Pip, Amos and the First Christmas (Jump IN!)

Bible Story

Luke 1:26-38 and Luke 2:1-4

Using the book ‘Pip, Amos and the First Christmas’ read pages 1-14. Remember to show the pictures, get everyone to find Pip when asked and to join in with making the sound effects for twitching, stomping, squeaking and hee-haws.

Once you have read to the end of page 14 recap the story so far. Make sure to pull out the key biblical truths such as, was a carpenter, God had promised Mary that she would have a special baby to be named Jesus. The couple had to journey to Bethlehem to be counted and that on arrival the town was very busy.

• A carpenter makes things from wood. I wonder what things Joseph made in his carpenter’s workshop.
• I wonder how Mary and Joseph felt when they found out that Mary was going to have a special baby.
• I wonder what supplies they took with them for their long journey to Bethlehem.
• In the story, Pip and Amos are good friends. I wonder who your friends are.
   

Song Suggestions

1. Theme Song: The First Christmas (Tune: ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star’)

Who can you see in the stable that day?
There's Mary and Joseph, and Jesus in the hay
On the first Christmas God sent us his Son
The best present ever for everyone
Stomp, stomp, stomp and clap, clap, clap,
Let’s shout and cheer for Christmas is here!
 

Who can you see in the stable that night?
There's shepherds sent by angels – oh what a sight!
On the first Christmas God sent us his joy
The best present ever - a sweet baby boy.
Stomp, stomp, stomp and clap, clap, clap,
Let’s shout and cheer for Christmas is here!
 

Who can you see in the stable afar?
Some kings come to worship who followed a star
On the first Christmas God sent us his love
The best present ever come from above.
Stomp, stomp, stomp and clap, clap, clap,
Let’s shout and cheer for Christmas is here!
 
Additional Songs 

2. Away in a manger’, Right Tracks https://vimeo.com/1131277728/086ffeb7a5?share=copy&fl=cl&fe=ci 

3. ‘Baby Jesus we love you’, https://youtu.be/4k-whdwL0Ng?list=RD4k-whdwL0Ng 

4. ‘Counting Down to Christmas’ https://vimeo.com/769810312?share=copy 

5.‘Too wonderful’ https://youtu.be/pkc2m0CmYL8 

6. 'Oh what a special night’ https://youtu.be/duzZ-p6rYNI?list=RDduzZ-p6rYNI
 

Craft/Activity Ideas

• Make a simple mouse puppet that people can hold while the story is shared.
• Hobby donkeys are easy to make. A template for the head is available to help with this. You could start by painting or sticking tissue paper to make the pieces for the heads in Session 1 and put them together in Session 2. Make sure that you have two heads facing in opposite directions for each donkey.
• There are lots of Christmas themed crafts available on the Family Ministries Pinterest Boards https://www.pinterest.co.uk/FamilyMinistriesUKIT/christmas-crafts/ 

Sensory Play

• Fill a Tuff-Tray with hay or tissue paper in strips and add some animal figures, including a mouse and a donkey.
• Make or use playdough and ask people to create mice or donkeys.
• Make a mouse biscuit using round biscuits and icing, with marshmallows for ears, currants for eyes and sweet laces for whiskers. For a healthier option this could also be done with round crackers and cream cheese spread. Be aware of allergies.

Prayer

Practice the simple actions and responses for everyone to join in.

Dear God, 

Thank you for the story of the very first Christmas.

Thank you for being with Mary and Joseph, especially on their long journey to Bethlehem. (Stomp, stomp, stomp)

Thank you for our friends, just like Pip and Amos are friends in the story. (Squeak, squeak, hee-haw)

Thank you that you are still doing wonderful things in our world. (Twitch, twitch, wiggle nose) 
Thank you that you know us (point to head), love us (cross arms over chest), and stay with us wherever we go (arms out).
Amen.

Bible Story

Luke 2:5-18; Matthew 2:1-12

Using the book ‘Pip, Amos and the First Christmas’, read pages 15-28. Remember to show the pictures and get everyone to find Pip when asked and to join in with the twitching, stomping, squeaking and hee-haws.

At the end of the story recap the story, reminding everyone of the key Biblical truths from Session 1 and then adding those from this week. For example, there was no room at this inn so Jesus was placed in a manger, that angels visited some shepherds on the hillside and told them to go and find the special baby, that sometime after the wise men visited the family having followed a star and they brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

You could ask some wondering questions such as:

• I wonder if you have you ever been to visit a new baby. Who was it and did you take a present?
• I wonder if you’ve visited a farm where there are sheep. What sound do sheep make?
• I wonder what you see when you look into the sky at night. Have you ever tried to count the stars?
• I wonder what present you are looking forward to receiving this Christmas. It’s great that we celebrate the birth of Jesus on the first Christmas, because he is God’s special gift to us all.
   

Song Suggestions

1. Theme Song: The First Christmas (Tune: ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star’)

Who can you see in the stable that day?
There's Mary and Joseph, and Jesus in the hay
On the first Christmas God sent us his Son
The best present ever for everyone
Stomp, stomp, stomp and clap, clap, clap,
Let’s shout and cheer for Christmas is here!
 

Who can you see in the stable that night?
There's shepherds sent by angels – oh what a sight!
On the first Christmas God sent us his joy
The best present ever - a sweet baby boy.
Stomp, stomp, stomp and clap, clap, clap,
Let’s shout and cheer for Christmas is here!
 

Who can you see in the stable afar?
Some kings come to worship who followed a star
On the first Christmas God sent us his love
The best present ever come from above.
Stomp, stomp, stomp and clap, clap, clap,
Let’s shout and cheer for Christmas is here!
 
Additional Songs

2. ‘A Starry Night’ www.salvationist.org.uk/resources/starry-night.

3. ‘Born is the King (It’s Christmas)’, Hillsong Kids https://youtu.be/tDYoZ2SPWrI?list=RDtDYoZ2SPWrI

4. ‘Happy Birthday Jesus’, Saddleback Kids https://youtu.be/_Tm8KMJmf0s?list=RDL1RSzmQBLf0

5. ‘God gave me Jesus’, KidSpring Children’s Ministry https://youtu.be/WHUpcJmFbQo?list=RDL1RSzmQBLf0

6. ‘Jesus, Saviour of the World’, KidSpring Children’s Ministry https://youtu.be/4MkVu5J_h8g?list=RD4MkVu5J_h8g

Craft/Activity Ideas

• Complete making the hobby donkeys started in session 1.
• Make a sheep or star themed craft to help remember the visits of the shepherds and wise men.
• There are lots of Christmas themed crafts available on the Family Ministries Pinterest Boards https://www.pinterest.co.uk/FamilyMinistriesUKIT/christmas-crafts/

Sensory Play

• Fill a Tuff-Tray with straw and use Nativity figures for children to create the story.
• Decorate small cakes with icing, sweets and sprinkles to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Be aware of allergies.
• Having completed making the hobby donkeys, play some music to let the children run around to while riding their donkeys. Give people musical instruments to play along with so everyone is part of the celebration.
   

Prayer

Practice the simple actions and responses for everyone to join in:

Dear God, thank you for the story of the very first Christmas.

Thank you for keeping baby Jesus safe when he was born in a stable. (Rock baby in arms)

Thank you for sending the shepherds and wise men to visit Jesus so they could share the good news of his birth. (Shout “Good News!”)

Thank you that you are still doing wonderful things in our world. (Twitch, twitch, wiggle nose) 

Thank you that you know us (point to head), love us (cross arms over chest), and stay with us wherever we go (arms out).
Amen.