Rock City Bible Story December 13, 2020

252 Kids December 2020 • Week 2 Simply Christmas: No assembly required Large Group • K-5 Plus

Today’s Bible Story: Joyful, Joyful (Gabriel Appears to Mary) • Luke 1:26-56 Today’s Bottom Line: You can have joy because God has a plan for you. Monthly Memory Verse: Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11 (NIrV) Monthly Life App: Christmas—Celebrating Jesus, God’s greatest gift Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.

BIBLE STORY SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #1 (blank) AUDIO: “Jingle Bells” from Ragtime Christmas: The Sounds of New Orleans

Worship Leaders exit. Storyteller enters, nodding to the music.

AUDIO: Fade out music (at about 0:22)

SETTING UP THE STORY STORYTELLER: “Hello, everyone! Welcome to our very special, old-timey version of the story of Mary. (Hold up Bible.) I am so excited to tell you about it. You might even say that I’m experiencing quite a bit of JOY! (to the tech team) Hit it!

AUDIO: “Jingle Bells” from Ragtime Christmas: The Sounds of New Orleans

Walk in a circle around the audience, nodding your head. Take a few seconds to do this then go back on stage.

AUDIO: Fade out music (at about 0:22)

“Ahhh, yes. So much joy! But Mary’s story didn’t exactly start OUT with joy. It began with Mary wondering what in the world was going on!

“You see, Mary was an ordinary girl from an ordinary town called Nazareth. She would have grown up learning the Jewish scriptures, so she would have known that God had promised to send a Savior one day. But I don’t think she ever imagined how God’s plan would involve HER!

“At the time of our story, Mary was engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. Mary and Joseph probably expected their lives to follow an ordinary path. But one day, everything changed. Suddenly, Mary found herself at the very center of God’s plan—for all people, for all time.

“Let’s jump into the action, shall we? Let’s see—I need a girl and a boy to play Mary and the angel, Gabriel. They’ll just act-out whatever they hear me say. Cool? Who wants to act?”

AUDIO: “Jingle Bells” from Ragtime Christmas: The Sounds of New Orleans

©2020 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com 1 Adapted by Cornerstone Church, Auburn, AL. 252 Kids December 2020 • Week 2 Simply Christmas: No assembly required Large Group • K-5 Plus

Bring up a girl to play Mary and a boy to play Gabriel. Give the halo headband to the boy playing Gabriel.

AUDIO: Fade out music (at about 0:22)

GABRIEL APPEARS TO MARY STORYTELLER: “The angel, Gabriel, appeared to Mary. He told Mary that God had a big plan for her.

“He said . . .

Open the Bible to Luke 1:28 (NIrV) and read.

“The Lord has blessed you in a special way. He is with you.

“Mary was very upset and must have looked terrified, because Gabriel said . . .

Open the Bible to Luke 1:30-32 (NIrV) and read.

“Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very pleased with you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God.

(to the kid actors) “Okay, Gabriel and Mary, let’s see you act that out for us while the music plays. Gabriel, you’re telling Mary that she’s going to give birth to baby Jesus. Mary, you’re looking terrified because there’s an ANGEL in your house. I’m talking BIG facial expressions and BIG movements. Are you ready? (to the tech team) Hit it!

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #2: “A new baby boy!” AUDIO: “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” from Ragtime Christmas: The Sounds of New Orleans, 0:11- 0:22

Gabriel and Mary act-out their parts while the music plays.

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #1 (blank) AUDIO: Fade out music (at about 0:22)

“Excellent. What fine acting!

“This news was a LOT for Mary to take in. She was going to have a son—the Son of GOD! And He would be the long-awaited Savior who God had promised His people hundreds of years earlier!

“Gabriel also told her something else.

Open the Bible to Luke 1:36-37 (NIrV) and read.

“Your relative Elizabeth will have a child even though she is old. People thought she could not have children. But she has been pregnant for six months now. That’s because what God says will always come true.

©2020 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com 2 Adapted by Cornerstone Church, Auburn, AL. 252 Kids December 2020 • Week 2 Simply Christmas: No assembly required Large Group • K-5 Plus

“Mary must have felt scared and confused, but her answer to the angel was full of faith and courage. She told him . . .

Open the Bible to Luke 1:38 (NIrV) and read.

“I serve the Lord . . . May it happen to me just as you said it would.

“Then Gabriel left. (to Gabriel) Thanks for your help, Gabriel! You can head back to your seat.”

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #3: “Gabriel—out.” AUDIO: “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” from Ragtime Christmas: The Sounds of New Orleans, 0:11- 0:22

Take the halo headband from Gabriel and dismiss him to his seat.

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #1 (blank) AUDIO: Fade out music (at about 0:22)

MARY VISITS ELIZABETH STORYTELLER: “Mary was amazed at what the angel had said. Not only was SHE going to have a baby—God’s Son—but her older relative, Elizabeth, was going to have a baby, too. It seemed impossible!

“Who would like to play Elizabeth?

AUDIO: “Joy to the World” from Ragtime Christmas: The Sounds of New Orleans, 0:17-0:35

Bring up a girl to play Elizabeth. Give her the gray wig and cane. Have her stand on the opposite side of the stage from Mary.

AUDIO: Fade out music (at about 0:35)

“Mary hurried to visit Elizabeth. (to Mary) Hurry, Mary! Let’s go see her!

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #4: “To Elizabeth’s house . . .” AUDIO: “Jingle Bells” from Ragtime Christmas: The Sounds of New Orleans

Jog slowly alongside Mary (almost jogging in place), until you reach Elizabeth.

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #1 (blank) AUDIO: Fade out music

“Listen to what Elizabeth said to Mary when she arrived.

Open the Bible to Luke 1:42-45 (NIrV) and read.

©2020 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com 3 Adapted by Cornerstone Church, Auburn, AL. 252 Kids December 2020 • Week 2 Simply Christmas: No assembly required Large Group • K-5 Plus

“God has blessed you more than other women. And blessed is the child you will have! . . . As soon as I heard the sound of your voice, the baby inside me jumped for joy. You are a woman God has blessed. You have believed that the Lord would keep his promises to you!

“Whoa. Did you hear that? Elizabeth’s baby jumped in her belly when he heard Mary’s voice! (to Mary and Elizabeth) Why don’t you two act THAT out?”

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #5: “Jumpin’ for joy!” AUDIO: “Joy to the World” from Ragtime Christmas: The Sounds of New Orleans, 0:17-0:35

Elizabeth acts-out feeling John kick.

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #1 (blank) AUDIO: Fade out music (at about 0:35)

MARY’S SONG STORYTELLER: “Mary was so filled with joy that she sang a song to God. (To Mary) Don’t worry— we’ll just act it out today.

“Mary said . . .

Open the Bible to Luke 1:46-55 (NIrV) and read.

“My soul gives glory to the Lord. My spirit delights in God my Savior. He has taken note of me even though I am not considered important . . . He shows his mercy to those who have respect for him . . . He has filled with good things those who are hungry . . . He has helped the people of Israel, who serve him . . . He has done it just as he promised to our people of long ago.

(to Mary) “All right, Mary—let’s act that out. I’ll give you some motions as we go. (to the tech team) Hit it!

AUDIO: “Silent Night” from Ragtime Christmas: The Sounds of New Orleans, starting at 0:13

Act-out the following motions, keeping pace with the slides on screen. Cue Mary to do the motions with you.

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #6: “My soul gives glory to God.”

Point up with one hand.

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #7: “He has taken note of me.”

Point to yourself.

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #8: “He shows His mercy.”

Spread both hands in front of you.

©2020 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com 4 Adapted by Cornerstone Church, Auburn, AL. 252 Kids December 2020 • Week 2 Simply Christmas: No assembly required Large Group • K-5 Plus

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #9: “He keeps His promises.”

Give a double thumbs-up. Then do all the motions again.

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #6: “My soul gives glory to God.” SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #7: “He has taken note of me.” SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #8: “He shows His mercy.” SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #9: “He keeps His promises.”

Motion for everyone in the audience (and Elizabeth) to do the motions with you and Mary, as you repeat them.

SLIDE: Bible Story Slide #1 (blank) AUDIO: Fade out music

(to Mary) “Nice job, Mary. (to audience) Nice job, everyone.

“Mary realized that God was doing what He had promised long ago . . . and He had chosen her to be a part of it!

“At the end of three months, Mary returned home to Nazareth—ready to see how God’s plan would unfold.

“Can we give all of our actors a big hand? (to Mary and Elizabeth) Thanks for your help!”

AUDIO: “Silent Night” from Ragtime Christmas: The Sounds of New Orleans

Collect the props and dismiss Mary and Elizabeth to their seats.

SLIDE: Theme Background AUDIO: Fade out music

WRAPPING UP THE STORY STORYTELLER: “Mary understood that God had a plan and a purpose for her life—and that gave her great joy!

“God has a plan for each and every one of US, too.

SLIDE: Bottom Line

[Bottom Line] “You can have joy because God has a plan for you.

©2020 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com 5 Adapted by Cornerstone Church, Auburn, AL. 252 Kids December 2020 • Week 2 Simply Christmas: No assembly required Large Group • K-5 Plus

“Let’s pray and thank God for the joy He gives us.”

SLIDE: Theme Background

PRAY STORYTELLER: “Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. We can see how Mary trusted Your plan, and You filled her heart with joy. Thank You for reminding us that You have a good plan for our lives, too. Help us find our joy in You, because Your plans are ALWAYS good. We love You, and we pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.”