Year A - Epiphany (Monday January 6, 2014 or Sunday January 5, 2014)

These texts are set for January 6 which in 2013 is on a Monday.  The ideas here could be incorporated into weeknight celebration that includes worship in a freer form than often followed on Sunday morning.  Also, they could be used on Sunday, January 5, by congregations who do not have a weeknight celebration but do not want to ignore Epiphany.  Actually I think these texts have much more to say to children and adults than do the texts for the Second Sunday of Christmas.

Isaiah 60: 1-6

Isaiah calls the people of Jerusalem to rise and shine because God’s glory is upon them for all the world to see.  Children heading back to school this week after soaking up God’s Christmas love and glory are ready to hear the call to shine also.  Verse 1 is their key verse.   Actually “Arise, shine!” is all they need. 

One way to explain the symbol of light is to present children with several symbols, e.g. a national flag, a symbol for a sports team, and a cross.  As you present each symbol ask what it stands for and what it makes them think about.  Then tell them that the symbol for God is light.  Since we can’t make a picture of light, we use things that make light like a star, sun, candle, lamp.  Display a treetop star ornament that goes at the top of the Christmas or Chrismon tree and note its meaning.  Recall Christmas candle lighting services and note that we lit those candles to remind ourselves that God the light is with us.  Then, move to the discussion below of the candles in the worship center.  Or, name and explore other light symbols pondering how each reminds us of God.  Encourage the children (and other worshipers) to watch for light symbols scattered through the scriptures we read, the songs we sings and the prayers we pray today.

It is a good day to point out and explain your congregation’s use of candles during worship.  Many congregations light two candles on a central table.  The explanation that I grew up with was that one candle was “God is the light of the world” (John 8:12) and the other “we are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13)   (I know from the 2011 comments that others have different explanations.  That is fine.  It is more important to know one than to have a “right one.”)  An acolyte may light a taper from one of the candles before snuffing both at the conclusion of the service.  The acolyte often walks down the central aisle and out the back door to call worshipers to follow the light of God out into the world. 

Speaking of acolytes:  Lighting candles as a worship leader is a job that older children relish.  Including children in this simple act, training them how to do it and what it means, possibly even robing them to do it, tells them that they are a real part of the worshiping community.  Children as young as eight or nine can take this role successfully if the candles are short enough for them to reach easily.  In some churches serving as acolyte is an activity children sign up for just as they do for choir.  In others, the responsibility is tied to a particular church school class for the year. 

“Arise, shine” is not about enjoying light.  It is a command to reflect and spread light.  Reread the phrase several times pondering the difference in basking in light and shining out in the darkness.  Explore ways we can shine listing ways children can shine God’s love out at school, in the locker room, even in the back seat of a car as well as ways youth and adults can shine.  To encourage worshipers to shine, give each one a star sticker (glittery ones are the best!).  During a children’s message, stick a star on each child’s hand or forehead and say to each one, “Arise, shine.”  Or, pass baskets of star stickers to the entire congregations, instructing individuals to stick a star on the person at their side saying to them “arise, shine.”

Light hymns children can sing at least parts of with understanding:

“I Want To Walk As A Child of Light”

“Let There Be Light” with lots of short phrases of hope for the coming year

“This Little Light of Mine” – a spiritual about our ability to be light as well as enjoy light

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

Turn this psalm into a prayer for today’s leaders from all around the world. Begin by brainstorming a list of these leaders together.  Include political leaders of all persuasions, leaders in your community, coaches, teachers, and other leaders of children.  Then adapt the first few words of each line (mainly the pronouns) to make the psalm into a prayer for those leaders.  Groups 1 and 2 could be the two sides of the congregation or the congregation and the choir.  (Yes, Psalm 72 was a text for Advent 2 and this script was offered there too.) 

h h h h h h h h h h h h h

A Prayer for Leaders Based on Psalm 72

Group 1:       Give our leaders your justice, O God,

and your righteousness to their children.

Group 2:       May they judge your people with righteousness,

and your poor with justice.

Group 1:       May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,

and the hills, in righteousness.

Group 2:       May they defend the cause of the poor of the people,

give deliverance to the needy,

and crush the oppressor.

Group 1:       May they live while the sun endures,

and as long as the moon,

throughout all generations.

Group 2:       May they be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

like showers that water the earth.

Group 1:       In their days may righteousness flourish
                       and peace abound,

until the moon is no more.

Group 2:       Amen

All:                  Amen

                                                                        Based on NRSV

h h h h h h h h h h h h h

Ephesians 3:1-12

Demonstrate Paul’s mystery that God loves people all around the world by including people of as many different racial and ethnic backgrounds in worship leadership.  Some might even come in native dress or speak/read in native languages.  Include music from many different cultures. 

If you frequently do this for Pentecost, today feature one reader from one continent or country, use at least one piece of music or instrument from that culture, hear about the church in that area, and pray for Christians there.

Pray your way around the world.  Display a globe.  Explain that remembering the mystery Paul discovered, i.e. that God loves all people all over the world, your prayers today will move around the globe.  You might use the continents as your outline, offering prayers for each continent followed by time for worshipers to add their own voiced or silent prayers for that continent. 

Present several pairs of portraits of people from different parts of the world asking which of these does God love.  The answer of course is that God loves both of them.  God loves all people in all parts of the world.  (Old National Geographic magazines are good sources for these pictures.)

Matthew 2:1-12

Tell the story of the three kings in your own words moving the kings from the crèche around the sanctuary as you talk. 

Actually you will need three assistants, one to carry each king and perhaps a fourth to carry a shiny poster board star on a pole.  Start in a far corner of the sanctuary telling about the beginning of the trip.  Stop in another corner to tell about the visit to Herod’s palace, then come to the mother and child figures.  (These figures might be in a prominent spot at the front of the sanctuary or in a nook off to a side.)  Finally tell about the warning not to return to Herod and accompany the king figures back to their homes following another path around the sanctuary.  (After the story you might want to return the kings to their positions around the mother and child figures.)

Do a hymn study of “We three Kings of Orient, Are.”   Ask all worshippers to open their hymnals to the carol.  Walk through the verses explaining the significance of the three gifts.  Then sing the carol together.  This could be the outline for the day’s sermon or a fairly brief introduction to the hymn.

Interesting sidebar for children:  the carol is generally known as “We 3 Kings of Orient Are.”  Most children assume that Orient Are is the place the kings come from.  The truer to the meaning grammar for this verse would be:

We three kings of (the) Orient are bearing gifts.

We traverse afar, (over) field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.

 

Chalking the Door is an Epiphany ritual that can be done at church then repeated in the congregation’s homes.  It is basically a house blessing.  Using chalk, members of the congregation or household write on the door frame the year’s date and the letters C, B, and M (the initials of the three wise men).  Prayer is then offered asking that the door welcome many visitors during the coming year and that all who come through the doorway be blessed.  Write on the church doors (if there are more than one, chalk them all!) during the worship service.  Name some of the people who may come through the doors – parents bringing babies to be baptized, brides and grooms, people coming to remember those who have died, and lots of people coming to worship God each week.  Then encourage households to chalk the doors in their own homes.  Print a simple blessing for use at both church and home in the order of worship and give out small pieces of white chalk for home use.  Below is a sample blessing.

God of doors and homes,
     bless this home this year and every year.

Bless all who come and go through this door,
     both those who live here and those who visit.

May all who enter through this door
     come in peace and bring joy.

May all who come to this door find a welcome and love.

May the love and joy in this home overflow and spread
     into the community and the world.

The world is full of stories about people who were invited to go with the three kings, but declined for a variety of reasons all related to being too busy. In most this person later then decides to follow the kings, but is always too late and spends the rest of his/her life looking for the child.  The message in all the stories is to stay alert for signs of God at work in the world (like a star in the sky or an invitation) and to be ready to drop everything to respond.  The Other Wise Man, by Henry Van Dyke, is a rather complicated long American version of this tale.   Two of the best of these stories for children are: 

The Legend of Old Befana, by Tomie dePaola.  In this well loved European folk tale, an Italian grandmother meets the kings, then spends the rest of her life leaving cakes and cookies for children during the night on January 6.  It could be used at least two ways in worship.

Read the first 13 pages ending with Befana telling the 3 kings that she has seen the star which kept her awake at night and that she had work to do. (approximately four minutes to read aloud)  Stop there to ponder the possibility of missing out on something wonderful because you were stuck in a grumpy rut.  Note that the new year has many possibilities.  Encourage worshipers to stay open enough to give them a chance. 

Or, instead of stopping read one more page.  Then, stop.  Ask listeners what Befana might have done next.  Read or tell what happened in the next 13 pages (approximately three minutes to read the rest of the book).  Compare Befana’s (grumpy) face in the pictures of her sweeping with her (happy) face on the last page.  Ponder what made the difference.

 

Baboushka, retold by Arthur Scholey, is a Russian folktale about another busy grandmother who meets the three kings and is invited to join them.  At first she declines with lots of busy excuses, then decides to follow, but never catches up.  An angel points out that the shepherds left immediately after the angels sang to them.  The kings followed the star as soon as it appeared.  She is simply too late.  She keeps searching, carrying with her toys that she leaves with sleeping children in case they are the Christ child.  (About ten minutes to read aloud) 

 

 

For what it is worth, I prefer The Legend of Old Befana because of the change in her attitude.  Also be aware that some women object to both of these stories as stereotypical of overworked women with limited vision.  While I work hard to avoid such stereotypes, I think either of these stories might be used.  If you object, go back to the Van Dyke story telling it in your own words.

 

Year A - Second Sunday after Christmas (January 5, 2014)

The big choice this week is whether to work with the texts for the Second Sunday of Christmas or the Epiphany texts.  I’d be inclined to go with Epiphany because I think they offer more to children (and the rest of us) on what is probably the day before we all go back to school and work after the holidays.  The call to "Arise and Shine" is powerful.  Go to Epiphany Year A for ideas.  Or, if you plan to use Second Sunday of Christmas texts, keep reading.

T  The texts for the Second Sunday of Christmas share a common theme of praise and thanksgiving.  Jeremiah offers gratitude for the return of the Exiles even though he acknowledges that not all who left are alive to return and the experience of exile was bitter.  Psalm 147 calls on the citizens of Jerusalem to praise God for all the blessings of living in that city.  The writers of Ephesians and John list the blessings that are bestowed on us through Christ.  Together they offer an opportunity to look back over 2013 (which was about as mixed a blessing as the return of the Exiles) with both honesty and gratitude and to look ahead to the new year with hope that God’s larger good vision will prevail in spite of whatever immediate problems or joys come our way in 2014.

T To praise God for Christ with us sing “When Morning Gilds the Skies.”  Challenge even non-readers to sing every “May Jesus Christ be praised!”

T The Secret of Saying Thanks, by Douglas Wood, is a beautifully illustrated picture book.  It begins “Perhaps you’d like to know a secret…” and concludes

“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one,

      for we cannot feel thankful and

      unhappy at the same time. 

The more we say thanks,

     the more we find to be thankful for. 

And the more we find to be thankful for,

     the happier we become.

We don’t give thanks because we’re happy,

We are happy because we give thanks.”

The middle of the book is a collection of moments in which one finds oneself thankful for a variety of things.  Read all or parts of the book with a small group of children who can easily see the pictures as you read, and the willingness to believe the adults will enjoy and benefit from hearing it also (which they will).  Read this during a children’s time or during the sermon. 

T Another way to explore this theme with children is to challenge them to write or draw thank you notes to God.  Prepare by talking together about blessings.  Identify some from the texts, from Christmas, and from life in general.  If you introduce this project during a children’s time or an announcement at the beginning of the service, children can work on their drawings/notes during the service and have them ready to drop into the offering plates as they are passed.  Below is a letter page to copy for their notes.

-,./-,./-,./-,./-,

Dear God,

Thank you for

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

Love,

_________________

 

-,./-,./-,./-,./-,

T Today’s texts also include a collection of wisdom texts tied to the gospel reading of the Prologue of John.  Some Sunday they might be an interesting group with which to explore the biblical concept of Wisdom.  On any Sunday this would be a challenge to explore with children.  But on the first Sunday in January, it might be un-wise.  People are preoccupied with settling back into “normal” after the holidays and so need to explore and pray about more immediate concerns.

ADOPTION   REDEMPTION   THE WORD

T Whichever themes you explore today pay attention to vocabulary.  Especially the texts are filled with big abstract words (adoption, redemption, the Word) that children will not catch as they are read.  The Old Testament readings are only a little easier to follow.  So, even more than usual children will count on worship leaders to restate the message for them.

The Texts

Jeremiah 31:7-14

T   This part of Jeremiah has been called The Book of Consolations.  It is directed to Hebrews in Exile.  Rather than explain too much history, simply name the Book of Consolations and describe it as a collection of promises from God to remember in bad times.  Read a few individual verses restating them in your own words as below.  Briefly consider how each might make you feel better on bad days.  Conclude simply by hugging the Bible you read from and saying how thankful you are that those promises are there and that God is with us even in the hard times.

8-9a                You won’t be prisoners of war

                        in a foreign land forever

12c-13a         You will be as healthy as a well-watered

                        garden and will dance and be merry, I promise

13b                 I will turn your sadness into joy

Sirach 24:1-12

To understand this readers need familiarity with the Old Testament figure of Wisdom.  Most children do not.  Since worship is not the easiest place to introduce this complex image, I’d skip this text with children.

Psalm 147:12-20

T   Three readers read the three sections of praises with props to make the content of their reason for praising God even clearer.  Have them stand in place with their props before the reading begins and pass a microphone from one to the other if a microphone is needed.  This group might be a collection of individuals or could be prepared by a family rehearsing at home during the holiday.  (At least one good rehearsal is needed.)

Yes, there are a lot of male images for God here.  I could not find a more inclusive translation that is simple enough for children.  If you want to make it more inclusive replace some of the “hes” with “God” and/or “The Lord.”

O T & O T & O T & O T & O

Psalm 147:12-20

Reader 1 (setting a map on an easel or a globe in place before reading)

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

He keeps your gates strong;

he blesses your people.

He keeps your borders safe

and satisfies you with the finest wheat. 

Reader 2 (wearing a zipped up hooded parka and removing the hood on “the ice melts”)

He gives a command to the earth,

and what he says is quickly done.

He spreads snow like a blanket

and scatters frost like dust.

He sends hail like gravel;

no one can endure the cold he sends!

Then he gives a command, and the ice melts;

he sends the wind, and the water flows. 

Reader 3 (carrying a large open Bible)

 

He gives his message to his people,

his instructions and laws to Israel.

He has not done this for other nations;

they do not know his laws.

All Readers

Praise the Lord!

                                    TEV

O T & O T & O T & O T & O

Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21

The one way to read this text today is in connection with the reading of Jesus the Word as suggested for the gospel.  Even then it will be a stretch for children.

Ephesians 1:3-14

T This is seriously complex theological language.  The spiritual blessings this writer says that we gain through Jesus include adoption, redemption, and an inheritance in Christ.  If you must wade into this, remember that for children adoption means God chose us for God’s very own.  Redemption is better understood by children as forgiveness.  And, I think understanding of inheritance will have to wait until they are old enough to have understanding of the effect having an inheritance to come in the future has on life now and make the abstract theological connection.  If any of you have ideas about how to explore this text more fully with children, I’ll be interested to hear it.

T Paul’s theology is more useful to children as an invitation to connect the Christmas baby with the man he grew to be.  Do this with a hymn that traces the life of Jesus, e.g. “O Sing a Song of Bethlehem” or “Lord of the Dance.”  Before singing it , walk through the verses summarizing what each one is telling us about Jesus.

 

If you are celebrating communion today,

T Point to the phrase, “the gifts of God for the people of God.”  Take time to name together some of God’s gifts.  Insist that Jesus is God’s very best gift and that the bread and cup are reminders of that gift.  The bread reminds us of all the ways Jesus fed and took care of people – name a few.  The cup reminds us that because Jesus forgave and kept on loving the people who killed him on the cross, we can count on him to forgive us and keep loving us when we do not deserve it either.

T Sing “I Come with Joy.”  Before singing it, direct worshipers to the first and last verses.  Briefly recall a few well known stories about Jesus (healing, forgiving, teaching) ending with the crucifixion (“his life laid down for me”) to expand on verse 1.  Then introduce the last verse as the “so what” verse.  The question is “so what are we going to do about what Jesus did.”  Only then invite worshipers to sing the entire song.

 

John 1: (1-9) 10-18

T Light the Advent wreath one last time as the prologue is read.  Ask an older child to serve as the acolyte/candle lighter as the text is read by a teenager or adult.  Rehearse so the child knows exactly when to make each move.

Hold the candle lighter high overhead as verses 1-5 are read.

Light the four advent candles as verses 6-13 are read.

Light the Christ candle as verse 14 is read.

Either stop with verse 14 or read through verse 20 with the acolyte standing quietly in place beside the wreath.

T Jesus, the Word is Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones’ presentation of this text.  It is wonderfully stated and beautifully illustrated.  Worshipers of all ages respond warmly to it.  It might be read and savored as either the sermon or a children’s sermon.  Stop as you go to comment.  If you project images in worship, scan the pages for projection so everyone can see them.  (I am told that if you do not share your scanned version with anyone, ever, this is not copyright infringement.)  If you do not project images simply read the book with gathered children so they can see the pictures. 

T If you are exploring incarnation, go to Fourth Sunday of Advent for notes and ideas.  Be sure to consider using the directions for walking through “Once in Royal David’s City” with children.

T To introduce the Word in John’s Prologue to the children, start with familiar phrases about people and their words.

She’s as good as her word

You have my word for it

Do as I say (as well as as I do)

Actions speak louder than words

“Don’t speak of love, show me” – My Fair Lady

In response to words (about something), “Prove it!”

      (show me with your actions)

He’s all words (and no action)

T Consider giving worshipers a printed copy of the text in which to underline WORD every time it appears.  Then read the text aloud.  As you explore it remember that for children it says

God is as good as God’s word
God IS with us in action
In Jesus every promise (every word God ever spoke) comes true

T After the sermon exploring the Word, use the text as a congregational affirmation of faith.

Including Children in Weddings

Alison Bauer, who pastors a church in PA includes children in worship regularly in wonderfully creative ways. After I saw the pictures of her wedding album page for children, I asked her permission to share. She sent the pictures and the ...following. Thank you, Allison!

 Here's an idea for your next blended family wedding when the couple is interested in including their children in the service or a wedding where you KNOW there will be a bunch of kids in attendance. 

 

Consider adding a children's sermon! (Or, do this at the very beginning of the wedding as a welcome for the kids.) Ask the kids if they will help you make a present for the bride & groom. Hand them a coloring/drawing page tailored to the couple. (See examples in the pictures.) Ask them to fill in the boxes, color the letters, and draw their own pictures. Because the questions asked involve the wedding, hopefully this will both help them to pay attention to what's going on AND keep little hands busy during the service and picture-taking and the reception. (You can provide crayons or perhaps the bride & groom could.)

Have the kids bring you their pictures when they are finished (either at the end of the service or during the reception.) Punch three holes in a manila folder and all the papers, put the papers in the folder, tie some string through each hole and, presto!, you've got a homemade wedding album from the kids! Even children who cannot read can do this with a little help from a sibling or grown-up. (I even had a grown-up who liked to draw make one of these!)

[SIDEBAR: Of course, not every child will want to participate, and you know not to force them. :o)]

But don't stop there!! There are lots of other ways to involve children in the ENTIRE wedding service! Traditional suggestions (for which you can do a simple internet search) include helping as bulletin-passer-outers, ushers, and ring-bearers/flower girls. Also, if you feel like walking on the wild side, kids could (with supervision) roll out the aisle runner or (again with supervision) light the unity candle. This could be especially poignant if it is a blended family service and candles are included for the kids too.

If you REALLY want to walk on the wild side and the parents REALLY want the kids involved AMAP (as much as possible!), consider these suggestions: at a recent wedding I performed, after the parents declared their vows to each other, the kids came up and stood with parents as they made vows to the kids (Parents: "[Insert kids' names], we both love you very much. And we promise to take care of you. And laugh with you. And cry with you. And love you with all of our hearts."). And then the kids made their vows back to their parents ("Thank you for loving me. And for letting me love you. I’m so glad you are now part of my family.") (And the kids stayed up with the parents for the rest of the service.)

And when it came time to exchange rings, the oldest sons from each family held them while I prayed over them. Then the bride's oldest son gave his mom's ring to his new step-father to put on his mom's finger, and vice-versa. (Or, you could do it the other way around too.)

During the ring exchange, couples can also present gifts to the children (no matter how old they are!) as part of the service. One couple, who had a two year old son who wouldn't remember much about the day, gave him a tractor, which was his favorite kind of toy. They called it the "wedding tractor" and when he would play with it, they would tell him the story of their wedding. Another couple had three teenage girls involved in the wedding. The parents ordered necklaces in a heart shape with ALL their birthstones included and gave them to the girls after exchanging their own rings.

Of course, you need to consider the children's willingness to participate. Particularly in a blended family situation, not every child will be enthusiastic and eager to participate. But try to bring them along as best you can. (For example, one of the four boys involved in a wedding was not happy that his dad was getting re-married and he wasn't quite sure he wanted to color the worksheet I gave out. He WOULD, however, color a picture from a coloring book and allow me to include that as part of my wedding album.) Treat it on a case-by-case kind of situation.

Don't be afraid to be creative with other parts of the service too--have the children read the Scripture or a poem or sing a song. See if you can come up with something everyone can participate in as a substitute for the unity candle. The sky's the limit!

Who can add other ideas?!

New Years Day (Years A, B, C)

New Year’s Day Worship Themes

There are several New Year’s themes that run through all today’s texts: time, God’s powerful presence in the world, the ability to change, and hope.  Children can explore all these themes.

% Time feels different to children who have known so little of it.  For them years last forever.  They are just beginning to sort out the difference between how long a time period feels and the fact that an hour is always 60 minutes long no matter how it feels. 

After exploring the fact that the same amount of time can feel short or long, point to alpha-omega symbols in your sanctuary (paraments, windows, furnishings).  Explain that these are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.  Note that saying God is alpha and omega is the same as saying God is A to Z.  Celebrate that God was before time began and will be after time ends and is with us in every bit of our time now.

Before singing “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” take time to review the words of one or all of the verses.

Start with verse 3 “a thousand ages in thy sight” putting it into your own words.  Point out that when you have lived long enough to celebrate only 6 Christmases, it seems a long time between Christmases.  But, when you have lived long enough to experience 86 Christmases, the time between Christmases seems to fly by.  It is strange (especially if you are 6) but very true.  Then, read the first lines of this verse and ponder the possibility that not a thousand Christmases but a thousand ages (hundreds of thousands of Christmases) are like one evening to God.

Verse 2 says that God (for whom a 100 ages is an evening) is with us at all times.  You might want to connect to the alpha and omega symbols in paraments, windows, or furnishings in the sanctuary.

Verse 1 is both the introduction and the summary.  I’d start with other verses, then return to God as our “hope” and “home” in all times. 

I’d focus on the first 3 verses with the children.  The adults will get the last two on their own and the children will grow into them.

% Change is possible.  We can never be totally stuck.  God gives us unlimited fresh starts.  Actually children will quickly point out that there are some things they cannot change, e.g. their size, their athletic or musical ability (or lack of it),the family they live in, whether they have enough money for what they need and want.  Acknowledge this and help identify what we can and cannot change.  Only then, talk about New Year’s Day as a good day to identify one change you can make, want to make, and will work on making.  Warn that change is not easy.  We have to expect to mess up and not quit when it gets hard.  We are not like toy transformers that change in a flick of a few levers.  Change takes time and work.

Invite worshipers of all ages to write one change they would like to make during the new year on a slip of paper (maybe some space left at the bottom of the printed order of worship) and to put it in the offering plate as a gift to God.  In the offertory prayer mention this gifts of commitments to changes.

St. Benedict, who founded the Benedictine order of monks, pointed out that every day (as well as every year) we get a fresh start.  Introduce the discipline of bedtime prayer as a good way to remember this.   Individuals or families think back over their day and identify things they want to tell God about the day.  With children identify the things for which we want to say “thanks” and the things about which we need to say “Help”.  Together tell God about these things in prayers.  (At first parents will have to voice the prayers, but soon older children can take turns voicing the prayers.)  Many parents end this by drawing a cross with their finger on each child’s forehead as they say, “Remember, God loves you and I love you ALWAYS.”  (On the radio this morning I heard an expert on insomnia touting very similar bedtime practices in which adults let go of the day and settle in to sleep.)

% The epiphany theme “Arise, Shine” resonates with children as they return to school in a new year.  Especially if you need to combine New Year’s and Epiphany themes go to Epiphany Year A for ideas.

% The response to all these themes is hope for the new year – and all of the future.  Sing the Argentine “Canto de Esperanza” (Song of Hope) which appears in many recent denominational hymnals.  It is a prayer for the new year that could be sung at the benediction.  If it is new to the congregation, read through the words before singing it.  Because it is short, it can be sung two or three times and guarantee that worshippers will be humming it all day.

 

Doors Are BIG on New Year’s Day

% Doors are good images for New Years Day.  We have closed the door on the last year and opened the door to a new door.  When you walk through a door things change.  When you go from outside to inside, you use a quieter voice, you wipe off (even take off) your shoes, you expect to do different things.  Walking through doors tells us where we are and who we are.  There are several ways to use doors in worship on New Year’s Day. 

Borrow the Chalking the Door ritual which is associated with Epiphany but fits nicely on New Year’s Day too.   It is basically a house blessing.  Using chalk, members of the congregation or household write on the door frame the year’s date and the letters C, B, and M (the initials of the three wise men).  Prayer is then offered asking that the door welcome many visitors during the coming year and that all who come through the doorway be blessed.  Write on the church doors during the worship service with the prayers for all who will come through the doors this year (worshipers, brides and grooms, parents bringing babies to be baptized, families and friends coming to bury their dead, members of community groups which will use the facilities,….).  Then encourage households to repeat it in their own homes.  Print a simple blessing for use at both church and home in the order of worship and give out small pieces of white chalk for home use.  Below is a sample blessing.

God of doors and homes, bless this home this year and every year.

Bless all who come and go through this door, both those who live here and those who visit.

May all who enter through this door come in peace and bring joy.

May all who come to this door find welcome and love.

May the love and joy in this home overflow and spread into the community and the world.

 

If your congregation decorates the doors with blue streamers on baptismal days, hang those streamers today.  Point out that every time we walk through those streamers we not only celebrate the baptism of that day, but recall our own baptism and the fact that God loves us and forgives.  God gives us a endless new starts, a new start every day, and a new year today.  If you do not plan to do it on The Baptism of the Lord Sunday, do a remembering of our baptisms service today. 

Check out the Judgment Doors in the section on the gospel text for the day.

The New Year’s Day Texts

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

% To children Ecclesiastes says that life is full of all sorts of things and that all of them are good (in the sense of blessed).  Help the children catch the significance of the 14 rather general pairs of opposites by exploring several for them. 

Vs 2    We all are born and we all die.  Birth and death are simply part of God’s plan for our lives.

Vs. 2b There are seasons.  We can’t plant seeds during the winter or harvest them in the spring.

Vs. 6b There are times we need to save things carefully - like putting aside clothes to wear again.  There are other times when we need to let things go - like giving away old clothes or toys we have outgrown.  Sometimes it is hard to know which time it is.

Vs. 7b There is a time to keep silent and a time to speak.  Children are quick to list examples of these times.

Vs 4    (I’d save this verse for last even though it comes earlier in the list.)  There are times when life is sad and we cry.  There are other times when life is so happy that we laugh a lot.  Both of these times are good, blessed times.  We may prefer the happy, laughing times.  But, God is with us in both happy and sad times. 

% The Secret of Saying Thanks, by Douglas Wood, says to children what The Preacher says in verses 9-13.  The secret is that it is impossible to feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.  Indeed,

The more we say thanks, the more we find to be thankful for. 

And the more we find to be thankful for, the happier we become.

This is one of those children’s books that could be read at the conclusion of the sermon to sum it all up.  It could also be read with the children up front , sitting behind you so they can see the pictures over your shoulders.  Or, it could be read to the whole congregation having encouraged them to close their eyes and imagine each scene you read.

 

Psalm 8

% Read from Today’s English Version which uses vocabulary children understand more readily – “Lord” instead of “Sovereign,” “greatness” instead of “majesty,” and the moon and stars that you “made” rather than “established.”  Most adults will not notice the difference, but the children will.

Revelation 21:1-6a

% I do recall some years that began with a sense of promise for the world.  But, often we begin a new year with a sense of foreboding.  The children sense that even when they do not understand the details of that year’s fears.  The writer of Revelation insists that we need not worry about these things that make us feel like the world is about to end.  For one thing, only God knows when the world will end.  For another thing, the all powerful God who loves us is in control and moving all of history toward a good end.  Check the worship themes at the beginning of this post for ideas highlighting the alpha and omega, judgment doors in European cathedrals, and a song of Hope with which to celebrate the fact that we can face the future without fear.

 

Matthew 25:31-46



Last Judgment, from Art in the Christian Tradition,
a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.
 http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=29327
[retrieved November 11, 2013].Add caption

% Medieval European Cathedrals made all the doors into the sanctuary Last Judgment Doors which illustrate this text.  Usually there was a stone figure of Christ the Judge over the door.  Often under him there were layers of figures with the saintly sheep on one side and the evil goats on the other.  Curved around these figures and the doors were gathered angels and biblical characters in worship.  Show pictures of these doors and imagine walking through them every week to worship.  If there are any special features of the entrances to your sanctuary, point them out and explain what it means to walk past/through them as you enter worship.  For example, many doors feature a cross.  So, say what it means to come through this sign of God’s love and forgiveness into worship every week.

% Where Love Is There God is Also, by Leo Tolstoy, is a short story about a cobbler who hears Jesus promise to visit him the next day.  He is excited, but disappointed when the only visitors he gets are an elderly poor man shoveling snow who he invited in for tea, a young mother and infant to whom he gave his coat, and a boy who has been caught taking an apple from a seller.  That night Jesus reveals that he was with each of those people.  This story is presented for children in several DVD/Videos and books.  It may be titled The Shoemaker’s Dream or Martin the Cobbler.  It may be found in some public libraries.  It is often listed as a Christmas item in libraries or stores.