He is here!
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: When Jesus speaks of being "living
bread," it is a problem for children who may take this literally.
The challenge is to make the presence of Jesus real through the
means Jesus used: bread and wine. Another means is used in
today's children's sermon: an empty chair.
* Set up an empty "Jesus" chair in your classroom or around your table at home to remind the class or family that Jesus is the unseen guest at every gathering of Christians.
* Invite the pastor or an elder from the church to explain what Holy Communion is all about.
* Invite various members of the congregation to come and share their personal experience in eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ.
* Invite the children to gather around the altar area of your church building. If you have Holy Communion in worship and Sunday school precedes worship, have the children pray for all those who will gather around the altar. If Sunday school is after worship, have the children thank Jesus for being present with the people who gathered to receive Holy Communion.
For older children: Relate Holy Communion to the sacrifice of the spotless lamb and the whole process of the Jewish festival of Passover. Additional ties can be made to the feeding of manna to God's people in the wilderness. (See last week's lesson.)
Sunday school assembly opening:
* As last week, check your communion section of the hymnal for suggested hymns to Jesus the "Living Bread."
* If the first lesson today is used, the opening is a wonderful time for making a "joyful noise" to the Lord. Teach the children the joy of knowing the Lord and expressing that joy in words and music. The music does not have to be professional or polished. It can be, as the psalmist said, joyful noise!
* Designate your offerings one half to the poor (needing bread) and one half to missions (for all those needing the Bread of Life -- Jesus).
* Set up an empty "Jesus" chair in your classroom or around your table at home to remind the class or family that Jesus is the unseen guest at every gathering of Christians.
* Invite the pastor or an elder from the church to explain what Holy Communion is all about.
* Invite various members of the congregation to come and share their personal experience in eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ.
* Invite the children to gather around the altar area of your church building. If you have Holy Communion in worship and Sunday school precedes worship, have the children pray for all those who will gather around the altar. If Sunday school is after worship, have the children thank Jesus for being present with the people who gathered to receive Holy Communion.
For older children: Relate Holy Communion to the sacrifice of the spotless lamb and the whole process of the Jewish festival of Passover. Additional ties can be made to the feeding of manna to God's people in the wilderness. (See last week's lesson.)
Sunday school assembly opening:
* As last week, check your communion section of the hymnal for suggested hymns to Jesus the "Living Bread."
* If the first lesson today is used, the opening is a wonderful time for making a "joyful noise" to the Lord. Teach the children the joy of knowing the Lord and expressing that joy in words and music. The music does not have to be professional or polished. It can be, as the psalmist said, joyful noise!
* Designate your offerings one half to the poor (needing bread) and one half to missions (for all those needing the Bread of Life -- Jesus).
