But human friendship is an important part of our life with God. How were these saints friends to others? Who were their friends?

Liturgical Texts Reflection

Read the kontakia for St. Barbara and St. Herman included in the Resource Handouts attached in this lesson. What details in the lives of the saints are important enough to include in the hymns?

The Incarnation of Christ

Have the class read the account of the Nativity of Christ in the Gospel of St. Matthew 1:1 – 2:23. Compare the account in Matthew 2 to the passages in Romanos’ kontakion, noting parallel passages. Then have them look in the kontakion for passages referring to the incarnation of Christ.

Suggestions:  Matthew 2:7 cf. kontakion verses 16-18; Matthew 2:11a cf. kontakion verse 10, line 1-4; Matthew 2:11b cf. kontakion verse 21; Matthew 2:13-15 cf. kontakion verse 24; and for the Incarnation kontakion verses 2, 4, 8.

Activity

Give the class a brief experience of reciting the longer Kontakion you have looked at today. Have one person read the first ikos – the first stanza--and then have the class say the refrain from the last line. Do the same with a few more stanzas and refrains.

Wrap Up

As students are preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:

• How will you read and listen to the kontakia in the future differently?
• What is the importance of the kontakia we read today about St. Barbara and St. Herman?
• How do these kontakia help us to understand the saints better and eventually ourselves?

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following:

• Do you recall a Gospel reading that contains a long string of names? (Scriptural references:  Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38)
• These Gospel readings are read on the two Sundays before the feast of the Nativity of Christ.  To what do they refer?  (They are genealogies of Mary and Joseph.)
  
• Have you ever created a family tree? Did Jesus have a family tree? (Yes, Jesus did have a family tree and a real family.)

Activity

Have the students create a list of  Jesus’ ancestors by reading Luke 3: 23 – 38 in their Bibles.  Fill in the list with Jesus’ name, Mary, Joseph, David, Jacob, Solomon, etc. Be sure to include Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Isaiah, Mary, Elizabeth, Joachim, Anna, etc. You could have the students work with partners to use all of the names in either Luke 3 or Matthew 1. If you prefer, have them include the names they have heard before, and then add just some of the less familiar ones.

Jesse Tree Ornaments

The Sunday before the Nativity of the Lord (December 18-24) is known as the Sunday of the Holy Fathers. On this day the Church commemorates all those who were well-pleasing to God from all ages, from Adam to St. Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, those who are mentioned in the genealogy of Luke 3:23-38. The holy prophets and prophetesses are also remembered today, especially the Prophet Daniel and the three holy youths (December 17).

Give the students the following information about the “Tree of Jesse” as related in Isaiah 11:1.
The Jesse tree represents Jesus' family tree. The name is taken from Isaiah 11:1 – “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” - in which Jesus is referred to as a shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse, the father of David.  The ornaments on the Jesse tree tell of Jesus' ancestors, and of the events leading to Jesus' birth.

Classroom Jesse Tree

Make a Jesse tree for your classroom using the Resources Handout Jesse Tree Ornaments. First, take a large, bare branch and secure it in a pot of sand or rocks. (You can also use a large potted plant or evergreen.) Create ornaments that trace Jesus' royal line by making symbols for some of the people found in the Hebrew testament. Make the ornaments out of cardboard or construction paper and decorate as you like. Put the ancestor of Jesus’ name on the side with the symbol. On the reverse side, put a line drawing or icon of the ancestor of God.

Extra Activity: Reading Time

Read the two pages of the Old Testament prophecies about the family of Jesus from Christ in the Old Testament: Prophecy Illustrated (“Song of David” and “Root of Jesse”). Look together at the beautiful pictures. Remind students that these verses are about Jesus’ human ancestors.

Wrap Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:

• Why is it important to remember in church all of the ancestors of Jesus?
• Why are there so many generations mentioned in Luke and read in church?

 Let students give their own answers. But make sure they understand that knowing the long line of human ancestors shows us that Jesus Christ truly became one of us, had ancestors like all of us, and lived as a true human being. There are many generations because God was preparing for the human birth of His Son for a long time, and among specific people He chose.

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following:

• Who are those that “worshipped the stars”?
• Where are they in the icon of the Nativity? Who is the “Sun of Righteousness”?
• Where is He in the icon?
• Why is He also referred to as the “Orient from on high”?
• What is the star that is referred to in the Troparion of the Nativity?

Key Concepts

Present the following ideas to the class:

• We call Jesus divine because He is the Son of God. We know He is God’s Son because God sent the angel Gabriel to deliver this message to the Virgin Mary. In today’s lesson, you’ll learn many other names and phrases that describe Jesus.
  
• We call Jesus human because He is just like you and me. He was born of a human mother on earth just as we are. Today, we will read about His birthday. Another word for birthday is nativity.
  
• Jesus was born late one night in a small town. His mother wrapped Him up to protect Him from the shivering cold, and then placed Him on a bed of hay to keep Him warm. Jesus ate. He slept. He clung to His mother like all newborn babies do. He had some visitors…the cows and sheep, the shepherds and the wise men, the angels singing joyfully. He had lived with God, His Father. Now He was living with us!
  
• Every year, on Christmas, our Church celebrates a great feast day. Sometimes we call it the Nativity. Sometimes we call it the Incarnation. What do all of these words mean? The Nativity is another way of saying “to be born.” It is a Latin word. If you look closely at the word Nativity you will see the beginning of another word we are more used to: native. To be a “native” of someplace means to be born there. To be a “native” of the human race, or of Mankind, means to belong to the human race, to be human.
  
• The word Incarnation is taken from a few words in Latin. In means just what is says “in” something. Carn means the same as it does in carnivorous or carnation. All these words mean “Flesh.” Carnivorous means to be an animal which eats flesh. Carnation means a flower which has a flesh-like color (pinkish). So, the word Incarnation means “the act of taking on flesh.” This means Jesus, the Son of God, took on flesh and was born “human,” of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit.
  
• Our Church says that Jesus has a “birthday”, like us. He is a “Native” of the human race, like us. This is why we say that He had a human nature; Because He is fully human, like us. His divine nature is shown in the Incarnation: God became man!

Extra Activity

Distribute the resource Handouts The Nativity of Christ by Veselin Kesich.   If possible, read several versions of Matthew 2:1-12 from the attached Resource Handouts.  If time does not permit, allow students to take copies home to explore further on their own time.

The Wise Men's Gifts

Wrap Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:

• What is the greeting that we in the church use for Christmas?
• Why was God’s Son, the greatest King of all, born in such simple circumstances?
• What is the significance of Christ’s birth “as a little child”?
• What are some of the many phrases and names that describe Jesus Christ?

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

The Nativity Gospels: Compare & Contrast

Distribute to the Resource Handout: The Nativity Gospels: Compare & Contrast to the class. Each student should get their own copy.  Have students read the two texts included in the handout silently.  Instruct them to fill out the chart as they are reading.  Then, have them present and discuss the differences they noted.

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following: What were some of the changes in the world described in the Troparion of the Nativity, which is the Opening Prayer? How did those exterior changes (the star, the arrival of the Magi, the angels singing) bring about internal changes? How were the people who experienced these things changed by them? (They learned about true worship of the true God, and that God comes to His people in the Person of His Son, as no false god would ever do.Let students give other ideas they have.)

Talk more about the words of the Troparion. Point out that those who studied the stars, the Magi, were taught by a star to worship Jesus Christ, the "Sun" of righteousness, the light of wisdom, whom we all should follow in our daily lives. Since your students, at their age,  are probably familiar with the Magi, ask what they already know of them. Give additional information about the three Magi as needed. How did the Nativity of Christ change them? How does it change us?

Nativity Icon

Discuss how we have to wait for many things: for mealtime, our turn during games, our birthdays, etc. During the Nativity Fast, we are waiting for a special birthday, the birthday of God's Son, Jesus. Help the students identify the various figures in the Nativity icon: Mary, Joseph, the animals, the shepherds, the magi, and especially the anticipated baby Jesus. Ask: Who is the “old man” talking with Joseph? (He is the personification of the devil, trying to convince Joseph not to believe the miracle of Jesus' birth. Ask: How does Jesus appear twice in the icon? (He lies next to His Mother, and is also shown being bathed. This detail reminds us that He truly became human and underwent human experiences.)

We wait through the weeks of the Nativity Fast, also called Advent, until Christmas Day when we celebrate the birthday of Christ. Not until the day of Christmas will we hear the priest exclaim, “Christ is Born!” And we will answer, “Glorify Him!” But what does it mean to “glorify” Him? When we answer  “Glorify Him,” we rejoice and celebrate with all of creation (and all those in the icon) that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father, has been born so that God could be here in our midst to help and save us.

As you can see in the icon, the Magi had to wait and follow a star to the cave where Jesus lay. Likewise, the shepherds, hoping and waiting for Christ, went with haste to Bethlehem praising, rejoicing, and celebrating the upcoming birth of Jesus. So too, we can pass these days of Advent with the anticipation of the shepherds and arrive at the feast of the Nativity. Like the magi, our hearts can be excited and can praise His glorious and miraculous birth, so that on Christmas day we may sing with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!” Ask: What do we say when our priest says, “Christ is Born!”? We answer, “Glorify Him!” (Practice exchanging the greeting, “Christ is Born!” with students answering, “Glorify Him!”)

You might show, or talk about, a portion of the 1983 movie directed by Bob Clark based on the novel by Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story. Show the clip or talk about the scene in which Ralphie asks for a Red Ryder BB gun. How do the students know from this clip that he will not receive it for Christmas? Discussion should focus on foreshadowing as a hint of what will follow. 

Foreshadowing also is clear in the feasts of the Church. When the Theotokos, the Mother of God, is presented in the Temple, her mothering of the Lord is foreshadowed by the fact that she enters the Temple, something even the High Priest only did once a year. Clearly, this young girl is destined for something very great!

The Winter Pascha

Before the older students clean up and prepare for the closing prayer, distribute copies of the Resource Handout The Winter Pascha. Discuss, with students finding answers in the text and giving their own thoughts: 

• What are some similarities between the Winter Pascha and the Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of the Resurrection?  
• How does the birth of Jesus Christ make us ready for His death and resurrection?

Before saying the closing prayer, clarify the following: “Unapproachable” does not mean that Jesus is frightening or not accessible; rather, in this context “unapproachable” means we should approach Him with awe and due respect because He is God.

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following:

• What is a patron?
  Look up the word in the dictionary and list the key definitions on a board.
• How is St. Nicholas a patron, and also a protector and intercessor?
  Look up the latter two words as well.

The Life of St. Nicholas

Read one of the following attached Resource Stories with the class:

• The Life of St. Nicholas
• Saint Nicholas of Myra
• St. Nicholas Archbishop of Myra in Lycia

Pause often to emphasize the saint's good deeds, kindness and generosity.  Also pause often to ask students to make “text-to-self” or “text-to-world” connections--times in their lives when they helped someone or did acts of kindness and generosity, as the saint did.

Nearly Everybody's Saint

• Distribute copies of the Resource Handout St. Nicholas--Nearly Everybody's Saint.Have students look through it. 
• Have each student choose five groups of which St. Nicholas is patron--the ones that are most interesting or most surprising to them.
• Have students who wish to tell why they chose the five groups they did.
• Discuss: What does it tell us about this saint that he is the patron of so many people, groups, and places? (He is clearly deeply loved and respected.)

Troparion & Kontakion

Distribute the Troparion & Kontakion of  St. Nicholas attached to this lesson.  After reviewing the words of the Troparion and the meaning students find in them, sing the Troparion for St. Nicholas. Have the class take copies home.

Banners

Using the Resource Activity St. Nicholas Banners attached to this lesson, let groups of 3 or 4 students choose to create a banner, collage, bulletin board, or poster depicting some event(s), which they also choose, from the life and works of St. Nicholas.When the projects are finished, ask one person from each group to tell why the event they chose was significant for them.

Extra Activity: Advent Calandar

Print out the Advent Calendar Template Packet attached to this lesson; each student should have a copy.

With the aid of a current desk or wall calendar, fill in a corner of each box with the dates of Advent, beginning with November 15 and continuing through to December 25 (or continue to January 6). Make sure you place the numbers on the correct days of the week.

Included in the Template Packet is a list of special feast and saints days. Using this list, fill in the boxes with the names of the persons or events that are commemorated during this period. You can also add the prophets and other saints days, or the biblical readings prescribed for these days.

Extra Activity: Christmas Card Project

Discuss how a Christmas card project to shut-ins can be a good work. Have the class decide on someone for whom they can be a patron. Perhaps there is a new family in the parish, someone who has a long term illness, who is elderly, or in need. Have this project be ongoing and, if possible, done anonymously. Students can write notes of encouragement, give icon cards, make small craft gifts, etc.

Wrap Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:

• What is a patron?
• Why is it important to have a patron saint? 
• How are your godparents a type of patron?
• How is St. Nicholas also your patron saint?

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Discussion Starter

Begin by playing a recording of the Christmas Kontakion, which is found in the Resources for this lesson as an MP3 file which you can download and burn to a CD.   Ask students to listen for what is being expressed, and then write their ideas on the chalkboard or a poster. 

After listening to the recording, distribute copies of the Kontakion on the Nativity of Christ, a pdf in the Resources for this lesson. Have the class find these parts of the Kontakion: the prelude, the stanzas or ikoi (strophes), and the refrain.  Also have them check to see how many stanzas are in this kontakion. (Answers: The prelude begins "Today the Virgin..."; the first stanza begins "Bethlehem has opened..."; the refrain of each stanza is "a little child, God before the ages"; there are 24 stanzas.)

Read the 22nd stanza together. It begins "When the blameless Virgin saw..." Ask students: What "trinity of gifts" does the Mother of God ask her Son to accept? (The gifts of the Magi--gold, frankincense, and myrrh--are named in the 21st stanza.Students can look back and find them there if necessary.) Ask: What three things does she ask her Son for? (Seasons that are temperate and pleasant; growth of the crops and fruits of the earth; the well-being of all the people on earth.)

Make sure students understand that both the hymn they heard and this Kontakion were written by St. Romanos. Remind them that transcendent means greater than all others, supreme, or above the material universe. Unapproachable does not mean that Jesus is frightening or not accessible; rather, in this context “unapproachable” means we should approach Him with awe and due respect because He is God.

Discussion

Ask the students what kind of person they think would have written these hymns. Then read the Resource Handout The Life of St. Romanos.

Activity

The Life of St. Romanos

Read the Resource Handout The life of St. Romanos with the class. Discuss the meaning of the story of how he began to sing in church and compose hymns for the services.

The Lives of St. Barbara & St. Herman

Read with the class the life of St. Barbara, given in full in the Resourece section, and the life of St. Herman in the Resource Handouts.   After reading both, ask:

In what ways do you find these three saints to be models or heroes?

What is most appealing to you in what each of them did?

We say that saints are "friends of God." But human friendship is an important part of our life with God. How were these saints friends to others? Who were their friends?

(Let students give their own answers to these questions. Their ideas may vary.)

Discussion Questions

• What makes a saint a saint?
• One of the early Church Fathers said that a saint is someone who falls down and gets up, and falls down, and gets up, and falls down, and gets up again. How does this definition apply to St. Romanos, St. Barbara or St. Herman? How could it apply to you?

Christian Friendship Bracelets

Have each student make a  friendship bracelet following the outline in the Resource Handout Christian Friendship Bracelets. When we wear them, we can think about our church friends and remember them in our prayers.

While students are making their bracelets, discuss how we can be Christian friends to others, including those who might not know about or share our faith. If in the previous lesson the children have adopted a "prayer partner," an older parishioner, the friendship bracelets could be given to him or her.

Extra Activity

Have students work in groups of 3 or 4 and create a role play based on the story of the life of St. Romanos. (Provide tortillas to be used as the scroll he swallows.) This can be presented to other classes, or to the parish as a whole at coffee hour or some other time.

Closing Prayer

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, suggest to students that during the week they pray to one or more of the saints you have studied together today. They can ask the saint(s) to guide them in becoming "friends of God" and true friends to other people.

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Tree of Jesse Symbols

Do the Tree of Jesse Symbols activity with the class, following the instructions in the attached Activity Resource, and starting with the explanation and background provided there.

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following questions:

• How are we prepared for the coming of Christ in the Old Testament?(There are a large number of promises of a Savior in the Old Testament. When we read them, they describe many of the things that Jesus did, and many things that were done to Him.)
  
• Why is it important to hear every year the long line of genealogy of Christ? (The genealogy of Jesus Christ--the list of His human ancestors over many generations--reminds us that He really did become Man, a true human being, and lived among us. He was born to a real woman with her own ancestors.)
  

Messages of the Promised Messiah

Distribute copies of the Resource Handout  Messages of the Promised Messiah to the students.  Begin by having the class read Isaiah 11:1-10 aloud, taking turns with the verses. 

List four attributes of the coming Savior (most of the answers will come from verses 1 – 5). Then list four “wonders” that will take place when the Savior fully reigns (answers will come form verses 6 – 8).   As you discuss each of the points have students write them down on the lines provided. Ask each student: Which attributes of the Savior do you think are the most important? Which of the “wonders” would you most like to see?

Next, to continue the investigation into the importance of Isaiah, have students work together or in groups and look up the passages in the second part of the handout and fill in the blanks. 

Now that you have read these quotes and also have read Isaiah 11: 1 - 10, ask the class what mental picture they are getting of the kind of world which will be brought about by the coming of the promised Messiah? Discuss briefly, letting students give their own ideas.

Preparing for the coming Christ

Read Daniel 2: 31-47 and discuss the following  with the class:

The Orthodox Church sees the Old Testament as preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. How does this passage prepare people for the coming of a Savior who will be like no other? Let them give their own answers, but guide them with the following:

Note that the “image” is described in terms of earthly glory and might. Words such as “gold,” “silver,” “exceeding brightness,” “terrifying” are all used. But then we are told of a stone cut “without human hands” that can break all these to pieces.

This stone refers to Jesus Christ, who was born without a human father. Then we read of a kingdom that is greater than all other kingdoms – the Kingdom of God that Jesus Christ described. So the church sees this reading as a prophecy of the coming of Christ, the Son of God, who will lead His people into the Kingdom. Discuss this image of the glory of God.

Wrap Up

As participants are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask and review the following:

• Why is it important to remember in church all of the ancestors of Jesus?
• Why do you think there are so many generations mentioned in Matthew and read in church?
• How are we prepared for the coming of Christ in the Old Testament?
• What is the effect of the prophecies of the Messiah?

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shown to the world the light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worshipped the stars
Were taught by a star to adore Thee,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee!

Begin by asking the following questions based on the hymn that is the Opening Prayer, while looking at an icon of the Nativity of Christ:

• Who are those that “worshipped the stars”?(Magi)
• Where are they in the icon of the Nativity?(Shown traveling with star)
  
• Who is the “Sun of Righteousness”?(Christ)
• Where is He in the icon?(Lying near His mother)
  
• Why is He also referred to as the “Orient from on high”? (This term refers to the place in the East where the sun rises, the place our light comes from)
  

The Nativity of Christ

Say: We call Jesus divine because He is the Son of God. We know He is God’s Son because God sent the angel Gabriel to deliver this message to the Virgin Mary.  We call Jesus human because He is just like you and me, but without sin. He was born of a human mother on earth just as we are. Today, we will read about His birthday. Another word for birthday is nativity. 

Jesus was born late one night in a small town. His mother wrapped Him up to protect Him from the shivering cold, then placed Him on a bed of hay to keep Him warm. Jesus ate. He slept. He clung to His mother like all newborn babies do. He had some visitors…the cows and sheep, the shepherds and the wise men or magi, the angels singing joyfully. He had lived with God, His Father. Now He was living with us!

The story of the Nativity of Christ can be found in Luke 2:1-20. Ask students to read and compare and contrast this to Matthew 2: 1 – 12.What things are the same? What things are different? What details are found in account, but not the other?

Vocabulary

Explain the following Vocabulary:

• Every year, on Christmas, our Church celebrates a great feast day. Sometimes we call it the Nativity. Sometimes we call it the birthday. Sometimes we call it the Incarnation. What do all of these words mean?
  
• A birthday is the day we are born. Each one of us was once a tiny baby with our own special birthday. Each year we “celebrate” our birthday and the birthdays of our family and friends.
  
• The Nativity is another way of saying “to be born.” It is a Latin word. If you look closely at the word Nativity you will see the beginning of another word we are more used to: native. To be a “native” of someplace means to be born there. To be a “native” of the human race, or of Mankind, means to belong to the human race, to be human.
  
• The word Incarnation is taken from a few words in Latin. In means just what is says “in” something. Carn means the same as it does in carnivorous or carnation. All these words mean “Flesh.”
  
• Carnivorous means to be an animal which eats flesh. Carnation means a flower which has a flesh-like color (pinkish). So, the word Incarnation means “the act of taking on flesh.” This means Jesus, the Son of God, took on flesh and was born “human,” of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit.
  
• Our Church says that Jesus has a “birthday”, like us. He is a “Native” of the human race, like us. This is why we say that He had a human nature; Because He is fully human, like us. His divine nature is shown in the Incarnation: God became man!

Prophecies of Isaiah

Look up the prophecies of Isaiah that tell about the appearance and character of the Messiah. Isaiah 7: 14 – 15; Isaiah 8:9; Isaiah 9: 6 – 7. How do these verses add to your understanding of the image of Christ and His incarnation? How would you explain to someone why the Church reads these verses from the Old Testament often? (They are clear prophecies, from long before the Church began, of the Messiah who came and who is the foundation of the Church.)

Nativity Mobile

Make a mobile of the names of Jesus Christ in the reading from Isaiah 9:6. The pieces can be of any size or shape you wish, and students may decorate them.

• Make a larger top piece with JESUS CHRIST written on it.
• Make smaller hanging pieces, on each one writing one of the names from Isaiah.
• Suspend these smaller pieces from the top piece with thread or string. Use a hole punch to make holes in the top piece, or tape them onto it. The thread/string can be of different lengths.
  

Biblical Reflection

Read the verse from Isaiah 9:6 together and discuss the meaning of words such as government, counselor, mighty, everlasting, Father, prince, peace and how they describe the Messiah:

In its present context, it (the passage) describes the coming Messiah as the ideal king: Government is the symbol of authority. Mighty God is divine in might (power). Everlasting Father signifies continuing fatherly love and care. Prince of Peace is the king who brings peace and prosperity. The king represents the best quality of Israel's heroes (Ezek. 37:25)      - Notes from the New Oxford Annotated Bible   

Nativity Greeting

Practice the Nativity greeting: Christ is born! Glorify Him! Ask students: How do these words reflect the fact that Jesus is both God and Man? (He is the savior, Christ, the divine Son sent by His Father. At the same time He is born as a true human being.)

Wrap Up

As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:

• What is the special greeting that we in the church use for Christmas?
• Where are most kings born? (Most often in palaces or wealthy surroundings)
  
• Where was Jesus born?
• Why was God’s Son, the greatest king of all, born in such simple circumstances? (To remind us that His Kingdom, the greatest of all, is far beyond the circumstances of this world, and that He is King of the poor and powerless as well as the mighty and wealthy)
  

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today the virgin gives birth to the transcendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him.
The wise men journey with the star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!