January, 09 Baptism of the Lord Isa. : 7 Ps. 9 Acts 8: 7 Luke : 7, Goal for the Session Children will hear the story of Jesus baptism and discover that they are God s beloved children. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Luke : 7, WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, Linda McKinnish Bridges Luke s special focus, however, is on prayer. Luke carefully notes that Jesus prays after he is baptized (:). Luke intentionally adds this important feature to the baptism ritual, which is missed by the other Gospel writers. For Luke the act of prayer will be the most important feature of the baptism and will clearly indicate the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus and ultimately the believer. In other places of Luke s Gospel, prayer is the focus of Jesus ministry (:; :; 9:8, 8ff.; :; :; :). WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Carol Lakey Hess John the Baptizer understood that Jesus would surpass him, and so he did. By accepting John s baptism, Jesus refuted John s dualism between the wheat and the chaff (v. 7). In fact, this led to accusations of his being a glutton and a drunkard, a friend to tax collectors and sinners (7:). Perhaps this is a major sign of holiness: that we see ourselves as part of an interconnected web and that we are accused of being deeply enmeshed in that web. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Robert M. Bearley Luke uses very few words to share with us the baptism of our Lord. But those few words lead us to very deep wellsprings of joy in the faithful ministry. To identify with all people, to depend upon God in prayer for the strength to live and to love, and to hear the affirmation of your God as the source of your calling and purpose in life are the most enduring joys of life. These are the blessings of our life together in Christ as the church. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Ernest Hess We can also fruitfully explore the power of such affirmations in our lives: You are my son, my daughter. You are Beloved. I am well pleased with you. When we experience this kind of honest affirmation from a parent or other significant person in our lives, we are strengthened in identity, will, and ability to act from that secure identity. Without it, most persons will struggle with low self-esteem. The good news is that in Christ we are all the Beloved.
FOCUS SCRIPTURE Luke : 7, Focus on Your Teaching Children know what it means to belong to a family, a team, or a club. Some may sense that they belong to your church family. An important role of Sunday school is to help each child sense that he or she is beloved by God and cherished by the faith community. Today is Baptism of the Lord Sunday. It marks the beginning of a season of Ordinary Time (or season after the Epiphany). Through the Bible stories for this season, children can grow in understanding who Jesus is and how their lives are connected with his. Holy God, when I forget that I am your beloved child, please remind me. Bless me, teach me, and keep me in your care. Amen. YOU WILL NEED small table or large box white cloth battery-operated white candle bowl of water hand towel Bible Singing the Feast, 08 09; CD player Color Pack, 9 For Responding option : copies of Resource Sheet ; crayons or colored pencils; Singing the Feast, 08 09; CD player option : copies of Resource Sheet on colorful card stock, glass gems, Color Pack, scissors, glue sticks, hot glue gun, self-sticking magnets n LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Before the session, if you are using option, arrange for a pastor or other church leader to come and talk about baptism in your church; ask your guest to bring any special items used for baptismal services, such as a shell, certificates, towels, garments, or candles. Before children arrive, create a worship table by placing a white cloth on a small table or overturned box. Place the white candle, small bowl of water, and hand towel on the cloth. Greet each child with a handshake, saying: Good morning, (name), child of God. Gather at the worship table and light the candle. Tell learners that today is Baptism of the Lord Sunday and that they will learn more about this in the Bible story. Invite children to come close to the bowl of water to help them remember what they see and hear during baptisms in your church. Demonstrate how to use two fingers to scoop up water and let it fall back into the bowl. All together, have children put two fingers into the bowl and follow your lead: We gather today in the name of the Father (all scoop water), and the Son (all scoop water), and the Holy Spirit (all scoop water). Be with us, O God, as we learn today. Amen (all raise hands above head). Begin a conversation by asking: P Who makes you feel loved? What do they say or do that lets you know they love you? EXPLORING Invite children to tell anything they remember about John the Baptist, also called John the Baptizer. Refresh the children s memory of the December 9 and December sessions by reading aloud Luke :,.
Form pairs, asking partners to decide who will act out John s part and who will act out Jesus part. Read aloud the following story, inviting pairs to act it out as you tell it: This story takes place almost thirty years after Jesus was born. John was standing in the river, baptizing people. John helped each person lower himself or herself under the water and then stand again. Jesus waded into the river and came to John. John helped Jesus lower himself under the water and then stand again. Then an amazing thing happened. The Bible tells us:... Jesus himself was baptized. Then as he prayed, the sky opened up, and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you. (Luke :, Contemporary English Version) Be sensitive to children who may not be baptized. Be ready to tell learners the heart of what your church teaches about baptism and to offer to introduce families to the pastor or other church leader to talk about baptism for their child. EASY PREP Have partners reverse roles as you read the story again. Gather the group. Show Color Pack and invite learners to point out details that are interesting to them. Invite volunteers to retell the story as they point to parts of the picture. Discuss: P How do you think Jesus felt when he heard the voice from heaven? P Explain that the Holy Spirit is God s presence with us. The Spirit loves us and guides us. We can t see God s Holy Spirit like Jesus did, but we can see the Spirit at work when people pray, when people care for one another, and when people are loving. What questions do you have about the Holy Spirit? P Have you seen a baptism? If so, what happened? Who was there? What stories have you heard about baptisms in your family? P After Jesus ministry, he began to visit many places to teach God s Word and to care for people who were hurting. When we are baptized, we know that we are God s children and that we are loved. In baptism, we are called to do God s work, too. What kind of God s work would you like to do? Wrap up Exploring by standing in a circle. Ask each child to think of an action to do while saying his or her first name. (For example, jump up and down, bow after saying the name, clap with each syllable.) After a moment, choose one child to begin. After this child has spoken his or her name while doing the chosen action, the rest of the group repeats the name and action and then says in unison: You are God s own dear child! Continue around the circle until each child has had a turn. RESPONDING Mark the options you will use:. Jesus Baptism Children can review the Bible story through a coloring puzzle. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet (Jesus Is Baptized) and crayons or colored pencils. Play Water Sounds (track 8 on Singing the Feast, 08 09) as children use the code to color the picture. As a group, complete the Bible verse and read it in unison. Repeat the verse several times, and then challenge children to recite it from memory.
Some symbols of baptism: Candle: Jesus light shines through us. Shell: God s love is as big as the ocean; we are baptized with water and God s Word. Cross: Jesus died on a cross and rose again to give us life with God forever. Dove: The Holy Spirit comes at baptism to guide and strengthen us. Three water drops: We are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Sing Thanks to God Little children, *sing your thanks to God. Little children, *sing your thanks to God. Little children, *sing your thanks to God. Thanks to God. Thanks to God. Verse : *clap Verse : *dance Verse : *shout Little children, praise the Lord your God. Little children, praise the Lord your God. Little children, praise the Lord your God. Thanks to God. Thanks to God.. Monogram Magnets Help children create reminders that they are God s own dear children. Show Color Pack and have children pick out a letter that is the first letter of their first name. Help them cut around the letter in a circle or oval shape. Cut apart copies of Resource Sheet (Magnets). To make magnets, demonstrate the following steps, pausing after each one for children to do that step: ) Choose one of the squares cut from the resource sheet and glue the letter in the blank space in the center of the square. ) Have an adult put a drop of hot glue in the center of the letter and press a glass gem into the glue, flat side toward the letter. ) Attach a self-sticking magnet to the back of the square. As time allows, invite children to make an additional magnet for a friend or family member. Talk together about the messages on the magnets and why they are important to remember.. Learning about Baptism Children will be interested in learning more about baptismal traditions at your church. Welcome a pastor or other church leader to talk about baptism and show any special items used in baptismal services. Encourage children to ask questions. If any items have symbols on them, discuss what the symbols mean. If time permits, ask your guest to take the group to see the baptismal font. CLOSING Gather and sing together Sing Thanks to God (Color Pack 9; track on Singing the Feast, 08 09), celebrating that you and the children are God s own dear children. Gather around the worship table and light the candle. As you did to begin your session, close your time together by gathering around the bowl of water and scooping water with two fingers: We gather today in the name of the Father (all scoop water), and the Son (all scoop water), and the Holy Spirit (all scoop water). Help us grow as your own dear children, O God. Amen (all raise hands above head). Be sure to say good-bye to each child by name.
January, 09 Grades (K) Resource Sheet Jesus Is Baptized = blue = brown = yellow = red = green = tan Use this code to color the picture of Jesus baptism. Do you remember the words that Jesus heard after he was baptized? Finish the sentence, using the words below it: You are my, and I with you. Luke :, Contemporary English Version pleased Son am dear own 08 Westminster John Knox Press
January, 09 Grades (K) Resource Sheet Magnets God loves you. You make a difference in God s world. God s Spirit makes you strong. You are a child of God. 08 Westminster John Knox Press