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Preparing the Celebrate to Birth of Christ

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Preparing to Celebrate the Birth of Christ: Youth

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Preparing to Celebrate the Birth of Christ

A Four Session Activity Guide for Leaders of YOUTH GROUPS

By Tom Peterson

Author

Tom Peterson serves with Heifer Project International.

Introduction

Celebrating Christmas can be a confusing affair. Judging from the ways we celebrate, it is not always clear what   or whose birthday   we are celebrating. This Activity Guide provides the resources for a youth group to explore the meaning of Christmas, including the abuses and creative possibilities in its celebration.

SCHEDULING THE SESSIONS

Ideally, this four session study should begin the first Sunday in November as a part of preparation for Advent. If the sessions start much later, there will not be as much potential for influencing the way people celebrate this year. The young people will need December to put the results of their study into practice.

PREPARATION NOW

Before the unit starts, look over the following list and order or secure what will be needed.

Session One: St. Nicholas - Sharing the Gift

GOALS

NEED

PREPARATION

SESSION PLAN

1. Play Gossip

Arrange the group in a circle. Whisper the following sentence to the person on your left: "My grandmother's dog got loose and chased Mr. Green's cat up a tree. Mr. Green called the fire department, and the firefighter replied, 'Did you ever see a cat skeleton in a tree"' Each person does likewise until it has gone around the group. The last person to hear it says aloud what he/she has heard. Tell the class you will get back to the gossip later.

2. Santa Claus

(a) Ask the class to list all of the things they can about Santa Claus: what he does, what he looks like, where they've seen him, childhood beliefs, etc. Write key words from these suggestions on the left half of the chalkboard.

(b) Read the following narrative about Santa. After reading, allow a few more additions to the list.

SANTA TODAY

He sits, elevated on his throne like chair, inspiring awe in children. He is surrounded by Styrofoam candy canes, plastic holly, glitter and young women helpers handing out candy.

The Merchants' Santa is retired or unemployed, but is picking up some seasonal work in the shopping mall. He makes five dollars an hour for smiling, ho ho hoing, and quizzing hundreds of kids, "What do you want Santa to bring you?"

Last year, the Santas' union #243 went on strike, picketing six major malls in the city for a week. They demanded better wages as well as an hour for lunch. It caused such an embarrassment and loss of business that the merchants conceded. The Santas went back to work.

This $20 billion Christmas season would not be complete without Santa. In between his jolly laughs, parents can hear (over the microphone) little Suzi or Roger parroting the TV commercials: "I want a Vazoom Rocket by Toyco and a Death Planet!"

But Santa doesn't really go into Roger or Suzi's houses. Nor does he really give away any gifts. All those toys have to be bought by mom or dad at the local shopping center. But many parents can't afford the toys advertised on TV. Their kids may remember Christmas like the inner city Detroit teenager who recalls, "When I was very, very young, Christmas meant getting up in the morning and wanting gifts that wouldn't be there."

3. St. Nicholas

Read the narrative "St. Nicholas." Ask the class to list characteristics of Nicholas and write the key words on the right side of the chalkboard.

ST. NICHOLAS

We know St. Nicholas through ancient legends. About three hundred years after Christ, he was the bishop of Myra (in modern day Turkey). His parents didn't have a great deal of money, but always had enough to give to the poor. Nicholas is said to have been very devout as a child, a model child, you might say. As a youth, he joined a monastery and was quite religious. Once he learned of a kind but poor man who didn't have enough money for dowries for his teenage daughters. No one would marry them unless they had dowries. In order to keep them from starving, he was thinking about selling them into slavery.

When Nicholas heard of this, he threw a bag of gold into their house enough for the oldest daughter to marry (which she did immediately). He did this at night to keep from being seen. On the two following nights he tossed into the house a bag of gold for each of the two remaining daughters, and they were married like their elder sister. So each of the three were saved from a life of slavery.

Houses in those days did not have windows like ours do today. But there was a hole in the roof to let out smoke from cooking and heating. It was through this opening that Nicholas threw the gold. From this came the custom that Santa Claus comes down the chimney.

There are other stories. In one, St. Nicholas saved three kidnapped children from death, and in another he healed a sick child. Once, some ships loaded with Roman troops stopped over in Myra. The bored troops began to go into town and were unruly, arguing and fighting, and were bullying the local people. Nicholas went directly to the three generals and boldly accused them, "You have permitted your soldiers to loot our city." The generals stopped the rabble rousers immediately. Years later, these same generals were in the Roman prison with false charges against them. Nicholas went to the Emperor and got them cleared.

From these and other legends, Nicholas became the patron saint of children, sailors, merchants, prisoners, pawnbrokers, travelers, and young people who want to marry. Because of his gift giving, caring character, his popularity, and the fact that his saint's day is December 6th, St. Nicholas became a central Christmas figure. But he evolved as in a game of gossip to our modern day Santa Claus.

4. Discussion

(a) Read Luke 4:16 22.

(b) In this first recorded speech of his ministry, Jesus described his mission. What are some of the ways St. Nicholas also took up some of these causes?

(c) How do you think the story of St. Nicholas got twisted into Santa?

(d) Have you ever played gossip when someone intentionally changed the words? Who do you think is in control of who Santa is today? How would you change Santa Claus to fit more into the Christmas message as presented in Luke 4? What would Santa be like; what would he/she look like; what would Santa do? Be creative, make a list of suggestions on the board. (A member may want to draw this new Santa with help from the class.)

5. Video

Show Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and discuss ways that our Christmas celebration might better reflect the spirit of St. Nicholas.

6. Prayer

As a group, pray that the spirit of St. Nicholas be more a part of your Christmas celebrations.

Session Two: Isaiah­ - The Message of the Gift

GOAL

NEED

PREPARATION

SESSION PLAN

1. Proclamations I

Ask students to read Isaiah 9:2 7 and 11:1 9 aloud. After each one, let the group briefly discuss what the Christmas message is according to Isaiah.

2. Proclamations II

Pass out one index card with a proclamation written on it to each of the participants. After everyone has been given a chance to read their proclamation aloud, let the group briefly discuss the Christmas message it gives.

PROCLAMATIONS II

(a) I gave back all the gifts I got for Christmas, and I didn't buy any. You get all these perfumes and stuff like that. I got this big plastic chair that you blow up. I think it's totally unnecessary.  a junior in high school in Death of Christmas.

(b) American businesses spent well over $40 billion on advertising this year. But they will get $20 billion of that back in their annual Christmas spree.

(c) The following are titles of articles which appeared in national magazines:

(d) I remember way back, the Salvation Army bringing boxes into our house. At the time I liked it. Later, it bothered me. Why were these people bringing these things? Christmas  that's when you can really distinguish the haves from the have nots.  a teenager in Death of Christmas

(e) "Artificial trees with a real Christmas Spirit   choose 4 foot, $16.95; or 6 foot, $37.95; or 7 -1/2 foot, $55."  a department store ad, Death of Christmas

(f) Receiving a stereo, a car, new clothes, sports equipment, records, cologne or perfume is one way to celebrate Christ's birth.

(g) Christmas is for the rich to enjoy, the middle class to imitate, and the poor to watch.  Death of Christmas

(h) Christmas is the time of year to express your gratitude for friends and family by giving them gifts.

3. Role Play

Have two volunteers represent the merchants and two represent Isaiah. The Merchants are to convince the rest of the class to buy, buy, buy; and they are to make it look like it is in the spirit of Christmas to do so. (Privately give them some tips: this brings cheer, aids the economy, provides jobs, allows people to express their appreciation for their friends and family, etc.) The Prophets are to remind the class what Isaiah said about Christ, and that the commercialization of Christmas detracts from Christ, whose birthday we are celebrating. Instead, Christmas should be a reminder of the example he gave us.

Give each team 3 5 minutes to prepare. Then give each side 3 minutes to present their case to the class. Let the class spend about 5 minutes asking them questions.

4. Discussion

Ask the group: "Do you think it is possible to hear the prophet's proclamation in this Christmas season?" Suggest that each person consider ways that this can be done during the coming week.

5. Prayer

Pray for the ability to hear and celebrate the prophet's proclamation.

Session Three: The Magi­ - Returning the Gifts

GOAL

NEED

PREPARATION

SESSION PLAN

1. The Visit of the Magi

Read Matthew 2:1 12. Discuss:

(a) How did they respond to Christ's birth?

(b) Why do you think the wise men went to all the trouble to find Jesus?

(c) How can we give Christ a birthday present?

2. The Last Judgment

Read Matthew 25:31 46. The star over the manger helped the wise men find the Christ child. As you read the "Rich/Poor" cards, keep in mind the Matthew 25 passage. How is it like the star over the manger?

3. Rich/Poor Exercise

Shuffle and distribute the cards among group members so that each person has at least one card. Ask each person to read one of their cards to the group. Continue until all of the cards have been read.

RICH/POOR EXERCISE CARDS

Copy each of the following statements on card.

4. Discussion

The information on the cards can be quite disturbing. There may be a desire to discuss the accuracy of the information. The group may need some assurance that the information is true. You will want to take time to be sure that the items are understood. Then, proceed to discuss the cards around these questions:

(a) In light of the Matthew 25 passage, where is Christ in the world?

(b) Where is Christ in our local community?

(c) If Christ is hungry, how would we find him in our local community? Would he be a stranger, a person in need of clothes, someone who is sick, a lonely person, a prisoner?

5. Magi Project

Brainstorm on what this group can do to give Christ a birthday present. Think about your answers to the question, "Where is Christ in the world and in our local community?" Discuss the Guidelines for Alternative Giving. Young people may feel more involved if at least a part of your project be for the needy in your own community.

6. Prayer

Pray for the capacity to give.

Session Four: Christ­ - Receiving the Gift

GOALS

NEED

PREPARATION

SESSION PLAN

1. Class Project

Take a few moments to continue discussion of the class Magi Project.

2. The Gift

Read John 1: 1 5 and John 3:16-17.

3. Xmas and Christmas

Ask a student to read the essay "Xmas and Christmas" by C.S. Lewis. Tell the class that this is an account of a visitor to the land of Niatirb. (To make the reading more fun, ask two or three volunteers to act it out as it is read.)

XMAS AND CHRISTMAS

A Lost Chapter From Herodotus*

In the middle of winter when fogs and rains most abound they have a great festival which they call Exmas, and for fifty days they prepare for it in the fashion I shall describe. First of all, every citizen is obliged to send to each of his friends and relations a square piece of hard paper stamped with a picture, which in their speech is called an Exmas card. The pictures represent birds sitting on branches, or trees with a dark green prickly leaf, or else men in such garments as the Niatirbians believe that their ancestors wore two hundred years ago riding in coaches such as their ancestors used, or houses with snow on their roofs. And because all men must send these cards the market place is filled with the crowd of those buying them, so that there is great labor and weariness.

But having bought as many as they suppose to be sufficient, they return to their houses and find there the cards from any to whom they also have sent cards, they throw them away and give thanks to the gods that this labor at least is over for another year. But when they find cards from any to whom they have not sent, then they beat their breasts and wail and utter curses against the sender; and, having sufficiently lamented their misfortune, they put on their boots and again go out into the fog and rain and buy a card for him also. And let this account suffice about Exmascards.

They also send gifts to one another, suffering the same things about the gifts as about the cards, or even worse. For every citizen has to guess the value of the gift which every friend will send to him so that he may send one of equal value, whether he can afford it or not. And they buy as gifts for one another such things as no man ever bought for himself. For the sellers, understanding the custom, put forth all kinds of trumpery, and whatever, being useless and ridiculous, sell as an Exmas gift. And though the Niatirbians profess themselves to lack sufficient necessary things, such as metal, leather, wood and paper, yet an incredible quantity of these things is wasted every year, being made into the gifts.

And the sellers of gifts no less than the purchasers become pale and weary, because of the crowds and the fog, so that any man who came into a Niatirbian city at this season would think some great public calamity had fallen on Niatirb. This fifty days of preparation is called in their barbarian speech the Exmas Rush.

But when the day of festival comes, then most of the citizens, being exhausted with the Rush, lie in bed till noon. But in the evening they eat five times as much supper as on other days and, crowning themselves with crowns of paper, they become intoxicated. And on the day after Exmas they are very grave, being internally disordered by the supper and the drinking and reckoning how much they have spent on gifts and on the wine.

*Reprinted with permission by Curtis Brown Ltd., London, Trustees of C.S. Lewis.

4. Discussion

(a) Have you ever experienced what these citizens call the Exmas Rush? If so, where? What were your feelings about it?

(b) What would you change about the way you and your family go through the Exmas Rush?

(c) Try to think back what was the most meaningful Christmas experience you've ever had? Try to describe the experience. What makes it meaningful? (or, what part of your family's Christmas celebration brings back the warmest memories? Why do you think this is so?)

(d) What would you change about the way you and your family celebrate Christmas day?

(e) Have you ever received a gift which was too expensive, or the person sacrificed a lot to give it to you? Have you ever received something you knew you could never repay? How did it make you feel?

5. Silent Field Trip

How can we receive the gift of Christ? Discuss the need to retract occasionally from the Exmas Rush in order to hear God.

The Plan: Each person is encouraged to find an hour next week for a silent field trip. Go to an art or science museum, a chapel, a park, a library, or some other quiet place. Take no books, just the paper with Colossians 1:15 23 for a short meditation reading. The group can discuss taking a vow of silence to experience the gift and brainstorm about other ways to make the experience fulfilling. You can also discuss places in the community where this could be best done.

Give each student the prepared paper with the Colossians passage.

6. Prayer

Pray for the capacity to receive the gift of Christ.

Make copies of this resource under the Creative Commons attribution, not-for-profit license.

Page updated 11 Sept. 2013

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