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Let’s be honest: I have a hard time teaching Children’s Church on Christmas and Easter. The Christmas lesson is particularly difficult.

Yes, I guess it should be the easiest days to teach. But it is not. It is difficult because all of my kids know the Christmas story and the Easter story. My group is 10-15 kids, most of whom I have known since they were born and taught since they were four. Some of them have never known another Children’s Church teacher. But between myself, the Sunday School teachers, the Wednesday night teachers, and the few that have Bible classes at school, they know the Christmas story. There is at least one that knows more about the Bible than I do. So trying to find a way to teach them a Christmas lesson without them falling asleep is a constant challenge!

So I thought: let’s get creative!

Also: The Beginner’s Guide to Teaching Children’s Church

My choir sang Huron Carol last year. I had never heard it before, and I thought my kids probably have not either.

Huron Carol is a Christmas carol. It is the first Christmas carol ever written in the Canada in 1642. Missionaries used it to teach the Native Americans (Canadians?) about Jesus. You can read more about it here.

Since the Native Americans had no concept of myrrh.

And frankly, neither do your kids.

So the missionaries made a song with words that they could understand.

And behold… my Christmas lesson was born.

Also: How to Structure Children’s Church in 6 Easy Steps

Download the printable version here.Children’s Church Christmas Lesson

Download the printable version of the lyrics here. Huron Carol Lyrics

Huron Carol Christmas Lesson

Materials:

• Paper
• pencils
• Recording of Huron Carol
• (optional) copies of the lyrics
• (optional) white board and markers

Procedure:

1. Ask the kids what holiday is coming up? (Christmas!)
2. Ask if anyone knows why we celebrate Christmas. Allow for answers. If no one arrives at the real reason for Christmas, tell them a brief version.
3. Ask kids to turn in their Bibles to Luke 2:1-20. While you (or a kid) read, ask them to count all of the words that they do not know.
4. Ask how many of the words they do not know. Write them down on the board, or on a piece of paper. Go over each one, so that they know what they are.
5. Tell them, “People from different places know different things. Just like we don’t understand all of the words, neither do a lot of other people. Years ago, after Christopher Columbus came over the Americas, some missionaries went to teach the Native Americans about Jesus. Just like we didn’t understand some of the things in the story, neither did they. So the missionaries came up with a song to tell the story using things that the people knew.”
6. Pass out copies of the lyrics to Huron Carol. Read it with them. After each part, ask what part of the Christmas Story it represents. You could also assign parts to groups to figure out, if you have older kids.
7. Tell the kids that they are going to make up a version of the Christmas story. I have mixed age groups, so I gave guidelines—think of a TV show or movie or video game or book. They need to come up with a job for the people who go to Jesus (instead of shephards), a precious gift to give Jesus (instead of gold, frankincense, and myrrh), and a place for Jesus to stay (instead of the manger).
8. Give an example with something they may know. An example could be if they are in SpongeBob, then the people who come to Jesus could be people who work at the Krusty Krab, the gift can be Krabby Patties, and the place to stay could be Spongebob’s pinapple. Why on Earth that is the first thing I thought of, I cannot tell you. But you get the picture. You can pick your own example if you do not like that one.
9. Have the kids write down their ideas. Tell them all of the things in the story have to be in their “world”. They are missionaries to their world, and the people have to understand them.
10. Have the kids share their stories with the class.
11. Follow up with whatever your favorite Christmas activity is—crafts, games, etc. (If you need help with some good games, subscribe to find out when My Kids’ Favorite Church Games post comes out!

Also, here is a picture books of Huron Carol. You could use them as well, and if you have younger kids, they would love them. I plan to buy myself one. Click on the picture to check it out!

I love making ornaments with the kids at Christmastime. (Despite the fact that my mother never let me put homemade ornaments on the real tree… anyway…) I have used a lot of these, and also you can find some more on this Pinterest board.

And if you are in need of a Christmas Program, check out Church Christmas Programs: What Do I Choose?

Do you have a hard time with Christmas lessons? Or do you have a favorite that you do every year? Let me know in the comments, and subscribe to get more content!

Happy teaching!

Becca