The Light
Children's sermon
Object:
A picture of a groundhog (Punxsutawney Phil's picture is
probably in today's newspaper) and a candle
Today is "Groundhog Day." Why is that? (Let them answer.)
You know the tradition that when the groundhog emerges from his
hole after a winter of hibernation and sees his shadow on this
day, then that means there will be six more weeks of winter. If
it is cloudy and he does not see his shadow, it's a sure sign of
an early spring.
Now do you think the groundhog really knows if it's going to be an early spring or not? (Let them answer.) I don't think so!
I would like to tell you something else about this day that you may not know about. Many years ago the Christian church called this day "Candlemas" because many candles were lit on this day. The candles were lit because the church celebrated One who is "a light for revelation to the Gentiles..." (v. 32). Who do you think was celebrated as "a light"? (Let them answer.) It was Jesus.
Forty days after Jesus was born, his parents took him to the temple. There were two special people in the temple that day -- both of them prophets. What does a prophet do? (Let them answer.) They tell what is going to happen in the future. The prophet named Simeon told that Jesus would be a "light for... the Gentiles" and other things that would happen. The prophet named Anna also told about what Jesus' life would be like.
So, to celebrate the fact that Jesus would be the light, the Christian church began celebrating "Candlemas" when they would light candles. We still light candles in our worship to remind us that Jesus is the "Light."
Winter is a dark time of the year and we are anxious for the days to get longer and for spring to come. Perhaps that is why people began the belief about the groundhog seeing his shadow on this day.
One thing we know: Groundhogs cannot predict the future, but the prophets Anna and Simeon accurately predicted that Jesus would be the "Light" for the people of the world. And he is!
Dear Jesus: Thank you for bringing light into our lives. Amen.
Now do you think the groundhog really knows if it's going to be an early spring or not? (Let them answer.) I don't think so!
I would like to tell you something else about this day that you may not know about. Many years ago the Christian church called this day "Candlemas" because many candles were lit on this day. The candles were lit because the church celebrated One who is "a light for revelation to the Gentiles..." (v. 32). Who do you think was celebrated as "a light"? (Let them answer.) It was Jesus.
Forty days after Jesus was born, his parents took him to the temple. There were two special people in the temple that day -- both of them prophets. What does a prophet do? (Let them answer.) They tell what is going to happen in the future. The prophet named Simeon told that Jesus would be a "light for... the Gentiles" and other things that would happen. The prophet named Anna also told about what Jesus' life would be like.
So, to celebrate the fact that Jesus would be the light, the Christian church began celebrating "Candlemas" when they would light candles. We still light candles in our worship to remind us that Jesus is the "Light."
Winter is a dark time of the year and we are anxious for the days to get longer and for spring to come. Perhaps that is why people began the belief about the groundhog seeing his shadow on this day.
One thing we know: Groundhogs cannot predict the future, but the prophets Anna and Simeon accurately predicted that Jesus would be the "Light" for the people of the world. And he is!
Dear Jesus: Thank you for bringing light into our lives. Amen.
