Faith + Home Connection

Faith + Home Connection March John13: 1-17, 31b-35

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FaithCross_BibleALTGather the household to a spot where are all comfortable. Maybe the dinner table, the family room or a child’s room. Read the story of John 13: 1-17, 31b-35, “Jesus washes the disciples’ feet” from a favorite early reader Bible or children’s Bible.  This Bible story is traditional read at Maundy Thursday worship services. Have a bowl of water, a wash rag and a towel handy.

FaithCross_ConversationALT As you read or tell the story take the time to stop and wash the hands of those in your home. In Jesus’ time feet would get dirty as one went about one’s day. In our culture and time hands are far more likely to be dirty and need washing. Use a favorite scented soap. After you have washed each other’s hands and finished the story talk about the points below or add your own thoughts!

For children: We take care of things that are very important to us. We clean our toys if they get dirty, clean our rooms, our clothes, shoes, etc. Jesus washes the disciples feet, does Jesus think that the disciples are important to God? Jesus says to love one another as Jesus has loved us. Jesus cares for us and takes care of us-how should we treat our friends, families and neighbors? How can we show people that we love them like God loves them? Can we give food to people who are hungry? Can we talk to someone who is sitting by themselves at lunch? Can we share with our friends or siblings?

For youth and adults: Sometimes it’s difficult to talk about the importance of God in our lives. Even as a pastor I find this not always easy! But Jesus says in verse 35 that people will know where are hearts are, with God, by how we treat other people and how we talk to others. Clearly our actions can be louder than our words. But how could we talk about our faith in a non-threatening and natural way? An idea could be to just say, “when I was talking to a friend at my church yesterday….” or “it was so fun and meaningful how my church collected 100 toothbrushes for children in need….” or just be excited about whatever your church community is doing! Practice it now and then talk to friends and neighbors and invite them to Holy Week or Easter worship!* 

FaithCross_PrayALTCleansing God, we are so grateful that you wash us with your care and love. We pray to be this same love in our church, families and community.  Send us to the ones who need to be shown your love. In the name of your Son who showed us your love, amen.

 FaithCross_BlessALT Make the sign of the cross after everyone’s hands have been washed : You are loved and have been made clean.

 FaithCross_ConnectALT Lent is a natural time to reach out to the neighborhood around us. To connect your Maundy Thursday worship with loving one another and Jesus instituting Holy Communion have worshipers bring a non-perishable food item for a local food bank or pantry. As you celebrate Holy Communion and Christ’s presence in this service, bless the food that will nourish the bodies of those in need. Thank you for showing God’s love to others!

*Lutheran Church of the Master in Lakewood, CO is currently focusing on invitation to the neighborhood. Visit www.lcmonline.org for more info.

Children's Sermons

First Sunday in Lent, February 17th, 2013 Luke 4: 1-13

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ffjChildrenSermonPreparation: Have enough really fun candy for each child.

FaithCross_BibleALT Invite the children to come together in your usual space. Tell them the story of Luke 4-The Temptation of Jesus either in your own words or from a children’s Bible. Be sure to emphasize that Jesus repeatedly focuses on God as the center of his life.

FaithCross_ConversationALT Show the kids the pictures of the fun items or the real things. Say to them, “I have some really fun things here this morning. Do you see anything that you like? Well, I will give you this (ipod, xbox, candy etc.) if you promise to do something for me every time I see you from now on. If I need my driveway shoveled, you have to do it because I gave you this toy. If the church needs cleaned you will have to do it because you agreed to take this toy from me. Is that ok? Do you still want ….?(Accept all answers. This might get tricky as someone will most definitely decide that it is a good trade! Just go with both sides.)

Well, some of you think it’s a good trade and some of you don’t. Hmmmm…..well when Jesus was offered to be an earthly king (which is a pretty good deal) and some great tasting food by the devil, he knew that is was not a good trade. You know why? Then the devil would be able to have Jesus do whatever the devil wanted! Jesus knew that he would owe the devil something forever if he took those things from him. And here is what Jesus also knew: God gives us all kinds of good things not to get us to do stuff for God but just because God loves us all very much. Now God may not give us all the toys we want or all the candy we want but God does give us all of the love that we need-our friends, our moms and dads and families-but most of all Jesus. God sent Jesus to make sure that we know God’s love all of the time.

So to remind each of you of that love I will give you each a piece of candy and you won’t have to do anything for it.

FaithCross_PrayALTLet’s pray: Dear loving God, you are with us always and give your love freely to us. Thank you for loving us no matter what. Help us to share that love with our friends and family. Amen

FaithCross_BlessALT Make the sign of the cross on each other’s foreheads or hands and say: God’s love is free. 

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon Transfiguration of Our Lord, Luke 9:28-36

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ffjChildrenSermonPrepare:  Bring some kind of party decoration, preferably something that marks a change in your life, like a graduation, marriage, retirement, etc.  Note that you will need to modify parts of this children’s sermon to fit your party and your experience.

Faith+Open:  Have your party item out and easy to see as you gather the children together.  Ask the children if they have ever been to a party, be ready to hear a few stories and move on.

Faith+Share:  Wow, those sound like some great parties!  I wanted to tell you a little about a party that I was at once.  (Here is where you will need to think about your own situation.  I will write what I would say.)  This says ”Congrats Grad!”  What do you think it’s from?  Right, a graduation!  I was thinking about my college graduation and all the fun I had celebrating that day.  That party was celebrating more than a single event, the graduation itself, but also all that had come before and all that lay ahead.  See, you can only get to a college graduation by staying in school and working really hard, so it’s fun to celebrate all that work that was put in.  Even more, though, a college graduation celebrates all the possibilities that are to come!  Graduating from college was great fun, too.  We had parties, and I got to spend time with my family and some good friends, I even got some gifts, and everybody likes gifts!  I didn’t want all that fun to end.

In our Gospel story today Jesus takes Peter, John and James to an amazing event.  We call the Transfiguration.  Peter, John and James see Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah.  They see their friend and teaching in a dazzling new way, and they don’t want to leave that place or that moment.  They want to stay right there, they even offer to build houses to live so they never have to leave.  They even hear the voice of God claim Jesus as God’s Son!  But they can’t stay there.  Just like I had to move on from the fun of graduation, they have to go back to their lives, back to the ministry that they are part of with Jesus.

So, kind of like a graduation, Jesus transfiguration marks a moment of change.  Jesus is claimed by God and is ready to start the next part of his life.  Peter, John and James see Jesus in a new way, and as much as they want to stay in that moment they have to move on, but they move on with a new way of understanding Jesus, and a new excitement about the things to come.  This Sunday, for us, marks the beginning of the journey toward Easter, and we, too, should move forward with excitement!

Faith+Prayer: Ever changing and amazing God, we thank you for the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain, and for the turning points in our own lives.  Help us to celebrate these turning points and to move forward with our lives with excitement and joy.  Amen.

Faith+Blessing:  Shine with God’s light so that all may see God’s Glory.

~GB

Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply.

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon 4th Sunday after Epiphany, John 4:21-30 –or- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

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ffjChildrenSermonNOTE: This children’s sermon could be adapted for many different Sundays and readings.

Faith+Open:  Find a way to enter into the worship space that gives you a little time to walk before you invite the children to join you.  Sing “Zippity Do Dah” as you walk in.  Here’s a link to a youtube video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcxYwwIL5zQ

Faith+Share:  Have you ever heard that song before?  Uncle Remis, the character that sang that song, was singing it as a prayer of thanks for a beautiful day.  Well, I have a prayer that I call the “Zippity Do Dah Prayer” that I think might go well with the readings that we have today.  The Zippity Do Dah Prayers is a prayer of thanks for the good things that are happening, like love and hope and joy.  It is also a great prayer to help us look at the good things that are happening and help us to let go of some of the bad things.

I thought of it when I read the story about Jesus that we hear today.  Jesus is in his hometown and he says things that are true, but that make the people who live there really upset.  I mean really upset, they decided that they should throw him off a cliff because they were so mad.  Then something amazing happens, Jesus just walks through the angry crowd of people and walks away.  He leaves the anger behind him and continues his ministry somewhere else.

Now, the Zippity Do Dah prayer has some important parts.  First is the position – prayers often have a special position like folded hands, or kneeling.  For this one, you lie down on your back, cross your ankles and put your hands behind your head, like this.

The second thing is that this is a prayer of thanks!  No “Lord help me,” just thanks.  Thank God for different things, something like, “Good morning, God, I hope you are having a good day.  I sure am thankful for . . . “ and fill in what you are thankful for.  Then at the end say, “I’ll talk to you again soon, Amen!”

Let’s try it!  We’ll all lie down in the prayer position and I’ll start, then we can all say 1 or 2 things that we are thankful for.  It’s ok if we all talk at the same time.

Faith+Prayer:   (use the prayer, then invite the children to sing “Zippity Do Dah” as they go back to their seats.

Faith+Blessing:  Shine with God’s light so that all may see God’s Glory.

Special thanks to my friend Randy Williams for this prayer and the idea to use it as a children’s sermon.

~GB

Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply.

Faith + Home Connection

Faith + Home Connection February 2013

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ffjChildrenSermon

Faith + Open: Gather the household either around the dinner table (this devotion can be done during a meal) or in another comfortable location. Light a candle and say a prayer, either this one or one of your own: God of abundant love, you show us your love in so many different ways. We are grateful for the love of Jesus that is with us now and always, amen.

Faith + Share: Read 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13. This passage from Paul can also be found in the Spark Story Book Bible on page 546. With younger children, stop after each verse or so and have them act out the actions or the emotions that Paul is talking about.

With children: What is love? How do you know when someone loves you? Who do you love? How do you show them? God loves you very much all the time! How does God show love for you? (Jesus, friends, family, etc.) God loves everyone and wants God’s love to flow through us to other people around us. How can we show God’s love to our friends, family, and even people we don’t know?

With youth/adults: This passage is often used in weddings but is really not about married or romantic love. It is about sacrificial love. It’s important to note that Paul is not saying that anyone should be taken advantage of or that sacrificing is only one way-Paul is saying that when people live in a loving relationship and community that reflects the love of God, then there is a mutual sacrifice and everyone is safe and cared for. How do you feel safe and cared for by people who you love and love you? What happens in a relationship when someone “insists on their own way” all the time? How can we show God’s love to our community? How would people around us know that we love and care for them?

Faith + Serve: With all of the emphasis on relationships in February, it’s easy for people to feel lonely.Write cards of support for the people of Newtown, CT. We can send our love and care all the way to CT! God’s love knows no bounds or distance! Here is an address: Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514. You can also look up churches in your denomination to send notes. These will go to the school district so you can write notes of support for the teachers and students.

Faith + Pray: God of all, we lift up to you those people who feel lonely or unloved. Let us be your love in a hurting world. Thank you for showing us how to love and being with us always, amen.

Faith + Bless: Make the sign of the cross on one another and say, “Remember that God’s love never ends.”

 

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, Luke 4:14-21

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ffjChildrenSermonPrepare:  Bring a copy of your church’s mission statement, and/or the mission statement of the broader church organization your congregation is part of.  Bring a Bible and mark Isaiah 61:1.

Faith+Open:  As the children gather ask them if they know what a mission statement is.  Take a few answers.  Some of them might get close, but offer a clear definition in any case, something like, “A sentence or short paragraph that says the goals and values of a company, organization or person.”

Faith+Share:  Did you know that our church has a mission statement?  Here, listen to this (Read the statement.  Read the statement of your wider church organization, too if there is one.)  What do you think about that?  Why do you think that we have a mission statement like that?  (So people know what we believe, what things we think are important, what kinds of things we want to do as a community, things like that.)

Well, I think that today we get to hear Jesus’ mission statement in the Gospel reading.  Jesus went back to his home town and went to his home church and got up to read from the scriptures.  Now here’s the tricky part, was Jesus reading from the Gospel?  No, of course not!  Those were written after Jesus did all this amazing stuff.  Jesus was reading from what we call the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible.  He was reading from a book called Isaiah, and we still read stories from Isaiah today.  This is what he read – (Read Isaiah 61:1-2).

That’s a pretty good description of what Jesus did, isn’t it?  Are there parts of this scripture that we can do, too?  (Wait for a few answers.)  Yeah, those are all great ideas, let’s pray.

Faith+Prayer:   Jesus, what an amazing mission statement!  Help us to live within your mission and to show people your compassion and love in all that we do.  Amen

Faith+Blessing:  Shine with God’s light so that all may see God’s Glory.

~GB

Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply.

Let us walk with you on the journey of faith. Whether your feet are big or small, fresh or worn, running or crawling, God's love goes with you and you stand on holy ground.