WELCOME: Welcome first-timer Kids. Invite everyone to share their name and what they’re excited for at Christmas?

We’re starting a new series about the people who knew Jesus, to see what we can learn about knowing Jesus.

Today we’re learning about Mary the Mother of Jesus. There were a few different Mary’s in the bible (we will learn about Mary Magdalene later) but today we’re going to learn about Mary

READ: Luke 1:26-38

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[b] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

DISCUSS:

• Who was Mary and how did she meet Jesus?
• How do you think Mary felt when she saw the angel?
• What did the angel tell Mary about when and how she would meet Jesus?
• What did Mary say in response to the angel?
• Did Mary have a lot of faith?
• Do you trust Jesus like Mary trusted the angel?
• How can you practice trusting Jesus?

PRAY: Invite the children to pray, asking God to help them trust in Him.

COLOURING PAGE:

OPTIONAL OTHER ACTIVITIES:

1. Dress the Baby: Ask for 2 volunteers.  Give each volunteer a baby doll and set of clothes (including a nappy).  On your signal, they must race to dress the baby.

2. Write a Song of Praise: Luke 1 records Mary singing a song of praise. In small groups ask the children to write and then perform songs of praise.