Glimpses of Grace. March 12, Focus scripture John 3:1 17 Additional scriptures Genesis 12:1 4a Psalm 121 Romans 4:1 5, 13 17

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1 Glimpses of Grace A man in Hawaii was lost at sea, alone, in a boat. When he made it back to shore after several days afloat, he exclaimed that he found his way back by watching at night the sky was filled with stars, but the pure darkness ahead he knew was land, and he moved towards it. Too often we reject the dark as a place where life can be revealed and yet, for Nicodemus, it is a meeting with Jesus at night that offers him the chance of transformation. Focus scripture: John 3:1 17 Most of the focus passages through the Seasons of Lent and Easter this year are from the gospel of John. It is an interesting gospel, for it is written to be quite metaphorical. This does not at all mean that the stories are not historically factual, but only that the writer was far less concerned with that than with making a point. For example, in today s story about Nicodemus visiting Jesus at night the night is hardly incidental, but undoubtedly is full of meaning. Nicodemus, a learned scholar, a man who studied and thought he knew the Jewish law, goes under cover of night to visit Jesus. We know you are a teacher who has come from God, Nicodemus declares. Yet the fact that he has visited at night can suggest he is unsure. Jesus challenges him with several new images: one must be born again (or anew, or from above the Greek is enticingly ambiguous). Does this mean only once? The text does not imply that, and so we are left wondering if Jesus rather means we can start over (the meaning of repent ) many times, that rebirth is something that happens frequently with God. Secondly, Jesus points out that God s spirit/ wind/breath (again, the Greek is ambiguous) blows where it will we cannot stop it, nor can we see it, but we certainly see and know what it does. Lastly, Jesus points out that he must be lifted up, just as Moses lifted up a snake in the wilderness. In that story, the people of Israel were told to look at the image of a snake, the thing they feared and which was destroying them, as a means of overpowering it. Perhaps, Jesus is suggesting that by facing even his persecution and death, we can overcome death and find new life. If we looked at symbolic crosses on churches and in other places as being representations of a method of torture and execution, this story perhaps comes home in a new way. The closing verses are almost too wellknown in our culture, and are sometimes used in a contradictory way to what would seem to be their intent. The statement that whoever believes will have eternal life does not imply that those who do not believe will not have eternal life. This wonderful statement of inclusion of all who follow Christ must never be seen as condemning those who do not. The idea of being something more comes through in Genesis 12:1 4a wherein Abram and Sarai (later identified as Abraham and Sarah) are blessed by God, and in turn are a source of blessing for all the Earth s families. Psalm 121 suggests we need not look elsewhere for strength and protection, but rather look to God s spirit which is within us. In verse 7, the word sometimes translated life is understood more as soul as if the writer is saying, they can hurt my body, but they cannot have my soul. In Romans 4:1 5, Paul points out that it is through the mystery of grace and faith that we receive God s blessing; it is almost as if it comes to us in the dark of night. Or, to look at it another way, when we dare to empty ourselves, we can become filled. Sometimes it is in those moments when we are most timid that God reveals new insights to us. It is when we dare to open ourselves to uncertainty that God provides answers. What does it feel like to admit that you do not have all the answers? What does it feel like to step out into the dark, wondering what God might have in store for you? March 12, 2017 Focus scripture John 3:1 17 Additional scriptures Genesis 12:1 4a Psalm 121 Romans 4:1 5, Loving God, sometimes we are scared to trust. We know we should, and we want to, but our world s obsession with certainty and appearing to be in control can get in the way. Open us, God. Make us vulnerable. Teach us not to be afraid, but to trust in your goodness and grace. Amen. If you have Internet access, visit to access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage. 11

2 March 12, 2017 The Focus for Ages 5 12 School-aged children are constantly asking questions, wanting to know the why and how of everything. Although the children in this age group generally accept most of what they are told about faith, they are starting to ask deep questions about God and God s ways. The way in which Jesus welcomed Nicodemus s questions provides a model for how you, as a leader, can welcome and value the children s questions. Treat the children and their questions with respect. Do not feel that you need to have all the answers. The freedom to explore questions is more important than your ability to provide answers. If a child has a question to which there is no easy answer you might say something along the lines of, I don t know the answer to that, but your question has given us something to think about. You might invite the group to explore each other s questions together; young children often have profound insights to share. Keep track of their questions so you can talk further, perhaps inviting your clergy person to attend a session. The focus scripture includes a verse (John 3:16) that has been memorized by many Christians. One of the Respond options offers older children in the group an opportunity to begin learning this verse by heart. Pray that the children will experience the freedom to ask questions as they grow in their understanding of God s love for them. Prepare Before the session q Read and prayerfully reflect on this week s focus scripture, John 3:1 17, and biblical background material (p. 11). q Set a worship space with purple cloth, candle, and Bible with bookmark placed in focus passage. q Bring basic supply kit (p. 2) and, if possible, Seasons Songbook (Volume 6) and Seasons Music CD (Volume 6), and CD or MP3 player; downloadable sheet music and MP3 recordings are available at Gather q Bring purple construction paper; print on newsprint or chalkboard: Who? What? Why? Where? When? How? q Bring, if possible, song, Jesu Tawa Pano/ Jesus, We Are Here (p. 24 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 6; #14 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 6). Engage q Bring resource sheet A Night Visitor. q Conversation group: flat-bottomed glass stones, or any other stones q Music group: song God s Never-ending Love (on the bottom of p. 15) Respond Choose one or more of the following activities and bring materials to set up the chosen zones. q Lent zone: copies of resource sheet Choral Reading q Art zone: used magazines with pictures of people, poster board q Craft zone: copies of resource sheet Shadow Picture, yellow tissue paper, construction paper, flashlight/torch; option: star-shaped hole punch q Outreach zone: new pencils, narrow ribbon (cut into 30 cm/12 in lengths), small heart-shaped beads, construction paper cut into heart shapes q Quiet zone: small cardboard boxes, decorative paper or gift wrap, small pencils, slips of paper Bless q Bring, if possible, song As We Go Now (pp. 6 7 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 6; #28 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 6). q Bring copies of Letter to Families (p. 115). 12 Seasons of the Spirit Multiage/Ages 5 12 Lent Easter 2017 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016

3 Glimpses of Grace March 12, 2017 Scripture John 3:1 17 FOCUS To hear Nicodemus questions to Jesus and learn about God s love. Welcome the children and remind them that we are in the season in the church year called Lent. Invite newcomers to trace around one of their feet on purple construction paper, cut out their footprints, and print their names in the middle of these. As they work, explain that Lent is a time to think about God and learn more about what it means to follow in God s ways. Opening ritual Gather in the worship space and point out the purple cloth, explaining that it is the colour for Lent. Purple is a colour that reminds people in the church to be sorry when they forget to follow in God s ways and to keep trying to follow Jesus example. Light the candle. Invite the children to place their footprints around the worship space. Explain that these footprints are a sign that we are ready to travel with Jesus through Lent. Sing or listen to, if possible, the song Jesu Tawa Pano/Jesus, We Are Here (p. 24 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 6; #14 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 6). Pray (Invite children to repeat each line after you.) Loving God, thank you for the special Season of Lent. We are glad that you are always with us. Help us to grow strong in your love. Amen. Receive the offering. Extinguish the candle to signal that the opening ritual has ended. Connecting with the focus Invite children to look at the question words (see Prepare) and take turns naming some questions that begin with each of these words. n Why do you ask questions? n Who helps you answer your questions? Comment that asking, thinking about, and exploring questions is a really good way to learn and in today s story we hear about someone who asked Jesus some questions. Preparing for the story Invite a child to bring the Bible from the worship area and use the bookmark to open it to the gospel of John. Explain that the word gospel means good news. There are four books called gospels in the Bible and they all have stories about the things that Jesus said and did, each one telling the story in a different way. This week s story is about a Pharisee named Nicodemus who went to see Jesus one night. Pharisees were religious leaders who knew a lot about religious laws. Some Pharisees thought that Jesus was a good teacher and some did not. The Bible story Use the resource sheet A Night Visitor to tell this week s story based on John 3:1 17. Wondering questions Use some or all of the following questions to wonder together: n When did Nicodemus go to see Jesus? n Why do you think Nicodemus wanted to talk with Jesus? n What did Nicodemus and Jesus talk about? n What do you think Nicodemus did after he had talked with Jesus? 13

4 March 12, 2017 Exploring the story further (To enable the children to explore the scripture reading further, according to their interests and abilities, explain the two options and have each child select one.) Conversation group This group will have the opportunity to name some of the questions that they have about God, or Jesus, or faith. Distribute the glass stones and invite children to take turns placing these on the worship table. As they place their stones encourage them to ask a question. If time permits, the rest of the group could be invited to share some of their thoughts about the questions posed. Music group (for younger children) Jesus told Nicodemus about God s love and this group will have the opportunity to learn a song about God s love. Lead the group in learning the song God s Never-ending Love (on the bottom of p. 15). Sing it several times, pausing between each time to talk about one way that we can share God s love with family and friends. Reporting Invite the conversation group to share some of their questions with the other children and invite the music group to lead the rest of the children in singing the song. The Bible story and us Jesus welcomed questions from Nicodemus as they talked together. Invite children to imagine that Jesus has come to join the group today. n If you could ask Jesus a question, what would you ask? Jesus reminded Nicodemus of how much God loves the world and cares about everything in it. n How can we share God s love and compassion with other people and with the Earth? Invite the children to select a zone and work with the materials there. q Lent zone: Chant Verse 16 in the story of Nicodemus and Jesus is one that many Christians have memorized over the years. Follow the directions on the resource sheet Choral Reading to lead the children in learning this verse. Demonstrate once, with the actions. Then read each line, inviting children to repeat it after you with the actions. Repeat several times, with other volunteers taking turns to lead. Distribute the sheets so children can take them home. q Art zone: Montage Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about God s inclusive love. Provide magazines and invite children to find as many pictures of people as they can to represent different ages, genders, and cultures. Have them glue these onto a sheet of poster board and choose a title, such as For God so loved the world Display in the meeting space. q Craft zone: Shadow pictures Invite children to make their own shadow pictures to remember this week s story of Nicodemus visit to Jesus. Distribute copies of the resource sheet Shadow Picture and supplies. Help children to follow the instructions for making their pictures, and have them take turns shining the light and retelling the story. q Outreach zone: Pencil reminders (for younger children) Nicodemus asked Jesus some questions and learned about God s never-ending love. Invite children to decorate two pencils each with heart stickers as reminders of God s love. Have them then tie ribbons tightly around tops of pencils and thread three or four beads onto one end of ribbon, securing with a knot. Have them print God s love is forever on a construction paper heart shape and glue the other end of the ribbon between this and another construction paper heart shape. Talk together about who could be the recipients of their second pencil. q Quiet zone: Question boxes (for older children) Nicodemus learned from Jesus by asking questions. Distribute boxes to cover and decorate with paper or gift wrap. Provide slips of paper and small pencils and encourage children to start writing down some of their questions about God, Jesus, and faith and placing these in their boxes. Invite them to take their boxes home and continue to add questions during Lent and Easter, taking time to discuss the questions each week with their families. They may wish to discuss some of their questions with the minister or other members of the church. 14 Seasons of the Spirit Multiage/Ages 5 12 Lent Easter 2017 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016

5 March 12, 2017 Gather around the worship area, light the candle again, and invite children to spend a few moments in silence looking at the flame. Sing if possible, the song As We Go Now (pp. 6 7 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 6; #28 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 6). Pray this prayer or one of your own: O God, thank you for your never-ending love for each of us. Help us show that love to others. Amen. Blessing Offer the following blessing: As you leave this place remember that God loves you always. Distribute copies of the Letter to Families (p. 115) to those who weren t here last week. What kinds of questions did the children ask about the Bible stories? How can you encourage them to ask questions? When might you model asking questions of the Bible stories? God s Never-ending Love (tune: The Wheels on the Bus) God s love for us all goes round and round, round and round, round and round. God s love for us all goes round and round, and Jesus shows the way. 15

6 Resource Sheet March 12, 2017 Jesus was very busy going from place to place, teaching and healing people. But now he was in Jerusalem for a special Jewish holiday called Passover. One night, a Pharisee named Nicodemus came to see him. Nicodemus was a leader of the Jews. He studied the Jewish law and the laws from God. Jesus, said Nicodemus, we know you are a teacher sent from God. You could not do what you do to teach and heal unless God was with you. You are right, answered Jesus. No one will see God s promise come true without being born anew. Nicodemus was puzzled. What was Jesus saying? What do you mean, Jesus? How can anyone be born after growing old? Jesus explained, You speak of the birth of a baby. I speak of a birth that comes from the water of baptism and the Holy Spirit. So, don t be surprised when I speak of being born anew. Nicodemus had another question for Jesus. How can this being born anew happen? Jesus poked a little fun at Nicodemus. You, a teacher and leader of the Jewish people, don t know these things? Nicodemus looked down at the ground. Then Jesus continued, taking Nicodemus s question seriously, I have been saying these heavenly things, but you have not understood. God loves this world, you and everything in it, so much that God does not want it to be destroyed. So God sent God s Son that the whole world might be saved. Nicodemus studied Jesus for a long time. So much to think about, he muttered to himself. 16 Seasons of the Spirit Multiage/Ages 5 12 Lent Easter 2017 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016

7 Resource Sheet March 12, 2017 Shadow Picture Instructions Cut out the shape along the outside lines. Carefully cut out the space around the figures along the inside lines. Option: use a star-shaped hole punch to create some stars in the arch. Glue a piece of yellow tissue paper over the back of the whole shape. Shine a flashlight/torch behind the picture to light up the silhouettes of the figures. 17

8 Resource Sheet March 12, 2017 Choral Reading (John 3:16) Children find words easier to remember when they can put an important idea or thought into a rhythm. Use the following choral reading to help them learn John 3:16, which is one of the most familiar verses in the New Testament. This version is based on the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. If you prefer to use a different translation, develop your choral reading based on it. Before, or after, leading the children in this choral reading, talk with them about how this blessing from God, as Jesus said, includes all people. For God (clap, clap) so loved (clap, clap) the world (clap, clap) that God gave (oh, yes!) that God gave (oh, yes!) that God gave God s only Son (whisper only Son ; then repeat three times, louder each time) so that (clap, clap) everyone (clap, clap) who believes (clap, clap) in the one (oh, yes!) whom God sent (oh, yes!) may not perish (clap, clap) may not perish (clap, clap) but (pause for a moment of silence) have eternal life (whisper eternal life ; then repeat three times, louder each time). 18 Seasons of the Spirit Multiage/Ages 5 12 Lent Easter 2017 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016

9 Letter to Families Dear Families, During the Season of Lent, which is 40 days long (not counting the Sundays, which are all considered little Easters ), the children will be exploring stories from the New Testament about Jesus temptation in the wilderness and Jesus encounters with Nicodemus, a woman drawing water at a well, a man born blind, and a friend named Lazarus. Here is a weekly prayer ritual for this season: Designate a prayer space and place a length of wide purple ribbon and a dish with six stones and six tealights in the space; each week invite a child to place one of the stones (symbolizing God s faithfulness) on the ribbon and help you light a tealight to place beside the stone as you say together, God was with Jesus. God is with us. And here are some activities your family could do together during Lent: q Work together on an outreach project (children may be bringing home information for a coin collection project) q Choose one thing your family could try and do without, or one thing your family might begin doing during this time The Season of Easter following Easter Sunday (April 16) is 50 days long. During this time the children will explore stories from the gospels of John and Luke and the book of Acts about the ways in which Jesus followers shared God s love through words and actions. Consider reading each week s story again at home from a children s Bible: John 20:19 31, Luke 24:13 25, Acts 2:42 47, Acts 6:3 8, John 14:15 21, and John 17:1 11. Here is a prayer ritual for this season: Place a length of wide yellow or gold ribbon and a candle in the prayer space. Invite a child to light the candle as you say, This light reminds us of the light of God s love in our lives as we follow Jesus, the risen Christ. Christ is risen. Alleluia! And here are some activities your family could do together during the Easter season: q attend an Easter Sunday sunrise service, or get up before dawn on other days to watch the sun rise together q make hot-cross buns together to share with friends and neighbours q send cards or letters to those working overseas for the national church, expressing appreciation for the work they are doing to share the good news of the gospel Pentecost Sunday (on June 4) marks the end of the Season of Easter. This is a day to celebrate the Spirit of God and the growth of the Christian community. Plan a picnic for this day with activities such as kite-flying or blowing bubbles to symbolize the winds of the Spirit. We will be praying for your child during these weeks. We ask that you and your child pray for us as well as we prepare for and lead the sessions each week. May this Lenten and Easter season be a time of spiritual nurture and growth for your child and your family. Sincerely, Suggested children s Bibles for using at home: The Family Story Bible or The Lectionary Story Bible, Year A (both also available with Audio and Art CDs). These are available from the publisher of Seasons of the Spirit at 115