Liturgical Season of Christmas Lesson

St. Laurence Catholic Parish Elementary Children’s Faith Formation (CCE) Week 12 Lesson Plan (Home Study Version)

Liturgical Season of Christmas Lesson Essential Question (“EQ”): Why and how do Catholic Christians celebrate the Season of Christmas? PARENT CATECHIST PREPARATION To prepare for this week’s lesson:  Establish a dedicated time and comfortable learning space for your family discovery session.  Create a Prayer Table (or check out How to Make a Prayer Table for Kids) in a special corner of your home. Keep your family Bible reverently displayed there to be used for readings in your lessons. When proclaiming The Word to children, it is more impactful to read directly from the Bible and not just from their workbooks.  Prepare your adult heart and mind ahead of the lesson by watching CHRISTMAS, A TIME FOR HOPE, CHRISTMAS IS A SEASON!, or WHY DO WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS?

Be sure to resist the temptation to pack up all of your decorations and shut down your family’s celebration of Christmas on December 26th! Remember, Christmas is a season (not just a day) celebrated by the Church. The liturgical season of Christmas begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve and concludes on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (celebrated on Sun., January 10th in 2021).

Confused about the Twelve Days of Christmas? Fun Fact! This traditional song actually commemorates the 12 days beginning on Christmas day and ending with the celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany (remember the Three Kings/Magi?) typically around January 6th. In many cultures, in fact, the Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, is considered a ‘little’ Christmas and celebrated by exchanging gifts.  1

 Reflect upon a favorite Bible passage that you would like to share with your children about God’s promise of a Savior, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and why His Coming is important to you, or consider any one of the following: ISAIAH 7:14 , ISAIAH 9: 1-6, LUKE 2: 1-7, LUKE 2: 8-14, LUKE 2: 15-20, JOHN 1: 14, GALATIANS 4: 4-5, TITUS 3: 3-7

Supplies you may want to have on hand before beginning the Lesson:  A Catholic family or children’s Bible (go to USCCB for approved Bible translations); on campus, we use the ST. MARY'S PRESS CHILDREN'S BIBLE, but any Catholic children’s or family Bible will suffice.  An electronic device with reliable internet access  Sticky notes  Art or any unlined paper  Crayons, markers and pencils as needed  (Optional): Materials necessary for any of the craft ideas selected during the EXTEND segment of the lesson below.

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ENGAGE (Mental warm-up) Say, “Today, we are going to learn about the season of Christmas celebrated by the Church. I want to begin by sharing with you one of my favorite Scripture passages from the Bible about God’s promise to send a messiah, or savior, to save His people and the entire world from the darkness of sin…“(Read your favorite passage from the Bible and explain WHY it is important to you or your favorite passage) … You know, our friend JESUS who we’ve been getting closer to all semester, is THE Messiah that was foretold by the Prophets in the Old Testament of the Bible. We honor his coming to earth to save humanity from sin by not only celebrating his birth on Christmas Day, but throughout an entire season recognized by the Church.”

______EXPLORE (Pre-assessment of faith concepts) Ask/Discuss, “What do you know about the Season of Christmas celebrated by the Catholic Church?”  As your child or children share their ideas, have them jot a few down on a sticky note (with their name) and then place them on the wall in your discovery space. (For younger children, you may act as the ‘scribe’). Retain the sticky notes to have

an understanding of what your child or children already know or don’t know. This will be helpful as you move along in your lessons.  To facilitate thinking and discussion use some of the following questions: What is Christmas and who/what are we celebrating? When do we celebrate Christmas and why? Have you ever heard the word nativity? What does nativity mean? How long do we celebrate the Christmas season? What do we see in the church during the Season of Christmas that reminds us of what we are celebrating – i.e. name some things we typically see? How are those things important to the Christmas story? Have you ever heard of the word Incarnation? What is it? What are the liturgical colors worn by the clergy and used to decorate the church during Christmas? Any ideas as to why those colors were chosen for this liturgical season? Can you name any of the special Feast Days that the Church celebrates during the Season of Christmas? Can you name any of the ‘characters’ recorded in the Bible who play a role during the Season of Christmas? Who are they and why are they important? Plus any others you can think of… ______

EQ “Essential Question” (This question serves as a cognitive bookend for your child or children – i.e. it is the targeted “so what” or “take-away” of the lesson being presented)

Share and post a physical representation of the lesson’s EQ in your study space:

Why and how do Catholic Christians celebrate the Season of Christmas? ______

EXPLAIN (Either guided with your assistance or working independently, have your child or children review their relevant grade-level material – listed below - and complete the workbook activities. Empower older children by allowing them to mentor younger siblings):

PREK3: Allelu! Lesson 14 (Jesus is Born) Parent Activity Sheet (in the folder you picked up); Allelu! Lesson 14 Home Session Activity Plan

PREK4: Allelu! Lesson 23 (Jesus is Born) Parent Activity Sheet (in the folder you picked up); Allelu! Lesson 23 Home Session Activity Plan

Kinder: Call to Faith, pages 12-13 (Jesus Comes) Grade 1: Alive in Christ, pages 23-26 (The Light of Christ) Grade 2: Alive in Christ, pages 25-30 (Glory to God) Grade 3: Alive in Christ, pages 23-28 (Glory to God) Grade 4: Alive in Christ, pages 21-24 (God’s Greatest Gift) Grade 5: Alive in Christ, pages 19-24 (Season of Love)

______EXTEND (As a family, gather back together and have each child share, in turn, what they learned about Christmas. Together as a family, come up with a list of at least three new things that you learned, were surprised by or think others should know about this special Liturgical Season of

3 the Church. Then, extend the lesson together by completing at least one of the activities provided below).

Early Childhood/Lower Elementary  Video: WHEN JESUS WAS BORN: A CHRISTMAS STORY or THE CHRISTMAS STORY  Craft / Activity: STAINED GLASS NATIVITY or NATIVITY FINGER PUPPETS (print out, decorate and re-enact the story of Jesus’ Nativity using Luke 2: 4-20 for your narrative)

Upper Elementary  Video: KIDS' BIBLE STORIES: MARY & JOSEPH, THE BIRTH OF JESUS or WHAT WAS THE BIRTH OF JESUS LIKE?  Craft/Activity: STAR OF BETHLEHEM SCRIPTURE ORNAMENTS or plan and prepare for a HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS PARTY with your family and friends on Christmas Day. (♪ Happy birthday to You! Happy birthday to You! Happy birthday, dear Jesus! Happy birthday to You! ♫) 

______EVALUATE/REFLECT Restate today’s Essential Question (EQ) – Why and how do Catholic Christians celebrate the Season of Christmas?

 Say, “Think back to the passage that I read from the Bible at the beginning of our lesson today. What do you think it tells us about the Season of Christmas? (Discuss together, affirming and reinforcing appropriate answers/teaching points).

 Summarize what’s been learned during this lesson, emphasizing those concepts which may have been missed or misunderstood in the EXPLORE step above. Say, “When we speak about Christmas as Catholic Christians, we are referring not only to Christmas Day itself (aka the Feast of the Nativity or celebration of Jesus’ birth on December 25th) but also to a liturgical season of the Church. The Season of Christmas begins every year in December with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve (always on Dec. 24th) and concludes more than two weeks later with the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord every January (in 2021, on January 10th). During this season, the Church recalls the events of Jesus’ birth and childhood through the daily Scripture readings at Mass.

During the Season of Christmas, but especially on Christmas Day, we celebrate God physically entering into human history with the birth (or nativity) of Jesus Christ. Through the Incarnation, or God becoming flesh in the person of Jesus Christ (i.e. in Latin "in carne" means "enfleshment"), the gift of salvation enters into the world for the benefit of all humankind. This is a uniquely Christian teaching, with God choosing to become one of us for our redemption from sin. Foretold by the prophets of the Old

Testament, Jesus Christ is Emmanuel which means “God is with us.”

When we think of the Nativity story, we are reminded about a trusting mother and a faithful father, but more importantly about a tiny and helpless baby. Far from the typical surroundings deserved by a king, THE King of Kings was born in the simplest and most unlikely of places. In the humble surroundings of a cave, which was where the animals were kept safe at night (and was likely both dirty and smelly!), our Savior was 4

wrapped in swaddling clothes after his birth and placed in the animal feeding trough (a manger) instead of a crib. Visited by angels, shepherds and the Magi from faraway lands all paying homage to him, the ultimate Salvation of humanity rested within this Holy Child.

Christmas is a season of joy and love when we spend time celebrating God’s greatest gift ever – the gift of Salvation that He’s given us through Jesus Christ. In return, we give our own gifts back to God in the form of glory, praise and thanksgiving. The human sense of sight, and particularly color, plays an important role in Catholic worship. During Christmas we will see the church brightly decorated with trees, lights, poinsettia plants, a crèche (a scene depicting Jesus’ birth) and perhaps even a prominent star hung from the ceiling. The priest and clergy wear white vestments which remind the faithful (that’s us!) of the special celebration at hand. The color white is used in liturgical celebrations symbolizes purity, joy, triumph and glory. All of these church decorations are symbols of what we are celebrating on Christmas Day and throughout the Christmas Season.

The Church celebrates many special feast days during the Season of Christmas besides Christmas Day on Dec 25th. Some of these other feast days include honoring the Holy Family (Dec 27th this year), honoring Mary, the Mother of God (on Jan 1st), the Epiphany celebrating the visit of the Magi and God’s manifestation to the peoples of the entire world (Jan 3rd this year) and ending with the Baptism of the Lord (Jan 10th this year).

Throughout the entire season of Christmas, we reflect on the person of Jesus and the gift of salvation that is literally born with him…including the fact that he was born to die for us. Consider this: When they arrived, the Magi saw a human baby that they believed would be the King of the Jews. But, Jesus is even greater than the wise men could have known, for he is both God and man. He came to Earth not only for the Jewish people, but for all people (including us!). That’s why his Nativity is so crucial to us as Catholic Christians. Jesus chose to become one of us. 

 Separately reflect on these questions: Think about the scene of Jesus’ birth, or Nativity, and the people who were privileged to pay him homage that special day. If you had been present at Jesus’ birth over 2,000 years ago, how do you think you would have reacted or behaved, and why? How might you show your gratitude to God for the greatest gift you’ve ever received – i.e. Jesus? (After some reflection time, turn and share your answers with another family member). ______

CLOSING PRAYER Gather together in your dedicated prayer space and ask your children to quiet their minds and hearts as you pray together. Begin with the SIGN OF THE CROSS and recite a favorite family prayer, choose one from the COMMON PRAYERS BY GRADE, sing SILENT NIGHT or AWAY IN A MANGER together as a family, or ask your child/children to offer up their INTERCESSORY INTENTIONS. Conclude by praying the SIGN OF THE CROSS.

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BONUS (optional)  What We Believe: Each week at Mass, we proclaim the tenets of our Catholic Christian faith by reciting the NICENE CREED together. These “I Believe” statements confirm not only our belief in God, but also in the Catholic Church.

Read the statement from the Nicene Creed below, and then consider the questions that follow:

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

 When we profess the statement above, which person of the Holy Trinity are we referring to?  What does this statement mean and how does it relate to the Feast of the Nativity?  Why is this such a crucial understanding of our faith?

 Saints of the Season: The Holy Family The Feast of the Holy Family celebrates the human family, as well as the ultimate family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It is usually celebrated by the Church on the first Sunday after Christmas (Dec 27th this year).

Find out more about the FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY and how the Holy Family is a role model for all Christian families. Our own families grow in virtue and are made holy when we live the life of the Church within our homes as well as outside of them.  What virtues, or habits of doing good, are practiced by each of the members of the Holy Family? Why are those habits so important for the good of a family?  What can you, as a child, specifically do to help your family become more like the Holy Family and grow in holiness?  Write a prayer to the Holy Family asking for guidance for your own family to become a holy home. Recite it together with your parents and siblings on the Feast of the Holy Family, or pray the PRAYER TO THE HOLY FAMILY together.

Want to extend your family’s formation about this topic? Check out these additional resources which can be used at the Parent Catechist’s discretion, if desired:

 Parent Preparation Videos/Resources: CHRISTMAS IS A SEASON, BISHOP BARRON ON CHRISTMAS, THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS, WHY CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS, A FR MIKE CHRISTMAS, SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS, CATHOLIC CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS, CHRISTMAS IN BETHLEHEM, CHRISTMAS, A TIME FOR HOPE, EPIPHANY and EPIPHANY CUSTOMS.

 Lesson Plans: THE RELIGION TEACHER, CATHOLIC TOOLBOX, LOYOLA PRESS GRADES 1- 3, LOYOLA PRESS GRADES 4-6, THE MAGI & KING HEROD, THE WISE MEN, THE RELIGION TEACHER, CATHOLIC TOOLBOX, EPIPHANY, WHAT WILL YOU BRING?, HAVE AN EPIPHANY!, SEEKING CHRIST AFTER CHRISTMAS, WISE MEN LESSON PLAN

 Videos: THE NATIVITY STORY-JESUS' BIRTH, BIRTH OF JESUS, THE FIRST CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS ACCORDING TO KIDS, THE CHRISTMAS STORY, LITTLE DOUGLINGS EPISODE 6

4, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, KIDS' BIBLE STORIES: MARY & JOSEPH, THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS (JESUS & THE SHEPHERDS), WHEN JESUS WAS BORN: A CHRISTMAS STORY, WHAT WAS THE BIRTH OF JESUS LIKE?, FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY, VISIT OF THE WISE MEN, JOURNEY OF THE WISE MEN, LITTLE STAR OF BETHLEHEM, HE CAME TO GET MESSY

 On FORMED.org: Brother Francis: Oh Holy Night, The King is Born: What Christmas is About (Be sure to check out the INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCESSING FORMED, to access this Catholic App for free)

 Activities/Games/Food: NATIVITY FINGER PUPPETS, CELEBRATING THE MAGI, PLAN A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS PARTY, CELEBRATING EPIPHANY, EPIPHANY ACTIVITIES, KENNEDY ADVENTURES, WISE MEN SHADOW PUPPETS, WISE MEN FINGER PUPPETS, HOLIDAY HINTS GAME, EPIPHANY GAME, SEEKING THE SAVIOR GAMES, JESUS BIRTHDAY SNACK IDEAS, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS CAKE IDEAS, , EPIPHANY SNACKS, GINGERBREAD STARS, CRISPY CHEESE STARS

 Songs: WE THREE KINGS, JOY TO THE WORLD, JOY TO THE WORLD (HAND MOTIONS), JOY TO THE WORLD (ASL), HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING, THREE WISE MEN SONG

 Crafts: CHRIST CENTERED CHRISTMAS CRAFTS, SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CRAFTS, NATIVITY STABLE ORNAMENT, CHRISTMAS CRAFTS FOR CHRISTIAN KIDS, DIY CHRISTMAS CRAFTS, PAPER PLATE CHRISTMAS TREE ART, GLITTERY CHRISTMAS TREE, CHRISTMAS ANGELS, BABY JESUS CRAFTS, STAINED GLASS NATIVITY , GLITTER CROWNS, CATHOLIC INSPIRED, CATHOLIC ICING, YARN STAR, CRAFT STICK STAR, KINGS CROWNS, BEJEWELED CROWN or EPIPHANY PRAYER BOXES