Introduction

The Getting Ready for Baby Jesus unit gives your group the opportunity to prepare for the arrival of Baby Jesus, the Light of the World, who will shine in the darkness, like the Christmas lights that shine around us at this time of year.

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The four stories from this unit all come from Luke’s Gospel. We made a conscious decision to keep them together (including the less familiar story of Zechariah) to respect Luke’s careful choice of birth narratives, which show God coming to – and working through – all kinds of different people in all kinds of different places:

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Week 1: an old respected man in the Temple

Week 2: a young, disgraced woman at home

Week 3: two unborn babies on a journey

Week 4: the despised ‘outsider’ shepherds in the fields

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Through the stories and supporting material of this unit, the children are encouraged to make sense of and take part in the celebratory mood of this time of year, but also to find space in the busyness to remember and spend time with the tiny baby, the Light of the World, at the centre of it all.

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Note: The story of the Magi (or three kings/Wise Men) from Matthew’s Gospel features in the Jesus, Light of the World! (Epiphany) unit in Book 2. Some groups may prefer to use stories from this unit during the Advent/Christmas season.

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Build your own Diddy Disciples session

Click on the Building Blocks on the left to explore the worship material and build your own Diddy Disciples session.

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See Book 1, p.6 for a short introduction to how to build a session.

See Book 1, p.217 for a step-by-step guide to each Building Block.

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Bible Storytelling

See Diddy Disciples Book 1 for the four stories from this unit.

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Week 1: Get Ready! (Baby John’s story, Luke 1.5–25, 57–79) p.191

Week 2: ‘Yes!’ Said Mary (Luke 1.26–38)  p.195

Week 3: My God is a Topsy Turvy God! (Luke 1.39–55)  p.198

Week 4: Gloria! Gloria! (The Shepherds’ Story, Luke 2.8–16a)  p.203

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Creative Response Starter Ideas

See Diddy Disciples Book 1 from p.208 for a wide range of Creative Response Starter Ideas.

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