Lent 8d Thurs

Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14 • As far as a family's relationship to an animal goes, this is probably somewhere between keeping a companion animal and raising farm animals for food. Farmers see their animals differently than people who pamper their companion animals. I don't think it's unusual for someone who raises livestock to bring a sick or injured baby into the house for care. But, did you ever do this for Passover? There are sights, sounds, smells, tactile experiences associated with raising an animal in your home, slaughtering, sacrificing, cooking, eating...as a family...with children... Did you ever visit a sheep farm with the kids? Have you ever seen an animal slaughtered for meat? Did you ever raise an animal on your farm that you kept specifically for food? Did you ever act out the Passover scenario (without real animals and blood?) Just talking about slaughter and blood is a bit of a culture shock today. You probably wouldn't do that with children, but Israel did. God asked them to do it. He had His reasons.

Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 • "I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice . . . Because he inclined his ear to me, [He leaned down to listen to me] therefore I will call on him as long as I live."

Ideas you can ponder with kids: "...as long as I live..." You have to start somewhere.

Calling on the name of the Lord.

Keeping our promises to God.

I am a child of His serving girl. He has loosened my bonds.

Praise, thanksgiving...


1 Corinthians 11:23-26 • There's that story with the bread & the cup again.

John 13:1-17, 31b-35 "Before the feast of the Passover. . . " Passover - a holiday the people of Israel had celebrated every year from the time of Moses...

What did Jesus know going into that last supper with His disciples?

How did Jesus love?

Did you ever act out this story with your kids? It probably helps if everyone walks around wearing sandles in a dry dusty place first. Who usually had the job that Jesus took on? How did the job/role of teacher usually differ from the job/role of the person who washed everyone's feet?

Watch & listen to Jesus as teacher, here. What does He teach us? What does He show us?

Follow the story of Peter after this...

"Little children..." At the very end of the story Jesus gave them a "new" commandment. This was a command - not an option. "You WILL do this! You will!" What did Jesus command them to do?

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another . . ." As we teach, as we learn, is that a driving force? For all the time we spend outside of church and our children spend away from us is this what the world sees? The way we love one another isn't just about us. It's not just for us. It's intended to affect every human being we come in contact with. Children can learn this. Children can do this.