The Nativity Season


Introduction (Ages 13-17)

All great things in life must be prepared for—we human beings can’t just casually “walk up to” significant events without readying ourselves for them. And certainly the Great Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord calls for joyful yet serious preparation.

That is why this unit of study is entitled The Nativity Season. The feast does not stand alone. In preparation for the Feast of the Nativity, the Church offers us a season, a time,  to prepare—the Nativity Fast, or Nativity Lent, known to many in the West as Advent. One of the lessons in this five-lesson unit deals with this period of preparation.

God began preparing His people long ago, of course. A second lesson in the unit tells students about the ancestors and genealogy of Jesus Christ. The all-important Biblical connection is made in this lesson, showing students how the Old Testament prepared people over millennia for the coming of the promised Savior. The Theotokos is presented as the one who brought this long process to its intended fruition.

The Nativity season also brings us celebrations of several inspiring saints. First among these is Saint Nicholas, and a third lesson in this unit gives students an understanding of his real place in the Church. They come to see him as a self-denying defender of the faith and protector of the poor, rather than merely a cozy and uncritical dispenser of presents.

Another lesson takes students into the lives of more “winter saints”—among them St. Romanus the Melodist, St. Barbara, and St. Herman. And of course there is a lesson on the various aspects of the Feast iself.

Like all the units now being produced by the DCE, this one is written on five levels, thus offering material for parishioners of all ages. So, for example, in one lesson the younger children talk together on a simple level about giving and receiving gifts. The same lesson, written on another level, invites older students to look at The Gift of the Magi, O. Henry’s great story about self-sacrifice and love. The format of all these lessons is the same as that in the units already available.

Two overall objectives for this unit are:

  1. Students will be able to describe some of the elements of the Nativity season, including hymns, saints, fasting, and Old Testament preparation.
  2. Students will be able to define the Feast of the Nativity as God’s long-awaited gift to us of a Savior.

For unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given. Authority rests on His shoulders, and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace  
(Isaiah 9: 6.)

Great Expectations (Ages 13-17)

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Overview

It’s Hard To Wait - Students will become familiar with the stories of the coming of God’s Son to us on earth, as He is born of Mary "as a little child." They will discuss the concept of "waiting" and “listening” for something good, and preparing to “meet the Lord.” The birth of Christ is set within the context of human family and God’s family.
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Objectives

By the end of this Lesson, learners should be able to:

  • State that anticipated events don't always come up to our expectations
  • Acknowledge that sometimes we must modify our expectations
  • Compare and contrast the Winter Pascha to Great Lent
  • Identify the expectations expressed in the liturgical verses of preparation, especially those of the Holy Week of Christmas
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Materials

  • Resource Handout: The Gift of the Magi (one per student)
  • Resource Handout: The Winter Pascha (one per student)
  • 5 x 8 Index Cards (one per student)
  • 2 Gift-Wrapped Boxes
    1 large & 1 small (i.e a jewelry box and a shoe box )
  • Markers
  • Christmas Stickers
  • Glitter
  • Glue
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Resources


Required Resources Optional Resources
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Procedure

1

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!

2

Discussion Starter

Show the two gift-wrapped boxes. Begin by asking the following:

  • 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 an unusual trinket in the large box and a small Nativity icon in the small one.
  • Prepare to open the boxes and discuss their reactions at the end of the lesson.

3

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?

4

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.

5

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?

6

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?

7

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.

8

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 Advent.

9

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?

10

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.

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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!

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Showing God's Love (Ages 13-17)

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Overview

St. Nicholas of Myra in Lycia - The life of St. Nicholas illustrates how we can help others thereby showing God’s love for all.  We also can associate the acts of charity with the real St. Nicholas and help students not to confuse him with the more familiar “Santa Claus.”  Understanding the true nature of St. Nicholas in Myra and Lycia helps us to prepare for to meet the Lord, setting the birth of Christ within the context of God’s family.
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Objectives

By the end of this Lesson, learners should be able to:

  • Retell the life and works of St. Nicholas
  • Distinguish the differences and/or similarities between St. Nicholas and popular ideas about Santa Claus
  • Recommend several ways in which you and other members of your parish can serve the needs of others, following the example of St. Nicholas
  • Select and commit yourselves, as a class, to a service project to aid children who are in special schools, half-way houses, hospitals, or institutions. Investigate possibilities; speak with the staff in charge about what is reasonable in terms of time, numbers of helpers, age, training or skills. Continue the project for 1 2 months or longer if needed.
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Materials

  • Film on Santa Claus
  • Resource Handout: Life of St. Nicholas
  • Resource Handout: Troparian of St. Nicholas
  • Icon of the Nativity of Christ
  • Icon of St. Nicholas
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Resources


Required Resources Optional Resources
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Procedure

1

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!

2

Discussion Starter

Begin by asking the following:

  • What is everything that you know about Santa Claus? List their comments on a chalkboard or butcher paper.

3

Film on Santa Claus

Show the A & E Biography Film (or Biography Channel Film) Santa Claus about the life of St. Nicholas and the development of Santa Claus.

4

Discussion Questions
After the video, ask the students what words or phrases from the original list they would like to change now that they have more information. Make changes, allowing time for discussion if necessary.

5

The Life of St. Nicholas

Read one of the Resource Stories with the class:

  • The Life of St. Nicholas
  • 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.

6

Extra Activity: Long Term Service Project
Identify needs in the community of the church. What service project might serve these needs? Design and implement a major service project that is on-going and achievable for your particular group.

7

Wrap-Up
As students are preparing for closing prayer, ask the following::   How is the real St. Nicholas even more important than the concept of Santa Claus?

8

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!

9

Discussion Questions
  • Discuss how St. Nicholas, who was very kind and generous, 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, marked ahead of time.

 

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The Winter Saints (Ages 13-17)

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Overview

Saints Are Special People Who Are Friends of God - Knowing about these winter saints helps students to fully know and prepare for Christ’s birth.
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Objectives

By the end of this Lesson, learners should be able to:

  • Describe the life and work of St. Romanus the Melodist
  • Learn and reflect upon the Christmas kontakion and identify it as the creation of St. Romanus
  • Outline the basic structure of the original form of the Kontakion
  • Examine several kontakia of the feasts of winter saints and list phrases that describe key concepts or theological statements about Christ, St. Barbara and St. Herman.
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Materials

  • Resource Handout: The Life of St. Romanus
  • Resource Download: Kontakion, Nativity of Christ
  • Resource Handout: St. Herman Handouts
  • Resource Handout: St. Barbara Handouts
  • Icon of St. Romanus
  • Icon of the Nativity of Christ
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Resources


Required Resources Optional Resources
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Procedure

1

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!

2

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?

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.

3

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.

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

4

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.

5

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?

6

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?

  • How can the hymns of the church (the kontakia) help us to learn more about these winter saints, and to understand them better?
  •  How can these saints help us to learn more about ourselves?

    • 7

    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.

     

    8

    Activity
    Teach the kontakion as it is sung today in your parish. Have one person read the ikos – the first stanza, and then have the class sing the refrain from the last line.

    9

    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?

    10

    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!

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    The Ancestors of Christ (Ages 13-17)

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    Overview

    God's Family - By learning of the genealogy of Jesus, we learn that we are all God’s family.
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    Objectives

    By the end of this Lesson, learners should be able to:

    • Develop an understanding of ourselves as members of Gods family
    • Identify the ancestors of Jesus (his earthly parents and grandparents)
    • Identify the genealogy of Jesus by creating a Jesse Tree
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    Materials

    • Icons (or line drawings) of the ancestors of Jesus (see below)
    • A line drawing of a tree for students to fill in with names from bible
    • Materials called for in the Resource Handout "Jesse Tree Ornaments"
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    Resources


    Optional Resources
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    Procedure

    1

    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!

    2

    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 geneologies of Mary and Joseph.)
    • Have you ever created a family tree? Did Jesus have a family tree?

    3

    Activity
    Have the students create a list of all of Jesus’ ancestors by reading Luke 3: 23 – 38 in their Bibles.  Fill in the tree 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.

    4

    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 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:

    5

    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.

    Instead of hanging all the ornaments on the tree at one time, you may want to hang one on every other day of Advent. Read the Scripture citation given here as you hang each ornament on the tree.

    6

    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 them that these verses are about Jesus’ ancestors.

    7

    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?

    8

    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!

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    God is with us! (Ages 13-17)

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    Overview

    The Birth of Jesus Christ - God became man and dwelt among us - the incarnation of God in Christ Jesus.
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    Objectives

    By the end of this Lesson, learners should be able to:

    • Compare and contrast the biblical account of the birth of Christ in the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke
    • Understand the concept of the incarnation of Jesus with the root "carne" as related to the coming of God
    • Understand and explain the meaning of the gifts of the wise men
    • Sing the Troparion and Kontakion of the feast of the Nativity
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    Materials

    • Icon of the Nativity of Christ for each student – laminated as a gift
    • Bibles for each student
    • Bible concordances and dictionaries (not Bible dictionaries)
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    Resources


    Required Resources Optional Resources
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    Procedure

    1

    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!

    2

    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?

    3

    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!

    4

    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.

    5

    The Wise Men's Gifts

    Discuss the gifts of the Wise Men, gold, francincense and myrrh.  Students can research and find out what each of these treasures is or signifies, i.e., what they were used for. Note the reasons why these particular gifts were chosen. (See Isaiah 60:6; Matthew 2:11; Psalm 141:2; Exodus 30:1,7-8,34-38; Luke 1:1,8-13; Malachi 1:11; John 19:38-40.) Note with students that gold is the sign of royalty and Christ is the King; francincense because Christ is the High Priest; myrrh because it was used to anoint the dead and Christ gives His life for us.   See also encyclopedias for gold, frankincense (incense) and myrrh.

    6

    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?

    7

    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!

    8

    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.

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