Weekly resources to help nurture actively growing faith AGES 6-8. Mar 10 to Jun 9, 2019 (Revised Common Lectionary YEAR C)

Transcription

1 Weekly resources to help nurture actively growing faith AGES 6-8 Lent, Easter Mar 10 to Jun 9, 2019 (Revised Common Lectionary YEAR C) ISBN: Printed in Canada

2 Contents Ages 6 8 About this Lent, Easter This Lent, Easter for Ages Weekly resources March 10, 2019 A Place of Justice and Grace... 3 March 17, 2019 Journey Toward Trust... 9 March 24, 2019 Fed by the Glory March 31, 2019 A Traitor for Grace April 7, 2019 The Fragrance of Life April 14, 2019 Palm, Passion Sunday April 21, 2019 Easter Day April 28, 2019 Love s Disruptive Witness May 5, 2019 Turning Point of Transformation May 12, 2019 Identity of Resistance May 19, 2019 Spirit of Solidarity May 26, 2019 The Power of Listening June 2, 2019 Haunting Claim of Freedom June 9, 2019 A Spirit-Powered Faith Extra Resources Leading Songs with Children Acts Alive! Holy Listening Connecting with the Art Lent, Easter Evaluation form Published by: Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 485 Beaver Lake Road Kelowna, British Columbia Canada V4V 1S5 Phone: Seasons of the Spirit resources are produced collaboratively by teams of writers, editors, and resource persons from Australia, North America, and the United Kingdom. The teams include representation from denominations such as Anglican and Episcopal, Presbyterian, The United Church of Canada, The United Church of Christ, The United Methodists, and The Uniting Church in Australia. A chart that shows the license holder(s) for each song in each of the 9 Seasons of the Spirit Music Volumes can be found at Click on Library; Seasons Music Information. Please contact a license holder for permission to duplicate. From Start to Finish provides suggestions for beginning and ending the year, plus an overview of Seasons of the Spirit. It can be downloaded free from the Library at Ages 6 8 writer and editor team: Cathie Talbot, Sharon Harding, Laura Loving, Donna Scorer, Susan McIlveen, Susan Burt, L Lee Levett-Olson, Paul Turley, Michael Schwartzentruber Cover design: Cyrus Gandevia Illustrations: Anna Payne-Krzyzanowski, Katherine Carlisle, Margaret Kyle Seasons of the Spirit resources for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, is a collaborative effort of an international and ecumenical community that includes participation by Seasons writers, editors, resource persons, and members of the Seasons Production, Marketing/Interpretation, Customer Service, Business Operations, and Publishing Teams. Seasons of the Spirit is based on the Revised Common Lectionary, copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT). All rights reserved. Used by permission. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. Seasons of the Spirit. Copyright 2018 Wood Lake Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. See Terms of Use on this disk. WLP does not have the right or the means, under any circumstances, to grant you permission to make copies of the art posters or of any of the articles or materials that are not marked with the photocopy symbol. Those rights remain with the creator/copyright holder of each work. The professional artwork may be viewed onscreen. However the Storytelling Resources and Story Props Resources for the Ages 3-5 and 6-8 age levels respectively may be printed for each group of up to 12 participants. For permission information contact permissions@seasonsonline.ca. ISSN: ISBN: Please Note! Everything in this resource marked with this symbol can be photocopied for use in your church during the Lent, Easter 2019, from March 10 to June 9, Everything else is copyright protected unless otherwise stated. At Wood Lake Publishing, we are committed to caring for the environment and all creation. Seasons of the Spirit resources are printed on SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) certified and chlorine-free papers using vegetable oil inks suitable for children s packaging. Wherever possible, we offer digital options on Seasons products.

3 About Lent and Easter 2019 Lent is a season of unfolding honesty and truth-telling about our lives and our world. It begins with Ash Wednesday and the humble recognition that we are all human beings with finite lives. This is a levelling confession because no one is exempt from the dust from which we are formed or the ashes to which we return. We are all equal in those ashes, from those with the greatest wealth and power to those who have little or nothing at all. There is no hierarchy of value or importance in Ash Wednesday or the journey of Lent that follows. In boldly acknowledging our humanity while embracing God s love as our destiny, we become immune to the virus of fear on which systems of domination continue to depend in order to maintain power and control. We live in a time when truth is questioned, yet the need for the truth-telling of Lent remains greater than ever. Social media and those who would exploit this modern technology make it possible to formulate a truth that conforms to self-interest and is often at the service of domination systems. The melting glaciers of climate change, for example, are justified in an imperial truth unwilling to relinquish power and control. Lent gives us a lens for finding truth in the headlines and our daily lives. It draws us into a narrative of God s people living with and resisting exploitive systems of domination; that narrative illuminates the times in which we live. The journey of Lent begins by engaging us with the theological and interpretive question: Which God of scripture will we follow? Will we journey within a religious tradition that sees God as part and parcel of a domination system or will we journey within a religious tradition that embraces a liberating God of creation, known in and through relationship? Wes Howard- Brook, in his book Come Out My People, notes that both religious traditions are in scripture. How we answer this question will determine the truth we discover as we journey through Lent. Tim Johnson The Season of Easter continues this truth-telling narrative but does so with the disruptive awareness that the imperial power of domination and its imperial religion are unmasked as false hope. In sharp contrast to the short-lived Good Friday victory of empire, we are given the good news of resurrected life by a covenant-making God; the one who breathes life into Creation, whose spirit offers freedom, and draws us into a relationship with each other and all that exists. The Season of Easter continues a journey of disruption to the way things are, challenging and overturning the comfortable sensibilities of the status quo. We reflect on the ever-present possibility of transformation, turning points, and radical change that no one other than the spirit of the living Christ might imagine. On this journey, we are called upon to join the faithful witnesses whose lives and communities become testimonies to the realm of God for which we pray. A Time to Receive, A Time to Let Go, mixed media on board. Copyright Julie Elliot. Used by permission. Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter

4 This Lent, Easter for Ages 6 8 During Lent this year children will be introduced to some foundational stories from the Hebrew scriptures and from the New Testament, exploring themes of gratitude, trust, forgiveness, and compassion. Children will be invited to participate in a Footprint prayer ritual during this season (see Resources for Lent on p. 94). During the Easter season the focus passages all come from the book of Acts, and the article, Acts Alive! (p. 99), provides a good overview for these stories of the apostles and the early Christian church. A ritual during the gathering time includes adding eggs to an Easter calendar to count the weeks in this season (see Story Props posters). All-ages gatherings Special resources are provided for all of the age groups to meet together for Palm/Passion Sunday (April 14), Easter Sunday (April 21), and Pentecost Sunday (June 9). Sacred space The space where you gather with the children is a sacred space of worship and learning. During Lent this space can be set with purple cloth, symbolic of a time of meditation and reflection. During the Season of Easter this colour changes to white or yellow, symbolic of new life. As children in this age group are curious and interested in discovering more about themselves and the world try and provide some active space in which to move around. If possible, also provide a quiet corner (see suggestions in the article Creating a Quiet Thinking Space on p. 96). Storytelling The first resource sheet for each week s session includes a story based on the focus passage and retold in an interactive way. Each of these resource sheets includes a Story tip with specific suggestions for that week s story or suggestions for storytelling in general. As you prepare each week read the focus scripture passage in your Bible and then practice the version on the resource sheet. Telling the story rather than reading it will be more engaging for the children. Art There are two fine art posters included with this resource. Display the art posters at the children s eye level and be prepared to see these images through the eyes of the children in your group. Information about integrating art into weekly sessions is provided in the article Connecting with the Art Season of Lent, Easter 2019 (pp ). The resource also includes Story Props posters, with figures that will be used with the stories explored during Lent. These will also be added to a Graffiti wall of words and drawings summarizing each week s story. Articles and extra resources (see pp ) At the beginning of Lent, distribute the Letter to Families (p. 93), customizing it to include special events for Holy Week and Easter that will take place in your congregation. Connecting with their daily experiences is an important part of your time with the children each week. Consider taking time at the beginning of each session to share stories of events during the past week. The resource sheet Feeling Faces (p. 97) offers a tool for doing this: photocopy a set of these faces, enlarging them if possible, and mount on card stock. During each week s check-in children can choose a face that expresses a feeling that they have that day or a feeling they experienced during the previous week. The article, Holy Listening (p. 100), also offers a way of inviting children to share their stories. Music referred to in the sessions can be found in Volumes 2, 5, and 8 of the Seasons Songbooks and the Seasons Music CDs. If you have not already purchased these songbooks or music CDs, but would like access to the music, you can purchase downloadable sheet music and MP3 recordings at the Seasons website. The Seasons website ( includes background information about the curriculum resources, Links to other websites, and connections between weekly focus passages and current events or films in the Spirit Sightings section. Basic supply kit Stock a container with clear tape, masking tape, scissors, glue sticks, white glue, washable felt markers, crayons, coloured pencils, pencils, stapler, hole punch, removable adhesive. The Prepare section in each week s session will only list supplies not included in this kit. 2 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

5 A Place of Justice and Grace March 10, 2019 Lent begins in joyful remembrance of the extravagant outpouring of God s love. This is no generic God onto which we might impose values that give comfort to the status quo. This is the God of Exodus and liberation, who calls us out of empire domination and temptations into a place where the abundance of God s grace feeds all. The experience of God s grace beckons us to open what we have and who we are in thanksgiving to God, and in sharing with a neighbour. Focus scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1 11 Deuteronomy 26:1 11 is a text of community formation and worship that puts itself squarely on the side of those who embrace the God of creation and reject the god of empire and domination. As Wes Howard-Brook notes in his pivotal work Come Out My People, the God of Creation and the god of empire are two distinct theologies competing with each other from Genesis to Revelation. The choice is ever before us in biblical interpretation and everyday life, which God will we follow? Although Deuteronomy as a whole comes down on the side of empire theology, this week s text offers a counter-narrative insisting that the God of Creation revealed in Genesis is a God who calls us out of Egypt (empires, colonization, domination) and invites us into the land of God s abundant freedom and justice. Read through the lens of empire theology, this text has been employed by Christians to marginalize and dominate all who stand in their way, eagerly claiming and embracing the inheritance of land they believe God has given them. This is the theology of white supremacy, gender domination, heterosuperiority and Earth exploitation. Read through the lens of creation theology, infused with the non-hierarchical breath of God, this text tells us that we have been set free from the harsh, oppressive ways of empire with its capitalistic exploitation. The land we inherit is no place and every place. The land we inherit is the Realm of God, the place where God s justice and abundance dwells. It is in this land that we welcome the Levites and the aliens who reside among us. In this land of God s dwelling, all people and all creation enter into God s abundant grace. In the land of God s abundant mercy, grace, and justice we are shaped and formed into an alternative community. As a community, we bring our first fruits, the best of what we have to offer, to remember, be shaped by and continue the journey as people living into a new way of life. This is our true inheritance. Psalm 91:1 2, 9 16 asserts that we find our true dwelling place in God who is our refuge and strength. Read through the lens of empire theology this text can comfort all who benefit from systems of domination. It enables the affirmation that God is on our side! Read through the lens of creation theology we are reminded that the place of God s dwelling is the place where God s justice, compassion, and grace reside. The question then becomes, are we on God s side? It is this justice-making, compassion shaping, spirited filled creation theology we encounter in Romans 10:8b 13 when Paul claims there is no distinction between Jew and Greek (10:12). Luke 4:1 13 provides a sharp contrast and direct challenge to the way of empire proclaimed by Rome and the way of life proclaimed by Jesus. Rome s power is rooted in control of commerce (bread), demands for ultimate loyalty (worship), peace through violence (security). Jesus rejects each of these temptations with a counterclaim that requires trust in the ways of God rather than the ways of empire. This week, we remember the journey of the Israelites out of empire and into the desert. We remember Jesus journey into the wilderness where, at the start of his ministry, he faces the temptations of empire. Our own lives reflect those journeys. Foremost in our Lenten reflection is the question, how are our lives, individually and corporately, shaped by the values of empire life with its domination and control, and how are our lives shaped by the inclusive, compassion filled, justice-making ways of our creator God? What do our worship practices tell us about the God we choose to follow? Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter 2019 Focus scripture Deuteronomy 26:1 11 Additional scriptures Psalm 91:1 2, 9 16 Romans 10:8b 13 Luke 4:1 13 Journey with us, O God, through this day, through this season. Lead us into that land where we know the fullness of your justice and grace. May we follow your leading and draw strength from your presence. Amen. If you have Internet access, visit to access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage. 3

6 March 10, 2019 The Focus for Ages 6 8 Most children in this age group can remember experiences, stories, and celebrations, and the various emotions associated with them. At the start of their time together this week, the children will be invited to remember and share some of their stories with the group. This life connection provides a natural entry point to the theme for this session remembering all that God has done and is doing, and giving thanks to God. As they move through the season of Lent, the sessions will help them remember the many ways God loves us. Most children are very familiar with the practice of saying thank you. This week there are numerous opportunities for them to remember God s activity in their lives and to show their appreciation of all that God gives. The activities, games, and focus on being thankful will all help contribute to a joyful atmosphere in the session this week. We can encourage the children to see that worship, praise, eating together, prayer, and helping others are all ways we can remember to say thank you. Pray for each child by name that they may experience joy as they remember and give thanks to God. Prepare Before the session q Read and prayerfully reflect on this week s focus scripture, Deuteronomy 26:1 11, and biblical background material (p. 3). q Review About this Lent and Easter (p. 1) and This Lent, Easter for Ages 6 8 (p. 2). q Bring basic supply kit (p. 2) and, if possible, Seasons Songbook (Volume 5); Seasons Music CD (Volume 5); and CD or MP3 player; downloadable sheet music and MP3 recordings are available at www. seasonsonline.ca. q Set a worship space with purple cloth, candle, offering basket, and Bible with bookmark placed in focus passage. q Review instructions for the Footprint prayer ritual on resource sheet Resources for Lent (p. 94) and prepare footprint shapes; keep for use during next four weeks. Gather q Bring Gathering song for Lent on resource sheet Resources for Lent (p. 94). q Bring photographs and memorabilia from special celebrations (birthdays, weddings, reunions). Engage q Bring resource sheet The People Say Thank You and the group of people for March 10 from the Story Props posters. q Bring length of mural paper. q Bring snack of dried fruit and juice. Respond Choose one or more of the activities. Prepare and bring the materials. q Grace cubes: copies of resource sheet Thank You Cube q Thanksgiving jars: glass jars, brushes, white glue (thinned with water), different shades of purple tissue paper, information about church or community outreach project, copies of note on resource sheet Resources for Lent (p. 94) q Mobile: large paper plates, circles of card stock, used magazines, yarn, craft supplies (such as self-adhesive stickers, glitter); cut paper plates in half. Bless q Bring, if possible, We Give Thanks (p. 44 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 5; #31 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 5). q Bring copies of resource sheet Letter to Families (p. 93). 4 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

7 A Place of Justice and Grace March 10, 2019 Scripture Deuteronomy 26:1 11 FOCUS To hear a story about giving thanks to God Welcome the children and explain that this week we begin a new season of the church year, the Season of Lent. Explain that Lent is a special time of praying, a time when we remember all that God has done from the beginning of time. It is a time when we remember the promises that God has made and our promises to God. Point out the purple cloth and say that purple is a colour that can mean we re sorry for the times we forget to live in God s loving ways. Opening ritual Gather around in the worship space and invite a child to light the candle, a sign of God s presence. Sing Lead the children in singing the Gathering song for Lent (on p. 94). Footprint prayer Invite children to lay the numbered footprints in order, creating a path leading out from the worship table and around the meeting space. Lead the children in following the pathway and saying the prayer together. After a few minutes of silence, invite them to gather the shapes and place back in the worship space. Receive the offering. Extinguish the candle to signal that the opening ritual has ended. Connecting life and theme Show the pictures and memorabilia from a special event you enjoyed. Invite the children to tell stories about any special celebrations or events that they have experienced. Do they have any special photographs or mementos at home? How else might people keep a record of these special times? Why do we tell these stories? Mention that today we will be hearing a story about a special event that the people of Israel celebrated and remembered in a special way. Before the story Invite a child to bring the Bible from the worship area and use the bookmark to open it to the book of Deuteronomy. Mention that the book of Deuteronomy is in the part of the Bible that we call the Hebrew scriptures. It was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born and tells some of the stories of the Hebrew people who lived a long time ago. Bible story Use the resource sheet The People Say Thank You to tell the story based on Deuteronomy 26:1 11, encouraging the children to participate as indicated. After the story Graffiti wall Invite children to start a graffiti wall of words and drawings from the stories that they hear during Lent. Begin by writing Giving Thanks at the top of the beginning of the length of mural paper and inviting a child to glue on the picture for March 10 from the Story Props posters. Today s Bible story tells us that every year the Hebrew people remembered their stories, brought gifts from the harvest to say thanks to God, and celebrated together. Distribute markers and encourage the children to imagine that they are the Hebrew people drawing pictures of things for which they would like to thank God. Then invite them to draw pictures and symbols to illustrate those things for which they are thankful. Snack The Hebrew people remembered God s goodness by celebrating and eating together. Say a short prayer of thanks and share a snack Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter

8 March 10, 2019 together, as the people of Israel would have done while they travelled. As they eat, encourage children to talk about all the good things that God has given to us. Game Play the Thank you game on the resource sheet The People Say Thank You. Choose from the following activities. q Grace cubes Saying grace before meals helps us to remember God s love and all that God gives. Distribute copies of the resource sheet Thank You Cube and follow instructions to make and decorate the cubes. Encourage children to take their cubes home and use them at family mealtimes. q Thanksgiving jars The Hebrew people brought their harvest gifts to the place of worship every year as a way of saying thanks to God. The priests would use these gifts to make sure that everyone had enough to eat. Invite children to make Lenten coin collection jars. Briefly review information about an outreach project of your church or community. Explain that they will take their jars home and use them to collect coins throughout Lent with their families. Show them how to decorate the jars by brushing the glue mixture over a section of the jar and covering this area with small pieces of torn tissue paper. Repeat until the entire jar is covered. Brush on another layer of glue and leave to dry. Distribute copies of the Note from resource sheet Resources for Lent (p. 94) for children to take home with their jars. Encourage them to find ways to earn some coins to contribute to their jars. q Mobile Like the Hebrew people, we can give thanks for all that God gives and all that God does. Distribute paper plate halves and help children print the phrase Thank you, God, for... on their plates and decorate with stickers and glitter. Punch four evenly spaced holes along the straight edge. Invite children to cut out magazine pictures of things for which they are thankful. Glue these pictures onto the card stock circles. Cut four lengths of yarn. Punch holes into the top of each circle and tie onto the plate. Punch a hole at the top of the plate and thread some yarn through for hanging. Gather around the worship area and invite a child to relight the candle as you say, This candle reminds us of God s love. Pray Thank you, God, for all the good things you have given us (invite children to name some things). Thank you for all your blessings. Amen. Sing or listen to, if possible, the song We Give Thanks (p. 44 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 5; #31 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 5). Send each child out with the words, (Child s name), remember God s love and care. Distribute copies of the Letter to Families (p. 93) to take home. In what ways did this session offer opportunities for children to remember and give thanks for God s blessings in their lives? If you chose the Lenten coin jar option, how might you share the information with children who were absent? 6 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

9 Resource sheet June 19, 2012 Resource Sheet March 10, 2019 The People Say Thank You Story Tip Repetition of a phrase will help the children both participate in the telling of the story and remember the story. (based on Deuteronomy 26:1 11) And that is what Moses did. But it was a long journey! It took the people 40 years before they could finally see the new land that God had promised. Invite children to repeat the bolded lines after you; offer a signal such as raising a hand. A long, long time ago in the land of Egypt, the Hebrew people were very unhappy. The powerful Pharaoh of Egypt was very angry: These people are taking up too much space, the Pharaoh said. This is my land. They must become my slaves and work for ME! So the Hebrew people were forced to work as slaves for the Pharaoh. Soldiers came and made everyone, even children, do the work of making bricks and looking after the crops and animals. If they did not work hard enough, they were punished. The people were so sad. Help us, God! they prayed. Save us from this mean king! God heard their prayers. God saw how badly the Pharaoh treated them. So God sent Moses to help them. Moses would lead them to a new home far away. To a land filled with good things. To a place where they would never be slaves again. Just before the people were about to enter the new land, Moses gave them a message from God: When you enter this new land, settle down and take care of it. Plant crops and raise your animals. Every year at harvest time give the first fruits and vegetables as an offering to God. It will be a way of saying thank you for all the blessings that God has given to you. And that is exactly what the people did. Every year they would bring their first fruits and vegetables. They would sing and dance and have a huge feast together. They would remember and retell the story of how God saved them from slavery and brought them to a new land. They would never ever forget what God had done for them. Jewish people still remember and retell this story today, the story about how God brought the Hebrew people out of slavery and into a new land and new beginnings. Thank you game Preparation: Print words Thank you, God, for (name a category) on index cards. Place the cards face down in a basket. (Possible categories: fruit, vegetables, friends, colours, animals, toys, clothes, games, family members, candy/sweets, songs, and stories.) To play: Play lively music and invite the children to dance or move around the room in a particular way (such as skipping, walking backwards, keeping one foot and two hands on the floor ). When the music stops, everyone freezes. Draw an index card from the basket and read the words. Everyone must think of something that fits in the named category. (Option: children jump as high as possible when responding.) Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter

10 Resource Sheet March 10, 2019 Thank You Cube Glue Me Loving God, thank you for all the wonderful food we have to eat. Help us to share what we have with those who are hungry. Amen. Glue Me God is great. God is good. Let us thank God for our food. Amen. Thank you, God, for good soil and tiny seeds. Thank you for the rain and sun that help the plants grow. Thank you for our food. Amen. Dear God, thank you for everything you give to us: for family and friends, and for delicious food. Amen. Glue Me God we come to you to say, thank you for our food today. Amen Glue Me Instructions: Beforehand: Photocopy cube pattern onto light card stock. Glue Me Thank you for the world so sweet. Thank you for the food we eat. Thank you for the birds that sing. Thank you, God, for everything. Amen. Glue Me During the session: Cut out cube and decorate as desired. Fold along dotted lines to make a cube. Place glue on flaps marked glue me. Stick gluey flaps to the inside of the cube. Glue Me 8 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

11 Journey Toward Trust When you find yourself in a space such as Lent, where life seems thinner than usual and the journey more focused than usual, what do people of faith do to keep journeying on? In ancient times, rituals helped to remind the people of the promise, as yet unfulfilled, and gave reason to trust what seemed to be impossible. Focus scripture: Genesis 15:1 12, Genesis 15:1 12, is part of the narrative in which God calls Abram and Sarai to leave comforts behind and strike out for a new land, with an alternative way of living based on community and trust. This alternative life comes for these ancestors at a cost of faith; fear, anxiety, and uncertainty are never far away. False comfort comes from staying with what is known, even if what is known is hurtful, exploitive, and self-defeating. False comfort for Abram is the certainty of empire functioning, which God calls him to abandon when he leaves the land of Ur. False comfort for the Babylonian exiles, the first recipients of this Genesis narrative, involves accepting the norms, rules and inherently oppressive ideology of the Babylonian empire. Genesis 15:1 12, reminds us that it takes trust in a vision to overcome fear and to venture into a new way of living. This is precisely what Abram, Sarai, and their descendants are called to do. The land God offers Abram is less a place and more a space, which is found wherever and whenever people leave behind empire ideology and instead trust in justice creating, love enhancing, compassion nurturing relationships. They and we are called to trust in the One who has guided ancestors before and whose love embraces generations yet to come. Like all of us, Abram would prefer a little more specificity as to how this empire challenging way of living will come into being. As far as Abram can see, the details of how one gets from here to there are sorely lacking, something he is quick to point out: you have given me no offspring. In response, God draws Abram out of the confines of this shortterm, limited ways of seeing by encouraging him to count a few stars. It is difficult to count stars without being reminded of the fullness and potential that comes from trusting the ways of the God who shapes creation. Trust is not something we acquire and store away for a time when it is needed. Trust in a relationship creating God is more like manna that is reclaimed each day. Each day there are new questions, new uncertainties, and fears. Each day we are invited to reclaim the covenant and journey forth in trust. We reclaim covenant (right relationships) in ritual, private devotions, shared worship, and by living as if the promise we receive is for generations yet to come. Psalm 27 is a work of trust, despite what the evidence seems to be saying. The promises of God are the foundations of the writer s faith, even when everything seems to be going in the opposite direction. Living in the promise offers hope in the future. Philippians 3:17 4:1 calls us to live into the future. Paul knows full well the challenges inherent in living an alternative life of faith that is counter to the empire ideology of Rome. For Paul, our citizenship is in the justice making, life-giving theology of creation that is revealed in Jesus the Christ. We stand firm because God is with us on this journey. Luke 13:31 35 brings a full-eyed awareness of the resistance faced when confronting the ideologies of domination Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets. These destructive powers that take many shapes and forms are no match for the gentle love gathering up her children. This is the way of God in which we can place our trust. Perhaps God is living through the present and into the future as much as we are, towards a future still to take shape. This may be our experience as we move through the wilderness of Lent: we trust the future but the present experiences count against that. What words and rituals do you hold on to that keep you on the journey of faith? March 17, 2019 Focus scripture Genesis 15:1 12, Additional scriptures Psalm 27 Philippians 3:17 4:1 Luke 13:31 35 or Luke 9:28 36 We come to you, O God, often wondering about the fulfillment of promises that seems to take so long. But even in our questioning we come to you in trust. We trust you will bring good to us and all. Help us to build our lives on your promises. Amen. If you have Internet access, visit to access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage. Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter

12 March 17, 2019 The Focus for Ages 6 8 Children in this age group are learning that promises are the building blocks of trust and help form healthy and trusting relationships. By the time they are 6 years old most children will have had experiences of making and receiving promises. They will also have seen the results of promises kept and possibly experienced the pain of promises broken. It is likely that many children in your group will have participated in the childhood rituals that seal a promise, such as, using an oath such as cross my heart and hope to die. They may also hear promises that are a long time coming, When you are a teenager you ll be able to The children will draw on all these life experiences as they explore the wonderful story of God s promise to Abram and Sarai. They will have the opportunity to use their active imaginations. Of course, they will likely want to know how the story turned out that God did keep the promise and even though it took a long time Abram and Sarai did have a son, Isaac. This is particularly important for those children who have experienced the pain of promises made and continually broken. Pray that all children may come to know that they can trust God, even if it is sometimes hard to trust others. Prepare Before the session q Read and prayerfully reflect on this week s focus scripture, Genesis 15:1 12, 17 18, and biblical background material (p. 9). q Bring basic supply kit (p. 2) and, if possible, Seasons Songbook (Volume 2); Seasons Music CD (Volume 2); and CD or MP3 player; downloadable sheet music and MP3 recordings are available at www. seasonsonline.ca. q Set a worship space with purple cloth, candle, offering basket, and Bible with bookmark placed in focus passage. Gather q Bring footprint shapes and Gathering song for Lent (p. 94); review instructions for Footprint prayer ritual on resource sheet Resources for Lent (p. 94). q Print the word Promise on a chalk board or sheet of newsprint. Engage q Bring resource sheet Abram and Sarai Hear a Promise and self-adhesive stars. q Bring graffiti wall mural paper from previous weeks and Abraham figure for March 17 from the Story Props posters. q Bring juice and star snack foods, such as bread or fruit cut into star shapes. Respond Choose one or more of the activities. Prepare and bring the materials. q Word puzzle: copies of resource sheet Promise Puzzle q Bracelets: thin beading cord, star-shaped beads or pony beads q Star names: foil pie plates, glitter, silver ribbon, newspapers, blunt pencils; use a permanent marker to draw a large star shape on the bottom of each pie plate. Bless q Bring, if possible, Listen, God Is Calling (p. 25 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 2; #4 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 2). q Bring copies of resource sheet Letter to Families (p. 93). 10 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

13 Journey Toward Trust March 17, 2019 Scripture Genesis 15:1 12, FOCUS To hear, with Abram and Sarai, that God keeps promises Welcome the children and explain that this is the second Sunday in the Season of Lent. Remind them that Lent is a special time of praying, a time when we remember all that God has done from the beginning of time. It is a time when we remember the promises that God has made and our promises to God. Opening ritual Gather around in the worship space and invite a child to light the candle, a sign of God s presence. Sing Lead the children in singing the Gathering song for Lent (on p. 94). Footprint prayer Invite children to lay the numbered footprints in order, creating a path leading out from the worship table and around the meeting space. Lead the children as you follow the pathway and say the prayer together. After a few minutes of silence, invite them to gather the shapes and place back in the worship space. Receive the offering. Extinguish the candle to signal that the opening ritual has ended. Connecting life and theme Point out the word promise written on the chalk board or newsprint and invite children to say the word aloud together. Talk about what the word promise means. Invite children to share experiences of promises given and received. Have they ever made a promise? Has someone ever made a promise to them? What kinds of things might they do to show they will keep a promise? Comment that today s Bible story is about a time when God made a very special promise. Before the story Invite a child to bring the Bible from the worship area and use the bookmark to open it to the book of Genesis, noticing that this is the very first book in the part of the Bible that we call the Hebrew Scriptures. It was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born and tells some of the stories of the Hebrew people who lived a long time ago. Bible story Distribute self-adhesive stars and invite children to participate as indicated as you use the resource sheet Abram and Sarai Hear a Promise to tell the story based on Genesis 15:1 12, Invite children to talk about the story after they have heard it. How many times did they hear the word promise? n What promise did God give to Abram and Sarai? n Do you think it was hard for them to wait for God s promise to happen? Why or why not? After the story Graffiti wall Invite children to continue the graffiti wall of words and drawings from the stories that they hear during Lent. Write the word God s Promise at the top of the next section of the mural paper and invite a child to glue on the picture for March 17 from the Story Props posters. Distribute markers and encourage the children to draw the starry sky that Abram saw when God spoke about the promise of many descendants. Print the word Promise in big letters on the wall and ask the children to colour and decorate the letters. Snack Say a short prayer of thanks and share the star snacks together. As they eat, mention that every time we see a star we can remember God s promise to Abram and Sarai to care for and guide Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter

14 March 17, 2019 them and to be their God. It is a promise that we have inherited too. Explain that Christians today are part of this huge family of faith as many as stars in the sky. Invite the children to name people of faith that they know (biblical, historical, or present day). Choose from the following activities. q Word puzzle God led Abram and Sarai on a long journey before they finally saw God s promise. Distribute copies of the resource sheet Promise Puzzle and invite children to follow the path through the maze to find out God s promise. (Answer: Look at the sky and see if you can count the stars. That s how many descendants you will have.) Invite children to draw themselves and other figures behind the people in the puzzle to represent more descendants. q Bracelets A starry bracelet can remind us of God s promise to Abram and Sarai that their descendants would be as many as the stars in the sky. Tie a large knot about 5 cm/2 in from the end of the cord. Invite children to thread beads onto their cords, each bead to represent people of faith; have them include Abram, Sarai, Isaac, and other people in their faith family (such as parents, older friends at church). Have them tie a knot in between each bead, with the last bead added representing themselves. Tie ends together to form a bracelet. q Star names When we look at the stars in the sky, we can remember God s promise to love and care for all people. Help the children to cut out the star-shaped designs from the foil pie plates. Show them how to place their star on a pile of newspapers and use a blunt pencil to emboss their name in the middle, decorating around the name with indentations and swirls. Use glitter to add extra sparkle. Punch a hole at the top of the star and thread with a length of silver ribbon for hanging. If possible, hang stars from the ceiling in the worship area. Gather around the worship area and invite a child to relight the candle as you say, This candle reminds us of God s love. Pray Thank you, God, for the Bible stories that tell us about your promises. Help us to remember that we are part of your family too. Amen. Sing or listen to, if possible, the song Listen, God Is Calling (p. 25 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 2; #4 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 2). Send each child out with the words, (Child s name), you are a part of God s promise. Distribute copies of the Letter to Families (p. 93) for those who were absent last week. In what ways did they demonstrate awareness that they are part of Abram and Sarai s family? How might you build on the experiences you had with the children today? 12 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

15 Resource Sheet March 17, 2019 Story Tip Abram and Sarai Hear a Promise Inviting children to listen for a word helps them to pay attention to the story. (based on Genesis 15:1 12, 17 18) One night, God spoke to Abram again. Don t worry, God said. I m taking care of you. This land will be a home for your whole family. Distribute self-adhesive stars and invite children to stick a star onto the back of a hand every time they hear the word promise. Many years ago in the city of Haran there lived an elderly couple named Abram and Sarai. They both felt sad that they had no children. One day, Abram heard a message from God. You must leave this place, Abram, and take your wife and your relations and servants and all your possessions, and move to a new land. I will show you the way. Once you are there, you will have my blessing. I promise you that your name will be great, and your people will become a great nation. So Abram and Sarai gathered all their relations, and their gold and silver, and their tents, and their donkeys and camels, and their sheep and cattle, and travelled south toward the land of Canaan. Abram and Sarai believed God s promise. But they wondered how they would be part of a great nation if they did not have any children. They knew they were really too old to have a baby. Still they trusted God and God s promise. The years passed and Abram and Sarai had many exciting adventures. But they still did not have any children. They wondered about God s promise. Had God forgotten them? Would they ever have a child of their own to love? But we don t have a family, said Abram. What use are your gifts to us as long as we have no children? God s message came back loud and clear. Abram, I have not forgotten my promise, said God. Go outside and look up at the sky. So Abram stepped outside the tent and looked up at the dark night sky. Abram saw thousands upon thousands of bright shining stars twinkling in the sky. Count the stars if you can, said God. Impossible! said Abram. There are way too many to count! That s right, said God. But that s how many people will be in your family some day. You will have children. And your children will grow up and have children. And their children will have children. And I promise that some day your family will be a great nation. Abram and Sarai thought a lot about God s promise. They thought about what it would be like to have as many descendants as there were stars in the sky. It was hard to imagine! Abram and Sarai waited a bit more. They were glad to hear that God had not forgotten them. They waited and hoped and believed in God s promise. And one special day Abram and Sarai did have a baby, and they called him Isaac. God s promise had come true! Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter

16 Resource Sheet March 17, 2019 Promise Puzzle Follow the path through the maze. As you come to each word, print it on the blanks below Seasons of the Spirit Ages 6 8 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018