UP!
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: The word "up" is puzzling when it comes
to Jesus' ascension because we know that heaven is not "up" or
people would be bumping into heaven every time they flew a plane!
* Play some word games with the word "up." Look in a dictionary and see the numerous definitions for the word "up": e.g. We wake up in the morning. A subject is brought up in school. We are called to speak up for Jesus. Officers are up for election. Secretaries write up reports! People stir up trouble, and line up for lunch after they have worked up an appetite after playing up field. We dress up for church. Plumbers open up drains because they are stopped up. The church custodian opened up the building this morning and will close it up tonight. Are we mixed up about "up" yet?
Look up "up" in a dictionary even though it might take up a lot of time. But if you don't give up you'll end up with more uses for up than you can use up. Have fun!
* The Ascension of our Lord preceded Pentecost and the birth of the church. Today's lesson from Ephesians makes it clear that we are now Christ's body and he is the head. The work Jesus did we now do! Think of all the ways your church or family do the work of the Lord. Brainstorm other ways you can do Jesus' work.
* Today is Yom Hashoah for those of the Jewish faith. Yom Hashoah is Holocaust Remembrance Day, memorializing the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust. It is a time for renewing respect for human dignity. This observance is obviously not limited to those of the Jewish tradition.
Sunday school assembly opening:
* Make banners for the changing church seasons. You could use one for Ascension today and prepare one for Pentecost in two weeks.
* Emphasize the work of Jesus through the church. Perhaps a member of your church council or pastor could summarize the many things your congregation or denomination does in the name of Jesus.
* Play some word games with the word "up." Look in a dictionary and see the numerous definitions for the word "up": e.g. We wake up in the morning. A subject is brought up in school. We are called to speak up for Jesus. Officers are up for election. Secretaries write up reports! People stir up trouble, and line up for lunch after they have worked up an appetite after playing up field. We dress up for church. Plumbers open up drains because they are stopped up. The church custodian opened up the building this morning and will close it up tonight. Are we mixed up about "up" yet?
Look up "up" in a dictionary even though it might take up a lot of time. But if you don't give up you'll end up with more uses for up than you can use up. Have fun!
* The Ascension of our Lord preceded Pentecost and the birth of the church. Today's lesson from Ephesians makes it clear that we are now Christ's body and he is the head. The work Jesus did we now do! Think of all the ways your church or family do the work of the Lord. Brainstorm other ways you can do Jesus' work.
* Today is Yom Hashoah for those of the Jewish faith. Yom Hashoah is Holocaust Remembrance Day, memorializing the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust. It is a time for renewing respect for human dignity. This observance is obviously not limited to those of the Jewish tradition.
Sunday school assembly opening:
* Make banners for the changing church seasons. You could use one for Ascension today and prepare one for Pentecost in two weeks.
* Emphasize the work of Jesus through the church. Perhaps a member of your church council or pastor could summarize the many things your congregation or denomination does in the name of Jesus.
