Directions: Give each child a background and tell them you are going to tell them the story of Jesus's birth and as you do they can act it out with their stickers and place them on the background. Read the story and hand them stickers that match that portion of the story so they can act it out and then place their stickers.

Story:

Almost 2,000 years ago a young woman from the town of Nazareth named Mary was visited by an angel named Gabriel. Gabriel told the Jewish woman that she would have a son named Jesus and that he would be the Son of God. At this time, Mary was engaged to her soon-to-be husband Joseph. When told Joseph he was hurt and confused because he did not believe Mary. The angel Gabriel visited Joseph and told him that Mary would be pregnant from the Lord and that she would have a son named Jesus who would save the people from their sins.

Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem because of an order from the Roman emperor that a census, or record, of all people, be taken in their hometown. After traveling pregnant on a donkey for several days, Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem and were told that there were no places to stay. The inns were full. Seeing that Mary was due at any moment, an owner of an inn told Joseph that they could stay in his stable.

Mary and Joseph settled down on the hay in a stable with animals sleeping. Mary went into labor and Jesus was born in the stable. The only place for the sleeping baby to rest was most likely in the animals' trough, known as the manger.

During this time, an angel appeared to shepherds who were watching their flocks in the fields near Bethlehem. The angel told them the good news of the birth of the Savior and Messiah, Jesus Christ. The shepherds immediately went to find baby Jesus, which the angels told them they would find sleeping in the manger.

After some time, three wise men, also known as magi, saw the brilliant star in that sky that rested over where Jesus was born. The three wise men traveled from a distant eastern country to find the new king. During the wise men's' trip, Herod the king of Judah met with the wise men and told them to come back and let him know where the baby king was so that he could go worship him as well. The wise men continued to Bethlehem and found Jesus right where the star pointed. They knelt and worshipped the Savior and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They then traveled back home a different way knowing that King Herod was not intending to worship Jesus but that he planned to kill the baby.

Directions: Give each child a wooden ornament and markers. Let them decorate the marker to their own preference. Have them spell their name on the back and even a note to their parents if they want.

Directions: Give each child the two color circles and review the story of Jesus's birth. They should only color the portion of the story you are talking about so everyone is staying on one section at a time.

Directions: Next Sunday we are singing this song and doing the motions! Please play it and have the kids practice about 3 times! They will also be singing the Happy Birthday song to Jesus and anyone that wants to speak and share what Christmas means to them can.