December 17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent Isa. 61:1 4, 8 11 Ps. 126 1 Thess. 5:16 24 John 1:6 8, 19 28 Goal for the Session Third- and fourth-graders will imagine how they can participate in Isaiah s vision of God s new and just creation. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Isaiah 61:1 4, 8 11 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, William P. Brown The originating context of the lection comes from the aftermath of exile (586 538 BCE) and the historically modest beginning of Israel s restoration in the land. God s comfort of Zion is inextricably tied to Zion s restoration. It is the comfort of new creation. And the result is so extraordinary that it must be described in lush botanical terms. Zion shall become the new garden of Eden, populated with oaks of righteousness, cultivated by God s salvific work. The garden is nothing short of miraculous; it is the garden of God s glory as well as the nursery of a nation. And how does God s garden grow? Genuine restoration is cultivation in righteousness. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Scott Bader-Saye Theologically, these verses from Isaiah center around the themes of salvation and mission. Isaiah challenges readers to name salvation as a quality of life here and now that reflects God s desires for human community. Though we must be careful not to read Isaiah through the lens of the New Testament, a Christian reader cannot help but note the significance of Isaiah 61:1 2 as a description of Jesus mission in Luke s Gospel (Luke 4:14 21). Jesus declares himself to be the fulfillment of Isaiah s prophecy, the one to bring good news, healing, and release. As we walk through the last days of Advent, we remember not just that Jesus came but why Jesus came to usher in a jubilee celebration that would have no end. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Cynthia A. Jarvis The God who can build up ancient ruins is also the God who can redeem the ruin a prodigal son believes he has made of his life; the God who shall raise up the former devastations is also the God who means to pick up a daughter s brokenness; the God who shall repair the ruined cities and the devastations of many generations is also the God who can repair even the ruined nation that has forgotten its way in the world. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Donald Booz The two questions of Advent always seem to be the same; How is the advent of God trying to come into my life/ our world? and What do I need to do to prepare for God s advent? Another way of asking the same questions is, What do I need to change in order to allow God s transformation to take place in me and ultimately the world? What activities beside the hanging of the greens and singing of Christmas carols follow from the prophet s words? 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades 3 4 1
FOCUS SCRIPTURE Isaiah 61:1 4, 8 11 You Will Need blue or purple fabric 4 battery-powered votive candles pink balloons pink streamers permanent markers Singing the Feast, 2017 2018; CD player Color Pack 1, 6, 27, 28 Bible copies of Resource Sheets 1, 2 colored pencils For Responding option 1: Color Pack 7, sticky notes, pens option 2: items for serving project option 3: black paper, colored chalk, hairspray or art fixative, scissors, glue stick Focus on Your Teaching Children know about joy and like to bring joy to others. As they grow in understanding the situations and perspectives of others, they enjoy giving gifts and helping others. It s important to provide opportunities for children to do so. While they are concrete thinkers, children this age also have vivid imaginations. They are creative thinkers, especially when encouraged. They are beginning to comprehend larger concepts. Interested in fairness, these children can imagine the world proclaimed in Isaiah s vision. God, you have anointed me to share the good news of your vision for the world. Fill me with joy and let your Spirit empower me to share this joy with those entrusted to my teaching. Amen. n LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Before the session, plan to wear brightly colored clothing or a pink ribbon. If you are using option 2 in Responding, find out about any Advent serving project that your church is doing and how your group can be part of it. If there isn t one, think of a community agency that could use your support this month. As the children arrive, note any brightly colored clothes they are wearing. Invite them to help you arrange blue or purple fabric on a table in your meeting space, using the same color that your church uses in worship during Advent. Place Color Pack 1 on the fabric and arrange the four battery-powered votive candles along the road. Ask learners to help you inflate and tie off the pink balloons and use permanent markers to carefully write the word joy on each inflated balloon. Decorate the area with the balloons and streamers. Gather the group and explain that this is the third Sunday of Advent. Some churches call this Gaudete (gow-day-tay) Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin word for joy. This makes us think of the joy at the coming celebration of the birthday of Jesus. Some churches light a pink candle on this Sunday. As the children sing verses 1, 2, and 4 of God, We Sing (Color Pack 27; track 8 on Singing the Feast, 2017 2018), light three candles. Pray aloud: Holy God, we light the candles of Hope and Peace and Joy and thank you for those gifts. As we begin the third week of Advent, help us to prepare ourselves for the coming celebration of Jesus birth. Amen. 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades 3 4 2
God, We Sing 1. God, we sing with praise to you, Light the flame of hope anew; Light this candle, light the way, Bring hope into our hearts today. Jesus, near us as we pray, Let hope be in our hearts today. 2. God, we sing with praise to you, Light the flame of peace anew;... 4. God, we sing with praise to you, Light the flame of joy anew;... Ask if your class might offer the echo pantomime interpretation of the text as part of the worship service. Display Color Pack 6 and invite children to describe what they see in the photo. Ask: P What words come to mind when you look at this picture? P How did this plant break through the hard soil? How could you help this plant to grow? P Why do you think this photo was chosen for Gaudete Sunday? EXPLORING Introduce the Bible reading for today as coming from the prophet Isaiah. Show the book of Isaiah in your Bible. Remind the group that a prophet is someone who speaks the word of God to God s people. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 1 (God s Word of ). Invite volunteers to take turns reading the verses aloud, pausing as necessary to define any words the learners don t understand. Form pairs to read the verses again, and invite learners to use colored pencils to circle words and phrases that sound like good news. Allow time for the pairs to work, and then ask them to tell the whole group what they circled. Referring to the resource sheet as needed, discuss the text: P Who is supposed to get Isaiah s message of good news? (vv. 1 2) P What changes will God bring to those in need of good news? (vv. 3 4) P What does God love? What does God hate? (v. 8) P What promise does God make? (vv. 8 9) P How does Isaiah respond to the news of what God will do? (v. 10) P In verse 11, what does Isaiah say that God will bring? What picture does Isaiah describe to help us understand what this will be like? Learners may grow in understanding Isaiah s prophecy by using their bodies to express the meaning of his words. Give each child a copy of Resource Sheet 2 (Echo Pantomime). Read aloud the directions on the sheet. Line by line, invite learners to do the actions after you read the words. Encourage them to create their own actions or add to the actions described on the sheet. Sum up Exploring by inviting learners to recall their favorite parts of Isaiah s vision and then asking: P How might these verses from Isaiah make us think about waiting to celebrate Jesus birth? P What fills your heart with joy this Gaudete Sunday? P To whom would you like to tell the good news of God s promise of new life? How might you do that? 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades 3 4 3
EASY PREP RESPONDING Mark the activities you will use: 1. Isaiah s Vision To help learners further imagine how they can participate in Isaiah s vision of God s new kingdom, show Color Pack 7 and invite the children to tell about what they see in this photo. Ask: What is happening in this picture? What words come to mind when you look at it? Next, ask: What part of the passage from Isaiah 61 would you use to tell a story about this photo? Provide sticky notes and pens for learners to record their answers and place them around the poster. Display the poster where those who worship in your church today can read it. 2. Advent Serving One way to participate in the good news Isaiah brings is to help those in need in your community. Tell the children about the serving opportunity you have found. Plan together how you will participate, considering how your serving might bring the good news of God s love to someone. Go, Tell It on the Mountain Refrain: Go, tell it on the mountain Over the hills and everywhere; Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born. While shepherds kept their watching Over silent flocks by night Behold throughout the heavens There shone a holy light. Refrain The shepherds feared and trembled, When lo! above the earth, Rang out the angel chorus That hailed the Savior s birth. Refrain 3. Isaiah s Words Challenge learners to use their imaginations as they recall Isaiah s words. Demonstrate how to make drawings on black construction paper with brightly colored chalk. Invite each learner to create a picture based on one of the verses from Resource Sheet 1. Lightly spray the completed drawings with hairspray or art fixative to seal the chalk. As an option, divide the verses among the learners, and invite them to make drawings of each portion of the text. Cut the verses from a copy of Resource Sheet 1, glue them to the pictures, and display the verses in order. As the children work, talk about the colors that come to mind when they think about the joy of God s love. How might they use these pictures to tell others about the joy of Isaiah s vision? CLOSING Gather around the Advent candles, and light three votives, if necessary. Invite learners to recall their favorite part of Isaiah s vision of God s perfect world. Comment that God s Son, Jesus, is part of God s perfect plan. Sing Go, Tell It on the Mountain (Color Pack 28; track 7 on Singing the Feast, 2017 2018). Pray aloud: Amazing God, shine your light on us and help us see your Son, Jesus, in new ways. Amen. Take a moment to bless each child by name as he or she leaves: (Name), may God s love fill your heart with joy this week. Give each child a pink balloon or streamer to take home. Down in a lowly manger The humble Christ was born And God sent us salvation That blessèd Christmas morn. Refrain 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades (K)1 2 4
December 17, 2017 Grades 3 4 Resource Sheet 1 God s Word of Isaiah 61:1 4, 8 11 (CEV) The Spirit of the LORD God has taken control of me! The LORD has chosen and sent me to tell the oppressed the good news, to heal the brokenhearted, and to announce freedom for prisoners and captives. 2 This is the year when the LORD God will show kindness to us and punish our enemies. The LORD has sent me to comfort those who mourn, 3 especially in Jerusalem. He sent me to give them flowers in place of their sorrow, olive oil in place of tears, and joyous praise in place of broken hearts. They will be called Trees of Justice, planted by the LORD to honor his name. 4 Then they will rebuild cities that have been in ruins for many generations.... 8 I, the LORD, love justice! But I hate robbery and injustice. My people, I solemnly promise to reward you with an eternal agreement. 9 Your descendants will be known in every nation. All who see them will realize that they have been blessed, by me, the LORD. 10 I celebrate and shout because of my LORD God. His saving power and justice are the very clothes I wear. They are more beautiful than the jewelry worn by a bride or a groom. 11 The LORD will bring about justice and praise in every nation on earth, like flowers blooming in a garden. 2017 Westminster John Knox Press
December 17, 2017 Grades 3 4 Resource Sheet 2 Echo Pantomime Echo pantomimes use actions after words. Read through this summary of Isaiah 61:1 4, 8 11. Note the actions for each line. Practice by having one person read aloud each line, followed by the rest of the group doing the actions. The Spirit of God is guiding me to bring good news. Raise hands to top of head. Let your arms flow down the sides of your body to your feet. Point your finger and arm upward, then toward yourself, and then cup hands around your mouth. To those who feel picked on and brokenhearted, Hang head down, slump shoulders, shake head slowly. Hold hands together over your heart. Then break hands apart. To tell the slaves and the prisoners that they are free, Cross wrists in front of you as if they are tied. Raise arms in front of face, break apart wrists, and throw arms out to your sides. To shout, This is the time for us to know God s blessings! Clap hands, pump fists and arms, and jump up and down. To care for sad people and cheer them up. Smile. Clap hands once in front of you in an upward motion. They will be like sturdy trees. Stand with feet and legs straddled apart, hands on hips. They will rebuild cities that were destroyed. Clench fists and bend down. Put one hand on top of the other over and over again. God says, I love justice and hate wrongdoing. Hug yourself, then shake your head while shaking a pointed finger in front of you in a no response. I promise to bless the generations to come. Make a fist with your right hand and bring it down on the open palm of your left hand. I will make justice grow in the world like flowers. Bend down; slowly grow taller with arms outstretched. 2017 Westminster John Knox Press