“And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.” Luke 2:42
Call to Worship
(Sung to “The Bear Went over the Mountain”)
Let’s worship God, let’s worship God, let’s worship God,
With joyful hearts, with joyful hearts, with joyful hearts,
Let’s worship God with joyful hearts!
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: What do you look forward to doing when you are a bigger kid? (Playing baseball, being a ballerina, etc.)
Listening
As a cue card, make a large question mark on a sheet of paper.
Hold up the question mark. Ask: What is this?
Say: This is a question mark. Every time a reader sees a question mark at the end of a sentence it means that sentence is a question. Every time I hold up the question mark you are to ask: What happened next? Practice this a few times, and then begin.
In the Bible, we read about Jesus as a baby, and then we don’t hear about Jesus again until he is a bigger kid. When Jesus was twelve years old, he went with his parents, Mary and Joseph, to a festival in Jerusalem. (Hold up question mark.) When the festival was over, they started to return home, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. (Hold up question mark.) His parents thought he was with the other travelers in their group. They didn’t realize that Jesus was missing until the end of a day’s journey. (Hold up question mark.) They looked for Jesus among their relatives and friends but did not find him. (Hold up question mark.) They went back to Jerusalem to look for him. (Hold up question mark.) They looked for him for three days and finally found him in the Temple. Jesus was sitting among the teachers there, listening to them and asking questions. (Hold up question mark.) All who heard him were amazed at his understanding. (Hold up question mark.) Jesus went home with his parents. Jesus increased his wisdom as he grew. Asking questions helps all of us to increase in wisdom.
Exploring
Invite 3 bigger kids from the congregation to come to Children’s Church. Invite these bigger kids to share a skill they have such as playing a musical instrument, drawing, dancing, or speaking another language. Explain that they will be demonstrating their skills for the children, then the children will be encouraged to ask them questions. Introduce your visitors by asking them a few general questions such as their names, ages, and where they go to school. Then ask them to demonstrate their skills. When they are finished guide your children in asking questions, like why did you decide to play the flute or where do you take dance class. Tell your visitors thank you. Have the children draw a picture of what they want to do when they grow bigger.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, let us show our love for you. Help us to show our love for other people, for our families, for our teachers and for our friends. Thank you for being our guide. Amen.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Mother’s Day
Here is a sweet Mother's Day lesson.
“My child, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them upon your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.” Proverbs 6:20-22
Call to Worship
(Sung to “Frere Jacques”)
Thank you, God. Thank you, God.
For our moms. For our moms.
They are very special. They are very special.
Thank you, God. Thank you, God.
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: Does anyone know what we are celebrating today? (Our Moms!) Yes! Today is Mother’s Day. We are celebrating the women who are special to us. Does anyone have a special mom, grandma, aunt, or friend that they want to share about with us?
Listening
Say: I have a story about a mommy and her son. It’s called Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.
A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, "this kid is driving me CRAZY!"
But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
The little boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was nine years old. And he never wanted to come in for dinner, he never wanted to take a bath, and when grandma visited he always said bad words. Sometimes his mother wanted to sell him to the zoo!
But at night time, when he was asleep, the mother quietly opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep, she picked up that nine-year-old boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
The boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a teenager. He had strange friends and he wore strange clothes and he listened to strange music. Sometimes the mother felt like she was in a zoo!
But at night time, when that teenager was asleep, the mother opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep she picked up that great big boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
That teenager grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a grown-up man. He left home and got a house across town. But sometimes on dark nights the mother got into her car and drove across town. If all the lights in her son's house were out, she opened his bedroom window, crawled across the floor, and looked up over the side of his bed. If that great big man was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
Well, that mother, she got older. She got older and older and older. One day she called up her son and said, "You'd better come see me because I'm very old and sick." So her son came to see her. When he came in the door she tried to sing the song. She sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always...
But she couldn't finish because she was too old and sick. The son went to his mother. He picked her up and rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And he sang this song:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my Mommy you'll be.
When the son came home that night, he stood for a long time at the top of the stairs. Then he went into the room where his very new baby daughter was sleeping. He picked her up in his arms and very slowly rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while he rocked her he sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
Exploring
Have sheets of paper and pencils and markers available on the tables. Have the kids write and/or draw some of their favorite memories about the women in our congregation, whether it’s their mom, their grandma, their aunt, or their friend. We want them to celebrate the female role models they have. After they have written/drawn, have the children give their papers to the woman they wrote about as a great Mother’s Day present.
Benediction
Say: God has blessed us with wonderful women role models! Today let us celebrate their beauty by blessing them! Amen.
“My child, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them upon your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.” Proverbs 6:20-22
Call to Worship
(Sung to “Frere Jacques”)
Thank you, God. Thank you, God.
For our moms. For our moms.
They are very special. They are very special.
Thank you, God. Thank you, God.
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: Does anyone know what we are celebrating today? (Our Moms!) Yes! Today is Mother’s Day. We are celebrating the women who are special to us. Does anyone have a special mom, grandma, aunt, or friend that they want to share about with us?
Listening
Say: I have a story about a mommy and her son. It’s called Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.
A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, "this kid is driving me CRAZY!"
But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
The little boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was nine years old. And he never wanted to come in for dinner, he never wanted to take a bath, and when grandma visited he always said bad words. Sometimes his mother wanted to sell him to the zoo!
But at night time, when he was asleep, the mother quietly opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep, she picked up that nine-year-old boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
The boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a teenager. He had strange friends and he wore strange clothes and he listened to strange music. Sometimes the mother felt like she was in a zoo!
But at night time, when that teenager was asleep, the mother opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep she picked up that great big boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
That teenager grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a grown-up man. He left home and got a house across town. But sometimes on dark nights the mother got into her car and drove across town. If all the lights in her son's house were out, she opened his bedroom window, crawled across the floor, and looked up over the side of his bed. If that great big man was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
Well, that mother, she got older. She got older and older and older. One day she called up her son and said, "You'd better come see me because I'm very old and sick." So her son came to see her. When he came in the door she tried to sing the song. She sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always...
But she couldn't finish because she was too old and sick. The son went to his mother. He picked her up and rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And he sang this song:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my Mommy you'll be.
When the son came home that night, he stood for a long time at the top of the stairs. Then he went into the room where his very new baby daughter was sleeping. He picked her up in his arms and very slowly rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while he rocked her he sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
Exploring
Have sheets of paper and pencils and markers available on the tables. Have the kids write and/or draw some of their favorite memories about the women in our congregation, whether it’s their mom, their grandma, their aunt, or their friend. We want them to celebrate the female role models they have. After they have written/drawn, have the children give their papers to the woman they wrote about as a great Mother’s Day present.
Benediction
Say: God has blessed us with wonderful women role models! Today let us celebrate their beauty by blessing them! Amen.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
People in God’s World: Little Babies
“And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7
Call to Worship
(Sung to “The Bear Went over the Mountain”)
Let’s worship God, let’s worship God, let’s worship God,
With joyful hearts, with joyful hearts, with joyful hearts,
Let’s worship God with joyful hearts!
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: We have been talking about Communion and sharing God’s love with our friends. Today I want to talk about some different kinds of friends, babies! Have you ever helped take care of a baby? (I helped give my baby brother a bath, etc)
Listening
To introduce the story, wrap a baby doll in a baby blanket. Show the baby doll to the children.
Say: I brought a baby with me this morning! I’ve fed the baby, and talked to the baby and given the baby a bath and played with the baby and changed the baby abd finally, the baby is asleep. Babies need so much love and care! Let’s listen to a verse in the Bible about a mother taking care of a baby. “And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 Does anyone know that the name of the baby from the Bible verse is? (Jesus) And what is the name of the babies mommy? (Mary) Mary loved baby Jesus, and she took good care of him. God wants us to love and care for babies too.
Exploring
Make a We Love Babies Collage. Explain to the children that since babies love to look at pictures of other babies, your group will create a We Love Babies Collage for the church nursery. Have the children work together to fill the banner paper with pictures. Remind them that in a collage it is ok if the pictures overlap each other. Add a label that says, “We Love Babies!”
Benediction
Say: Loving God, let us show our love for you. Help us to show our love for other people, for our families, for out teachers and for our friends. Thank you for being our guide. Amen.
Call to Worship
(Sung to “The Bear Went over the Mountain”)
Let’s worship God, let’s worship God, let’s worship God,
With joyful hearts, with joyful hearts, with joyful hearts,
Let’s worship God with joyful hearts!
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: We have been talking about Communion and sharing God’s love with our friends. Today I want to talk about some different kinds of friends, babies! Have you ever helped take care of a baby? (I helped give my baby brother a bath, etc)
Listening
To introduce the story, wrap a baby doll in a baby blanket. Show the baby doll to the children.
Say: I brought a baby with me this morning! I’ve fed the baby, and talked to the baby and given the baby a bath and played with the baby and changed the baby abd finally, the baby is asleep. Babies need so much love and care! Let’s listen to a verse in the Bible about a mother taking care of a baby. “And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 Does anyone know that the name of the baby from the Bible verse is? (Jesus) And what is the name of the babies mommy? (Mary) Mary loved baby Jesus, and she took good care of him. God wants us to love and care for babies too.
Exploring
Make a We Love Babies Collage. Explain to the children that since babies love to look at pictures of other babies, your group will create a We Love Babies Collage for the church nursery. Have the children work together to fill the banner paper with pictures. Remind them that in a collage it is ok if the pictures overlap each other. Add a label that says, “We Love Babies!”
Benediction
Say: Loving God, let us show our love for you. Help us to show our love for other people, for our families, for out teachers and for our friends. Thank you for being our guide. Amen.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A Meal with Jesus
“And Jesus said, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you…’”
Luke 22:15
Call to Worship
(Sung to “Michael Roll Your Boat Ashore”)
We will break this bread together, Alleluia.
We will break this bread together, Alleluia.
We will drink this juice together, Alleluia.
We will drink this juice together, Alleluia.
We’ll remember Christ’s love, Alleluia.
We’ll remember Christ’s love, Alleluia.
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: Last week we talked about Jesus eating with his friends. Can anyone tell me why we eat? (Because we are hungry, etc.)
Listening
Say: You’re right! We eat because our bodies need something. Have you all heard of Communion? It is the meal we eat together with your church family and with God. Communion is God’s way of nourishing us with God’s love. We are given bread and juice just like Jesus ate with his disciples. Communion is an invitation for everyone to have a chance to be with God. There is a story in our Bible about this meal that Jesus ate with his friends.
It had been a busy, exciting week for Jesus and his friends. Everyone in Jerusalem was talking about Jesus. Jesus and his friends were tired and excited about what was going on.
One night they got together in a quiet room away from the crowds. They ate dinner together. As they ate they talked about what they had been doing together. They remembered what Jesus had done and some of the stories Jesus had told them. They remembered how Jesus had been teaching them. At the end of the dinner, while they were still sitting at the table, Jesus picked up a loaf of bread. He broke it and gave it to his friends, asking them to each eat a piece. Then he passed around a cup and asked everyone to drink from it. Then he looked straight at them and told them to eat bread and drink grape wine together to remember him.
Exploring
Have a play Communion. Allow the children to share bread with their friends like Jesus did. Let them have a small glass of grape juice like Jesus shared with his friends. Allow them to feel the elements of Communion and become better acquainted with the celebration of Eucharist.
Benediction
Say: God, thank you for sharing such a special meal with us. Help us to always remember you when we take Communion. Amen.
Luke 22:15
Call to Worship
(Sung to “Michael Roll Your Boat Ashore”)
We will break this bread together, Alleluia.
We will break this bread together, Alleluia.
We will drink this juice together, Alleluia.
We will drink this juice together, Alleluia.
We’ll remember Christ’s love, Alleluia.
We’ll remember Christ’s love, Alleluia.
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: Last week we talked about Jesus eating with his friends. Can anyone tell me why we eat? (Because we are hungry, etc.)
Listening
Say: You’re right! We eat because our bodies need something. Have you all heard of Communion? It is the meal we eat together with your church family and with God. Communion is God’s way of nourishing us with God’s love. We are given bread and juice just like Jesus ate with his disciples. Communion is an invitation for everyone to have a chance to be with God. There is a story in our Bible about this meal that Jesus ate with his friends.
It had been a busy, exciting week for Jesus and his friends. Everyone in Jerusalem was talking about Jesus. Jesus and his friends were tired and excited about what was going on.
One night they got together in a quiet room away from the crowds. They ate dinner together. As they ate they talked about what they had been doing together. They remembered what Jesus had done and some of the stories Jesus had told them. They remembered how Jesus had been teaching them. At the end of the dinner, while they were still sitting at the table, Jesus picked up a loaf of bread. He broke it and gave it to his friends, asking them to each eat a piece. Then he passed around a cup and asked everyone to drink from it. Then he looked straight at them and told them to eat bread and drink grape wine together to remember him.
Exploring
Have a play Communion. Allow the children to share bread with their friends like Jesus did. Let them have a small glass of grape juice like Jesus shared with his friends. Allow them to feel the elements of Communion and become better acquainted with the celebration of Eucharist.
Benediction
Say: God, thank you for sharing such a special meal with us. Help us to always remember you when we take Communion. Amen.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Time Line for VBS
The success of your Vacation Bible School really depends on your ability to organize and plan. Planning Vacation Bible School is a difficult task to take on. You must to be ready to choose a curriculum, to recruit and manage a staff of volunteers, organize supplies, and to promote your program, just to name a few of the things you will be in charge of. It sounds overwhelming, but once it is done you can have the amazing feeling of knowing you have influenced so many children and the way they see God, their peers and their community.
1. Christian Education team must meet and decide the goals for Vacation Bible School.
2. Decide if they want a daytime or evening program and set a date; book the church rooms for the program.
3. Pick out your curriculum.
4. You can also write your own or buy curriculum and modify it to fit your needs. After you know what classes you will offer, you will know how many volunteers you need and also how to set up your schedule.
5. Each classroom will need one teacher and one assistant teacher, and each group of children will need a guide.
6. Vacation Bible School is a church wide program and it is important your congregation knows their help is needed. It is beneficial if your pastor promotes volunteering for your big event. When you ask the congregation to help make sure to find out what areas that specific volunteer is most interested in.
7. You need a group in charge of advertising and public relations, crafts, games, science, decorations, snack, and et cetera. Each group will be in charge of a different classroom. They will need to learn their lessons, and be prepared to go with the flow of the children. (A hint: have a group in charge of gathering materials for all of the rooms. They can ask the congregation for things and go to the stores. They don’t have to teach and they can still be very involved in Vacation Bible School.)
8. The advertising and public relations committee will need to advertise your Vacation Bible School to the congregation and surrounding neighborhoods and communities.
9. It is important that you have a volunteer training day. It will allow you to get all of your volunteers on the same page and show your volunteers how to accomplish the goal they have set forth. You will also see how far along each committee is and what they need help with. You should go over the main themes for each day and double check that each class has a supply list and has started gathering items for their lessons.
10. Keep up with how each group is doing and what supplies are still needed.
11. During Vacation Bible School you must go with the flow. After the first day you will have a better understanding how each day will go and know how to handle the situations brought on by your group of kids.
1. Christian Education team must meet and decide the goals for Vacation Bible School.
2. Decide if they want a daytime or evening program and set a date; book the church rooms for the program.
3. Pick out your curriculum.
4. You can also write your own or buy curriculum and modify it to fit your needs. After you know what classes you will offer, you will know how many volunteers you need and also how to set up your schedule.
5. Each classroom will need one teacher and one assistant teacher, and each group of children will need a guide.
6. Vacation Bible School is a church wide program and it is important your congregation knows their help is needed. It is beneficial if your pastor promotes volunteering for your big event. When you ask the congregation to help make sure to find out what areas that specific volunteer is most interested in.
7. You need a group in charge of advertising and public relations, crafts, games, science, decorations, snack, and et cetera. Each group will be in charge of a different classroom. They will need to learn their lessons, and be prepared to go with the flow of the children. (A hint: have a group in charge of gathering materials for all of the rooms. They can ask the congregation for things and go to the stores. They don’t have to teach and they can still be very involved in Vacation Bible School.)
8. The advertising and public relations committee will need to advertise your Vacation Bible School to the congregation and surrounding neighborhoods and communities.
9. It is important that you have a volunteer training day. It will allow you to get all of your volunteers on the same page and show your volunteers how to accomplish the goal they have set forth. You will also see how far along each committee is and what they need help with. You should go over the main themes for each day and double check that each class has a supply list and has started gathering items for their lessons.
10. Keep up with how each group is doing and what supplies are still needed.
11. During Vacation Bible School you must go with the flow. After the first day you will have a better understanding how each day will go and know how to handle the situations brought on by your group of kids.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Ecology Theology: Matthew 2
In the book of Matthew there is a story titled the “Massacre of the Innocents”. Please turn your Bibles to Matthew 2: 13-23.
In this story we see King Herod getting very angry because the Wise Men have returned from seeing Jesus, the new king. Herod doesn’t want to lose his crown so in a jealous rage he orders to have the boys in Israel ages 0-2 killed. An angel comes to warn Joseph and tells him to leave Israel and hid in Egypt so Jesus will be kept alive. After Herod dies, an angel appears to Joseph again to tell him his family could return back to Israel. They returned to Israel but found out that Archelaus, Herod’s son, was the new ruler of Judea. They decided it would be best if they moved somewhere else in Israel to protect Jesus, so they moved to Nazareth.
I want to talk about the scary part of the story. Herod has all of the boys aged 0-2 murdered because he is afraid someone will take his throne. It’s about power. In today’s society we are constantly killing our earth’s resources because of power. We want more power so we “have to make more” money, so we extract more oil. We want more money, so we cut down more trees to make way for more industry. We are “massacring innocents” when we exploit our earth. God put us in charge of creation and we have managed to hurt it. We have a responsibility to recycle, implement business practices that are healthy for our earth, and to waste less. It is up to us to try to improve our earth and to stop destroying innocent things.
Let’s make a covenant to take care of our earth.
In this story we see King Herod getting very angry because the Wise Men have returned from seeing Jesus, the new king. Herod doesn’t want to lose his crown so in a jealous rage he orders to have the boys in Israel ages 0-2 killed. An angel comes to warn Joseph and tells him to leave Israel and hid in Egypt so Jesus will be kept alive. After Herod dies, an angel appears to Joseph again to tell him his family could return back to Israel. They returned to Israel but found out that Archelaus, Herod’s son, was the new ruler of Judea. They decided it would be best if they moved somewhere else in Israel to protect Jesus, so they moved to Nazareth.
I want to talk about the scary part of the story. Herod has all of the boys aged 0-2 murdered because he is afraid someone will take his throne. It’s about power. In today’s society we are constantly killing our earth’s resources because of power. We want more power so we “have to make more” money, so we extract more oil. We want more money, so we cut down more trees to make way for more industry. We are “massacring innocents” when we exploit our earth. God put us in charge of creation and we have managed to hurt it. We have a responsibility to recycle, implement business practices that are healthy for our earth, and to waste less. It is up to us to try to improve our earth and to stop destroying innocent things.
Let’s make a covenant to take care of our earth.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
How Liberation Theology Would Interpret Matthew 15:21-31
God calls for humanity to live together in peace, love, respect, and justice. There is a story in the New Testament where Jesus is trying to take a break from his ministry and Gentile woman asks for his help. Since he was a Jew and came to save the Jews, he was resistant to help her. He isn’t living up to those expectations. He is refusing to help someone because she had a different religious background. Let’s see what ends up happening in the story. Open your Bibles to Matthew 15:21-31 (NRSV).
What does Jesus end up doing? He helps the Gentile woman.
We see Jesus say he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and that he won’t take away the children’s food and give it to the dogs. Here he is speaking in a metaphor. He is saying that he won’t be taking away from the Jews just to help the Gentiles.
What does she say? That even the dogs get the crumbs left under the table.
Correct. She says, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” She is so clever! She teaches Jesus a lesson in this story. All people are God’s creation and all should have the opportunity to be in the presence of the love of God. Jesus learns this lesson from her clever words. No one is better than anyone else is God’s eyes. We will all be freed from oppression.
What does Jesus end up doing? He helps the Gentile woman.
We see Jesus say he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and that he won’t take away the children’s food and give it to the dogs. Here he is speaking in a metaphor. He is saying that he won’t be taking away from the Jews just to help the Gentiles.
What does she say? That even the dogs get the crumbs left under the table.
Correct. She says, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” She is so clever! She teaches Jesus a lesson in this story. All people are God’s creation and all should have the opportunity to be in the presence of the love of God. Jesus learns this lesson from her clever words. No one is better than anyone else is God’s eyes. We will all be freed from oppression.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Feminists Theology: Genesis 2-3
Genesis 2-3 is known as “The Fall Story.” It is called this because historically it has been seen as humanities fall from God’s grace. It has been used to show “when” human sin began. In this story God creates Adam and decides he needs a partner and creates Eve from Adam’s rib. In the end of this story, after they eat a piece of fruit of the tree of wisdom, God bans Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. God also punishes the man by forcing him to till his own land and giving the woman pain during child birth, and punishes the serpent by cursing him to travel on his belly and be wacked by the woman. We have all heard this story. We all know that Eve is this awful woman and since her time women have been seen as the evil bearers of her unfaithfulness. I have a different theory.
Let’s spend some time writing down words that we usually think of when we think of Eve.
(Evil, Sin, Seductive, Bad… etc.)
Let’s review the creation story in Genesis 2. What is going on in this story?
I would like to call attention to when God said not to eat from the tree of knowledge. Who was God speaking to? Was God speaking to Adam AND Eve? No. God was talking to Adam alone. God had not yet made Eve in this story.
I would also like to talk about why God chose to make Eve out of Adam’s rib. Where is the rib located on the body? The side. God specifically chose a part from the side of Adam’s body. God did not choose something from Adam’s head. God did not choose something from Adam’s foot. God is saying that Eve is not above you, Eve is not below you. Eve is equal with you. You two will be partners, side by side in everything you do. God does not punish Adam because he didn’t take care of his property. God punished Adam because he played a part in the disobedience. They are partners in crime.
I would also like to call attention to verse 3:6. “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.” (NRSV) Eve was not alone here. Adam was there with her. She did not force him to eat. She handed it to him and he ate. If we see that Eve is not a temptress herself and her husband had a part in this whole story, how does that change our perception of her?
If our perceptions of Eve change, how does our perception of all women change?
Women are no longer seen as subservient to men. They are equal players in their relationships.
Let’s spend some time writing down words that we usually think of when we think of Eve.
(Evil, Sin, Seductive, Bad… etc.)
Let’s review the creation story in Genesis 2. What is going on in this story?
I would like to call attention to when God said not to eat from the tree of knowledge. Who was God speaking to? Was God speaking to Adam AND Eve? No. God was talking to Adam alone. God had not yet made Eve in this story.
I would also like to talk about why God chose to make Eve out of Adam’s rib. Where is the rib located on the body? The side. God specifically chose a part from the side of Adam’s body. God did not choose something from Adam’s head. God did not choose something from Adam’s foot. God is saying that Eve is not above you, Eve is not below you. Eve is equal with you. You two will be partners, side by side in everything you do. God does not punish Adam because he didn’t take care of his property. God punished Adam because he played a part in the disobedience. They are partners in crime.
I would also like to call attention to verse 3:6. “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.” (NRSV) Eve was not alone here. Adam was there with her. She did not force him to eat. She handed it to him and he ate. If we see that Eve is not a temptress herself and her husband had a part in this whole story, how does that change our perception of her?
If our perceptions of Eve change, how does our perception of all women change?
Women are no longer seen as subservient to men. They are equal players in their relationships.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Sharing Jesus’ Stories
Here is a lesson I have put together for the Sunday after Easter about the travelers on the road to Emmaus.
“He is not here; for he has been raised’ as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6
Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Sing a song of praise! Sing a song of praise!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: What can you remember from the Easter story about Jesus?
(New life, Jesus was raised up, etc.)
Listening
Say: I have another story about after Jesus was given new life by God. On Easter Sunday, two friends walked home from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were sad. Their friend Jesus had died on Friday. As they walked along, a stranger caught up with them and asked what they were talking about.
“Are you the only person in Jerusalem who has not heard about Jesus?” asked on of the travelers.
“What about Jesus?” the stranger asked.
So the travelers told the stranger all about Jesus. They told how Jesus had been born. They told how kind and good he had been. They told him some of the wonderful stories Jesus had told them and some of the important things Jesus had taught them. They told about the way Jesus healed sick people and made friends with lonely people. They told about the last supper with Jesus, when he took a loaf of bread, broke it and gave it to his friends, asking they to share bread to remember him. They told how Jesus had died on a cross and buried in a cave. The stranger listened. Somehow the travelers knew the stranger understood.
Soon it was dinner time. The travelers invited the stranger to have dinner with them, and he did. As they sat down to supper, the stranger picked up the bread and said the blessing. Then he broke the bread and gave it to them. Suddenly the travelers recognized the stranger. He wasn’t a stranger at all! He was Jesus! Jesus was not dead! He was alive! He was with the- or he had bee, As soon as they recognized him, Jesus disappeared. The surprised travelers were amazed and happy and excited. They hurried all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the others, “Jesus is alive! We have seen him. He gave us bread to eat. We are not alone anymore.”
Exploring
Have the children sit in a circle. Give them each a piece of Hawaiian bread. While they are sharing the bread ask them what stories they know about God and Jesus.
Benediction
Say: God, what wonderful news we have heard this morning! Christ has risen and lives forever! Alleluia! Amen!
“He is not here; for he has been raised’ as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6
Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Sing a song of praise! Sing a song of praise!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: What can you remember from the Easter story about Jesus?
(New life, Jesus was raised up, etc.)
Listening
Say: I have another story about after Jesus was given new life by God. On Easter Sunday, two friends walked home from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were sad. Their friend Jesus had died on Friday. As they walked along, a stranger caught up with them and asked what they were talking about.
“Are you the only person in Jerusalem who has not heard about Jesus?” asked on of the travelers.
“What about Jesus?” the stranger asked.
So the travelers told the stranger all about Jesus. They told how Jesus had been born. They told how kind and good he had been. They told him some of the wonderful stories Jesus had told them and some of the important things Jesus had taught them. They told about the way Jesus healed sick people and made friends with lonely people. They told about the last supper with Jesus, when he took a loaf of bread, broke it and gave it to his friends, asking they to share bread to remember him. They told how Jesus had died on a cross and buried in a cave. The stranger listened. Somehow the travelers knew the stranger understood.
Soon it was dinner time. The travelers invited the stranger to have dinner with them, and he did. As they sat down to supper, the stranger picked up the bread and said the blessing. Then he broke the bread and gave it to them. Suddenly the travelers recognized the stranger. He wasn’t a stranger at all! He was Jesus! Jesus was not dead! He was alive! He was with the- or he had bee, As soon as they recognized him, Jesus disappeared. The surprised travelers were amazed and happy and excited. They hurried all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the others, “Jesus is alive! We have seen him. He gave us bread to eat. We are not alone anymore.”
Exploring
Have the children sit in a circle. Give them each a piece of Hawaiian bread. While they are sharing the bread ask them what stories they know about God and Jesus.
Benediction
Say: God, what wonderful news we have heard this morning! Christ has risen and lives forever! Alleluia! Amen!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Bible Study in Mutual Correlation Theology
Today we are going to be reading Matthew 2:13-23. They call these verses the story of “The Massacre of the Innocents.”
Read Matthew 2:13-23
In this story we see King Herod getting very angry because the Wise Men have returned from seeing Jesus, the new king. Herod doesn’t want to lose his crown so in a jealous rage he orders to have the boys in Israel ages 0-2 killed. An angel comes to warn Joseph and tells him to leave Israel and hid in Egypt so Jesus will be kept alive. After Herod dies, an angel appears to Joseph again to tell him his family could return back to Israel. They returned to Israel but found out that Archelaus, Herod’s son, was the new ruler of Judea. They decided it would be best if they moved somewhere else in Israel to protect Jesus, so they moved to Nazareth.
Are any of you the best at something? How would you feel if someone new moved into your school who was better than you at that thing? I would be jealous. My feelings would be hurt. Now obviously that feeling of jealousy does not make it ok to hurt someone else, but do you feel what Herod felt? He was so mad that someone was coming in and going to be a king.
What do you all think about this story?
I have set up stations around the room that you all can choose from. There is a drawing station, a sand station, a journaling station, and a prayer station. You all should take this time to reflect on the meaning this story has for you.
Now that all of you are finished with your reflections, does anyone want to share?
Let’s close in prayer.
Dear God,
Thank you so much for being with us here now like you were back in the days of the story we read today. Thank you for always loving us and for allowing us to find you.
Amen.
Read Matthew 2:13-23
In this story we see King Herod getting very angry because the Wise Men have returned from seeing Jesus, the new king. Herod doesn’t want to lose his crown so in a jealous rage he orders to have the boys in Israel ages 0-2 killed. An angel comes to warn Joseph and tells him to leave Israel and hid in Egypt so Jesus will be kept alive. After Herod dies, an angel appears to Joseph again to tell him his family could return back to Israel. They returned to Israel but found out that Archelaus, Herod’s son, was the new ruler of Judea. They decided it would be best if they moved somewhere else in Israel to protect Jesus, so they moved to Nazareth.
Are any of you the best at something? How would you feel if someone new moved into your school who was better than you at that thing? I would be jealous. My feelings would be hurt. Now obviously that feeling of jealousy does not make it ok to hurt someone else, but do you feel what Herod felt? He was so mad that someone was coming in and going to be a king.
What do you all think about this story?
I have set up stations around the room that you all can choose from. There is a drawing station, a sand station, a journaling station, and a prayer station. You all should take this time to reflect on the meaning this story has for you.
Now that all of you are finished with your reflections, does anyone want to share?
Let’s close in prayer.
Dear God,
Thank you so much for being with us here now like you were back in the days of the story we read today. Thank you for always loving us and for allowing us to find you.
Amen.
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