Pentecost  The Acts Reading

Talk:

Today is a special day for Christians, it’s one of the three big celebrations we have over a year. The first two celebrations you both know, the first one in December is called what? (Christmas) This is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The second one happens around April time and it’s called what? (Easter) This is where we remember Jesus’ death on the cross and his coming back to life again. The third special day is today and we call it Pentecost. Can you say Pentecost with me please (Pentecost). Pentecost is the day Christians celebrate the Holy Spirit coming on his disciples. In the bible reading from Acts we will hear about what happened that first day of Pentecost. There was the sound of wind rushing around the disciples, tongues of fire appeared on their heads, and they spoke in many different languages so people could understand them.

Now the Holy Spirit is a bit of a funny thing. Christians used to call the Holy Spirit the Holy Ghost. But it’s not the sort of scary ghost or spirit you might be thinking of. Jesus promised his disciples he would send someone, a person after he ascended into heaven. Someone who would point them to him. In the bible there is a lot of picture language for God and for the Holy Spirit. There is a picture, an animal in fact we use as a symbol for the Holy Spirit. Does anyone know what it is, here’s a hint, it’s a type of bird? If you look around the church today at the red pieces of cloth on the altar, on the pastor and elsewhere how many doves can you count? (Go through and point each one out and count them).  

Just as the first disciples spoke different languages when the Holy Spirit came on them, we have the Holy Spirit too because of our baptism into Jesus. And we are going to sing in a different language, an African language from Nigeria for the Spirit to come to us. The song that the band/musicians are going to lead us in is called “Wa wa Emimimo” (Together in Song #711). We will listen to the band sing it first in African and English and then we will have a go at singing and playing it.

Move:

X  Get a collection of children’s percussion instruments like tambourines, shakers, maracas, clap sticks, drums and hand them out to the children. If you have a musician or a band move the children to where they are so they can join in together with your musicians to accompany them as they play and sing the song together with the congregation.  

Pray:

Let your singing of Wa wa emimimo be your prayer:

Come Holy Spirit come, come almighty Spirit come, come, come, come.

Lent 4 John 3:14-15 “Snake Cross”

Talk:

Snakes. If you were to see a snake in the bush what would you do? You could either run away from it scared, you could grab something to try to kill it, or you could step back leave it alone and watch it slide and slither away peacefully. A lot of people are scared when they see a snake or they might even snap into survival mode and think they have to kill it but being calm and leaving it alone it the best thing to do. Snakes can be dangerous but they won’t harm you if they are left alone.

I think people are scared of snakes because we tend to think that they are all dangerous and poisonous creatures, that they are sinister animals. People have thought that for a long time. In Genesis, the first book of the bible, God made humans then Adam and Eve were tempted to eat from the tree by what sort of animal? A snake, a serpent. The snake became the ultimate badie, a symbol of everything evil in the world. There is another story about snakes in the Old Testament that we are going to hear in a moment in which they are again the badie in the story. In the book of Numbers, people are surrounded by snakes which are bitting them and killing them. God tells Moses to save the people by making a metal snake and putting it on a pole so they people can look up to it and be healed.

Jesus in the gospel reading today says just like Moses who put the snake on the pole to heal people, he must be lifted up on a cross so that the whole world would believe in him and be saved. So the snake curled around the cross has been used as a symbol for healing. It has even been used a symbol for doctors and medicine. For us healing comes from Jesus being curled up on the cross for us. By trusting in him and his death we are healed.  

 

Move:

X  Draw a picture of a snake curled around a cross or a pole. Put these pictures up in the church somewhere for the congregation to be reminded of Jesus who compared himself to the snake that Moses made.

Pray:

Lord God thank you that you created snakes, even though we are often sacred of them. Thank you that Jesus was lifted up on the cross like the snake Moses lifted up. Help us to look to Jesus for healing when we are bitten. Amen.

Bible Presentation

On Saturday night I was involved with my local pastor in an Intergenerational Lenten Service in which we presented Bibles to the Year 3 children and parents from Victory Lutheran College. Previously the school had the tradition to present the “Level 66” CEV Bibles to Year 3s in Junior Chapel at the start of the year. This year I changed things to make the most of the School-Church connection.

These Bibles are a gift from the Wodonga Lutheran Parish so I invited all the Year 3 families to come to St John’s and receive their Bibles in a family friendly intergenerational service. It was a great time of celebration with about 75 percent of the families turning up. We had a Faith Inkubators quiz on the Bible; I interviewed three people from different generations on their connection and experiences with the Bible. They were an elder member of the congregation who grew up as a child reading the Bible in German and memorising it in her local Lutheran School. A busy mother of 4 kids who happens to be a pastor’s wife, she shared some resources and tips on how she has tried to keep up a devotional life within her family. Then I got down on my knees to ask a Victory Year 3 student what their favourite Bible stories are and why.

The most significant part of the service for many people though, was the rite we used to present the Bibles. First the Year 3s were invited to the altar rail, then the head of the Junior School introduced why we were giving out the Bibles, I asked the kids to be responsible for bringing their Bibles to school and to learn and read them, then I asked the parents and the rest of the congregation whether they would support these children. 2 Timothy 3:16 was read, the parish pastor commended them and then the two Year 3 teachers helped us hand the Bibles out to the parents as the children’s names were read out. After this was done we got the Parents to take up the mantle of handing the Bibles to their children and saying together the words of Psalm 119:105; “My child, this is the Word of the Lord. May it be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path”.

It was a powerful way of presenting the bibles to the kids. Since that service I have been amazed how some of the kids, especially those who are book worms, have been getting into the Word. For follow up to this service I have given parents and kids the opportunity to attend 3 Bible Introduction sessions I am running at school. Changing the tradition of the school this way has proven to me once again how big an impact a public ritual like this can have for children and families. I pray that as we improve things  when we do it again next year, we would continue to change the culture of our school, our church, our families, so kids look forward to receiving and reading this precious gift from God.        

Lent 3 1 Corinthians 1:18 “Nail Cross”

Talk:
Here’s a cross you may or may not have seen before. It’s a nail cross. You see how the four ends of the cross are made from four separate nails, which are cut and then joined together in the middle. It’s pretty tricky isn’t it! Why do you think someone decided to use some nails to make a cross? That’s right; they did it because Jesus was nailed to the cross through his hands and feet. Jesus was crucified for us. He was put up and hung on the cross to die for us. That’s the important message we have as Christians, the “message of the cross”.

In the second bible reading today from 1 Corinthians; we are told that the message of the cross is wise and foolish. We might call it smart and stupid. How many of you have watched the ABC television show “Horrible Histories”? It’s a great show that presents some of the blood and guts and interesting facts of history. One of the segments on the show involves a skeleton person who comes out singing a song called “Stupid Deaths”. He interviews people from history and asks them how they died.

I want to ask you, if Jesus was on this television show “Horrible Histories” and we didn’t know anything about his life and he appeared before this Skeleton figure do you think we would say his death was a stupid death? (Probably yes) Jesus was dobbed in by one of his own friends. He had the chance to be freed but the people chose to free a criminal over him the innocent man. He was whipped and nailed to a cross, crucified. It is a horrible way to die, a stupid senseless death. But the message of the cross, the message of these nails is that for us Jesus’ death is not stupid but smart. The message of these nails, the message of the cross is that God uses the stupid things of life to make us smart to him and his love for us.  

Move:

X  Check out a “nail cross” from the display of crosses, a small one made from horse shoe nails or a bigger one made from railway spikes.

X  Point out the difference between a cross and a crucifix. A cross is empty while a crucifix is a cross with a body of Jesus on it. How many crosses can you see here on this table and how many crucifixes can you see in church today?

Pray:
Lord we when we try to be smart in so many ways, help us to see that your death for us on the cross is the smartest thing we can hold onto. Amen.

Lent 2 Mark 8:34 "Jewellery Cross"

(This children’s talk takes place between the second reading and the gospel. Let the kids remain at the front of the church near the lectern to hear the gospel being read)

Talk:
We’ve been looking at crosses in this season of Lent. Lent is the 40 days we are in at the moment before we celebrate Easter. Last week people have been asked to bring in a favourite cross that they might own and we have this display of crosses here in the front of the church. We’ll check that out in a moment. Did you know that Jesus talked about the cross a few times to his disciples. He warned them that he was going to die on the cross, and that each of them would have their own cross to bear.  In verse 34 of our gospel reading, we’ll hear that next, Jesus said; If anyone would come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”.

Did you hear that? If we are to be followers of Jesus we are to take up and bear the cross. You know that’s why some people wear jewellery crosses to show that they below to Jesus, that they are Christian. Do any of you children have a cross on a necklace? (Check them out if they do) Do any of the adults out there have jewellery crosses on? (Check them out briefly too if they do). Some people even wear cross tattoos, tattoos are very popular for people to wear on their bodies now days. Simply wearing a cross doesn’t make us Christian though. If someone is following Jesus, they don’t only wear a cross but also want to live like Jesus and that means not only wearing but bearing the cross. To bear the cross means when we follow Jesus we love God and the people around us everyday even when it gets hard. We love like Jesus which means we have to sacrifice ourselves, we have to give things up. That’s what Jesus meant when he said we are to deny ourselves. So we can wear the cross, as a piece of jewellery, and that’s a great thing to identify ourselves as Christian but we also bear the cross, we love God and those people around us even when it hurts. Any of you guys got a young brother or sister who annoys you at times? This is a good opportunity for you to bear the cross and love them like Jesus. And ask God to help you do that.

Move:

X  Have a look at the crosses that congregational members have brought in and ask them; what does the cross mean to them or why their particular cross is significant to them. Go up to briefly interview the people in the pew with the kids. Check out the crosses that are on display at the front of the church.

X  Stay at the front of the church with the kids while the gospel reading is read. Prime them to listen and be ready to hear the words of Jesus in verse 34. Then after the gospel is read, let them go back to their seats.

X  If you have, or can obtain them, hand out some temporary cross tattoos to the children at the end of the talk.

Pray:

Dear Jesus, thank you for the road you took to the cross. Help us to follow you not only by wearing our crosses but also by bearing them. Amen.

Lent 1  Genesis 9:11 “Rainbow Cross”

(If you can obtain a cross with a rainbow on it bring it along to show and tell the kids. Or alternatively bring a picture of a rainbow)

Talk:
Do you remember the story of Noah and the Flood? (Draw the details of the story out of the kids if they are willing to offer it)

That’s right God sent a flood to the earth because of all the wrong things people were doing in the world. But God made a promise to Noah, a covenant. Can you say that word with me? COVENANT. It simply means a promise. And the promise God made with Noah was that never again would he send a flood to wipe out all the animals and people of the world.

God has kept that rainbow promise. People, however, have done all sorts of evil things and ruined the world in many ways. Still, God has not destroyed the earth again. Instead God became Jesus and came to live among us to show us how we are meant to be. Some people got so very angry with Jesus that they killed him on a cross. Even as he was dying on their cross, Jesus forgave them for what they were doing to him. The day Jesus was killed was a horrible day. Jesus’ friends thought nothing in the world would ever be right again. Then, on the third day Jesus was alive. They saw him and talked to them. He told them that he would always be with them and would love them and forgive them. Every time you see or touch a cross this Lent, remember that story and God’s great, forgiving love. (This wording comes from the Carolyn Brown website). This is the New Covenant, the new promise, the New Testament that Jesus makes with us.

Move:
X  Have a look at the crosses that congregational members have brought in and ask them; what does the cross mean to them or why their particular cross is significant to them. Go up to interview the people in the pew with the kids.

X  Have a look at the display of crosses in the sanctuary if it is set up. Encourage the kids during the rest of the service to count how many crosses they can see inside the church. Get the pastor to tell the kids the total number during the announcements

Pray:
Dear God, thank you for promising to never again destroy the world with a flood. Thank you for sending Jesus to take away our sins on the cross. We’re sorry for times we are mean and selfish. Please forgive us through Jesus. Amen.

Lenten Cross Series

The next 6 or 7 posts will be from a series of children's talks I am writing for my church during the season of Lent. The idea for this series comes from Carolyn Brown. Brown comes from a Presbyterian background and has an excellent website called "Worshipping with Children". On it are children's talks and a multitude of other ideas for including children in public worship.(http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com.au/)

As part of this "Lenten Cross" series, my Parish Pastor has encouraged congregational members to bring into church a cross or crucifix that is significant to them. These crosses are then being displayed in the front of the church on a table. People have also been invited to write on a place card why that cross is special to them. It's been great to see children check them out and especially how people have been noticing them after they receive holy communion on their way back to their seats. 


Each of the children's talks in this series will focus on a particular type of cross and the person rostered on to deliver them will talk, pray, as well as get the kids moving as they interview  people in the pews and look at the table of crosses. I hope they spark off further ideas as you read them and they get your creative juices flowing.