When Did We See You, Lord?

Transcription

1 Ages 5 7 April 2, 2017 E When Did We See You, Lord? Goal: To live with grace and justice in Jesus name. RECOGNIZING GOD S GRACE In Matthew 25:31 46 Jesus parable of the judgment of the nations is the only parable where he refers to himself as a king. This parable shows that daily actions matter. The great difference is between those who have met the needs and served others and those who have not done so. In need are those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and the imprisoned. These indicate specific needs, but, of course, also are representative of needs of all kinds. Basic dimensions of life are indicated here, showing that while these are foundational needs, other needs can spring from them. Jesus said those who are righteous meet needs, and in having done so to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Others, who have not met needs, did not do it to me. Neither group was aware they were encountering Jesus in the needs of others. We are aware, now. God s grace reaches us in providing opportunities to serve others, and in so doing, to serve Christ. Our gratitude for God s grace in Christ moves us to meet needs and serve God s children. Whoever is in need, and whatever the need, we help.... In Your Children s Experiences Children do not grow up unaware of those in need. Whether they see a person on a street corner asking for help with food, or talk with a guest at their church s Room in the Inn, or help take a meal for someone who is sick, the experiences they have help make this parable become real. When children are surrounded by adults who model faithful responses of living the Christian life in response to the needs of those who are hungry, thirsty, alone, sick, in need of clothes or shelter, or in prison, then they grow up knowing that following Jesus means we are active in our response.... In Your Relationships with the Children This parable of Jesus reminds us of the simplicity and complexity of following Jesus. Young children will be able to tell stories of times when their family did something kind and helpful for someone else. You could invite these stories to be shared in response to this openended statement, We love Jesus when we.... Older children will be able to wrestle with this parable and why Jesus told it. This parable offers a great chance for them to think about a practice they would like to take up that involves helping someone else. O God, give me eyes to see your beloved Son in the children you have entrusted to my care. Amen Congregational Ministries Publishing 37

2 When Did We See You, Lord? Ages 5 7 April 2, 2017 E Supplies basic supplies (see p. vii) purple cloth candle magazines and newspapers Lenten cross from March 5 Stories, Colors & More (SCM) 5, 20, 27, 34, Music & Melodies (MM) story audio (see p. vii) Responding Offering pitchers Bonus Activity cards prepared from Grace Notes (GN) 1 2 GATHERING IN GOD S GRACE Post SCM Use the visual schedule to provide clear expectations and a visual cue for the group. See SCM for the key to icons (for example, to adapt for children who have special needs or disabilities. Offering God s Grace requires more prep. ) and ways Welcoming and Preparing As they arrive, greet the children with the phrase, This is the day that the Lord has made! and prompt them to respond with, Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Set up a worship space. Offer them purple cloth, a Bible, candle, and the Lenten cross created on March 5 to place on a table and on the wall. Let them make their own decisions about how to set up the objects. As the children work, write each of the following words at the top of separate piece of construction paper: hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, in prison. Point out the words you have written on the construction paper. Invite them to look through the magazines and newspapers and to find pictures of people who are hungry, thirsty, in need of clothing, sick, imprisoned, or strangers. Have the children sort the pictures according to the need they have identified and glue them on the piece of construction paper with that need written on it. When the children have completed the mini-posters, have them gather. Surround the cross with the mini-posters and create a heading and hang it over the poster display. Singing Invite the group to sit at the table. Look around at the worship space they have created and notice how this space helps the group focus on God. Sing Jesus Bids Us Shine MM 28; SCM 34. Praying Turn on the candle. Invite the children to close their eyes and breathe deeply. Encourage them to feel God with them. Pray, prompting the children to do the motions: Congregational Ministries Publishing Dear God, (bow heads; fold hands) Thank you for loving us. (cross arms to give yourself a hug) Help us to listen, (cup hand to ear) To forgive, (shake hands with a neighbor) To serve, (hold hands in front of them) And to follow you, (walk in place) Through this Lenten season. Amen.

3 When Did We See You, Lord? Ages 5 7 April 2, 2017 E Preparing to Hear the Story To set the Bible story in context, explain that Jesus knew that he would not be with his followers much longer. Ask the children to consider what they would want to tell others if they knew that they wouldn t be together much longer. In today s story, Jesus tells his disciples how to show their love for him even after he is no longer with them. Hearing the Story Open the Bible to Matthew 25. Place the Bible on the table. Point out the mini-posters the children made earlier. As you read the first half of each I was phrase, pause and ask the children to point to the picture that completes the phrase; for example, I was hungry and you... (point to the hunger mini-poster) and so on. Read SCM 5. Or ask a volunteer to read. Use your voice, expressions, your feelings, and your body to make the story more lively. Vary the tone, speed, and pitch of your voice to indicate changes in mood. Conclude the reading by saying, Word of wisdom, word of grace, and prompt the children to respond with, Thanks be to God. Adapt any activity to suit your children s needs. Ask yourself, How can I change this activity so that this child can do it? Reflecting on God s Grace Discuss: Z ZWhat kinds of people were mentioned in the story? (hungry, thirsty, lonely, needing clothes, sick, in prison, people that helped, people that did not help) ZWhat Z does hearing this story make you want to do? ZWhat do you think Jesus wants you to do? Invite each child or pair to select a mini-poster on the display. Using the words care, clothe, feed, gather, visit, offer a drink, and help, have the children come up with an action prayer for the person or people on their mini-poster. Ask a volunteer to add SCM 20 to the Lenten cross you have been creating. Wonder together about ways Jesus might call us to serve. Post the prayer for the person in need on the Lenten cross. Invite volunteers to read their prayers. Offer a prayer asking God to help us love and serve others. Singing Sing Lord, I Want to Be a Christian MM 16; SCM 27. Turn off the candle Congregational Ministries Publishing 39

4 When Did We See You, Lord? Ages 5 7 April 2, 2017 E RESPONDING IN GRATITUDE Select activities appropriate for your group and the time available. Celebrating God s Grace Jesus parable challenges us to live lives of compassion and love; sometimes that can be hard. Invite children to use supplies and furniture in your meeting space to create an obstacle course. Encourage creativity and safety. Have each child go through the obstacle course at least once. Afterward, gather together and talk about how we sometimes encounter obstacles in our lives that prevent us from following Jesus. Wonder aloud what obstacles or fears might hinder us from following Jesus teaching in the parable of the sheep and the goats. What could we do to get around those obstacles? more prep Praying God s Grace Invite the children to name people they know in their families, congregation, or community, who are sick, lonely, or going through difficult times. List the people and concerns as they are named. Gather the group s concerns for these needs together in a group prayer. Pass out construction paper or card stock, markers, stickers, and any other art supplies you have, and invite each child to make a card for one of the people named in the group prayer. Remind them of Jesus words about being welcomed, cared for, and visited. Invite the children to continue praying for these needs throughout the week. Offering God s Grace Help the children fill pitchers with cold water. Take the water, along with small cups, to a place in (or in front of) your church, where people gather. Invite older children to pour water into the cups, while the rest of the children pass out water to those who come by. Encourage the children to remind everyone, Jesus loves you! At the end of your water-serving, talk about whether giving people water was hard or easy, and why. Consider together some other ways that you might offer Jesus love to people Congregational Ministries Publishing

5 When Did We See You, Lord? Ages 5 7 April 2, 2017 E Bonus Activity Through telling stories, the children will explore ways they can help others as Jesus taught. Form pairs. Lay the cards from GN 1 and 2 upside down on a flat surface. Have each pair draw one card. The pairs are to create a story about the picture they have that explains how a person in the picture was helped as Jesus taught. At the end of each story, the pair says: I was (name need) and you helped me by (name how the person helped). After the stories have been told, ask: What are some ways that you will try to help people this week to show the grace of God? LOVING AND SERVING GOD Invite the children to help clean the space. Gather the children near the cross for a time of prayer. Ask them to read the words in the display around the cross. Explain that we want to ask God to help us see the needs in the world in the same way that they are seeing the words in the display. Say the following litany together. After each line, prompt the children to respond, Help us see and serve those in need. Ask parents and caregivers for their addresses so you can send the Grace Sightings link, or invite them to visit gracesightings.org. God, we pray for the hungry. (response) God, we pray for the thirsty. (response) God, we pray for the stranger. (response) God, we pray for those who need clothing. (response) God, we pray for the sick. (response) God, we pray for those who are in prison. (response) Amen. Challenge the children to look for opportunities this week to serve others in their homes, school, neighborhood, and world. As they leave, give each child a blessing. Say to each one, (Name), the grace of God is with you Congregational Ministries Publishing 41

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