Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Lent 8c Wednesday
Isaiah 50:4-9a •
The "tongue of a teacher that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. . . " a single word... Can you think of single words to help someone when they're weary or tired? Is that something children can do?
Children wake up every morning just like grown-ups "Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught." I love the imagery here. Do we wake up every morning with our ears open eager to learn something from God? Children can do that.
What does it mean to be rebellious or to turn back when someone is trying to teach you something? For a child? Do you see it more easily through the eyes of the teacher or through the eyes of the learner?
After talking about teaching and learning we have verses about abuse. Does it jar you? Why is it here? We think of Jesus but is His crucifixion the only context for this?
Verses 7-9 are full of hope. I've always loved the imagery of setting "my face like flint." A good friend of my mother in-law's gave us this gift when we were married. She made it.
Psalm 70 • A prayer for help. You can take the NIRV and pull out verses for prayers. Is the Psalmist being mean to his enemies to pray like this?
Hebrews 12:1-3 • I love the imagery here, too, especially for children. You have the cloud of witnesses. Who are they? You have something you want to get rid of that clings to you. Can you and your kids think of things? (Lint. Stepping in dog poop. Cigarette smoke. Cooking smells. . . ) You have running a race and running it to win. Is it a short race or a long race? What is perserverance? What's a pioneer? What's a perfecter? For the joy that was set before Him he endured something hard, painful, shameful...for joy! Does it make you happy if you win? If you win something that was easy? If you win something that was hard? "Consider him..." Jesus is an example to us young and old so we don't grow weary and lose heart.
John 13:21-32
We have a story. Jesus was troubled. One of His friends was going to turn on him. He knew that. The rest of his friends didn't. Reenact the story. Think about all the times Jesus & his disciples shared. We read the story knowing how it will end. Remember the characters in the story (except Jesus) only know what had happened so far, not what was going to happen.
What happens next is a sad sad story but Jesus said, ". . . the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him . . ." We read this story knowing the ending but perhaps not fully understanding the depth of betrayal and broken trust that happened along the way. . . for pre-teens & teens or any child who ever felt betrayed...Jesus has experienced that, too.
Lent 8b Tuesday
Isaiah 49:1-7 •
More listening and paying attention...
Are there elements here about God's call and naming us even before we are born that is appropriate for children?
"He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away." Is this Isaiah? Was his mouth like a sharp sword when he was a child? An arrow being sharpened to be hid away until God was ready?
vs 5 formed from the womb to be His servant...formed from the womb with a purpose . . . Is that true of everyone or just special people?
You have a prophet (and perhaps a people) looking to God when he is discouraged and a promise of God in the midst of discouragement.
Psalm 71:1-14 •
Take the time to look at this person who wrote this Psalm and his relationship to God. The part that caught my attention is this (vs 6-7) "Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you. I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. . . " How many observations can you make about the child? The man? God, as he knew Him? Ponder childhood faith and adult faith adult faith in this Psalm. Notice that it doesn't get easier. What skills did he learn as a child that continued to serve him even through hard times as an adult?
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 •
Here we have foolishness & power, foolishness and wisdom... Proverbs talks about fools and children. I guess it isn't about the foolishness, wisdom or power. It's about what God did to draw us near to Him. Is it too far off-center to say that through the stories of Jesus, the reality of what He did, and interacting with Him we come to see and know Him as the power & wisdom of God? I think verses 25-29 are especially appropriate for children and for those of us who love them.
John 12:20-36
Some Greeks came to see Jesus. You can act out the telephone game-likeness of one telling another who tells another who tells...
You have the story (the science & the agriculture) of grain & wheat. Have you ever taken a stalk of grain and rubbed it in your hands or ground the groats to make flour?
vs 25 - words to remember but for how young a listener? vs 26 - something to act out if you talk about serving. There is a story in verses 27-36. You can play with light & dark.
More listening and paying attention...
Are there elements here about God's call and naming us even before we are born that is appropriate for children?
"He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away." Is this Isaiah? Was his mouth like a sharp sword when he was a child? An arrow being sharpened to be hid away until God was ready?
vs 5 formed from the womb to be His servant...formed from the womb with a purpose . . . Is that true of everyone or just special people?
You have a prophet (and perhaps a people) looking to God when he is discouraged and a promise of God in the midst of discouragement.
Psalm 71:1-14 •
Take the time to look at this person who wrote this Psalm and his relationship to God. The part that caught my attention is this (vs 6-7) "Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you. I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. . . " How many observations can you make about the child? The man? God, as he knew Him? Ponder childhood faith and adult faith adult faith in this Psalm. Notice that it doesn't get easier. What skills did he learn as a child that continued to serve him even through hard times as an adult?
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 •
Here we have foolishness & power, foolishness and wisdom... Proverbs talks about fools and children. I guess it isn't about the foolishness, wisdom or power. It's about what God did to draw us near to Him. Is it too far off-center to say that through the stories of Jesus, the reality of what He did, and interacting with Him we come to see and know Him as the power & wisdom of God? I think verses 25-29 are especially appropriate for children and for those of us who love them.
John 12:20-36
Some Greeks came to see Jesus. You can act out the telephone game-likeness of one telling another who tells another who tells...
You have the story (the science & the agriculture) of grain & wheat. Have you ever taken a stalk of grain and rubbed it in your hands or ground the groats to make flour?
vs 25 - words to remember but for how young a listener? vs 26 - something to act out if you talk about serving. There is a story in verses 27-36. You can play with light & dark.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Lent 8a - Monday
Isaiah 42:1-9 •
Here is another story about the Holy Spirit. We also hear about justice.
Someone is special. Someone is "chosen." Children know about that. Here is someone who "will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street. . ." What does that look like? sound like? He won't break "a bruised reed". He won't quench "a dimly burning wick. . ." What does that look like? For your older kids, your teens, do these qualities have something to do with justice?
Something more about justice and a promise, "He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. "
In verse 5 we have visual imagery perhaps reminding us of the creation story. Children know what it means for someone to take them by the hand. "I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."
vs 9 "See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them." When God does what He says He will do, share it with your children.
Psalm 36:5-11 • Look up at the heavens. God's love extends to the heavens. Look up at the clouds. God's faithfulness extends to the clouds. Look at mighty mountains. God's righteousness is like that. Look at the ocean depths. God's judgments are like that.
And the Psalmist says, "you save humans and animals alike, O LORD." I can never find that verse when I'm looking for it but there it is.
Hiding in the shadow of His wings - a fun fort to create for little ones. Special food, special drink & lots of it.
"...you give them drink from the river of your delights..." what does that look like? Taste like? Sound like? Not my delights or your delights but God's delights...What can you do with fountains? What can you do with " in your light we see light"
Hebrews 9:11-15 •
Jesus -" high priest of the good things to come" . What does that mean? What's a priest? What's a high priest? Israelite children would know what a high priest is and they would have life associations.
the blood of Jesus...offered to God...to "purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!"
Look at the nouns. "blood," "calves," "goats," "mediator," "covenant". . . Go through the list of nouns in this passage. Even the action words. Without using theological Christianese...what do they mean to you? What did they mean to the Israelites? What do they mean to children in your faith community? What did they mean to Israelite children?
Is there something to be said about "high church" helping us understand more of the scriptures? How about "low church?"
John 12:1-11
Passover meant something to Israelite children and adults. Bethany. The place where ___ happened. There was a memory associated with this place. Jesus did something. I think I posted about this passage but retell the story. You have a home, dinner, people, perfume ...what 5 senses are engaged? How? What can we learn about Jesus and what He was teaching us about His father?
Here is another story about the Holy Spirit. We also hear about justice.
Someone is special. Someone is "chosen." Children know about that. Here is someone who "will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street. . ." What does that look like? sound like? He won't break "a bruised reed". He won't quench "a dimly burning wick. . ." What does that look like? For your older kids, your teens, do these qualities have something to do with justice?
Something more about justice and a promise, "He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. "
In verse 5 we have visual imagery perhaps reminding us of the creation story. Children know what it means for someone to take them by the hand. "I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."
vs 9 "See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them." When God does what He says He will do, share it with your children.
Psalm 36:5-11 • Look up at the heavens. God's love extends to the heavens. Look up at the clouds. God's faithfulness extends to the clouds. Look at mighty mountains. God's righteousness is like that. Look at the ocean depths. God's judgments are like that.
And the Psalmist says, "you save humans and animals alike, O LORD." I can never find that verse when I'm looking for it but there it is.
Hiding in the shadow of His wings - a fun fort to create for little ones. Special food, special drink & lots of it.
"...you give them drink from the river of your delights..." what does that look like? Taste like? Sound like? Not my delights or your delights but God's delights...What can you do with fountains? What can you do with " in your light we see light"
Hebrews 9:11-15 •
Jesus -" high priest of the good things to come" . What does that mean? What's a priest? What's a high priest? Israelite children would know what a high priest is and they would have life associations.
the blood of Jesus...offered to God...to "purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!"
Look at the nouns. "blood," "calves," "goats," "mediator," "covenant". . . Go through the list of nouns in this passage. Even the action words. Without using theological Christianese...what do they mean to you? What did they mean to the Israelites? What do they mean to children in your faith community? What did they mean to Israelite children?
Is there something to be said about "high church" helping us understand more of the scriptures? How about "low church?"
John 12:1-11
Passover meant something to Israelite children and adults. Bethany. The place where ___ happened. There was a memory associated with this place. Jesus did something. I think I posted about this passage but retell the story. You have a home, dinner, people, perfume ...what 5 senses are engaged? How? What can we learn about Jesus and what He was teaching us about His father?
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