Birth of Jesus foretold by the angel Gabriel

Today's selected readings: – Luke 1: 26-38

Kids Address

• Do you like to know what is going on at home? Especially if you receive the news that the family were to go to the Zoo or to Luna Park (Fun Park)
• Good news like this is always something you are happy to be told
• But how would you feel if an angel appeared at the foot of your bed to tell you the family would soon have a new baby brother or sister?
• Maybe the news about the new brother or sister may not phase you, but certainly seeing the angel would.
• What do you think you might do if you saw an angel? (Hide under bed clothes etc)
• Can you image how Mary felt?
• The reading today tells us that exactly - She was frightened out of her wits and the angel had to say "It's OK Mary - don't be frightened"
• Mary eventually became quiet and tried to absorb what the angel had told her.
• This having a baby was a shock to her.
• Well if you think Mary was puzzled - Just image how Joseph would have felt.
• Eventually they both settled down and rejoiced that they had been chosen to be the couple who would bring Jesus into adulthood and all the responsibilities associated with this. - Food, accommodation, schooling, Jewish teaching, morals etc
• Angels are all around us, as we believe that a special angel looks after each of us.
• Today we give thanks for the way God sees that we are cared for.

Kids Church Activity:
To paint plaster angels

What you need to get ready:
Plaster angels, small paint brushes, poster paints or you could use a more expensive and more colourful paint, pots to wash brushes in, egg cartons to put the various paint colours in. When these have dried they can be sprayed with a lacquer to give a shine or to paint them with a gloss paint. (Be careful here as the angels MUST be completely dry or the paint will run) – Spray is the quickest and most efficient.