January 7, 2018 Baptism of the Lord Gen. 1:1 5 Ps. 29 Acts 19:1 7 Mark 1:4 11 Goal for the Session Third- and fourth-graders will perceive how God s Spirit is essential in the creation of new beginnings. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Genesis 1:1 5 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, Richard Boyce The writer most likely imagined this creative work of God during the days of Babylonian exile, when all the earlier order of Israel s worship in Jerusalem had been brought to naught. This creation story is a way of holding onto hope when all signs of order have been destroyed. Set in this context, this story can only be heard as the first in a long series of stories about God creating order out of chaos: at the beginning of ordered time, through the waters of the Red Sea, in the muddy waters of the river Jordan, and down to the chaotic situation of God s people today. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Joseph L. Price During this season of celebrating the manifestation of God in Christ, the creation story can be examined to learn about its testimony to the initial manifestation of God. It introduces ideas about the character of God and purpose of creation. Each act or element of creation is generated by God s word. Consequently God is understood as an active God, as the source of history. The opening text in Genesis affirms the character of God, rather than providing a historical account or a scientific proposition about creation. The text is an affirmation that all of life, all aspects of order, and all possibilities within reality are dependent upon the creative act of God. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Donna Schaper In the beginning, God. That is the whole story in a nutshell. The first thing that happened to the formless earth is this: the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. When Jesus is later baptized, he has a significant connection back to the deep waters of creation. He goes from being without form to being someone with form. He goes back to the original. He has a heaven-opening event. He does what God did in the beginning: He reopens the world. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Lawrence Wood These opening verses are not mere stage setting. They are the story proper a story of God s activity. The main actor is here. All the scenes to come will proceed from this action. The beginning is all water: watery deeps, dark and formless. At baptism we are asked to submit to the primordial waters and a figurative death. God s creative power is made powerfully personal in this second birth. This first Sunday after Epiphany comes at the start of the new year, an evocative time to talk about beginnings. It lends itself to remembrance of baptism and the beginning of Christian life. 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades 3 4 1
FOCUS SCRIPTURE Genesis 1:1 5 Focus on Your Teaching While most third- and fourth-graders perceive the world in concrete and literal ways, they can be introduced to larger concepts and abstract ideas. Encourage them to use their imaginations to explore larger meanings and new ideas. As they grow in their study of science, children this age may begin to question the Bible from a scientific view. Answer their questions honestly and simply. Children are spiritual and have a strong sense of divine presence there need not be a conflict between science and faith. They can embrace both, sometimes more easily than adults can. God of new beginnings, send your powerful Spirit to be with me as I teach. Embrace me as I bear witness to your Light this day. Amen. YOU WILL NEED white cloth tall white batterypowered candle Singing the Feast, 2017 2018; CD player several flashlights Color Pack 2, 11, 12, 29 CD of mysterious music, such as Gustav Holst s Neptune Bibles For Responding option 1: copies of Resource Sheet 1, materials listed there option 2: dark blue or black fabric; sharp scissors; fabric scraps and trims; fabric glue; fabric paints mysterious music, music player option 3: copies of Resource Sheet 2 n LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Before the session, make your learning area as dark as possible. Move things around so the area seems a bit chaotic. Hide some supplies you usually use, including the Bible, white cloth, and candle. Greet the children as they arrive. Invite them to straighten up your learning area and find the missing items. Don t turn on the overhead lights, but provide flashlights for them to use. Ask them to arrange the white cloth in the center of your space and put the candle on it. When the area is in order, turn on the overhead lights and gather by the candle. Show Color Pack 2, and ask a volunteer to find Baptism of the Lord Sunday. Say that this is the beginning of the church season called Ordinary Time or the season after the Epiphany. The word epiphany means showing or revealing. In this season, we recognize Jesus has come as the Light of the World, to reveal God s power and ways. Light the candle as you say, Jesus Christ is the light of the world. Sing Jesus Loves Me (Color Pack 29; track 14 on Singing the Feast, 2017 2018). Recall that the candle helps us remember that God s Spirit is present with us. Offer the following prayer: Powerful God, thank you for being present with us this day and always. Teach us to know your power and to follow your light, shown to us in Jesus the Christ. Amen. Begin a conversation by asking: P What did you think had happened when you arrived today? How did it feel to find our area all messed up? P How did some light help you restore order? P What are some other things light does for us? 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades 3 4 2
Jesus Loves Me Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; In his love we shall be strong. Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. Jesus loves me! This I know, As he loved so long ago, Taking children on His knee, Saying, Let them come to me. (Refrain) Jesus loves me, still today, Walking with me on my way, Wanting as a friend to give Light and love to all who live. (Refrain) Option: Comparing these texts may be a stretch for some learners. But children have wonderful imaginations and a sense about the divine presence. Ask wondering questions: P Jesus is sometimes called the Light of the World. Why do you think that is? P How did God start something new in the world with Jesus? P Why is baptism a new beginning? EXPLORING Display Color Pack 11 and 12 on a wall or easel. Invite learners to describe what they see. To enhance the children s experience with today s focus scripture, invite them to make themselves comfortable. Turn out the lights, and quietly play some mysterious music, such as Gustav Holst s Neptune from The Planets. After a few moments, give flashlights to a few volunteers and ask them to shine light on Color Pack 11 and 12. After a few moments, slowly read aloud Genesis 1:1 5 from your Bible. Ask: P What is happening in this reading from the Bible? P What questions do you have about this story? (Don t try to answer questions at this time.) Turn off the music and turn on the lights. Give each child a Bible and work together to find Genesis 1:1 5. Ask a volunteer to read aloud these verses. Encourage learners to look at their Bibles as you discuss: P What power created the world? (vv. 1, 3) P What was it like before God started creating? (v. 2) P Sometimes the wind from God is called God s Spirit. How do you understand the idea of a wind from God or God s Spirit? What did this wind from God do? (v. 2) P How did God create light? (v. 3) P What did God say about the light? (v. 4) P What does this passage tell us about how God makes new beginnings? Explain that this first chapter in Genesis is a story poem about God s work of creation. It was told from person to person for hundreds of years, then finally written down at a time when the ancient Hebrew people were struggling and felt hopeless. This creation poem reminded them that God was in charge of the world. In the Hebrew Bible, water and darkness are sometimes used as a description for disorder and struggle. P What can God do with disorder and confusion? P What does the light in verses 3 and 4 seem to do? Explain that God created light in creation. God also sent Jesus as the Light of the World. On this Sunday, Christians celebrate how Jesus began his ministry by being baptized by John in the Jordan River. Ask learners to help each other turn to Mark 1:9 11 in their Bibles. Ask a volunteer to read aloud these verses. Sum up Exploring by recalling that today we celebrate the power of God s Spirit in creation and the power of God s Spirit in the baptism of Jesus. P What did God s Spirit do at Jesus baptism? P What did God s Spirit do at creation? P What do you want God s Spirit to do in your life? 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades 3 4 3
RESPONDING Mark the activities you will use: 1. Christ Candles A Christ candle is a reminder that Jesus is the Light of the World and that God s Spirit is always present with us. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 1 (Christ Candle). Read through the information together, and follow the directions there to help each child make a Christ candle to take home. Option: Work together to decorate the white candle that your class uses. Be sure to send a copy of the resource sheet home with the candles, and encourage learners to lead the prayer on the sheet with their families. Consider inviting a fabric artist or quilter to help with this project. EASY PREP If you know of a person in your church who knows sign language, ask her or him to help the group learn to sign Genesis 1:1. 2. Fabric Art The words of Genesis 1:1 5 invite wonder about the presence of God s Spirit. Invite the children to work together to express this wonder through fabric art. Begin with a base piece of dark blue or black fabric, about 2' x 3'. Play mysterious music, such as Gustav Holst s Neptune from The Planets. Encourage the group to work together to create a picture of Genesis 1:1 5 by gluing fabric and trims, such as ribbon, lace, or sequins, to the background. Add details with fabric paint. The children might discover a way to include Mark 1:9 11 in their artwork. Let their imaginations take the lead. Plan to display the finished piece in the worship area or gathering space of your church for others to see. 3. Creative Movement The presence of God s Spirit invites many avenues of human expression. Children can appreciate or understand a biblical text when it is presented in another medium or language. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 2 (Let There Be Light) and read the information there. Try some of the sign-language signs given on the sheet. Invite learners to try reading some of the verses of Genesis 1:1 5, using signs as they speak the words. Together, discuss how these signs might help you understand the words in a new way. CLOSING Gather the group in a circle around the Christ candle and light it. Invite learners to name their favorite activities from the session. Ask the children to hold their arms out in front of them, with their palms facing up, and to repeat each line of the blessing after you: May God bless us and give us power to be lights in the world. God, make our lights shine! Amen. 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades (K)1 2 4
January 7, 2018 Grades 3 4 Resource Sheet 1 Christ Candle Christians use candles to remind us of God s presence in our lives. A Christ candle also reminds us that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. A Christ candle is a large white candle with words, symbols, or pictures on it to remind us of Jesus Christ. It might also have other decorations. If your church has a Christ candle in your worship space, look at it to see how it is decorated. You Will Need white pillar candle scraps of gold ribbons and cords thin paper or parchment permanent fine-tipped markers sharp scissors small piece of sandpaper tacky glue Directions 1. Decide what pictures or symbols or words you want to put on the candle. Draw them with permanent fine-tipped markers on very small pieces of thin paper. 2. Gently rub the candle with sandpaper where you plan to glue on the paper. This helps the paper stick better to the candle. 3. Plan where to put the gold trim. Again, use sandpaper to gently rub the candle where you will glue the trim. 4. Glue all your pictures and trim in place on the candle. 5. Be sure that all the glue is completely dry before moving the candle. 6. Light your Christ candle to remind you of God s presence. Light it on Sundays or on special celebrations such as Easter and Christmas. Light it for family celebrations such as birthdays and baptism days. Say this prayer when you light your Christ candle: Holy God, giver of all light and life, thank you for sending us Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Amen. 2017 Westminster John Knox Press
January 7, 2018 Grades 3 4 Resource Sheet 2 God s Spirit makes it possible for us to express ourselves in many ways. Sometimes, we can understand a Bible story in surprising ways when it is presented in a way that is new for us. American Sign Language is a language used by most deaf people in North America and in some other parts of the world. In American Sign Language, people communicate through the shape and movement of their hands and other parts of the body. Sounds are not used, although facial expressions are important. Sometimes the words are mouthed as signs are made. Practice the signs. Make the signs for the words as someone reads aloud Genesis 1:1 5. 2017 Westminster John Knox Press