ROTATION.ORG WRITING TEAM

JESUS' BIRTH THROUGH THE EYES OF ISAIAH

STORYTELLING WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Story: Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 7:14
Key/Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:6

PURPOSE

During this storytelling workshop, the students will hear and discuss the story of Isaiah and some of his prophecies about the birth of Jesus. In order to more fully understand expectation (younger students' emphasis) and justice (older students), the students will be guided in exploring and telling stories from their own lives (personal stories) or experiences (other's stories, books, movies) that embody the themes of expectation and justice.

Objective(s) for Rotation

See Bible Background

Objectives for Workshop

By the end of this workshop, the students will:

• have met Isaiah "in person."
  
• have thought about what it means to be called by God.
  
• have spent some time discussing expectation or justice in light of their personal lives and experiences.
  

PREPARATION

Review Bible Background.

Materials List

• An adult or youth volunteer dressed in Bible times clothes prepared to be Isaiah (see script)
  
• Bible(s)
  
• Fireballs, Red Hots or spicy cinnamon candies
  
• White candle and matches on a table at the front of the gathering area.
  

Advance Preparation Requirements

Tips for telling Isaiah's Story

Recruit a volunteer to portray Isaiah and to tell the prophet's story based on the script that is provided with the lesson. If necessary, a woman may portray Isaiah for this storytelling appearance. The children will get caught up in the drama of the moment and pretend along with you. If no volunteer can be found, the leader can be Isaiah or can tell about Isaiah in the third person.

Read about Isaiah, especially Isaiah chapters 6, 7, and 9, in several translations of the Bible and children's Bibles to see other ways to tell it.

It is not necessary to memorize this story word for word. Rather, learn it by heart. That is, become familiar with the background notes for this lesson and chapters 6, 7 and 9 of Isaiah. Memorize some key phrases. Summarize the story in outline form. And then tell about "your life" in your own words. Do be sure to cover the information in this story, as it is the basis for the lesson that follows.

However, DO LEARN THE 3 KEY VERSES, ISAIAH 7:14 AND ISAIAH 9:6-7, WORD FOR WORD from the New Revised Standard Version, or read them from a cheat sheet/scroll.

This monologue is written as an intimate and personal story. Tell it in a way that is confiding and friendly, as if you were telling the story of your own life to your grandchildren. You are bringing the Bible to life for the children through your portrayal of a real Bible person.

Decide why you think Isaiah thought he was lost and why he then decided God could send him. The Bible does not indicate why he makes this decision; he was not required to go. Think about how he felt about people not listening to him. How he felt about the prophecies he was sharing. Once you have decided how you want to interpret Isaiah, let that color how you speak for him. But remember, there are many correct interpretations.

Bring the story to life with your movements and emotions as well as the words. Try to visualize the action, and then include small parts of it in your telling. For example, point to your lips and respond to the hot coal; raise your hands in benediction at the end of the story.

If you cannot learn this story by heart (to tell it in your own words), read and reread it until you are very comfortable with it. Then you will be able to look up and make eye contact and interact with your listeners, which will help bring the story to life for them. Consider making your "cheat sheet" copy of the script into a scroll. Tell your listeners you are referring to your notes for the book you are writing.

For more help with storytelling, see Amy Crane's manual on Biblical Storytelling in the Rotation Documents: Workshop Manuals section of the IDEA AND LESSON EXCHANGE. http://209.197.234.177/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=126&t=000002

Notes to help with questions that may arise from Isaiah's Story

• A seraph is a type of angel with six wings that stands beside the throne of God and sings His praises. The only place they appear in the Bible is in Isaiah 6:2-6. Some sources indicate that they are snakelike or are holding snakes.
  
  
• Isaiah's vision in the temple occurred approximately 740 BC.
  

Suggestions for Room Arrangement

Room arrangement will be important in establishing a comfortable, safe, nonjudgmental environment for sharing personal stories. If possible, sit with the students on their level rather than standing above them. If the class is large, divide into smaller groups for discussion and sharing with additional adults to moderate each group. 8-10 is a good size group so that each will have time to share, but not too much time. The adult leaders should be prepared to share first if necessary to "break the ice" and create a safe space for sharing. Also, sometimes it is easier to share someone else's story than our own, so sharing of stories of movie and book characters and also of other people is acceptable. Remind the students not to share personal family "secrets" that could be embarrassing to people not present -- no gossiping.

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction

Early arrival activity

Today's lesson involves achieving a certain level of trust and intimacy for effective sharing. Take some time to chat informally with the students as they arrive. Talk about things that relate to the themes of expectation and justice such as preparations for Christmas; plans for holiday travel or visitors; service projects being done in church, school, or scouts; current events.

Open with prayer.

Read Isaiah 9:6-7 and 7:14

Memory verse work

The students will learn the verse with movements so that their bodies will help their minds remember the words; accompanying movements are in italics.

Isaiah 9:6 (hold up 9 fingers, then 6)

For a child has been born for us, (rock a baby)

a son given to us; (hold out both hands palms up as if giving something)

authority rests upon his shoulders; (pat both of your shoulders)

and he is named (sign your 'John Hancock' on your hands)

Wonderful Counselor, (start with both hands at mouth, reach them out with palms up as if giving something)

Mighty God, (hold both arms up to show muscles)

Everlasting Father, (both hands start at heart, reach and point out to sides showing eternity)

Prince of Peace. (hold two fingers up in a peace sign).

Repeat several times until all are comfortable with it.

Dig - Main Content

(Dim the lights in the room.)

"Have any of you ever been really, really excited about something that you knew was going to happen, but didn't know when it was going to happen?"

"Have any of you ever been really sad because you saw people doing wrong things, things that you knew would make God unhappy?"

(If anyone wants to answer more than yes or no to either question now, tell them to hold those thoughts, because we will be discussing them soon.)

"Today, we will be talking about both being excited and being disappointed."

(Light the candle. Read Isaiah 9:2 from the Bible.)

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them light has shined.

"Those words were written by a man named Isaiah, a great prophet of the Lord. Today, I would like for you to meet Isaiah."

(Person dressed in Bible time clothes comes to front of class and tells his story.)

ISAIAH'S STORY SCRIPT

(Adapted primarily from the New Revised Standard Version)

Good morning. Thank you for asking me to be here with you today.

I'm not used to being invited to share with people. You do know that I am a prophet, don't you? Most people tend to avoid prophets. Probably because when people are obeying God, he doesn't need to send prophets. Prophets are God's messengers to individuals and to nations; we let people know what will happen if they do not repent and change their ways. To be honest, we're not always much fun to be around.

So, why did I become a prophet? Good question. It really wasn't my choice. I started out as a writer and a historian working for King Uzziah of Judah. And then, when I was about 25 years old, my life changed.

King Uzziah had died. I went into the temple to pray one day. And there, I saw the Lord -- yes, the Lord God! -- sitting on his high throne. The hem of His robe completely filled the Temple!

Seraphs were in attendance. Each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two wings they flew. And they called to one another,
saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"

The sound of their voices made the foundation of the Temple shake! The Temple itself filled with smoke.

And I cried out, "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips. Every word that passes my lips is sinful. I live among a people of unclean lips. Yet my eyes have seen the Lord of Hosts!" I was sure that I, a sinful man, would die after beholding the Lord.

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with the red-hot coal and said, "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt is gone and your sin is blotted out."

Then, I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? Who will be our messenger?"

I answered, "Here am I. Send me!"

And He told me what to say.

As I said, the people did not always like what I had to say. Often, they did not understand what I said, or they did not want to believe it. But still I shared the word of the Lord with the people.

Years went by. One day, the Lord sent me with a message to King Ahaz, he was Uzziah's grandson. "Ask the Lord your God to give you a sign. It can be anything -- from deep in the world of the dead or from high up in heaven."

King Ahaz responded, "I will not ask for a sign. I will not put the Lord to the test."

I said, "Hear then, descendants of King David. Is it too little for you to wear out the patience of men? Must you wear out God's patience, too? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel, 'God is with us.'"

I said many other things to the King of Judah and his people. Many foretold of the Messiah. Didn't you learn one of the prophecies God gave me to share with the people about the Messiah?: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

To be honest, I was sad when God first sent me, when he said, "Go and give the people this message: 'No matter how much you listen, you will not understand.'"

But throughout my life, I listened to the word of God. And it made me glad to hear that a time of peace and justice will one day arrive. For the Lord said of this child to be born to us, His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

My heart is filled with rejoicing in anticipation of this time of the Lord's peace and justice.

May the blessings and the peace of the Lord be upon each one of you.

Concluding the Story

"Does anyone have any questions for or about Isaiah?"

"Thank you, Isaiah, for visiting with us today." [Isaiah leaves.]

At this point divide into smaller groups if necessary.

Personal Storytelling

"Isaiah just shared some of his life story with us. Think about some things in your life, or the life of someone you know, that are similar to situations in Isaiah's life. For example: (Provide examples and allow time to discuss as appropriate. Additional conversation starters for younger and older students follow in the Additional Suggestions section of this lesson plan.)

• Tell us about a time when unexpected news stunned you.
  
• Tell us about a time you stood up for someone else because it was the right thing to do, even though it was not the easy thing to do. (An example, if you need help getting things started. "In Disney's movie Beauty and the Beast, Belle knew that the Beast had done nothing wrong. When she protested the plan of Gaston and the villagers to go kill the Beast, she was locked in the cellar. She did not accept her apparent inability to help, but managed to break free, even though she did not know how she could save the Beast from the angry mob.")
  
• Tell us about a time you were helpless and needed to be rescued.
  

Follow up each response with questions as necessary: How did you feel? What did you learn/discover/understand as a result of this experience?

Reflect - Closure

Questions for Discussion

• I wonder how we can live our lives during Advent to show that we are expecting more than just a bunch of presents under the Christmas tree?
  
  
• Isaiah said that Jesus' power would be established with justice and righteousness. What is justice? (quality of being proper, equitable, morally right) What is righteousness? (upright, justifiable, virtuous, morally right)
  
  
• Can Jesus "do" justice and righteousness by himself? How can we help?
  

Review the memory verse.

Closing Prayer

"Is God asking a question to which you could answer, 'Here I am, Lord'? "

Give each child one of the spicy cinnamon candies. Say, "As this spicy candy 'burns your lips,' almost like the hot coal burned Isaiah's lips and purified him, think and pray about how God calls you, me, each one of us to serve Him, just as we are. Remember that God will go with you, just as He went with Isaiah and guided him."

Allow a few moments for silent reflection and prayer or journaling

Sing "Here I Am, Lord" by Daniel L Schutte, 1981 (Presbyterian Hymnal, #525) or pray:
Father, thank you for this exciting season of hope and expectation. Give us the strength and courage we need to say "Here I am" and to serve you with love. Lead us as we go sharing your word, acting with wisdom and justice, as Your Son taught us to do. Amen.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Adaptations - Younger Children

More discussion/life story questions:

• Tell about a time a promise was kept.
  
• Tell us about a time a wish came true. (Not a Christmas/birthday present wish.)
  
• Tell us about a time you wished for something magnificent.
  
• Tell us about a time you witnessed new life.
  
• Tell about a time you met someone you'll never forget.
  
• Tell about a time good news finally arrived.
  
• Tell about a time wonder and amazement filled your heart.
  
• Tell about a time everything was turned upside down.
  

Adaptations - Older Children

More discussion/life story questions:

• Tell us about a time you were angry about injustice.
  
• Tell us about a time you longed to make up for a wrong you had done.
  
• Tell us about a time when you didn't care and you should have cared.
  
• Tell us about a time when quitting seemed the only option, but you persisted.
  

SOURCES

Isaiah Story Script

The book of Isaiah, particularly chapters 6, 7 and 9 (NRSV and TEV)
Bible background for this workshop by Jaymie Derden and Debbie Fisher
Gaster, Theodor H., contributor. "Angel." Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962.
Hastings, Selina. The Children's Illustrated Bible. New York: DK Publishing, 1994.

Scripture taken from the Good News Bible in Today's English Version - Second Edition, Copyright (c) 1992 by American Bible Society and from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright (c) 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA.

Lesson

James, Steven. The Creative Storytelling Guide for Children's Ministry. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing, 2002.

The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright (c) 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA.

CONTRIBUTOR: Amy Crane