The Nativity Season

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? How did those exterior changes (the star, the arrival of the Magi, the angels singing) bring about internal changes?

Talk about the words of the Troparion. Point out that those who worshipped the stars were the Magi who were taught by the star, Jesus Christ, the "Sun" of righteousness, the light of wisdom, the star we all, like the magi, must follow in our daily lives. Since older children are familiar with the Magi, ask what they already know of them. Give additional information of 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. Who is the “Old man” talking with Joseph?

We wait through the weeks of 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 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.

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, let us pass these days of Advent with the anticipation of the shepherds and arrive at the feast of the Nativity. Like the magi, let our hearts be excited by the true faith and praise His glorious and miraculous birth. So that in 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!”)

You might show a portion of the 1983 movie directed by Bob Clark based on the novel by Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story. Show the clip when Ralphie asks for a Red Ryder BB gun. How do the students know from this clip that he will not receive it for Christmas? Again, the discussion should focus on foreshadowing as a hint of what will follow, and how the “anticipation” present in the Entrance of the Theotokos leads to the fulfillment of God’s promise in the birth of Christ.

Advent Calendar

 Prepared Advent Calendar prior to class for each student, with copies printed on glossy card stock, or laminated.  Also bring to class Christmas stickers - a different sticker for each Sunday until Christmas.

Talk with the students about calendars: how they help us to keep track of important days/dates to remember, e.g., birthdays, anniversaries, important events, etc. Do they keep an agenda or planner for school? Do any of their teachers recognize their birthdays in a special way on a calendar? Distribute empty calendars that have important dates circled in red (see list provided with calendar). Discuss a different commemoration each week and give each child a sticker to paste in their calendar.

The Winter Pascha

Before the older students clean up and prepare for the closing prayer, distribute the Resource Handout The Winter Pascha, read and discuss the following:

• What are some similarities to the Winter Pascha and the Great Lenten Pascha?
• What are some important differences?

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 is a patron?
  Look up the word in the dictionary and list the key definitions on a board.
• How is St. Nicholas also a patron, 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 his good deeds, kindness and generosity.  Also pause often to ask students to make “text-to-self” or “text-to-world” connections for times in their life when they helped someone or did acts of kindness and generosity.

Nearly Everybody's Saint

• List who St. Nicholas is patron of: children, fishermen, the Ukraine, merchants, students, travelers, etc. 
• List the countries that consider St. Nicholas their patron saint: Russia, Greece.
• Distribute the Resource Handout: St. Nicholas - Nearly Everybody's Saint! to the class and review together.

Troparian & Kontakion

Banners

Extra Activity: Advent Calandar

Print out the Advent Calandar Template Packet attached to this lesson; each student should have their own copy.

With the aid of a current desk or wall calendar, fill in the 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

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

Distribute copies of the Resource Handout Kontakion on the Nativity of Christ and begin by playing a recording of the Christmas Kontakion.   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, have the class find the prooimion or prologue, the stanzas or ikoi (strophes), and the refrain in the handout. Also have them check to see how many stanzas are in this kontakion. 

Point out that those who worshipped the stars were the magi who were taught by the star, Jesus Christ – the "Sun" of righteousness, the light of wisdom, the star we all, like the magi, must follow in our daily lives.

As you discuss this hymn, you probably do not need to define kontakion for the younger students. Remind them 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.

Discussion

Ask the students what kind of person they imagine would have written this hymn. Then read the Resource Handout The life of St. Romanos.

Activity

Distribute copies of the Resource Handout Kontakion on the Nativity of Christ and begin by playing a recording of the Christmas Kontakion.  After listening to the recording, have the class find the prooimion or prologue, the stanzas or ikoi (strophes), and the refrain in the handout. Also have them check to see how many stanzas are in this kontakion.

As you discuss this hymn, you probably do not need to define kontakion for the younger students. Remind them 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.

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

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 both Resource Handouts for St. Barbara and St. Herman attached to this lesson. After reading both with the class, discuss how are they important models or heroes of the church?

Ask how it feels to have a very good friend. Did St. Romanos have a good friend? Who was a good friend to St. Barbara? Use the example of her friend Julia. Barbara helped Julia to believe in God. Who were some special friends to St. Herman? Discuss friendship and talk about having God as a friend. Also, how are all three of these saints a type of hero?

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 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 braceletes discuss how Barbara and Julia were friends and how Barbara’s healing helped Julia to believe in God. Who were friends to St. Herman? 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

Closing Prayer

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

• What are ways that we can be kind to our friends?
• Who are some heroes in the church?
• How are these saints special friends with 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!

Tree of Jesse Symbols

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following questions:

• How are we prepared for the coming of Christ in the Old Testament?
• Why is it important to hear every year the long line of genealogy of Christ?

Messages of the Promised Messiah

Distribute 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 pionts have students write them down on the lines provided in the first part of their handout.  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 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.

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?

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 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?
• 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:

• 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?

The Nativity of Christ

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. 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, 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 the children to next read Matthew 2: 1 – 12, and then to compare and contrast the two gospel accounts of the Nativity of Christ.

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

Nativity Mobile

Make a mobile of the names of Jesus Christ in the reading from Isaiah 9:6.

• Make a top piece with JESUS CHRIST written on it.
• Make hanging pieces using the names from Isaiah.
• Suspend these from the top piece with thread or string.

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

Wrap Up

• What is the special greeting that we in the church use for Christmas?
• Where are most kings born?
• Where was Jesus born?
• Why was God’s Son, the greatest king of all, born in such simple circumstances?

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!