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
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.
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