When We Celebrate. Summary of Today s Story

Transcription

1 Lessons from the Liturgical Calendar CHRIST THE KING (SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT) On Christ the King Sunday, you may teach a lesson on Christ the King in addition to or in place of an Old Testament lesson. Summary of Today s Story Christ the King Sunday is the last Sunday of our Church year, and since our Church year revolves around the life of Jesus Christ, it is fitting that the church uses its last Sunday in hailing our Lord and Savior as King of all creation. When We Celebrate We celebrate Christ the King on the Sunday before the beginning of Advent. But what kind of king is he? The readings in our lectionary for this Sunday make it very clear: Jesus is the king of heaven, whose crown of glory was made of thorns, who rode in triumph on a donkey rather than on a majestic horse, and whose life was humility and service rather than power and riches. In Year A, the reading is Matthew 25: In this reading from Matthew, Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats. In the story, the king says to his people, Whatever you have done for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did to me. In Year B, the reading is either John 18:33-37 or Mark 11:1-11. In John, Jesus tells Pilate, My kingdom is not from this world. In Mark, Jesus makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, on the day that we now call Palm Sunday.

2 2 Lessons from the liturgical calendar CHRIST THE KING WEAVING GOD S PROMISES FOR YOUTH In Year C, the reading is either Luke 23:35-43 or Luke 19: In the first reading from Luke, Jesus, hanging on the cross, is mocked for not saving himself. The soldiers taunt, If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself! But one criminal acknowledges the true kingship of Jesus: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. In the second reading from Luke, Jesus enters Jerusalem on a colt and is hailed as the king by the people. (This is also the Palm Sunday reading from Luke.) Often this Sunday is celebrated in church by a procession of people bearing banners or crowns, as we proclaim and worship the King of the Universe. This occasion is a joyful and exciting time for us all, as it expresses why we worship Jesus Christ as My Lord and my God. Key Concepts Christ as King Christ as Savior Christ as Servant to all The Episcopal Thread The Feast of Christ the King was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 and rapidly became part of the lectionary of other denominations, including the Episcopal Church. It is celebrated on the last Sunday of Pentecost by a service of pomp and majesty. In fact, the majestic worship of the Episcopal Church makes a celebration of Christ the King a natural fit for Episcopalians. So does the Episcopal Church s commitment to the poor and needy, which brings to mind Jesus parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25 (one of the readings for this day): And the King will say just as you did it to one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me. A number of hymns pay homage to Christ the King and are sung on this day. Among the most well-known are: Crown him with many crowns (#494, The Hymnal 1982, New York, NY: Church Publishing, 1985) and Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! (#460/461, The Hymnal 1982). Gathering Check-In Invite group members to sit comfortably, giving them an opportunity to visit with each other, establish friendships and build community. Relationships are an important dimension of Christian formation, so a few minutes of visiting will enrich their spiritual development. This is also the perfect time to check in with your group members by asking them to share how they are feeling at the time or what kind of a week they had. Prayer small table with cloth to cover it taper candle or one pillar candle matches cross After all the group members have a few minutes of fellowship time, gather them together for a simple opening prayer. Ask one of the members to light the candle(s) while saying the words of Psalm 119:105: Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Explain that you are inviting the light of God to be with all of you. (You might consider posting Psalm 119;105 in the meeting room.)

3 3 Lessons from the liturgical calendar CHRIST THE KING WEAVING GOD S PROMISES FOR YOUTH Invite the member who lit the candle to read the following: Dear God, today we celebrate your Son Jesus Christ as King of the universe and King in our hearts. Make your presence felt among us so that we can celebrate the kingship of your Son with joy and gladness today and always. This we ask in the name of your Son and our King Jesus Christ. Amen. Telling the Story Read or tell today s story, drawing from the readings of Year A, B and C. You may want to remind the group of what Jesus told his disciples: You know that among the Gentiles, those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:42-45). This is the kind of king that Jesus is a king who became servant of his own creation. Note: This reading about what it takes to be a good leader will resonate with middle-schoolers. They are occupied with trying to find their places in the world and are especially sensitive to issues of fairness, empathy and justice. Some of them know, all too well, the feeling of being lorded over by others (like bullies).

4 4 Lessons from the liturgical calendar CHRIST THE KING WEAVING GOD S PROMISES FOR YOUTH Activities: Arts, Crafts, Games, Drama, etc. Select one or more activities to supplement and enhance today s story. For each lesson, there are five suggested activities, one from each of the REACT categories. For a detailed explanation of REACT, see page 10 of the Background. All activities are meant to reinforce the concepts that were central to the day s lesson. Activities for This Week s Session Additional activity ideas can be found on pages 2-6 in the Appendix where we ve provided suggestions and directions for a variety of general activities (craft recipes, music, drama) that can be adapted to any lesson. Also included are outreach and service projects that can be done at any time. You might also have the group make gifts for others, such as your church homebound, or for an outreach agency as a way of sharing the spirit of Advent.

5 5 Lessons from the liturgical calendar CHRIST THE KING WEAVING GOD S PROMISES FOR YOUTH Weaving Our Faith Lesson Box 1 3" x 5" index card for the day s scribe pen or pencil a file box in which to store the cards Ask for a volunteer or assign a student to act as class scribe. Then, ask the group to articulate the most important lesson gleaned from the day s reading. As a prompt, you might ask: How does God lead you and serve you in your life? Once the group has agreed on its wording, ask the scribe to write the lesson on the card, date it and file it in the box. By the end of the year, you will have a wonderful and thorough summation of the lessons covered in the participants own words. Closing Prayer Before the group leaves, say a closing prayer to send them into the church worship service or back to their homes with God s love and blessing. The prayer can be very simple, or it can be a prayer that you and the group make up on the spot. Or, use this prayer: Dearest Lord, To Christ, the King, We praise your name. To Christ, the Savior, We thank you for your sacrifice. To Christ, the servant of all, We are grateful for and accept your help and kindness. Amen. End the class with a dismissal that we say in church, such as: The peace of the Lord be always with you. The group responds: And also with you.

6 QUALITIES OF GOOD LEADERS Group members talk about those qualities that in their minds make good leaders and rulers. large sheet of paper or poster board markers copies of the What Makes a Good Leader? worksheet (p. 7), 1 per participant pens or pencils masking tape or poster putty Preparation: Make copies of the What Makes a Good Leader? worksheet (p. 7) for the entire group. Post the sheet of paper or poster board on the wall. Write the word LEADER in the center of the sheet. Directions: 1. Before handing out the worksheet, ask group members to do a bit of brainstorming. Ask the question, What makes a leader a good leader? 2. Write answers on the poster board under the word Leader or in spokes radiating out from the word in the center. 3. Hand out the worksheet, one for each member. Explain that they may work alone or in pairs. 4. Give them about minutes for this activity. Once everyone has finished, bring them back together for a culminating discussion. 6 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR CHRIST THE KING WEAVING GOD S PROMISES FOR YOUTH ACTIVITY

7 WHAT MAKES A GOOD LEADER? Directions: Think of a real or fictional leader you know of. It can be someone who leads a country, a school, a town, a club, etc. Answer the questions below. Write the leader s name here: What are some of this person s best qualities? Check all on the list below that apply. Add any others you feel are important. patience common sense sense of humor kindness empathy strength determination good communicator good listener servant to others helpful courage fearlessness willingness to learn Others: Why did you choose this person? How does he/she handle problems? What do you like most about this person? 7 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR CHRIST THE KING WEAVING GOD S PROMISES FOR YOUTH ACTIVITY CONTINUED

8 MASTER OF MY FATE, CAPTAIN OF MY SOUL INVICTUS THE MOVIE Group members will watch and discuss the movie, Invictus, to learn about the life of one of the world s greatest leaders, Nelson Mandela. Note: This movie will take about two hours; plan for two sessions or for a special session for its showing. DVD player and monitor DVD of the movie, Invictus (Burbank, CA: Warner Brothers Studio, 2009) Preparation: This movie is rated PG-13 because of some language. We suggest that you watch it ahead of time to make sure it is suitable for your group. Let their parents know what you will be showing to get their permission. You must obtain a video license to show commercial videos in church. Learn more at Directions: 1. Before you show the movie, ask group members if they ve heard of Nelson Mandela and his imprisonment, about apartheid in South Africa, and the challenges Mandela faced in leading a country that was in such turmoil. 2. When the movie is finished, ask the group what they thought of Nelson Mandela as a person, as a leader: How did he lead and serve his people at the same time? Where was God during and after Mandela s imprisonment? What are some of Mandela s strongest qualities? 3. There is a line from Janusz Korczak s book, King Matt the First (Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2004) that reads, Even a king is not ashamed to let God see him cry. How does this apply to Mandela? 8 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR CHRIST THE KING WEAVING GOD S PROMISES FOR YOUTH ACTIVITY

9 JUST AS YOU DID IT TO one of THE LEAST OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU DID IT TO ME. (matthew 25:40) Group members talk about what they might do in a variety of situations involving people in need. a copy (or copies) of the Bible Directions: 1. Begin by reading aloud Matthew 25: Ask group members to respond to each of the following school situations: You notice that someone in the lunchroom has no food to eat, and this is not the first time. A classmate tells the teacher about someone else s cheating, and now nobody will talk to him (the tattler ). A classmate has been out sick for a whole month. A classmate is walking home in the pouring rain. She doesn t have a coat or an umbrella, and she is crying. A new girl is sitting by herself. She is shy, and she looks like she misses her old school and her old friends. A boy is wearing the same ragged shirt to school every day. You find out that it s his only one. Someone is telling stories about your friend, and you know they are all lies. A classmate is acting horribly to teachers and students alike. You happen to know that this person has a very difficult home life and is full of anger. 3. Discuss: Were some of these situations easier than others? How so? Were there any that you would avoid? Why? Who might you go to for more help? Where would you find God in the midst of these situations? 9 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR CHRIST THE KING WEAVING GOD S PROMISES FOR YOUTH ACTIVITY

10 Christ the King Banner Group members make a banner to celebrate Jesus as our King. The banner might be carried in the worship procession or hung in the classroom or hallway. If carried in procession, make arrangements for the group members to be in the procession, at least one week in advance. felt, assorted colors and sizes fabric pens or paints large piece of sturdy fabric (about 3' x 4') scissors fabric glue dowel (about 4' in length) decorative materials: sequins, jewels, stars, etc. Directions: 1. Cut crowns from felt. Each one should be entirely personal and decorated accordingly. 2. Choose a title for the banner, such as Jesus is our King. Use fabric paints or pens to write the title across the top of the banner. Be sure to leave enough felt at the top for hanging (about 4"). 3. Attach the dowel stick to the top by folding the felt over the dowel and gluing it in place. 4. Glue the finished crowns to the banner. 5. Have two volunteers to carry the banner as the group leads the congregation into the church. 10 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR CHRIST THE KING WEAVING GOD S PROMISES FOR YOUTH ACTIVITY

11 Gifts for the King Group members make donation boxes to give to members of the congregation. Encourage the group to make as many boxes as possible. shoe boxes (collect ahead of time) construction or wrapping paper markers, stickers, sequins or other decorative items scissors glue copies of the Gifts for the King handout (p. 13) copies of the Box Labels (p. 12) Preparation: Make several copies of the Gifts for the King handout (p. 13) and of the Box Labels (p. 12). Cut them apart. Directions: 1. Cover each box with construction or wrapping paper and decorate. 2. On the top, put a label that indicates which type of box it will be. 3. On the inside of each lid, glue the appropriate suggested gift list. 4. Put these boxes in a prominent place in your church and promote it as a donation drive for Christ the King. Congregation members are to take a box, fill it, then bring it back for distribution. You may also make this a classroom donation drive, asking the group members to take home a box and fill it. Note: If this is a congregational donation drive, be sure to publicize it. Designate a place for people to pick up the box and to drop it off once it is filled. A public spot will showcase the generosity of the congregation, especially if you create a large sign for your project. Alternatively, you may use paper bags, butter cookie tins or any other container that may be easily decorated. If this is a church-school project, designate in advance who your recipients will be: a food bank, the homebound in your church, a homeless shelter, a low-income residential project, a transitional housing project for women with children, a mission for runaway teens, etc. 11 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR CHRIST THE KING WEAVING GOD S PROMISES FOR YOUTH ACTIVITY

12 Box Labels FOOD BOX LUNCH BOX PERSONAL NEEDS BOX CARE BOX SCHOOL BOX 12 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR CHRIST THE KING WEAVING GOD S PROMISES FOR YOUTH ACTIVITY CONTINUED

13 Gifts for the King Lists of suggested gifts: Food box: canned tuna or other meat can of beef stew macaroni and cheese mix cookies (everybody needs a treat once in a while) granola bars canned soup canned fruit or vegetables Lunch box: crackers granola bar bottle of water prepared pudding napkin, spoon prepared tuna or chicken snack package cookies napkin Care box: bandages anti-bacterial ointment portable tissue packet teabags cough drops a prayer shawl or knit scarf optional: a nice mug School box: pencils crayons markers small rounded scissors tape water-based glue plain white paper lined paper (wide-ruled) ruler Personal needs box: bar of soap hand sanitizer deodorant shampoo conditioner hand or body lotion (unscented) soft socks portable tissue packet 13 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR CHRIST THE KING WEAVING GOD S PROMISES FOR YOUTH ACTIVITY CONTINUED