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KS1 Festivals - Christianity: The First Christmas

In short...

Themes: The story of the birth of Jesus; celebrating Christmas.

Summary: This assembly, suitable for an act of collective worship, is for Christmas time and focuses on the Christian story of the birth of Jesus.

Resources: The to download/print (pdf). The assembly begins with some 'presents' - all items associated with Christmas - but with a twist! You will need to source these beforehand and place them in boxes and/or wrapping paper. Alternatively use the image gallery called 'Christmas is…?'

The video

This video tells one of the most famous stories from the Christian religion - the birth of Jesus, remembered each year on Christmas Day.

Mary is visited by an angel who tells her that she is to be the mother of Jesus, God's Son. Not long before the birth, Mary travels to Bethlehem with her husband, Joseph, as required by the Roman census. The town is already busy and Jesus is born in a stable as there is no room at any of the inns.

Jesus's first visitors include humble shepherds and rich, wise men from the East, who have followed a bright star to find this new king.

Duration: 3' 38"

End of speech: '…Christians celebrate Jesus's birthday as one of their main holy days - Christmas Day.'

Video questions

  • Where do Mary and Joseph live? (Nazareth)
  • Who tells Mary she is going to have a special baby? (An angel called Gabriel)
  • Why do Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem? (The Roman rulers wish to create a list of everyone living in the land - called a 'census'. They require that everyone returns to the place of their birth to be counted. So Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem - the place where Joseph's family come from.)
  • Where does Mary place Jesus after his birth? (In a manger - the trough usually used by the animals for feeding)
  • What have the wise men read in their old books? (That a great king will be born when a new star appears in the sky)
  • What three gifts do the wise men give Jesus? (Gold, Frankincense - a precious resin to be burned as incense - and Myrrh - another precious resin with a variety of uses)

Key links

Download / print the assembly framework ready for use

Assembly framework (pdf)

Suggested framework

1. Entry music
Play a Christmas carol that tells the story of the birth of Jesus, such as 'The First Noël', or choose one of the songs suggested below from 鶹Լ collections (eg 'Away in a manger' or 'Mary had a baby').

2. Introduction
Wrap up and number with a label some things that Christmas is 'about' (see list). Then place them under your school tree if you have one, or at the front of the hall. At the start of assembly, talk about the fact that it will soon be Christmas and that there are five presents that you need some help opening. Some pointers for what to say about each gift as it's opened are included below.
1: A Christmas decoration - at Christmas, we like to make everywhere look pretty (draw attention to what's already - or will be - in evidence at school).
2: Some Christmas role play food - at Christmas we often have a special meal together.
3: A Christmas party popper / cracker / blower - Christmas is often a time for parties and celebrating.
4: A family photo - Christmas is a time for families to get together.
5: A small baby Jesus nativity figure - for Christians Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, an event that they remember every year on Christmas Day. This baby may be small, but for Christians, the story of his birth is the biggest and most important part of Christmas.

Alternatively, if you do not have time to source the items, use the images in the gallery called 'Christmas is…?'

3. The video
Play the video. It includes a short introduction to the Christian religion before telling the story of the birth of Jesus (the 'nativity'). The video ends with the words: '…Christians celebrate Jesus's birthday as one of their main holy days - Christmas Day.'

4. After the video
Use the story questions to help children to talk about the story they have watched and to recall the main events.

5. Time to talk
Ask children to think about why it is so important to Christians that this story is remembered every year and what they think the most important part of the story is.

6. Time to sing
An opportunity to sing your chosen song. Suggestions from 鶹Լ collections are below.

7. Opportunity for reflection
We've been thinking today about a very special story - the nativity - the story of the very first Christmas…
We've heard how the special baby, Jesus, was born in a stable - and how angels announced the news of his birth…the birth of Jesus, God's Son…
This story is one of the most important of all stories for Christians and a really important part of the celebration of Christmas…
I wonder what's important about Christmas for you…?
Think quietly to yourself for a few moments now…

8. Opportunity for prayer
Dear God.
Thank you for Christmas time and for all the wonderful things that we have thought of that are a part of our celebrations.
As we enjoy Christmas, please help us to remember that we celebrate because of the story of the birth of Jesus.
Amen.

Suggested songs

'Away in a manger' - Come and Praise, Beginning

Mary had a baby (vocal)

Silent Night (vocal)

'Away in a manger': Instrumental - Come and Praise, Beginning

'Mary had a baby' - Instrumental

Silent Night (guitar instrumental)

Related links

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