Children's Liturgy Guide

Christmas Dawn

Year C · Christmas

The Shepherds Visit Baby Jesus

Reading: Luke 2:15-20

Leader Prep

Don't worry about doing this perfectly. If the children hear one good idea about God, Jesus, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, or the Gospel, this time has been worthwhile.

Summary

After the angels told them the good news, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to see baby Jesus. They found Mary, Joseph, and the baby just as the angels said, and then they told everyone what had happened.

Key Points

  • The shepherds believed the angel's message and went quickly to find Jesus
  • They found everything exactly as the angels had promised
  • The shepherds shared the good news about Jesus with everyone they met
  • Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them

Background

This passage follows the angelic announcement to the shepherds. The shepherds, considered lowly and unimportant in society, are the first to receive and respond to the news of the Messiah's birth. Their immediate response demonstrates faith in action: they go, they see, they glorify God, and they tell others. Mary's contemplative response, treasuring and pondering these things in her heart, models a different but equally valid response to encountering Christ. Theologically, God's choice of shepherds as first witnesses inverts worldly expectations of honor and status, a theme Luke emphasizes throughout his Gospel. For children, emphasize the shepherds' excitement and eagerness to see Jesus, their joy in finding him, and how they wanted to share the good news with everyone. Set aside discussions of social class or the deeper Christological significance of the manger scene.

Session Flow

Opening Prayer

Invite the children to pray with you, then read the opening prayer below. If many don't know the sign of the cross, teach the whole group.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear God, thank you for sending us your Son, Jesus, on Christmas. Help us to be like the shepherds who were so happy to find baby Jesus and share the good news with others. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Warm-up

Ask the warm-up question before the reading. There are no wrong answers; this is just to help the children connect today's reading to their own lives.

Have you ever been so excited about something that you wanted to hurry and see it right away?

Example: Yes, on my birthday I woke up really early because I was so excited to see my presents under the tree and I ran downstairs super fast.

Bridge to the reading: That excited, hurrying feeling is just what the shepherds felt in today's reading. When angels told them that baby Jesus was born, they could not wait, so they hurried to Bethlehem to see him with their own eyes.

Read the Scripture

Read the day's selected passage aloud. The full Scripture text is not included here. Use a Children's Lectionary if your parish has one available. A children's Bible may also be helpful for younger children. Otherwise, read from a standard lectionary, Bible, or USCCB.org. Read slowly, with short pauses.

Reading Questions

Ask the questions conversationally. You do not need to use every question if time is short. The example answers are for leader preparation, not scripts or required answers.

  1. What did the shepherds decide to do after the angels spoke to them?

    Example: The shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem right away so they could see the baby that the angels told them about.

  2. What did the shepherds find when they got to Bethlehem?

    Example: They found Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus lying in a manger, just like the angels said they would.

  3. What did the shepherds do after they saw baby Jesus?

    Example: They told everyone they met about the baby and all the amazing things the angels had said about him.

  4. Why do you think Mary kept thinking about everything that happened?

    Example: I think she wanted to remember everything special about that night because Jesus was so important and she loved him so much.

Application Questions

Use these questions to help the children connect the reading to their own lives this week. Simple, concrete answers are best.

  1. How do you think the shepherds felt when they finally saw baby Jesus in the manger?

    Example: I think they felt really, really happy and excited because they found exactly what the angels promised and Jesus was really there.

  2. Who is someone you could tell about Jesus, like the shepherds told people they met?

    Example: I could tell my friend at school about Jesus or maybe my grandma when she comes to visit us this week.

  3. This week, how can you show you are happy that Jesus was born?

    Example: I can say thank you to Jesus in my prayers before bed and I can be extra kind to my family because it is Christmas.

Recap

Today we heard how the shepherds were so excited about the angel's message that they hurried to Bethlehem. They found baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph, just as the angels promised. Then the shepherds told everyone the wonderful news. We can be like the shepherds and share our joy about Jesus with others too.

Prayer of the Faithful

Before returning to the assembly, invite the children to share their own prayer intentions. Their prayers may be serious, simple, funny, or very specific. After each child's prayer, the group may respond: "Lord, hear our prayer." Lastly, include the suggested prayer below.

For all the children around the world celebrating Christmas, that they may feel the joy of knowing Jesus was born for them, we pray to the Lord.

Mass Connection

If time allows, point out this connection just before returning to Mass. This helps children see that Children's Liturgy is still part of the Mass.

When we sing 'Glory to God in the highest' at Mass, we echo the very song the angels sang to the shepherds on that first Christmas night.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to us as a little baby on Christmas. Help us to be like the shepherds, happy to find you and eager to share your love with everyone we meet. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ChildrensLiturgy.org

The Shepherds Visit Baby Jesus

Luke 2:15-20

Word Search

Optional activity: use the word search after the discussion if you have time, or send it home with the children. The words relate to today's Children's Liturgy Scripture passage.

S I B X F R E W E P S J M C J
S J I A E W C C R C O F K B Q
I Y N P L G R C Y S U L U K Y
E Y S D R E H P E H S T R K R
T X Z X X W N P T V R S T L G
M A R Y J M H U B U P W I L H
T S S H W Z K G S F M E L M V
D H V E A K T D L X J N Q A H
J N X A Z G K Z E P O T H N V
I B W R J L Y R G F Y T U G T
J V C T U O W J N H E B R E T
B N I R L R L S A G T Q R R Y
V B O K D Y G V K H R U Y E M
T E F I C Y O A P J E S U S V
K G B E T H L E H E M R F Q F

Words to find

  • shepherds
  • Bethlehem
  • manger
  • angels
  • Mary
  • Joseph
  • Jesus
  • joy
  • glory
  • news
  • heart
  • hurry

ChildrensLiturgy.org