Mary Visits Elizabeth Group
Group Activities

Sermon Title: "Mary Visits Elizabeth"

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:39-45

JUMP FOR JOY: Have the children form a line across the room. Explain that the children are going to have a jumping contest and that they must listen to you and do what you tell them to do. Give commands such as: Jump three small jumps forward; Jump two small jumps back; Jump one small jump left; Jump one jump high in the air. Explain to the children that we often jump for joy when we are happy or excited. That is why Elizabeth's unborn baby jumped inside her at the good news of the approaching birth of Jesus.

BABY RATTLE RELAY: The children will be divided into two teams. Across the room from the two teams will be a table with two baby rattles on it. The children will take turns running to the table, picking up a rattle, and saying, "AT THE SOUND OF MARY'S GREETING, ELIZABETH'S CHILD LEAPED FOR JOY" and go back and tag the next member of his team to run the relay.

CHRISTMAS CARD BAG GAME: The teacher will provide two paper grocery bags. On one bag will be written BIBLICAL and on the other bag will be written NON-BIBLICAL. The teacher will have a large collection of Christmas cards. Some of the cards will have a BIBLICAL theme on the front and some will be NON-BIBLICAL. Each child will pick a card, examine the front and then place it in the correct bag. When all of the children have placed a card in the bag, the cards will be taken one by one from the BIBLICAL bag and the class will discuss why it belongs in that bag.

GOING ON A TRIP GAME: Have the children stand in a circle. The teacher will start the game by saying, "I'm going on a trip and I will take a hat (touch your head). The child to your right will then say, "I'm going on a trip and I will take a hat (touch your head) and a pencil (pretend to right). Continue around the circle with each child add an item with an appropriated action. (The teacher can decide what to do when a child makes a mistake.) When everyone has had a turn, discuss where Mary went on a trip in today's lesson.

PAPER PLATE HANGING: Give each child a paper plate to color in Christmas bright colors and decorate with glitter and hung by some colorful yarn or string. The children can hang them in their window at home. Write CELEBRATE JESUS' BIRTH on the bright colored plate with glitter.

SHARE A SNACK: Christmas tree cookies that children can frost and add glitter, etc.

Song:  "The Greatest Gift of All"

Music: Sheet music in PDF format.

MP3: Piano Accompaniment