Childrens Sermon Service

First Thoughts: This lesson focuses on the nature of revelation, to suddenly "see" something that was once concealed from you. As the leader preparing this lesson, I encourage you to think of times in your own life when things seemed muddy or confusing, but then -- like the sun breaking through the clouds -- suddenly everything became clear to you. How did you experience the breakthrough -- a sudden shifting of feeling, a feeling of lightning in your body, a liberating and new thought? This is the experience we want to help our children tap into and to watch for in their growing relationship with God.

Props You Will Need: a bag of used Christmas wrapping paper

Teaching As A Team:
Leader 1: (Leader 2 comes up holding a big bag of Christmas wrapping paper, some of it coming out so you can see what it is.) My goodness! What do you have there?

Leader 2: My trash from Christmas. It's full of wrapping paper!

Leader 1: Looks like a lot!

Leader 2: It is. (kinda whiny) Why do we have to wrap our presents anyway? Why not just hand them to each other? It would save having to clean up the mess.

Leader 1: That's true. But don't you think there's something kind of magical in unwrapping a present? You don't know what's inside yet, and you imagine it's all sorts of things. And then when you open it, and realize what it is, it's so exciting. You think, "Wow, look what my mom got me!" or "How did my sister know that's what I wanted?"

Leader 2: I guess that's true. It does make Christmas morning a bit more fun.

Leader 1: And an adventure. You know, today is a special day in the life of the church. Today is called Epiphany. You know what epiphany means?

Leader 2: I have no idea.

Leader 1: It means "the revealing" -- just like when the gift that was hidden by wrapping paper is finally revealed. Today is the day when we remember how the wise men came to see the baby Jesus. And they brought him special gifts.

Leader 2: Were they wrapped in paper?

Leader 1: I don't think so, but they were special because they were gifts you'd give to a king. I'm sure that surprised some people. They probably thought Jesus was just an ordinary child. But, when the kings came, they showed everybody the truth -- he was a very special and holy child.

Leader 2: So it wasn't the gifts that were revealed -- it was Jesus!

Leader 1: Yes, Jesus was the gift -- hidden at first, but now revealed for everyone to see.

Teaching On Your Own: (bringing in bag of wrapping paper) Whew! Look at all this Christmas paper. Do you have lots of wrapping paper at your house right now? It's a mess, isn't it? I think it would be better if we just handed our gifts to each other, without wrapping them. What do you think? No? Why not? I guess it wouldn't be as much fun, would it? There is something magical about unwrapping a present, isn't there? You don't know what's inside yet, and you imagine it's all sorts of things. And then when you open it, and realize what it is, it's so exciting. You think, "Wow, look what my mom got me!" or "How did my sister know that's what I wanted?" It makes Christmas kinda like an adventure!

That reminds me -- today is a special day in the life of the church. Today is called Epiphany. Do you know what epiphany means? It means "the revealing" -- just like when we tear off the wrapping paper the gift that was hidden by wrapping paper is finally revealed. Today is the day when we remember how the wise men came to see the baby Jesus. They brought him special gifts. They were the sort of gifts you'd give to a king. I'm sure that surprised some people. They probably thought Jesus was just an ordinary child. But, when the kings came, they showed everybody the truth -- he was a very special and holy child. Suddenly people realized -- Jesus was the gift, hidden at first, but now revealed for everyone to see.

Closing Prayer: God, thank you for the many blessings and surprises you bring into our lives. We thank you that every day you show us more of how much you love us and care for us. Help us to have open eyes to see the things that you want us to see. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.

Follow-Up Lesson: To help children understand the importance of Epiphany, I encourage you to read to them our assigned psalm for today, Psalm 72:1-7. Take some time to help them understand the picture of the king the people are waiting for -- a king who cares for the needy and poor and requires that the wealthy share. Then invite the children to think of their own psalm, starting with a simple choral response calling for epiphany i.e. "God, show us your love" or "Open our eyes to see you." Then invite them to think of individual ways we hope God will move in our world, like keeping children safe or cleaning the oceans for the fish. These will comprise the "verses." If you're musical, you can help them sing the psalm with a simple chant or let them create a simple percussion beat and speak their words together. Go from verse to chorus, back to verse, and so on until you've spoken/sung your new psalm!