Category: SSCSJ
The Sacred Steps: Lent 3
- One might talk with the children about being thirsty. What is that like? Is anyone thirsty right now? Though I am not fond of object lessons, it might help children think about how God can be present in them by talking of God as the water that helps them when they are thirsty. Bring some water to share at the end.
- You might take this opportunity to talk with the children about how the Psalms have inspired many hymns, secular songs, and art. Spend some time with your hymnal and see how many of the “favorite” hymns of your congregation are based on a psalm. You could talk to the children about that list.
- One could have the children help create a prayer based on this psalm. Do a simple word- game with the children to create a prayer. Roll out some paper on the floor. Ask the children to draw a picture or write a word that they think of when they hear the following phrases: “walk in your ways, praise you, follow you.” Create your own words or phrases from Psalm 63. Post the banner somewhere in the sanctuary or church building. If you or the preaching minister is a quick thinker, this prayer of words and pictures from the children could be used as part of the morning’s pastoral prayer.
- This is an opportunity to talk with the children about knowing what is good for us versus what may be bad for us. You may want to choose one or more of the commandments and talk to the children about how they help us all live together and with God. If your congregation is following a Lenten theme you could incorporate this into the learning of what is good.
- One could choose to set a table (maybe the communion table) and invite the children to join you there. The conversation around the table could focus on God’s kingdom being like a place where all the food and drinks are free. What would that be like?
- Talk with the children about what the biblical story is for you and for your expression of Christian faith. These stories are supposed to help us know something about God. Do you have a favorite story or two? Do the children have a favorite story? What do those stories teach?
- Talk with the children about what it means to be an example for others. You may have had this conversation with the children earlier, but it is a common biblical theme, and it is the responsibility of Christians to be examples in our living. Thus, it cannot be visited too much with children.
- Talk with the children about what the parables of Jesus are. You could introduce the word “riddle” to the children and talk about what a riddle is supposed to do. A couple of classic riddles that sound like children’s jokes.
1) Where is the ocean the deepest? [the bottom]
2) What does an invisible person drink? [evaporated milk] - You could highlight this parable in Luke and talk with the children about your favorite parables.
- This is an opportunity to introduce the children to the words “repent” and “repentance.” Be ready with a simple, but not an oversimplified, definition to give them. How does your congregation speak of repentance? Is it a one-time change in heart, attitude, behavior, or do Christians practice repentance daily? One option would be to talk to the children about the last time you “repented” or felt, “repentance.” How is your example a teaching story that helps the children on the sacred steps think about times when they “repented” or felt, “repentance?”
The Sacred Steps: Lent 2
- This is an opportunity to talk with the children about how the Psalms have inspired many hymns, secular songs, and works of art. Spend some time with your hymnal and see how many of your congregation’s “favorite” hymns are based on a psalm. You could talk to the children about that list.
- One could have the children help create a prayer based on this psalm. Do a simple word game with the children to create a prayer. Roll out some paper on the floor. Ask the children to draw a picture or write a word that they think of when they hear the following phrases: “One thing I ask of God,”; “The Lord is my light,” and “Teach me your way.” Create your own words or phrases from Psalm 27. Post the banner somewhere in the sanctuary or church building. If you or the preaching minister is a quick thinker, this prayer of words and pictures from the children could be part of the morning’s pastoral prayer.
- Another option would be to talk with the children about your pastoral prayer time. Do you ask the congregation to voice concerns or joys? Do you have a list of names in the bulletin that are a “prayer list”? Your pastoral prayer probably follows the form of this psalm somewhat (i.e., containing both joys & concerns). This week, ask the children to list their prayer concerns and have them repeat v 1 after each child’s prayer request.
- If you have not introduced the children to the Psalms, this might be the week to do so. This is a “mixed-type” psalm that represents many human emotions. During the children’s prayers, they may also express many emotions. Is there anything you can’t say to God in prayer?
- Talk with the children about what a covenant is or what the word “covenant” means. This story is just one example of God’s many covenants with an individual, nation, or even all creation. (Think about the Noah story.) Be ready to give a simple definition for the word covenant, and since it is Lent, invite the children to make a covenant with you and each other to serve at your church in whatever you think is appropriate for them to covenant to do.
- What does it mean when another covenant is made? Is the last covenant forgotten, or does it become non-binding? In children’s speak, you are asking if one promise cancels out another. In the 1st Testament, this is not how it works. God makes and keeps countless covenants at the same time.
- Talk with the children about what it means to be an “example” for someone. Can the children name someone they think is a good example of living like Jesus did? You will want to be ready to provide an example or two of such “persons” to get them started. Since it is the Lenten season, one might ask the elders or other adults in your congregation to be an example for the children on the sacred steps by talking with them or allowing them to shadow them if they have specific responsibilities in the congregation.
- If you are going to take the “goal” path in this text, be careful. One could talk to the children about the goal of being more like Jesus. How does a person do that? I would stay away from questions about eternity and heaven. Keep it simple with the children, but not oversimplified, and have those conversations with your adult peers.
- This is an opportunity to introduce the word “lament” to the children. There will be times in their lives when they will lament for someone, themselves, or something. Sometimes, a lament may be just sharing our feelings, and your congregation is a place where the children can do that. A lament may help us keep from doing what we know is wrong. When would the children have heard the word “lament” in church? How does your congregation lament, and what have you done or left undone based on your lament?
- Has your congregation “lamented” for someone or something in your community and then decided to do something? Maybe you lamented the poverty or hunger in your community and worked to help ease that in your community. Maybe some have felt sorrow for your congregation’s shut-ins and decided to help by visiting them.
- For an older group, one might consider talking with the children about how they live “in the name of the Lord.”
Next page →
← Previous page