Most of today’s texts are
very mature discussions of God’s judgment and the difficult
divisions that arise as we try to live as God’s people. They are a stretch for children. Mainly the message for children is that God
cares about what we do. Yes, God loves
us always, no matter what we do. But,
anything we do is not OK with God.
Beyond that worship planners do well to focus on exploring pieces of the
texts with children. Doing this gives
them building blocks with which to build their understanding and enriches the
understanding of adult worshipers at the same time.
The difficulty of the other
texts and the connection to going back to school, makes the Hebrews reading an
attractive choice for the children this week.
Texts for
Today
Isaiah 5:1-7
> Pass out grapes to eat before reading this
prophecy. Note that they are large tasty
juicy grapes from a well-tended vineyard (grape farm) rather than small hard
tart grapes that grow in the wild. (If
you use individual grapes rather than clusters, you don’t have to plan for stem
disposal.)
> For the children (and the adults) read verse 7 first. Pause to explain that Isaiah is going to sing
us a song about a person who planted a vineyard and that it is important to
know as we listen to the song that Isaiah is not talking about a real vineyard,
but about God’s people. Then read the
song in vss 1-6.
 |
Eastern Orthodox icon of Jesus Christ as the True Vine, \
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library,
[retrieved July 16, 2013]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/
wiki/File:Christ_the_True_Vine_icon_(Athens,_16th_century).jpg.
|
> Show this icon.
Point to Jesus first and then to the figures at the edge. Guess together who some of these people might
be. (There are no right or wrong answers
here. They are mainly friends of
Jesus.) Then point to the vine behind
them. Note that in this picture Jesus
is the trunk of the vine and all the people are branches. Briefly explain that a vine with branches is
a very old symbol for the church or God’s people. Finally, challenge children to listen for the
vine in this passage. Point out that in
this passage, the vine is a grape vine which grows in a vineyard.
Rather
than use this icon, find a family tree with a tree drawn in the
background. Search “family tree images”
on the internet for LOTS of these.
> This text and
Psalm 80 deal with vineyards. So take time to provide detailed information about
vineyards. (If a member of the congregation grows
grapes, ask them to help with this explanation.) For the children it will be new
information. For the adults it will be a review that will lead them to
pay closer attention to the details of the passages. Show a large picture
of a vineyard. Then briefly note that all the vines must be planted,
wired to the trellises as they grow, pruned, weeded, watered, protected from
hungry animals and human thieves, then harvested. Mention the need for
the fence and the watchtower. Then urge worshipers to listen for
vineyards in today’s readings.
Do not expect this explanation to
enable children to grasp all of the rather complicated messages about vineyards
in today’s readings. Know that you are laying a foundation for
understanding as they grow.
Psalm 80: 1-2, 8-19
> If you have introduced vineyards and maybe eaten some
grapes, a few older children will begin to get the psalmist’s prayer. But, all the imagery and biblical history
references make this a really hard psalm for children.
> If you introduced vineyards before reading the Isaiah
text, simply announce that this prayer was written after God had let the
people be conquered and taken captive to a foreign country. Remind them that Isaiah talks about those
people as if they were God’s vineyard.
> Surprise worshipers by
including “O
Little Town of Bethlehem” in today’s
worship, omitting verse 2 (too Christmas-y). Before the congregation
sings it, read through verses 1, 3, and 4 pointing out all the problems and the
hope that God will rescue us.
Jeremiah 23:23-29
This warning about listening
carefully to and evaluating the messages of prophets demands way more mental
maturity and life experience than children possess.
> If you are building a prophet quotes
banner, add verse 24 using it more as an opportunity to explore the God cares
about what we do theme that underlies many of today’s texts.
Psalm 82
> Bring this psalm to life with two readers. One, maybe the usual reader, reads the first
and last verses from the lectern. This
person also sets the stage describing the heavenly courtroom where God is
seated in front of all the gathered people.
The other reader reads God’s part standing in the middle of the chancel
and reading with great drama.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Psalm 82
Reader 1:
God presides in the heavenly council;
in
the assembly of the gods he gives his decision:
Reader
2 (Counting off on fingers as reads):
1.
“You
must stop judging unjustly
2.
You must no longer be partial to the wicked!
3. Defend the rights of the poor and the
orphans;
4.
Be fair to the needy and the helpless.
5. Rescue them from the power of the wicked.
“How
ignorant you are! How stupid!
You
are completely corrupt,
and
justice has disappeared from the world.
‘You
are gods,’ I said;
‘all
of you are children of the Most High.’
But
you will die like mortals;
your
life will end like that of any prince.”
Reader
1:
Come,
O God, and rule the world;
all
the nations are yours.
from
the TEV
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hebrews 11:29-12:2
FAITH HERO/INES
> All the English translations of 12:1-2 use the word witness.
But in today’s world a witness is most
often someone who can say, “I was there and this is what happened.” Witnesses are usually identified as witnesses
in court rooms and occasionally on news broadcasts. The people described here are more than
that. For children the witnesses in
these verses might be more recognizable as faith heroes and heroines.
> Few children will recognize any of the
witnesses/heroes/heroines named in this text. Telling the story of one of them helps
children get the message and adds a new witness to their cloud. I’d choose Daniel. I’d start with the story of Daniel’s brave
stand about following religious food laws while a captive in a king’s court,
then tell the story of the lion’s den.
I’d note that Daniel reminds us that it IS possible to choose to do hard
things when we face choices about following God’s rules when it is really,
really tempting not to do so.
This
leads to the challenge to not only pay attention to those who witness to you,
but also be a witness to others – especially as you meet new kids in your new
school classes and sports teams and clubs.
> Display a baseball (or other sports) card
explaining that this is a picture of a baseball hero. Describe how people use the cards to remember
what that sports hero did and to feel close to that person. Then show a homemade card about one of your faith
heroes. On the front draw or glue a
picture of the person with some identifying props or action. On the back list important facts (“stats”)
about that person. Share both sides with
the children telling why that person is important to you. Finally, give children index cards and
markers which to create their own faith hero cards. Together brainstorm some possibilities before
sending children to their seats to work during the sermon. Tell them you will be interested in seeing
their cards as they leave the sanctuary.
> Before worship prepare a large white “cloud”
(maybe a bed sheet?) to be displayed as a banner or a cloth on the central
Table. Spread it on the Table or floor
and invite worshipers of all ages to come forward to write on the banner the
name of one of their faith hero/ines using colored marking pens. Do this after having thought together about
such heroes. It could be done after the
sermon as an affirmation of faith or before the gathering of prayer
concerns. When the cloud is complete,
lift it into place if it is a banner or stand back from the Table if it is a
tablecloth so all can see it. Reread
Hebrews 12:1-2 and perhaps pray for those who are our hero/ines and for the
courage to be hero/ines to those around us.
> Storypath sends us to Homeplace, by Anne Shelby. It is the story of the generations who have
lived in and built onto a family home and farm.
It is a little long, but could be shortened by several generations to
use as an introduction to your story of your own church told in the same
format. Our great, great…. Built this
church. He/she/they … list what they did concluding with something
that opened the way for the next generation. And one of those babies was… etc. until you get to some of those
babies are you – pointing to the children.
Two hymns most often
connected to this text use SAINTS instead of WITNESSES or HERO/INES. Point this out before singing either one.
 |
| Different hymnals include different verses, so adapt as needed. |
> “For
All the Saints” is the hymn most
closely tied to this scripture. Verse 2
is most easily understood by children.
Walk through this verse with them putting it into your own words as you
go and identifying saint as another word for either witness or faith
hero/ine. Then, encourage them to think
about their saints/witnesses and sing the Alleluias to thank God for them.
Offer children song sheets that highlight the alleluias and provide space for
children to draw or write the names of some of their faith hero/ines.
> “I
Sing A Song of the Saints of God”
has a similar theme but is even easier for early readers. Ask a children’s choir to sing it. Or, sing it as a congregation. If projected pictures are part of your
worship life, illustrate this hymn with pictures of people of all ages in your
congregation doing the work of the church.
PERSEVERANCE
> Instead of featuring witness/hero/heroine/saint words,
display a poster featuring the word Perseverance. Introduce perseverance as a big word. Practice saying it together. Define it as sticking with something when it
gets hard or boring or when you get tired or when it seems it won’t make a
difference or that nobody else cares about it.
Read verse 12:1 emphasizing the word perseverance. Put the verse into your own words noting that
at the beginning of the school year everything is new and maybe exciting. Before long it usually gets harder. That is when we need perseverance. (Remember as you talk that some children go
back to school unwillingly and with deep dread.
They need perseverance from the very beginning of the year.)
>
In an Olympic year, tell
stories of athletes who have demonstrated great perseverance in their quest for
Olympic gold.
> “Looking toward Jesus…” The beginning
of the school year can seem like the beginning of a race. So, lift up that image in 12:1-2. Go to the far end of the aisle to draw a
chalk or lay down a removable tape goal line on the floor. From there display a series of goal line
posters such as “straight As,” “most popular in the class,” “best athlete” even
“best dressed” then “be like Jesus.” Ask
children to read them. As you flip
through them note some good things about each one. Then, conclude with the “Jesus” poster
setting the others aside saying that while the others are OK, this is the
best. Restate Paul’s race image
encouraging the children to run toward the right goal this year.
> Good disciple songs for the race (and the beginning of the school year) are:
”Guide
My Feet While I Run This Race”
“I
Have Decided to Follow Jesus”
“Thuma
Mina” (South African tune and language)
–
UMC hymnal has 3 verses: send me Jesus, lead me Jesus, and fill me Jesus
Luke 12:49-56
> Children who depend so completely on their parents are
even more worried by Jesus’ words here than adults are. They need to hear that the adults have trouble
with these words too. Then, with
support, they can explore what Jesus is saying.
Especially older children are well aware that when you try to live like
a follower of Jesus, there can be trouble.
Other kids are not happy when you stand up for kids they have excluded
or hurt. Friends get mad at you when you
refuse to go along with something you know is wrong. Children actually appreciate hearing Jesus
and the church acknowledge that this is true.
Once they hear that acceptance of how hard it can be, they are ready to
hear Jesus insist that they stick with him even when things get tough.
> The Roman Catholic lectionary deletes the last three
verses, the ones about knowing how to read the weather. This leaves a much more focused reading which
is easier for children to catch.
Back to School !
The Hebrews “cloud of
witnesses” provides several themes to explore with children as they go back to
school. Look for ideas about them
above. For more general ideas for
worshiping on the Sunday before the children go back to school go HERE.
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