Sunday School lesson about The Annunciation – A lesson in trusting God

Do we trust God?

Blindly? Without Questions or Hesitations?

Like Saint Mary did?

This week, I wanted to communicate the concepts of Trust and Obedience to a group of first and second graders. The Sunday Schol lesson about the Annunciation is actually a lesson in trusting God. 

Most of the children already knew the story when Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Holy Virgin Saint Mary to announce that she would conceive and give birth to a son: Jesus. So I was trying to make them experience what it is like to trust without understanding and obey without questioning, as Saint Mary did.

A google search helped me incorporate the following two ideas to introduce the lesson.

A Science experiment to illustrate “trust”:

Equipment needed:

• A glass of water (about half to 2/3 filled)
• An index card.

Holding onto the top of the card with one hand, I moved my other hand down the glass, towards the bottom. I then carefully flipped the glass upside down, while making sure you to keep holding the card in place. I slowly moved my card holding a hand out from underneath and the card stuck, holding the water without it spilling.

This is an example of trusting God even if it does not “make sense”.

Check out the link for the scientific explanation behind this experiment: Glass of Water

The children were amazed! Actually, 3 of them were incredulous and ran towards me to examine the glass and challenged me about the water being “fake”. I took two big sips to convince them that the glass contained “real” water, and that this was not a magic trick.

Following this, we played another game to illustrate the concept of obedience:

The “Obedience Game,”

Equipment needed:

• Paper plates
• Markers

The children were each given a paper plate and were asked to place it on top of their heads.

I then gave them a series of instructions that would lead them to draw a “house”.

1. Draw a triangle
2. Beneath it, draw a square
3. Inside the square, draw a circle

Here is a picture of all our artists and my beloved fellow Sunday School teachers with their plates!

This game illustrated the following concept:

 We may not understand what God is asking us to do when we are starting out, but we will understand at the end.

Following both games/experiment, I proceeded with the story of the Virgin Mary while tying key points to the games:

1- She was told that she would conceive and give birth to a son who would reign over Jacob’s descendants: Trust

2- Her response to Archangel Gabriel beautifully illustrates her obedience

 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be
fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)

I pray to have the faith and obedience of our Mother, the Holy Virgin Saint Mary.

In Christ,

Mireille

Other Sunday School Lesson Plans: Teaching children proper church etiquette

Additional Coptic resources on this topic: The Sacrifice of Obedience

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