Included in God s Love

May 6, 2018 Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 10:44 48 Ps. 98 1 John 5:1 6 John 15:9 17 Included in God s Love Goal for the Session Children will follow the amazing work of the Holy Spirit in the story of Peter and Cornelius. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Acts 10:44 48 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, A. Katherine Grieb As our passage begins, Peter has just given testimony concerning Jesus healing ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. Peter summarizes: To this all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name (v. 43). The word everyone apparently functions as a dramatic cue for the Holy Spirit to fall upon Cornelius and upon his companions, fulfilling the prophecies Peter has just mentioned and demonstrating beyond a doubt that these Gentile believers in Jesus have also received forgiveness of sins in his name. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Noel Leo Erskine The intervention of the Spirit in Peter s meditation indicates that God in the Spirit often goes before to plead the case of those on the margins, those who are excluded. In Peter s case the Spirit interrupts his meditation and orders him to engage strangers at his door. Peter is presented with another opportunity to learn something new concerning the divine persistence on behalf of persons in need. It is interesting that an apostle as devout as Peter has something fresh to learn about the divine character. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Jeffrey D. Peterson-Davis While Peter and Cornelius have central roles in this narrative, it is not a story about them. Rather, it is a story about the Holy Spirit and how the Spirit s purposes are accomplished in spite of the boundaries constructed by humans. The witness of the text is that neither Peter nor Cornelius was able to cross the boundaries on their own. But the outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowered each of them to move from their segregated places. The Holy Spirit broke the barriers and propelled the witness of the resurrection beyond the boundaries of Jerusalem and Galilee. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Barbara K. Lundblad The Holy Spirit can be disruptive. Church historian Rosemary Radford Ruether says that the church must be organized to do two things: to pass on the tradition from one generation to another and to be open to the winds of the Holy Spirit by which the tradition comes alive in each generation. Sometimes the Holy Spirit has a hard time getting through our stubborn desire to stay the way we are. Where is the Holy Spirit trying to break through traditions that have become rock hard? How do we continue to pass on the traditions from one generation to another while also being open to the Spirit that brings the tradition alive? 1

Included in God s Love FOCUS SCRIPTURE Acts 10:44 48 Focus on Your Teaching Jewish dietary laws and restrictions about fraternizing with Gentiles will have little impact on children as they hear the story of Peter and Cornelius. Therefore, such background information is not included in this session. If older children ask about these laws, have copies of Resource Sheet 2 (Clean or Unclean?) available. However, a message children want to hear is that God loves everyone. They can appreciate how the Spirit worked in Peter so that he recognized this truth. As Pentecost approaches, the children are building a repertoire of stories of the work of the Holy Spirit. Loving God, may I be like Peter and recognize that your love is for everyone, even those whom I have trouble accepting. Amen. YOU WILL NEED battery-powered tall white candle white cloth offering basket Bible gold gift wrap ribbon, 18" length per child Singing the Feast, 2017 2018; CD player Color Pack 1, 21, 22, 33 copies of Resource Sheet 1 copies of Resource Sheet 2 (optional) For Responding option 1: copier paper, scissors, newsprint, markers; Internet-connected device (optional) option 3: newsprint, markers option 4: Color Pack 33; Singing the Feast, 2017 2018; CD player n LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Before the session, practice cutting the paper as directed in option 1 in Responding and stepping through it so you can lead the activity with confidence. As you greet the children, welcome each one. Ask about their week or anything special in their lives. When you are ready to begin, have the group arrange the white cloth in the middle of your learning space. Place an offering basket, the Christ candle, and the Bible on it. Then give each child a gold ribbon to place on the table. Have the children sit down. Receive the offering. Point out the white cloth on the table, signifying the season of the Great Fifty Days of Easter. Ask a child to find the sixth Sunday of Easter on Color Pack 1. Light the Christ candle, saying, Jesus Christ is the light of the world. Pray: Loving God, thank you for being with us as we come together to learn about you and Jesus Christ. Amen. Lead the group in this traditional Easter greeting, or ask a child to say the first line: Leader: Christ is risen. Group: Christ is risen indeed. Sing Hallelujah! Praise Ye the Lord! (track 10 on Singing the Feast, 2017 2018). Peter s plans were changed in a wink. To help the children enter this story of unexpected events, ask: P Can you remember a time when you expected to do one thing, but your plans were suddenly changed? 2

Included in God s Love Hallelujah! Praise Ye the Lord! Hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah! Hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! If you have a number of pre-readers, two leaders can be Group 1 and Group 2. Cue the children by saying what they are to repeat three times. Have copies of Resource Sheet 2 (Clean or Unclean?) available for older children who asked about the clean and unclean laws. The children s memories may be as simple as a rained-out game or as dramatic as a storm that caused so much damage that school was called off for a few days. Suggest that they listen for an unexpected change in plans in the Bible story. EXPLORING Ask a child to bring the Bible from the worship table and open it to the book of the Acts of the Apostles. Recall that the story about Philip and the Ethiopian official from the previous session was in Acts. Have a child turn to chapter 10, where the story for this session is found. Leave the Bible open to Acts 10. Set it aside and explain that the story will be presented in a choral reading. Form two groups or ask two children who read well aloud to be Group 1 and Group 2. Everyone else will be All. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 1 (Choral Reading: Peter and Cornelius). Now that the children have the basics of the story, read it aloud from Acts 10. Ask two children to hold Color Pack 21 and 22 so everyone can see them. Ask: P What information did you get from the story in the Bible that you didn t hear in the choral reading? The question above is a way to learn what the children recalled from the story. The children may also name information that was included in the choral reading but that they missed. There is no need to make anything of this. Ask: P What barriers did Peter name in this story? P How was this different from the story of Philip and the Ethiopian official? How was it the same? P How did the Holy Spirit work in this story? RESPONDING Offer at least two options so children have a choice. One might be more challenging to interest older children who can work on their own. 1. Barriers This option provides a visual way for the children to imagine breaking down barriers that keep people apart. Each child will need a sheet of paper, a marker, and scissors. Ask: P What keeps people from working together and being friends today? As the children answer, list their ideas on newsprint. Have them write some of these reasons or barriers on their sheets of paper. Say that you are going to show them how to turn the barriers on their papers into ones they can walk through. Follow the diagrams here or go to www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-climb-through-hole-piece-paper-174296/ to view a video. Caution: In cutting the folds, do not cut the last strip on each end. Have the children open out their papers and step through the barriers they wrote on them. Talk about the ways they can confront those barriers in their lives. 3

Included in God s Love 2. Community Tag Sometimes a game is a perfect way to illustrate the main idea of a session. This tag game shows what happens when barriers to community are torn down. If possible, go outdoors for this game. Play Community Tag. One child is It and tags another child. These two children join hands and run to tag another child. Each child tagged joins the line of children who are It. The game ends when everyone is attached to It. After the game, talk about ways they can invite others to be included in church and church school activities. EASY PREP The Whole World Is in God s Hands The whole world is in God s hands, The whole wide world is in God s hands, The whole world is in God s hands, The world is in God s hands. The wind and the wave are in God s hands... The fish and the bird are in God s hands... All of the animals are in God s hands... All the world s people are in God s hands... 3. Welcome Litany Work together on a litany prayer for Closing. Print this response at the top of newsprint and teach it to the group: God, help us welcome everyone with your love. Down the left side of the newsprint, print WELCOME, leaving space between each letter to add a line or two of words. Recall that Peter learned that no one is kept away from God s love. For each letter, brainstorm names or groups of people that begin with that letter. For example, O: Owen, officers, Olivia, older people. Write as many as the space allows. To pray this welcome litany, read a letter and the words that follow it. Then have everyone say the response. 4. Song The song The Whole World Is in God s Hands (Color Pack 33; track 21 on Singing the Feast, 2017 2018) is an instant reminder that everyone in included in God s love. The children may remember this song from earlier in this season. Sing it together. Have each child get a ribbon from the worship table to wave as they sing the song a second time. CLOSING Gather at the worship table. Light the Christ candle. Sing The Whole World Is in God s Hands (Color Pack 33; track 21 on Singing the Feast, 2017 2018) together. Invite the children to name or think of ways they will let others know they are included in God s love this week. If the children wrote a welcome litany, pray it now. As the children leave, say to each one: (Name), look for ways to include others this week. God s Spirit is with you. You and me are in God s hands... 4

May 6, 2018 Included in God s Love Multi-Age Resource Sheet 1 2018 Westminster John Knox Press Choral Reading: Peter and Cornelius Group 1: Cornelius was an officer in the Roman army. He was a good man. He prayed to God. Group 2: One afternoon, Cornelius had a vision. God s angel called him by name. All: Cornelius! Cornelius! Cornelius! (Hold up Color Pack 22.) Group 1: Cornelius was scared. What is it, Lord? Group 2: God has heard your prayers. God knows about your good deeds. Now go find Peter. All: Peter! Peter! Peter! Group 1: Peter was in Joppa. He went up to the roof to pray. Peter had a vision, too! Group 2: A giant sheet came down from the sky. It was filled with things that Jews, by God s laws, were not allowed to eat. The voice of the Lord said, Peter, get up and eat! All: Eat! Eat! Eat! (Hold up Color Pack 21.) Group 1: Peter said, No! These things are unclean! Group 2: The voice of the Lord said, God created all these things. Do not say they are unclean! Group 1: This happened three times. Group 2: Then the sheet disappeared. All: All are clean! All are clean! All are clean! Group 1: The servants of Cornelius found Peter. They asked him to go to Cornelius. Group 2: Peter wasn t sure about this. It was not right for a Jew to visit a Gentile, but Peter went. He asked some believers from Joppa to go with him. All: Find Cornelius! Find Cornelius! Find Cornelius! Group 1: Cornelius and his friends were waiting for Peter. Group 2: Peter told them about Jesus. And the Holy Spirit came upon all who were there. All: Praise God! Praise God! Praise God! Group 1: Peter could not believe it. God gave Cornelius and his friends the Holy Spirit. Group 2: Cornelius and his friends were baptized. They became followers of Jesus. All: One in Christ! One in Christ! One in Christ!

May 6, 2018 Included in God s Love Multi-Age Resource Sheet 2 Clean or Unclean? In the time of the early church, the issue of cleanliness was a very important one. This was more than just washing regularly. According to the Law of Moses, different things were clean or unclean. People could become unclean if they had certain kinds of diseases, when they touched a dead body, or when they ate particular kinds of food, like pork or shellfish. People who were not Jewish (also known as Gentiles) were considered to be unclean. Anyone who shared a meal with them or went into their house would be considered contaminated and, therefore, unclean. The Law of Moses was given to the people to set them apart as God s chosen ones. Following the rules reminded them that they were different. By the time of Jesus, following the rules had become more important to some people than caring for others. Jesus showed another way. Jesus sometimes put aside the purity laws in order to show God s love. So what s the big deal? Well, if you were ritually unclean you were thought to be outside of God s circle of love. God s sacred promises no longer applied to you. You could not worship with the rest of God s people. It was believed that God would not listen to your prayers. It was thought that you could contaminate other people, so you would be shunned and pushed aside. You became an outcast! If you wanted to become clean again, you had to wait for a certain period of time, go through a solemn washing ritual, and then make the right kind of sacrifices. 2018 Westminster John Knox Press