You are beloved!
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: See the previous Plus section for an
Epiphany idea that might revolutionize the meaning of Epiphany
(perhaps Christmas as well) in your congregation. It's worth a
try. Children love to re-enact a story. We have Christmas
pageants that often (wrongly) include the Epiphany story of the
men from the East, why not an Epiphany pageant?
For Baptism of Our Lord: This is a great Sunday for baptisms. Perhaps a baptism is on the agenda. If so, invite the children to gather around at the baptism. You might reschedule your children's sermon just prior to the baptism itself.
*Share the story of your baptism. If you practice infant baptism in your church, have the children find the date of their baptisms (or find it yourself by checking the church records prior to the children's sermon) and encourage them to mark this date on the calendar and celebrate! Find out who has the nearest baptism anniversary and mark it on your calendar and celebrate this person's baptism as an example for all children. Most children welcome a second birthday celebration.
*Give the children an assignment: "Talk to your parents about your baptism." Have the children ask why the person(s) chosen as their sponsor were chosen. Tell the children to interview everyone present on the day of their baptisms. "What happened?" "Do you remember the hymns or sermon that day?" and so forth.
For Baptism of Our Lord: This is a great Sunday for baptisms. Perhaps a baptism is on the agenda. If so, invite the children to gather around at the baptism. You might reschedule your children's sermon just prior to the baptism itself.
*Share the story of your baptism. If you practice infant baptism in your church, have the children find the date of their baptisms (or find it yourself by checking the church records prior to the children's sermon) and encourage them to mark this date on the calendar and celebrate! Find out who has the nearest baptism anniversary and mark it on your calendar and celebrate this person's baptism as an example for all children. Most children welcome a second birthday celebration.
*Give the children an assignment: "Talk to your parents about your baptism." Have the children ask why the person(s) chosen as their sponsor were chosen. Tell the children to interview everyone present on the day of their baptisms. "What happened?" "Do you remember the hymns or sermon that day?" and so forth.
