Preparation:  Make a sheep stick puppet.  Pattern can be found at:

http://www.cdkenterprises.com/coloring/animals/sheep.gif

Story (Told by the sheep puppet):  I was all tucked in for a good night’s sleep on the fields outside Bethlehem.  The sky was really dark but I wasn’t afraid because our shepherds were watching over us.  It was quiet — really, really quiet.

I was just about asleep, when I heard one of the shepherds say: “Do you see what I see?”

Another shepherd said, “Yes, and I’m scared.”

By now I was wide awake.  So were my mommy and daddy and aunts and uncles and cousins.  We were all looking up at the light in the sky!

An angel said:  “Do not be afraid. I have good news!  A Baby has been born tonight.”

I was thinking, “You woke me up to say a baby has been born?”

The angel continued talking:  “This is a very SPECIAL baby — a Savior.  His name is Jesus.”

And now the shepherds were talking:  “A Savior?  Can this be true?”

The angel said to the shepherds:  “It’s true.  Baby Jesus is in Bethlehem.  He’s in a stable – all wrapped up in strips of cloth — tucked in — lying in a manger.”

And then suddenly the sky was FULL of angels!  Angels everywhere!  I looked up at my mommy and said: “Do you hear what I hear?  The angels are all praising God!”

They were saying:  “Glory to God in the highest.”  Would you boys and girls say that with me:  “Glory to God in the highest.”  Let’s say it together again:  “Glory to God in the highest.”

The shepherds fell on their knees to the ground in worship.

Then the angels in the sky left.  The light disappeared.  It was dark again.  And quiet.

Then one of the shepherds said:  “I wonder if what we just heard is true?”

Another responded:  “It MUST be true!  An angel told us!  There’s only one way to be sure.  We must go to Bethlehem and find out.”

I scampered along with the shepherds as they hurriedly walked to Bethlehem and sure enough — just as the angel had said — there was Mary and Joseph.  I quietly walked over to the manger and peeked in.  And there was baby Jesus all wrapped up warm and sleeping.

After seeing baby Jesus, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about the Child.  Then we all went back to our hillside.  The shepherds were praising God and saying wonderful things about Him.

SONG:  “First Christmas Day” from Mary Christmas  album.  (Click on song title to hear a clip.)