​Teddy's Surprise Christmas!
Setting: children aged 3-5 sitting on the floor You need: A teddy bear and a small blanket. The Storyteller sits Ted down facing the children and then begins an enthusiastic conversation with Ted. Storyteller lifts Ted's hands up to Ted's mouth each time the word "surprise" is mentioned. Children are invited to join in this response.
Well you asked me to tell you the Christmas story before you go to sleep, so here it is. Take out a small blanket and put over the Teddy's legs Looking at Ted A long long time ago, a girl had a very special visitor come to her home. Pause No Teddy it wasn't The Wiggles (or Kermit the frog or..) - it was a very big angel sent by God to give Mary some news. To the children What does it look like to be surprised? Hold Teddy's hands up to mouth and call out 'SURPRISE'! Can you do that boys and girls? Surprise! Well Mary certainly got a surprise when the angel told her she was going to have very special baby - God's own son. Mary told Joseph - Joseph was the man she was going to marry - all about the angel. Joseph had some news as well. He'd had a big SURPRISE too because God had told him in a dream that Mary was going to have this special baby. What did Joseph look like Ted? Hold hands up to mouth and say 'Surprise!' Yes that's right. Mary and Joseph had a long trip to make - all the way to the town of Bethlehem where God's special baby was to be born. Mary climbed up on the back of a donkey and Joseph started walking. When they arrived they were very tired - it was a VERY long way. What's that Ted? You're feeling tired too? Just a little bit longer. This is where the story gets very SURPRISING. Mary and Joseph needed to find somewhere to stay for the night. Joseph tried place after place - but everywhere was full. Finally Joseph came to yet another door. Knock, knock. Who's there? Joseph and Mary who..? You're what...? The man at the door was very surprised when he heard that Mary was going to have a baby...VERY soon. Yes Ted he was surprised! Call out surprise with hands to mouth. 'We've just got one spot left,' the man said. 'Around the back with the animals in the stable - at least there's some hay to rest on.' So that's where they stayed - and...later that night...the very first Christmas night...Mary had her baby - Do you know what his name was? JESUS. Who would have thought? A young lady from a poor family was the mother of Jesus. What a surprise! But Ted, there was more. During the night some shepherds arrived from the hills - they'd had a big surprise too! They were sitting looking after their sheep and suddenly the sky was full of angels all singing beautiful songs about how great God is. One of the angels told them to go and find God's special baby. And they had! They certainly were surprised! Baby Jesus was going to surprise a lot of people as he grew up. He showed people how to love and follow God. He wants us to love Him too. O.K. Ted, I can see you're looking very sleepy. Pick up Ted and wrap blanket around him like a baby rocking your in arms. No more surprises tonight.
Start singing "Away in a Manger"
NOTES: the story may be modified according to the attention on the children Ted could have a special name...Big Ted or Benjamin Bear etc.. you may like to invite the children beforehand to bring their own teddy's to "Teddy's surprise Christmas Party" and have some party food as well.
© Don Stott, www.Eliab.com

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