Talk (What does Christmas mean to you?)

Stuff needed

Christmas story - the short version based on Luke 1 & 2
Dressing up clothes etc.

Talk Introduction

At this time of year, I think it's fair to say that there is only one thing on our minds
And that is…Christmas…
Christmas is an important time all around the world for all kinds of reasons.
Tonight I thought we could think about why that is
To understand that we need to go back and think about the Christmas story and we can find that in the Bible
I'd like us to do that by doing some drama / rap etc.
In a moment, I'd like you to split off into groups and come up with something based on the Christmas story
To help, I have some ideas / scripts that you might like to use:
- Christmas story - see condensed version based on Luke 1 & 2
- Rap, rhyme & reason: Christmas Rap Page 70
- Rap, rhyme & reason: Rock the manger Page 89
- Check out the Chav style Christmas
Get to it!!

The middle bit

[Perform drama / rap etc.]

The end bit

So if Christmas is such an important time, why do you think that is?
- Holidays!
- Family's
- Giving / receiving gifts
- Relaxing
- No school!
What does it mean to you?
What did it mean to the shepherds?
Christmas mean lots of different things to different people
- Families etc.
But at the heart of it, Christmas is about hope that Jesus birth brings us
Jesus said this about later in his life (see script)
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son [Jesus]. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending Jesus merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again."
Jesus came to put things right between 'people', God and the world
So that those who follow him might live life to the full, both in this life and evermore…
That’s what Christmas is about...

Prayer bit

Prayer - Write on the white board all the things you would like to thank God for this Christmas…

Bible reading

Lisa: This is how much God loved the world:

Nigel: He gave his Son, his one and only Son [Jesus].

Lisa: And this is why

Nigel: So that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

Lisa: God didn't go to all the trouble of sending Jesus merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

Youth ideas home page

Lisa:	This is how much God loved the world:

Nigel:	He gave his Son, his one and only Son [Jesus].

Lisa:	And this is why

Nigel:	So that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

Lisa:	God didn't go to all the trouble of sending Jesus merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.