Celebrating life
Children's sermon
Object:
a black armband and a rainbow colored armband
Good morning, boys and girls. (Point to your black armband.) Have you
ever seen one of these? (Let them respond.) This is a black armband. We
don't see them much anymore. But many years ago, people used to wear
them when someone of their group, maybe someone that they worked with,
died. It was a sign to show how sorry the person wearing it was that the
other person died. Many people used to wear black clothes for a whole year
after someone died. This was called being in mourning. It was a time of
sadness and remembering the person who died.
Today is All Saints' Day. Do you know what a saint is? (Let them respond.) A saint is a person who has been chosen to do something special for God. That means that each one of us are saints. We have all been chosen by God to be part of God's family forever. But when someone in your family or in our church family dies, we are sad. Sometimes we cry. The Bible calls it weeping and mourning. Our lesson today says that all those who weep or mourn shall laugh or be comforted. When someone who I knew very well or liked a lot dies, I don't feel much like laughing. But that's what the Bible says I will do. Can you think about what might make you laugh after someone dies? (Let them respond.) If you remember funny things that happened while the person was living, that might make you laugh. That's what the Bible means. I think when someone dies it is important to remember all the funny stuff about the person. Remember all the good things that happened while the person was alive.
Part of All Saints' Day is remembering and celebrating the good things about a person's life. The happy and fun times that you had with the person are a part of your memory. (Point to the rainbow armband.) This armband is to remember a person who died, too. But it's not to be sad and mourn like the black one. It's to be happy and celebrate. We don't celebrate that a person died. That part is sad. But we celebrate and remember their life with us. That life continues in our memories and it also continues with God. People who are not here on earth are getting the other part of God's special gift. They were saints on earth and they are still part of God's family forever. The other part of the gift to be with God forever. That's a happy thing to celebrate on All Saints' Day!
Today is All Saints' Day. Do you know what a saint is? (Let them respond.) A saint is a person who has been chosen to do something special for God. That means that each one of us are saints. We have all been chosen by God to be part of God's family forever. But when someone in your family or in our church family dies, we are sad. Sometimes we cry. The Bible calls it weeping and mourning. Our lesson today says that all those who weep or mourn shall laugh or be comforted. When someone who I knew very well or liked a lot dies, I don't feel much like laughing. But that's what the Bible says I will do. Can you think about what might make you laugh after someone dies? (Let them respond.) If you remember funny things that happened while the person was living, that might make you laugh. That's what the Bible means. I think when someone dies it is important to remember all the funny stuff about the person. Remember all the good things that happened while the person was alive.
Part of All Saints' Day is remembering and celebrating the good things about a person's life. The happy and fun times that you had with the person are a part of your memory. (Point to the rainbow armband.) This armband is to remember a person who died, too. But it's not to be sad and mourn like the black one. It's to be happy and celebrate. We don't celebrate that a person died. That part is sad. But we celebrate and remember their life with us. That life continues in our memories and it also continues with God. People who are not here on earth are getting the other part of God's special gift. They were saints on earth and they are still part of God's family forever. The other part of the gift to be with God forever. That's a happy thing to celebrate on All Saints' Day!
