From within
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: The various postures for prayer serve
as the springboard for today's children's sermon. The lesson is
sincerity over hypocrisy.
* Make masks -- some happy-faced masks and others sad-faced. Explain that hypocrisy is a lot like a mask. What we see on the outside is not the same as what is on the inside.
* Wrap a foul-smelling rag in nice wrapping paper and wrap a nice, attractive toy in plain, brown paper. Ask the children which they would prefer. Explain that people are a lot like that. Sometimes outwardly attractive people are not so attractive on the inside and people who may not dress in the latest fashion or have the fanciest haircut may be very attractive on the inside.
* When we say, "You can't judge a book by its cover," that's another way of saying what Jesus said in today's gospel.
* Television and the media often distort people into caricatures. Tall, handsome people, for example, are portrayed as good and powerful. Short, unattractive people may be portrayed as evil. The television comics the children often watch are some of the worst offenders for characterizing people. Have the children draw caricatures and give them the opposite traits their looks might suggest. Emphasize the importance of not judging people by appearances.
Sunday school assembly opening:
* This may be the wrap-up of your summer Sunday church school program. If so, highlight the summer's activities and preview what's coming in the fall.
* This is a good Sunday to have "favorite hymns" sung.
* Make masks -- some happy-faced masks and others sad-faced. Explain that hypocrisy is a lot like a mask. What we see on the outside is not the same as what is on the inside.
* Wrap a foul-smelling rag in nice wrapping paper and wrap a nice, attractive toy in plain, brown paper. Ask the children which they would prefer. Explain that people are a lot like that. Sometimes outwardly attractive people are not so attractive on the inside and people who may not dress in the latest fashion or have the fanciest haircut may be very attractive on the inside.
* When we say, "You can't judge a book by its cover," that's another way of saying what Jesus said in today's gospel.
* Television and the media often distort people into caricatures. Tall, handsome people, for example, are portrayed as good and powerful. Short, unattractive people may be portrayed as evil. The television comics the children often watch are some of the worst offenders for characterizing people. Have the children draw caricatures and give them the opposite traits their looks might suggest. Emphasize the importance of not judging people by appearances.
Sunday school assembly opening:
* This may be the wrap-up of your summer Sunday church school program. If so, highlight the summer's activities and preview what's coming in the fall.
* This is a good Sunday to have "favorite hymns" sung.
