Weekly resources to help nurture actively growing faith AGES 3-5. Mar 10 to Jun 9, 2019 (Revised Common Lectionary YEAR C)

Weekly resources to help nurture actively growing faith AGES 3-5 Lent, Easter Mar 10 to Jun 9, 2019 (Revised Common Lectionary YEAR C) ISBN: 978-1-77343-131-4 Printed in Canada

Contents Ages 3 5 About this Lent, Easter 2019... 1 This Lent, Easter for Ages 3 5... 2 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... 15 March 31, 2019 A Traitor for Grace... 21 April 7, 2019 The Fragrance of Life... 27 April 14, 2019 Palm, Passion Sunday... 33 April 21, 2019 Easter Day... 41 April 28, 2019 Love s Disruptive Witness... 49 May 5, 2019 Turning Point of Transformation... 55 May 12, 2019 Identity of Resistance... 61 May 19, 2019 Spirit of Solidarity... 67 May 26, 2019 The Power of Listening... 73 June 2, 2019 Haunting Claim of Freedom... 79 June 9, 2019 A Spirit-Powered Faith... 85 Extra Resources... 93 Acts Alive!... 99 Holy Listening... 100 Connecting with the Art Lent, Easter 2019...101 Evaluation form Published by: Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 485 Beaver Lake Road Kelowna, British Columbia Canada V4V 1S5 Phone: 1.800.663.2775 www.woodlakebooks.com www.seasonsonline.ca 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 www.seasonsonline.ca. 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 www.seasonsonline.ca. Ages 3 5 writer and editor team: Susan Huffman, Barbara Wilson, Donna Scorer, Susan Burt, L Lee Levett-Olson, Paul Turley, Michael Schwartzentruber Cover design: Cyrus Gandevia Illustrations: Katherine Carlisle, Margaret Kyle Seasons of the Spirit resources for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, 2018-19 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: 1536-8955 ISBN: 978-1-77343-131-4 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, 2019. 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.

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. 2018 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 1

This Lent, Easter for Ages 3 5 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. 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 in the gathering time includes helping an Easter tree (a branch in a bucket of sand or rocks) to blossom as the children add more yellow Alleluia flowers each week (see resource sheet Easter Activities, p. 96). All-ages gatherings Special resources are provided for all 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. If possible, try to create a quiet corner in your space (see suggestions in the article Creating a Quiet Thinking Space on p. 98) as well as an active space in which to sing, play, and dance. Opening rituals for each week include a worship time of lighting candles, sharing in simple prayers and songs, and receiving an offering. There are two options offered each week to help the children connect with the theme before hearing the Bible story. One option always includes using a puppet (called Priscilla in the session resources). Storytelling The first resource sheet for each week s session includes a story based on the focus passage 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. An Age 3 supplement is available in the Library on the Seasons website with week-by-week resources to adapt session materials if you are leading a group consisting mostly of three-year-olds. 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. 101 102). This resource also includes Storytelling Resources posters, which include figures that will be used with the stories in Lent, and figures to accompany the Easter stories. Articles and extra resources (see pp. 93 102) 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. The resource sheet Games (p. 97) offers ideas to use when you have some extra time, or when children need to have some physical activity. The article, Holy Listening (p. 100), 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, and in the Seasons Growing Faith Songbook and Music CD. 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 (www.seasonsonline.ca) includes background information about the curriculum resources, a large variety of resources in the Library, 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 (children and adult sizes), 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 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

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. 2018 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 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 www.seasonsonline.ca to access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage. 3

March 10, 2019 The Focus for Ages 3 5 Young children have experience with the practice of saying thank you. From a very young age, children are encouraged to say thank you and they respond with thanks in a variety of verbal and nonverbal ways. The gathering part of the session will draw on the children s previous experience when they are asked to share stories of times they have expressed gratitude. This life connection provides a natural entry point to the theme for this session giving thanks to God and remembering all the ways that God loves us. This week s session includes a game that can help children understand that the things that they see and have and experience every day can be thought of as gifts from God. The songs and the activities will help the children connect with the focus passage for today, which is about remembering all that God has done and is doing. Pray for the children that they will 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 3 5 (p. 2). q Bring basic supply kit (p. 2) and, if possible, Seasons Growing Faith (SGF) Songbook, Seasons Growing Faith (SGF) Music CD, 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 Gathering Song for Lent (on resource sheet Additional Songs, p. 94) or song Thank God (p. 28 in SGF Songbook, #18 on SGF Music CD). q Option: bring a puppet (see information on p. 2). Engage q Bring resource sheet A Joyful Celebration, the group of people for March 10 from the Storytelling Resources posters, vegetables (potatoes, carrots, turnips, squash), basket; place vegetables around the room before the session. q Bring a sheet of purple poster board and print the title Lent Stories at the top. q Bring dried fruit and juice, paper heart shape, and recording of lively music. Respond Choose from the options provided. Prepare and bring the materials. q Thank you spinner: copies of resource sheet Giving Thanks, paper fasteners, paper plates or poster board circles (20cm/8in); cut out a set of pictures and a spinner for each child; glue spinners onto lightweight cardboard shapes. q Lenten giving jar: small glass jars, foam shapes or stickers, information about church outreach projects; cut construction paper strips to wrap around each jar and print on each: My giving jar. q Garland: paper hearts (15cm/6in), copies of images on resource sheet Giving Thanks, glitter, stickers, yarn; punch two holes in the top of each heart. Bless q Bring Leaving Song (on resource sheet Additional Songs, p. 94). q Bring copies of resource sheet Letter to Families (p. 93). 4 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

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 each child, saying Hello, (child s name), we re happy you re here. Invite children to look around the room, noticing the vegetables that will be gathered during the story time. Ask them to name their favourite vegetables and fruits. Opening ritual Gather around the worship space and point out the purple cloth. Explain that today is the beginning of a new season in the church year called Lent. The colour for Lent is purple. Lent is a special time to think about God s love. Light the candle, saying, This candle reminds us of God s love shining in the world. Then say to each child, (Child s name), come and hear more about God s love. Sing the Gathering Song for Lent (on p. 94) or the song Thank God (p. 28 in Seasons Growing Faith Songbook; #18 on Seasons Growing Faith Music CD). Pray Thank you, God, for this time of Lent. Thank you for each other. Amen. (Encourage children to say the name of everyone in the circle.) Receive the offering and extinguish the candle to signal that the opening ritual has ended. Moving into the theme Choose one of the following: q Puppet conversation Priscilla: Hi, everydbody. I m so glad to see you. Guess what! I learned a new song about saying Thank you. Leader: That sounds like the same kind of song that we just sang. There are so many ways we can say thank you. Priscilla: Yes! Sometimes I use my voice. Sometimes I can say thanks just by smiling. And sometimes when I m really excited I say thanks by giving a big hug. Leader: Those are all really good ways to say thank you. Priscilla: Boys and girls, when have you had a chance to say thank you to someone? (Encourage responses.) Leader: Today we are going to hear a story from the Bible about some people who said thank you to God. (Say goodbye to Priscilla.) q Saying thanks Invite children to think of times when they have said thank you to someone. What have been the occasions? Talk together about some of the different ways that we can say thanks (voice, hug, smile, sending a card). Explain that today s story is about a time when some people said a special thank you to God. 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 story we will hear today is from the beginning of the Bible. It is a story that Jesus probably heard when he Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 5

March 10, 2019 was a little boy. Use resource sheet A Joyful Celebration to tell the story based on Deuteronomy 26:1 11, inviting children to participate by making walking sounds during the story, and gathering the vegetables to place in the basket. After the story Lenten poster Explain that during Lent the group will be creating a poster of the stories they have heard. Invite a child to glue this week s story figure onto the sheet of poster board to represent the story of the people who gave thanks to God. Snack Say a short prayer of thanks and share a snack together. As they eat, encourage children to talk about all the good things that God has given to us. Game Invite the children to play a game as they name things for which they would like to give God thanks. Sit in a circle. Play a recording of lively music and encourage children to pass the paper heart around the circle. When the music stops, the child holding the heart says, Thank you, God, for... Help children to see the variety of things for which they can be grateful: tangible things like sun and toys and intangible things like a parent s love. Repeat until everyone has had a turn. Choose from the following activities. q Thank-you spinner There are many things that we can thank God for. Distribute prepared circles or plates and sets of pictures from resource sheet Giving Thanks. Encourage children to choose and decorate the pictures they want to put on their circles. Help them glue these around the edges of the circles or plates and use paper fasteners to attach spinners to the middles of the circles. Demonstrate how to twirl the spinner with a finger. q Lenten giving jar Giving to help others is one way to say thank you to God. Distribute rectangle labels with the children s names on them. Encourage the children to decorate their labels with crayons and self-adhesive stickers or foam shapes. Wrap labels around jars and secure with tape. Explain that they will take their jars home and use them to collect coins with their families throughout Lent. Mention how the coins will be used to help others. q Garland God has given us so many good things to enjoy. Distribute several paper hearts to each child. Invite children to draw pictures on their heart shapes of things for which they would like to thank God. Have images from the resource sheet Giving Thanks available for younger children to colour and glue onto their heart shapes. Invite them to decorate their hearts with glitter or other decorative materials. Thread yarn through the two holes at the top of each heart to create a garland. Gather in the worship space and light the candle again. Pray Dear God, thank you for everything that you have given to us. Thank you for your love. Amen. Sing the Leaving Song (on p. 94). Send each child out with the words (Child s name), we give thanks for you. Distribute copies of the Letter to Families (p. 93). How might you provide regular opportunities for the children to express their appreciation? Give thanks for each child in your group this week and pray that God will help you as you nurture and encourage them during this Lenten season. 6 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

Resource sheet June 19, 2012 Resource Sheet March 10, 2019 Children enjoy participating in a story, so invite them to make walking sounds with their feet during the story of the journey. A Joyful Celebration (based on Deuteronomy 26:1 11) (Place vegetables in obvious places around the room.) A long, long time ago the people of Israel were very sad. The king was angry with them. The king said, This is my land. I don t like you living here. You must work for me. So the people of Israel had to work very, very hard for the king. They had to do whatever the king wanted. They were very unhappy. The people prayed to God for help. God heard their prayers. God told Moses to be the leader and take the people to a new home. God said, I will be with you. So Moses led the people. Step, step, step mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, grandmothers and grandfathers walked with Moses. Step, step, step girls and boys walked with Moses. Clippityclop, clippity-clop sheep, goats, cows and donkeys walked with Moses. All the people and animals walked with Moses. It took a long, long time to get to their new home. And all the time, the people knew that God was taking care of them. Then one day when they were almost there, Moses said to the people, Our journey together is finished. It s time to start again. When you get to your new home, find a good place to live. Look after your animals. Plant seeds and care for them. Then take the first fruits and vegetables that you pick and put them in a basket. (Invite children to gather the vegetables and place them in the basket.) Put this basket in a special place and remember the many ways that God loves you. This is a special way of saying thank you to God. (Place basket by the worship table.) And that is just what happened. The people found new homes, planted new gardens, and cared for their animals. And every year they would bring baskets of fruits and vegetables to a special place to thank God. (Place the figure of the people beside the basket of vegetables.) And they would remember the story of how God helped Moses bring them to their new home. Afterwards there would be a big party. Everyone would be invited. It was a wonderful way to say thank you to God. Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 7

Resource Sheet March 10, 2019 Giving Thanks flowers friends food animals clothes sun pattern for spinner 8 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

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, 17 18 Genesis 15:1 12, 17 18 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, 17 18 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, 17 18 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 www.seasonsonline.ca to access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage. Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 9

March 17, 2019 The Focus for Ages 3 5 Younger children are naturally inclined to be very trusting until experience teaches them otherwise. As a consequence, promises kept become the building blocks on which trusting relationships are built. Today the children will hear the story of God s covenant with Abram and Sarai. As this may be the children s first hearing of the story, we have gone beyond the lectionary reading to include the birth of Isaac. Younger children like to hear the whole story. They want to know what happens, and need the reassurance that everything works out well in the end. The whole story also offers an opportunity to speak more about God s promises. This week there are many opportunities to encounter stars as a symbol of God s promise: stars in the opening activity, stars that lead us to the story pictures, star-shaped snacks, and a choice of starry crafts. At this age children are concrete thinkers, so using a concrete image such as a star to represent something as intangible as a promise is a helpful way of connecting with the theme of God s promises. We can reassure the children that we too can count on God s loving presence with us just as Abram and Sarai did. Pray for the children that they will remember that God keeps promises. 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 Growing Faith (SGF) Songbook, Seasons Growing Faith (SGF) Music CD, Seasons Songbook and Seasons Music CD (Vol. 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. Gather q Bring large paper stars and black poster board. q Bring Gathering Song for Lent (on resource sheet Additional Songs, p. 94) or song Like a Rock (p. 16 in Seasons Growing Faith Songbook, #11 on Seasons Growing Faith Music CD). q Option: bring a puppet (see information on p. 2). Engage q Bring resource sheet God s Promise to Abram and Sarai, self-adhesive stars, and image of Abram for March 17 from the Storytelling Resources posters. q Bring the sheet of poster board with the title Lent Stories from last week. q Bring juice and star snack foods, for example, bread or fruit cut into star shapes. q Bring song We re All in God s Family (on resource sheet Additional Songs, p. 94). Respond Choose from the options provided. Prepare and bring the materials. q Bracelet: strips of craft foam (2.5cm/1in wide), self-adhesive stars q Star tubes: cardboard tubes, construction paper, blue cellophane (cut into 10cm/4in squares), small self-adhesive stars, rubber bands q Messages: copies of resource sheet Folded Message, construction paper; follow instructions to prepare materials. Bless q Bring Leaving Song (on resource sheet Additional Songs, p. 94) or song Put On Love (p. 29 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 5, #18 on Seasons Music CD, Vol. 5). q Bring copies of resource sheet Letter to Families (p. 93). 10 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

Journey Toward Trust March 17, 2019 Scripture Genesis 15:1 12, 17 18 FOCUS To hear, with Abram and Sarai, that God keeps promises Welcome each child, saying Hello, (child s name), we re happy you re here. Distribute paper stars and invite children to decorate these and add their names before glueing onto the sheet of black poster board. Opening ritual Gather around the worship space. Remind the children that we are still in the Season of Lent. Light the candle, saying, This candle reminds us of God s love shining in the world. Then say to each child, (Child s name), come and hear more about God s love. Sing the Gathering Song for Lent (on p. 94) or the song Like a Rock (p. 16 in Seasons Growing Faith Songbook, #11 on Seasons Growing Faith Music CD). Pray Thank you, God, for this time of Lent. Thank you for each other. Amen. (Encourage children to say the name of everyone in the circle.) Receive offering and extinguish the candle to signal that the opening ritual has ended. Moving into the theme Choose one of the following: q Puppet conversation Priscilla: Hi, everybody. I m so glad to see you. I have a question to ask. Leader: Asking questions is a great way to learn, Priscilla. What is your question? Priscilla: I want to know, what is a promise? My grandmother is coming to visit and she promised to bring me a new book. I want to know what the word promise means. Leader: Boys and girls, let s help Priscilla understand what promise means. (Encourage responses, guiding the conversation to a promise meaning that when you say you will do something then you do it.) Priscilla: So that means I know for sure that my grandmother is bringing me a book! Leader: Lent is a good time to think about promises. Today we are going to hear a story from the Bible about a promise that God made to some people who lived a long time ago. (Say goodbye to Priscilla.) q What s a promise? Invite children to say what they think the word promise means, guiding their conversation towards an understanding that when you say you will do something then you do it. Invite them to share stories about promises they have made or promises that have been given to them. Explain that this week s story is about a promise that God made a long time ago. 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 first book in the Bible. This is another story that Jesus probably heard when he was a little boy. Invite children to sit in a circle and place a self-adhesive star on one of each child s hands. Use resource sheet God s Promise to Abram and Sarai to tell the story based on Genesis 15:1 12, 17 18, Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 11

March 17, 2019 pausing each time you read the word promise and inviting children to participate by waving their star hands in the air. After the story Lenten poster Remind the children that during Lent the group will be creating a poster with pictures of the stories they have heard. Look at last week s figure representing the story of the people who gave thanks to God. Hold up this week s figure of Abram, from the Storytelling Resources posters, and remember the story of God s promise to Abram and Sarai that they would have a baby. Invite a child to glue this week s story figure onto the sheet of poster board. 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 love and care for us. Singing game Form a circle, with one child standing in the middle as either Abram or Sarai, pretending to rock baby Isaac. Lead the children in singing the song We re All in God s Family (p. 94) as they stand around the middle child. Continue until everyone has had a turn being in the middle. Choose from the following activities. q Bracelets A starry bracelet can remind us that God promises to love us always. Distribute craft foam strips and invite children to decorate them with self-adhesive stars. Wrap bracelets loosely around children s wrists, overlapping the ends, and securing with tape. If time permits, encourage children to make extra bracelets for friends. q Star tubes When we look at stars in the sky, we can remember God s promise to be with us always. Distribute cardboard tubes and construction paper. Invite children to decorate their sheets of construction paper with stars and other decorations. Give each child a cellophane square and some stars to stick onto their squares. Help them to place the cellophane over one end of their tubes and secure with a rubber band. Demonstrate how to hold these up to the light and look at the stars. Invite them to imagine being Sarai or Abram looking at the stars and hearing God s promise. q Messages The story of Abram and Sarai helps us to remember that God keeps promises. Follow the instructions on the resource sheet Folded Message to help children make their message squares. When completed, read the words God keeps promises, and have them lift the flaps to reveal the pictures. Encourage them to share this message with their families at home. Gather in the worship space and light the candle again. Pray Dear God, thank you for the story of your promise to Abram and Sarai. Help us to remember that you. promise to love us always. Amen. Sing the Leaving Song (on p. 94), or Like a Rock (p. 16 in Seasons Growing Faith Songbook, #11 on Seasons Growing Faith Music CD), or the song Put On Love (p. 29 in Seasons Songbook, Vol. 5, #18 o Seasons Music CD, Vol. 5). Send each child out with the words (Child s name), God promises to love and care for you always. Distribute copies of the Letter to Families (p. 93) for those who weren t present last week. How might you help the children in your group who have felt the hurt of broken promises? In what ways did you help the children know that God keeps the promise to never stop loving and caring for them? 12 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018

Resource Sheet March 17, 2019 Having the children repeat the word promise (bolded in the story) will help them remember the focus of this story. God s Promise to Abram and Sarai (based on Genesis 15:1 12, 17 18) (Place an adhesive star on the back of each child s hand and invite them to hold this hand up each time they hear the word promise. ) A long, long, long time ago there lived a man called Abram and a woman called Sarai. They had no children, which made them feel very sad. One day God made them a promise. God said, Abram and Sarai, you are going to have a child. And then your children will have children, and your children s children will have children. Your family will be huge. Abram and Sarai believed God s promise. But sometimes it was hard, because for a long time they didn t have any children. How could God s promise come true when they still didn t have a baby? Abram and Sarai waited and wondered and waited and wondered for a very long time. They wondered about God s promise. They still had no children. Had God forgotten? Then one night God spoke to Abram again. Abram, God said, I have not forgotten my promise. I always keep my promises. You and Sarai will have a child. Remember I will always love and care for your family. And then God said, Abram, look at the sky. Abram looked up and saw many, many sparkling stars twinkling in the sky. God said, Abram, can you count all those stars? Oh no, God, said Abram, there are way too many stars to count. Well, Abram, God said, that s how many people will be in your family one day. You and Sarai will have so many grandchildren, so many great-grandchildren, and so many great-great-grandchildren, you won t be able to count them all. And so Abram and Sarai waited a bit more. They were glad to hear that God had not forgotten them. They believed God s promise. And one special day Abram and Sarai did have a baby called Isaac. Abram and Sarai smiled and laughed as they held their tiny baby. God s promise had come true. Their family would grow and grow and grow. And Abram and Sarai knew that God would always love and care for all the babies and children and parents and adults in the world. Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 13

Resource Sheet March 17, 2019 Folded Message Beforehand: Cut construction paper into 23 cm/9 in squares. Fold the four corners into the middle of each square (see illustration). Print God keeps promises on the outside of the flaps. Make copies of the picture of Abram and Sarai. During session Children decorate Abram and Sarai pictures with crayons. Cut out the pictures for the younger children. (Older children might cut out their own pictures.) Glue the pictures under the flaps of the construction paper squares. Decorate the flaps with self-adhesive stars. Read the words, God keeps promises, and lift the flaps to reveal the pictures. God keeps promises 14 Seasons of the Spirit Ages 3 5 Lent Easter 2019 Copyright Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2018