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:
- Students will be able to describe some of the elements of the Nativity season, including hymns, saints, fasting, and Old Testament preparation.
- 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)
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.
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
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
Resources
Required Resources
- Gift of the Magi (PDF)
- The Winter Pascha (PDF)
- Icon of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Image)
- He is approaching, He is coming, (HTML)
Procedure
| 1 |
Opening Prayer |
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
| 2 |
Discussion Starter |
Show the two gift-wrapped boxes. Begin by asking the following:
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| 3 |
Discussion Questions |
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| 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:
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| 6 |
The Winter Pascha |
Read the Resource Handout The Winter Pascha together in class. Then, discuss the following to continue the discussion above:
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| 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. |
| 11 |
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, |
Showing God's Love (Ages 13-17)
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.
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.
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
Resources
Required Resources
- Biography - Santa Claus (2005) (Image)
- Icon of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Image)
- St. Nicholas - Nearly Everybody's Saint! (HTML)
- St. Nicholas Banners (HTML)
- Story of St. Nicholas (HTML)
- My Advent Calendar Template
- Saint Nicholas Wikipedia
- Discovering the Truth About Santa Claus (Link)
- St. Nicholas Archbishop of Myra in Lycia Icon (Image)
- St. Nicholas the Wonder-Worker
- St. Nicholas Archbishop of Myra in Lycia (HTML)
- Teaching Devices: General Reading Strategies (HTML)
- St. Nicholas Troparian & Kontakion (Book)
- The Real Santa Claus: Legends of Saint Nicholas (Image)
- Wonderworker (Image)
Procedure
| 1 |
Opening Prayer |
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
| 2 |
Discussion Starter |
Begin by asking the following:
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| 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:
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, |
| 9 |
Discussion Questions |
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The Winter Saints (Ages 13-17)
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.
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.
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
Resources
Required Resources
- Kontakion on the Nativity of Christ (PDF)
- St Herman Handouts (PDF)
- St. Barbara Handouts (PDF)
- Kontakion, Nativity of Christ (MP3)
- St Herman Resources (Link)
- Icon of St. Romanus (Image)
- Icon of St. Romanus the Melodist (Image)
- Icon of St. Romanus (Image)
- Icon of St. Romanus (HTML)
- Icon of St. Romanus the Melodist (Image)
- The Life of St. Romanus (HTML)
Procedure
| 1 |
Opening Prayer |
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
| 2 |
Discussion Starter |
After playing the kontakion ask the following:
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? |
| 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.
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| 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:
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| 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, |
The Ancestors of Christ (Ages 13-17)
Overview
God's Family
- By learning of the genealogy of Jesus, we learn that we are all God’s family.
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
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"
Resources
Optional Resources
Procedure
| 1 |
Opening Prayer |
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
| 2 |
Discussion Starter |
Begin by asking the following:
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| 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. |
| 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:
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| 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, |
God is with us! (Ages 13-17)
Overview
The Birth of Jesus Christ
- God became man and dwelt among us - the incarnation of God in Christ Jesus.
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
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)
Resources
Required Resources
- The Nativity of Christ (PDF)
- Icon of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Image)
- Nativity of Christ Biblical Accounts (HTML)
- What shall we offer You, O Christ (HTML)
- Graphic Organizer of a T-Chart (PDF)
- Prepare O Bethlehem (Image)
Procedure
| 1 |
Opening Prayer |
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
| 2 |
Discussion Starter |
Begin by asking the following:
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| 3 |
Key Concepts |
Present the following ideas to the class:
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| 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:
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| 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, |
| 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. |


