Celebrating the Saints
Children's Activity
Object:
Parents or Teachers: The lesson today is from the Sermon on the Mount
collection of writings. The key verse is "Blessed are those (you) who
mourn (weep), for they (you) shall be comforted (laugh)." The message
tried to point out that we are all saints who receive the gift of being
chosen to be in God's family forever. The tradition of the black armband
remembers the sadness of the loss. The rainbow armband celebrates the
lives of those we remember. Cut papers of 4 inch wide and long enough to
fit around the upper part of the child's arm. You may want the children to
make some for others in the congregation or family, too. Talk about the
black armband and the difference in mourning and celebrating and why
both are necessary for grieving. Make a list of all those who have died in
your church or family in the last year. Talk about each one. Some of the
people the children will know and some they won't. Try to come up with at
least one very special thing to remember about each one. Perhaps there is
something they did or what they were like that might be special to
remember. Write the person's name and a phrase about them on the
armband. If you have a long list you may want to divide the name up. Since
we are all saints you may want to put your own names and a fact to
celebrate on the armband also. You may want to write the names and
information ahead of time on each armband. Have crayons available and
show them how to color lightly so the names can still be seen. Color a
rainbow lengthwise on the 4 inch strips of paper. Tape or staple the
armbands around each child's arm and help them distribute more armbands
to the congregation or family (if you chose to make more).
