Christmas- While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night storytelling

From logic or your knowledge of the Christmas story, try to put the following events into order. Then listen to the song and/ or read the lyrics below to check your answers.

1. He told them that Jesus was going to be born
2. An angel came down
3. Shepherd were guarding their sheep at night
4. The shepherds were afraid
5. The angel told them not to be scared
6. They all sang
7. He told them that he had good news for them
8. A whole crowd of angels appeared

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While shepherds watched
Their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around
And glory shone around

"Fear not," he said,
For mighty dread
Had seized their troubled minds
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind,
To you and all mankind."

"To you in David's
Town this day
Is born of David's line
The Saviour who is Christ the Lord
And this shall be the sign
And this shall be the sign."

"The heavenly Babe
You there shall find
To human view displayed
And meanly wrapped
In swathing bands
And in a manger laid
And in a manger laid."
Thus spake the seraph,
And forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song
Addressed their joyful song

"All glory be to
God on high
And to the earth be peace;
Goodwill henceforth
From heaven to men
Begin and never cease
Begin and never cease!"

Guessing from context

Find old fashioned or poetic words in the song which mean the following things:

• Straightaway
• Fear
• Good news
• Spoke
• From now on
• In that way
• At night
• Don’t be afraid
• A descendant of (King) David
• Baby
• In heaven
• Crowd
• Angel

Speaking and writing

• Why do you think the song focuses on this particular moment?
• Do you think it is the most important or impressive moment in the Christmas story? If not, what do you think is?
• With a partner make a similar story which focuses on a very short space of time, either about Christmas or another day of the year