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. 

The Transfiguration

How do you do justice to the story of the transfiguration of Jesus when doing a kids’ talk? It’s hard enough preaching on these gospel accounts let alone proclaim them to kids in all their supernatural wonder, awe and mystery. Elijah and Moses suddenly being transported to Jesus side, God speaking to the disciples, Peter’s bizarre request of making booths, what would a seven year old boy make of this? It sounds a bit like a scene from Star Wars or a Star Trek episode! For me, when I do this one with the kids in church this weekend I will focus on Jesus going up and down the mountain (we have a few mountains in the high country of Victoria) and then his request to the disciples to not tell anyone. The “Messianic Secret” as it is called. Kids like secrets. I think I will gather them at the front of the church, ask them to huddle in close to me, within eat shot range, put my hand up to my mouth and whisper a secret in one of their ears, something like; "Psss, Jesus told his disciples don’t tell anyone what I’m telling you, keep it a secret."