Theme: Mary and Joseph
Sunday 30th November 2025
Storytelling
Aim: To discover how Mary and Joseph played their part in God’s plan to bring his Saviour – Jesus – into the world.
Bible passage: Luke 1:26–38 Matthew 1:18–25
It’s the first Sunday of Advent (which confusingly this year starts in November) and we start our journey towards Christmas. We’re going to be exploring slightly different stories from the adults, so that the children get the full, exciting story of Christmas over the four weeks we have in our groups.
Today, we meet Mary and Joseph – two ordinary people who are chosen to do extraordinary things. However, they both put themselves at risk to be part of God’s plan to bring Jesus the Saviour into the world.
Children might be familiar with the Christmas story, but help them to encounter it afresh this week. There are lots of ways your conversations could go – why did Jesus come to earth? What does Son of God mean? What part can I play in God’s plans? Try to be flexible as you go through the session.
Each week, we’re going to make simple models of the characters to build up a nativity set. While it will be important to finish the models each week, this is not the main aim of the activity; rather we should help each other process the story and what God is saying.
Sunday Kids Work Video
Things You May Need
Mary and Joseph printouts
Pens/Pencils
Tape, Glue
Collage/Craft materials - ribbon, wool, tissue paper etc.
prayer scrapbook & scissors
Questions & Thoughts
Over the next four weeks, you’re going to make little models of all the characters in the Christmas story. They can collect them all and create their own nativity set at home.
Take a copy of the printout charactes and decorate them to look like Mary and Joseph. What do the you think they looked like? Use whatever art/craft materials you have available.
As you work, carry on talking about the story. What do you think think Mary and Joseph were like? Wonder together about what they must have thought and felt when they decided to play their part in God’s plan to bring Jesus – the Saviour – into the world. Talk too about what part you think you can play in God’s plan to rescue his people.
When you have finished decorating their characters, roll them into tubes (start with the blank end and roll towards the character) use tape to secure the 3d character. These can then stand up by themselves and display this in your home somewhere to remind you of the advent and the purpose of this time of year.
Chat & create
Share out some refreshments and enjoy eating and drinking together. Start to talk about the Bible story using these questions:
•Which is your favourite part of the story? Why?
• What is important about this story? Why?
• How would you have felt if you were Mary?
• What questions would you have wanted to ask the angel?
• What would everyone else have thought about Mary’s story?
• How would you have felt if you were Joseph?
• What questions would you have wanted to ask if you were Joseph??
Worship
These are the worship songs being played in our kids groups this morning, if you wish to listen to the same:
Under 5s
I trust in Him
I will build
Carol Song to Practice - Star of the Morning
Over 5s
Waymaker
Carol Song to Practice - Star of the Morning
Encounter
Gather together and hold your models of Mary. Ask what Mary did to be part of God’s plan. After you have given some suggestions, read out Luke 1:38:
“Mary said, ‘I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said.’ And the angel left her.”
Then hold your models of Joseph. Ask what Joseph did to be part of God’s plan. After you have given some suggestions, read out Matthew 1:20–21:
“While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said, ‘Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’”
Finally, think about who Jesus is and how you can play a part in God’s plan to save his people. Invite a few suggestions then ask God to help you be like Mary and Joseph and say yes to being part of his plan..
Growing faith at home
This week, we started our Christmas journey! We met Mary and Joseph and discovered how they said yes to being part of God’s plan.
For all children
• Read or listen to the story together. You can use the video retelling the children watched in the session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkEypzmHwCI. Or read it in the Bible (Luke 1:26–38 Matthew 1:18–25) or a Bible storybook.
• Explore the story of Christmas by using these craft ideas: https://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas. Don’t forget to talk around the story as well as do the craft!
• In the session, we stared to create our own nativity set by making little models of Mary and Jsoeph from cardboard tubes. If your child(ren) missed this or they have mislaid the figures they made at church, then start making your own this week. As you create together, chat about who Mary and Joseph were and how they were a big part of God’s plan to save his people. How can the children be part of this same big plan?
• When you’re out and about, try to spot signs of Jesus. You might see crosses on buildings and churches; you might see some beautiful countryside and think about how Jesus was there when the world was made; you might see Jesus in a manger in Christmas decorations. Talk about the Christmas story together as you travel around and wonder together about why Jesus came to earth.
