Annunciation

OBJECTIVE

The Feast of the Annunciation is one of the seven major feasts in the Coptic church. It commemorates the announcement of the Archangel Gabriel to the Holy Virgin Mary that she would give birth to Jesus Christ. According to the Coptic Synaxarium, this feast falls on the 29th of Baramhat, nine months before the feast of the Nativity, which is on the 29th of Kiahk. We celebrate this feast during the Holy Great Fast, and though it is a Major Feast, it is celebrated without breaking the Fast. If it falls during Holy Week, then it is not celebrated. However, we commemorate the feast on the 29th of every Coptic Month except in Tubah and Amshir.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 10 Minutes

Talk with the students about where a baby grows before they are born. Ask them if they can remember their mom or aunt having their younger sibling or cousin growing in their belly.

Ask the students some more leading questions: Do they remember their parents or aunt announcing their pregnancy? Were the kids happy and excited when they found out they were going to have a baby brother/sister or a baby cousin?

Now ask the students about angels. What do angels look like? What do they do?

In today's lesson, the students will hear the story about how an angel appeared to St. Mary and gave her the news that she was going to have a Son.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

The story of the Annunciation can be found in Luke 1:26-38.

Memory Verse - "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus." (Luke 1:31)

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

When the appointed time by God for the salvation of mankind had come, God sent the Archangel Gabriel to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to the Virgin Mary and Joseph. The angel appeared before St. Mary and he said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women" (Luke 1:28). However, after St. Mary saw the angel, she was troubled and confused about what he was telling her.

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus." (Luke 1:30-31)

Again, St. Mary was confused and she asked the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" Archangel Gabriel comforted her and told her that the Holy Spirit will fill her and that she is going to be the Mother of God.

Archangel Gabriel also gave her proof of the validity of his message: "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:36-37)

After the angel explained to her the good news, St. Mary obeyed her calling and responded to him saying, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord Let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38) Then, Archangel Gabriel left St. Mary.

After that very moment in which the angel brought the good news to St. Mary, the Only Begotten Son of God came and dwelt in her belly for 9 months.

On the Annunciation Feast, all the hymns that we sing in church are prayed in the joyful tune. The Divine Liturgy is prayed using special responses and hymns that are specific to this feast. If the feast falls within the Great Holy Fast, we still celebrate the feast in the normal manner, but without breaking our fast. If the feast falls within Holy Week, it is commemorated without changing any of the solemn observances.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

Open the icon of the Annunciation in the attachments. Share this icon with the students and ask them to share what they see. Engage the students in a discussion on what is depicted in the icon, and ask them questions about the lesson.

  • What is the name of the Archangel that brought the good news to the Virgin Mary? Archangel Gabriel
  • What is the good news that the angel brought? That the Virgin Mary would give birth to the Son of God
  • Who was with St. Mary when the angel appeared to her? St. Joseph
  • What was the name of St. Mary's cousin? Elizabeth
  • How many months was Elizabeth carrying her baby? Six months
  • Was Elizabeth old or young? She was very old
  • What are some of the virtues we can learn from St. Mary? Obedience, faithfulness, meekness, purity, etc.
  • What are some ways that we can be obedient in our lives? Have the students share their answers
  • What should we do when we are scared or worried about a situation in our lives? Through the intercessions of St. Mary, we can make our requests known to God, and we should trust in His immense love for us

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

The story of the Annunciation shows us the humility of St. Mary and her obedience to God's will. In her humility, she was ready to receive God, and call herself a servant of the Lord, even AFTER she received the news that she would be His mother. She was faithful and completely trusted God. St. Mary teaches us to always be prepared to receive the Word of God and to fully submit to His will for us. The Feast of the Annunciation gives us an opportunity to practice humility and faithfulness to whatever God calls us to do. During this time, we can pray to maintain the spiritual process of repentance and prayer so that He may dwell in us and that we may be filled with God's grace.

ACTIVITY - 15 Minutes

Option 1: Crossword Puzzle

Print a copy of the attachment titled "Crossword Puzzle" for each student. Have them solve the puzzle in pairs, groups, or on their own. Provide Bibles for the students to use if they need help. The answer key to the crossword puzzle is also provided in the attachments.

Option 2: Obedience Game

Materials:

  • Paper plates
  • Markers

Instructions

  • Give each student a paper plate and ask them to place it on top of their head
  • Pass out a marker to each student
  • Then, give them a series of instructions that will lead them to draw a "house" (you may choose to have them draw a different item of your choice)
    • An example of instructions to draw a house would be: draw a triangle, draw a square beneath the triangle, draw circles inside the triangle, etc.

Game takeaway: There will be times when we may not understand where God is leading us, but in the end, it will become clear. In the lesson, we saw that St. Mary trusted God when she heard the good news, and her response to Archangel Gabriel showed her obedience.

Option 3: Doxology

Learn and sing the Doxology of the Feast of the Annunciation as a class.

SERVANT RESOURCES

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Review the story of the Annunciation. Pray through the intercessions of St. Mary, the Mother of God, that we may be obedient and trusting in God's will for us.

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Crossword ANSWER KEY (Grade 3-5 - Annunciation).pdf

Crossword Puzzle (Grade 3-5 - Annunciation).pdf

Discussion Icon (Grade 3-5 - Annunciation).pdf