Scripture God’s Light for All Nations Lesson Plan... · complete session © 2015 Published by...

© 2015 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

session essentialsP r ima r y

Helps for Catechists◆ More about Today’s Scriptures◆ Reflection◆ The Scriptures and the Catechism◆ The Feast of the Epiphany◆ The World of the Bible: Mystery

Enrichment◆ Welcome the Good News◆ Singing Together◆ Poetry and Art◆ Music and Art (paint, brushes)◆ Treasure Hunt (gummed gold foil

stars, copies of the Treasure Hunt List)◆ Info: Children and the Gospel◆ Info: The Close of Christmas◆ Info: Where You’ll Find Everything

Else

Core Session◆ Getting Started (Christmas

Guessing Game Cards)◆ Gospel Story: Wise Men Seek◆ Story-Review Game◆ Praying Together (crèche set)

Jesus comes as the Savior for all people.◆ Today’s gospel tells the story of the journey of wise ones from distant lands to the infant

Jesus.◆ This feast gives children a chance to revisit the Christmas story from another perspective.

It serves both as a review of the Christmas scriptures, and a looking ahead to the stories of Jesus’ ministry.

◆ In today’s core session, we explore the gospel story and bring our own “gifts” to baby Jesus.

God’s Light for All Nations

ScriptureMatthew 2:1-12

1Living the Good News | Primary | Epiphany of the Lord – C

Ep i phany o f t h e L o r d – C

Question of the WeekWhere do you find light for the dark places in your life?

www.MorehouseEducation.org

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Getting Started (10-15 minutes)We suggest you begin this last review of the Christmas stories by playing again the Christmas Guessing Game. Before the session cut apart the Game Cards attached to this document.

In the session, invite children to play a guessing game based on the people and things they will hear about in today’s Christmas story.

Ask a volunteer to play the first people or thing. Tape one card to the volunteer’s back. Ask the volunteer to show the card to the other children. Then let the volunteer ask questions of the other children to find out the name taped to his or her back.

Questions can only be answered by the words yes or no; for example, “Am I a person?” Continue play until all the characters and objects have been played. You can repeat the game after the story as a story-review game.

Gospel Story (5-10 minutes)Wise Men Seek

One day strangers knocked on the door of wicked King Herod’s palace. The strangers were wise men from the East, kings in their own countries. They asked, “Where is the baby who is to be king? We saw his star. We followed it for a long time. Where is he? We want to worship him.”

Wicked King Herod listened. He became angry. What baby? What king? He, Herod, was king! No baby was going to take his place! Herod called in many priests and teachers. “Where will the baby that God chooses as king be born?”

The teachers said, “God’s word says the baby will be born in Bethlehem.”

Herod called the wise men to a secret meeting. “I want to worship this baby king, too,” Herod said softly. But all the time he was thinking, When I find this baby—I’ll kill him! But to the wise men Herod said, “Please go to Bethlehem and find this baby. Come back and tell me where he is, so I can worship him too.”

The wise men went to Bethlehem. As they walked, they saw the star again in the sky. It made them glad. They followed the star to a simple barn in Bethlehem. There the wise men found all that they wanted. They found the baby Jesus with his mother Mary. The wise men fell to their knees and worshiped the baby. They gave the baby great gifts—gold and frankincense and myrrh.

That night the wise men had a dream. “Don’t go to Herod,” God told them. “Herod wants to kill the baby.” And when the wise men woke, they left for their own country another way. They never told Herod about the baby king.

Story-Review Game (10-15 minutes)Ask a volunteer to cut a star from construction paper or poster board using the Star Pattern attached to this document.

Sit in a circle with the children. Teach them to sing the refrain of “O Come, All Ye Faithful”:

O come let us adore him,O come let us adore him,O come let us adore him,Christ the Lord.

Now play a story-review game. Pass the star around the circle as you sing the song together. When the singing stops, the child holding the star asks one question about today’s story for the other children to answer. Continue until at least eight questions about the story have been asked and answered.

Praying Together (5 minutes)Activity Soundtrack: Play joyful music, such as “Every Valley Shall Be Exalted,” a selection from Handel’s Messiah. (Open your Winter-C Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Companion Music for options on obtaining this music.)

Gather children around the crèche as you pray: ◆ Dear God, thank you for the wonderful light that you

give us in the stars. Help each one of us (name each child) find Jesus, just as the wise men did so long ago. Amen.

Note: If you use At Home with the Good News, either distribute this week’s papers to the children before they leave or e-mail the papers to their families.

Living the Good News | Primary | Epiphany of the Lord – C


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Welcome the Good News (5-10 minutes)On page 1 of today’s Welcome the Good News children will find Welcome God’s Word, a scripture skills activity that explores the story of the Magi. Children will also find a With Your Family activity they can lead at home or practice in the group.

On page 2 children will find an Epiphany board game—just for fun. Children will also find a With Your Family activity they can lead at home or practice in the group.

Singing Together (5-15 minutes)Sing together:◆ “Mary Had a Baby” (p. 29 of the songbook; also

available as an MP3)◆ “Season of Glory” (p. 22 of the songbook; also

available as an MP3)

Note: To access both the songbook and its attached MP3 files, open your Winter-C Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Singing the Good News.

You may also like to sing Christmas carols with the children. We recommend:◆ “Go Tell It on the Mountain”◆ “Away in a Manger”

Poetry and Art (5-15 minutes)Ringgold’s Tar Beach 2Use a painting and poetic reading from scripture to celebrate today’s feast of light.

Gather children around Faith Ringgold’s painting Tar Beach 2, attached to this document. This colorful poster evokes the brightness given to us through the life and Spirit of Jesus.

Ask children to talk about what they see in the picture. Ask them to imagine that the people in the picture are planning to travel to see baby Jesus. Ask:◆ If you could put Jesus in this picture, where would he

be?◆ What would you say to Jesus?◆ What would you want to bring to Jesus?◆ What lights can we find in this picture?◆ What lights could we add to this picture?

Explain:◆ Christmas is a time when we think about light shining

in darkness. ◆ Sometimes we call Jesus our Light. We say, “Jesus, you

are the Light of the world.”◆ Listen as I read you words from scripture about Jesus

our Light.

Read aloud John 1:5: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.

Note: Learn more about Faith Ringgold and her writing and artwork at her website at http://www.faithringgold.com/.

Music and Art (5-15 minutes)Sosa’s “El Cielo Canta”Invite children to imagine they are gathered at the crèche when the kings arrive. Play for them, “El Cielo Canta,” the lyrics of which mean, “Heaven sings with joy.” (Open your Winter-C Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Companion Music for options on obtaining this music.)

Explain that heaven sings with joy because Jesus is born. Play the song again. Then invite them to paint pictures of a Christmas moment when heaven sings for joy.

Children might paint the moment when the angels tell the shepherds that Jesus is born. They might paint the moment when the kings kneel to baby Jesus. They might paint the moment when Joseph and Mary welcome their newborn child.



http://www.faithringgold.com


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Treasure Hunt (15-30 minutes)Children go on an Epiphany scavenger hunt. The Treasure Hunt List invite children to review Epiphany facts as they search for Epiphany symbols.

You can prepare for this treasure hunt in two ways. If your group can freely explore the building, make sure you have an adult helper for each group of 3-4 children. If your group must stay in the room, make sure you have plenty of the suggested materials for the children to find. You’ll find the Treasure Hunt List attached to this document. Be sure to also have on hand plenty of gummed foil stars.

If groups leave the room, set a time limit for when groups need to return to the room. Before the hunt, ask:◆ Who was looking for someone in today’s story?◆ What did the wise men find in today’s story?

Explain:◆ We could say that the wise men went on a special

treasure hunt: they found Jesus!◆ Today we will go a treasure hunt, too.

Distribute copies of the Treasure Hunt List and gold stars.

Children and the GospelToday’s Epiphany narrative tells of wise men traveling to the light that is the baby Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew, this story is meant to proclaim the light of Jesus’ ministry offered to all the gentile world.

For children, we focus on the concrete people, places and events of the story. The Epiphany star is an especially beloved symbol of the magis’ journey. Together with the suggested activities, you might reflect on Epiphany’s symbol of stars using Tar Beach 2, attached to this document.

Invite children to pick out the stars in the poster. What would the scene be like if the Epiphany star were there, too? Where would it shine?

Note: Learn more about Faith Ringgold and her writing and artwork at her website at http://www.faithringgold.com/.

The Close of ChristmasBecause of the holiday season, you might find decreased attendance and greatly decreased attention spans. Let the children enjoy a quiet, organized session and don’t push yourself or them to “get things done.” Make time for their stories and questions both.

In this closing celebration of feasts related to the story of Jesus’ birth, children may still want to spend time recalling their Christmas feelings; make time for their stories and for plenty of free play.

Where You’ll Find Everything Else

◆ Attached to this Session Plan you will find:— Backgrounds and reflections for today’s readings,

titled More about Today’s Scriptures.— Treasure Hunt List to use in the Treasure Hunt

activity.— A Star Pattern to use in today’s Story-Review

Game.— Game Cards to use in today’s Getting Started and

in the Story-Review Game.— A copy of today’s Gospel Story to hand out to

children or e-mail to their families.— This week’s At Home with the Good News to hand

out to children or e-mail to their families.— Ringgold’s Tar Beach 2, used in today’s Poetry

and Art activity.◆ Open your Winter-C Seasonal Resources folder, then

click on Seasonal Articles to find:— Information on Winter-C’s Models of the Faith.— An article titled Prophets and Prophecy.— An article for catechists and/or families exploring

what it means that Jesus—“the Word”—took on human flesh, titled Christmas: The Word Becomes Flesh.

— An article for catechists and/or families titled New Year Resolutions.

— An article for catechists and/or families titled Images of God.

— An article for catechists and/or families titled The Church and the Nations.

— The Introduction for Primary for Living the Good News.






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More about Today’s ScripturesIn today’s readings, we learn that Jesus was not only Israel’s Messiah, but sent, as well, to be “the light for the nations,” the Savior of all people. Isaiah suggests that all nations and kings will be blessed by the light brought by the coming Messiah. Ephesians announces that all people—Jew and Gentile alike—are united in the work of Jesus Christ. Matthew tells the story of the magi, foreigners (Gentiles) traveling to honor the young child-king, Jesus.

Isaiah 60:1-6In today’s reading, the prophet looks beyond the limited restoration of Israel after the exile and sees the future glory of the heavenly kingdom embodied in Zion. Thus, Israel’s return from Babylon is a type, a preceding but lesser instance of the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel. These promises of glory were partially realized as God’s people were restored to the land; but they will be fully consummated in the age to come (60:19).

Israel’s intended glory, God’s initial and eternal plan for this people, will be the final outcome after all their suffering. They will become a light to the nations and a source of blessing and well-being to all people (42:6). The heart of the prophet’s words can be summed up in one hope: restoration (49:8-26).

Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6Today’s reading begins as a prayer (3:1, 14-21) that the author interrupts with a statement about his ministry and God’s plan for the world (3:2-13). The emphasis is on the inclusive nature of the “mystery hidden for ages in God” (3:9). The mystery involves the previously impossible unity of Gentiles and Jews now brought together through the gospel of Christ Jesus (2:11-22).

The Church, a unique creation, realizes the unthinkable—all people become chosen people. Other religions of the time found room for many different gods, but only welcomed adherents who shared the same social, political and economic status. Christians were different because they believed in only one God and opened their communities to those of every race, social status, economic background or political alliance. God has chosen to make unity for all possible in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 2:1-12In his birth narrative, Matthew is more concerned to reveal the theological implications of Jesus’ birth than to give an historical account of what happened. Matthew makes us aware of who Jesus really is despite the ordinary appearances.

In the second chapter, Matthew illustrates the two possible responses that persons might have to Jesus. The responses of the magi and of Herod are contrasted. As Matthew stresses throughout his gospel, Israel rejects its King while the Gentiles accept him.

The wise men become, in later Christian tradition, three in number because of the number of their gifts. They are portrayed as kings on camels by association with the kind of gifts mentioned in today’s other readings (Psalm 72:15, Isaiah 60:6).

ReflectionTired, overspent and sated by the recent Christmas holiday, we struggle to make the magi’s journey our own. Where do we find light in our lives? Remembering that the wise ones sought an infant who, as an adult, would declare, “the kingdom of God is among you,” we will not search too far beyond the parameters of ordinary life.

The Hebrew people described by Isaiah found the “riches of the sea” and “the wealth of nations” in their sons and daughters. The sight of family members, then, should make our hearts “throb and overflow.” Perhaps we have criticized our relatives as greedy or lazy, but what would the holidays be without them? This reading indicates that riches and light are found in family.

There are other stars in our skies. Psalm 72 points to the work of those who pity the poor, working out God’s desire for justice on earth. Broadening this, we might delight and participate in efforts to eradicate poverty, shelter the homeless, minister to the marginalized, encourage literacy, feed the hungry and find alternatives to war. We can’t do it all––but we can support those who do.

A sudden flight of birds, a concert, an idiosyncratic pleasure: these might also cause us to rejoice, seeing the star.




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The Scriptures and the CatechismThe Epiphany (CCC, #528) reminds us that God is also mysteriously at work even in the lives of those who are not Christians (CCC, #27–29, 817–22, 839–56). In many and diverse ways, God is always drawing all humanity into a greater realization of the divine presence (CCC, #74, 543, 1877–78). Just as the magi needed to inquire of those who had the scriptures to understand the sign they were following, so we Christians have the task of using our Christian beliefs to aid others to find the God who is revealed in the person and work of Jesus (CCC, #774–76, 849–56).

Liturgy LinkThe Feast of the EpiphanyEach year on the Sunday between January 2 and 8, we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany—the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.

The word epiphany means manifestation. The gospel for Epiphany is Matthew’s story of the wise men from the East (Matthew 2:1-12).

Matthew, the most overtly Jewish of all the gospels, records the visit of the wise men from the East, apparently Gentiles from Persia or Babylonia, as the first to come to worship Jesus.

In contrast, Luke tells us about shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem, who would obviously be Jews.

In the early Church, Epiphany was the original celebration of the nativity of our Lord, understood as the manifestation of Christ to the whole world. January 2 was the date chosen to celebrate the feast by Christians in the East, probably because the Egyptians celebrated their great feast of the winter solstice on that day, in honor of their sun-god Horus. The Church consciously decided to observe the nativity of Jesus in direct competition with this pagan feast. The Christian feast was primarily a com-memoration of the Lord’s baptism, as it still is for Eastern Orthodox churches.

The feast of Epiphany became known in the West during the fourth century, about the same time as the feast of Christmas came to be celebrated on the 25th of December. Epiphany in the West acquired some of the Christmas associations, particularly the story of the magi’s visit, which then became regarded as a manifestation to the Gentiles.

In Latin America, as well as other parts of the world, the feast of the Epiphany is known as the Day of the Kings. Christians exchange presents on this day rather than on Christmas Day, appropriate since the Epiphany is the observance of the coming of the wise men with gifts for the Christ child.

Because of the emphasis on the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, Epiphany introduces the need for mission and evangelism, the outreach of the Church with the good news of God’s love incarnate in Jesus Christ.

The World of the BibleMysteryIn the Greek world of early Christianity, mystery pointed to that which is hidden or secret and cannot be talked about openly. It was most often used to describe sacred rituals which were not to be revealed to anyone who did not belong to the religious group.

For Christians like Paul, mystery points to what is hidden and cannot be known unless God reveals it. Paul identifies this revealed mystery as God’s surprising desire to unite all humanity—both Jew and Gentile—into one community in Christ. Of course, this mystery cannot be kept hidden but becomes the core of Paul’s Christian message.



Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

PR-WC-CR01-DL-A-Game Cards

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Winter • Year C

©2015 BY MOREHOUSE EDUCATION RESOURCES • ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDPermission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Star Pattern

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Winter • Year C


Wise Men Seek

One day strangers knocked on the door of wicked King Herod’s palace. The strangers were wise men from the East, kings in their own countries. They asked, “Where is the baby who is to be king? We saw his star. We followed it for a long time. Where is he? We want to worship him.”

Wicked King Herod listened. He became angry. What baby? What king? He, Herod, was king! No baby was going to take his place! Herod called in many priests and teachers. “Where will the baby that God chooses as king be born?”

The teachers said, “God’s word says the baby will be born in Bethlehem.”

Herod called the wise men to a secret meeting. “I want to worship this baby king, too,” Herod said softly. But all the time he was thinking, When I find this baby—I’ll kill him! But to the wise men Herod said, “Please go to Bethlehem and find this baby. Come back and tell me where he is, so I can worship him too.”

The wise men went to Bethlehem. As they walked, they saw the star again in the sky. It made them glad. They followed the star to a simple barn in Bethlehem. There the wise men found all that they wanted. They found the baby Jesus with his mother Mary. The wise men fell to their knees and worshiped the baby. They gave the baby great gifts—gold and frankincense and myrrh.

That night the wise men had a dream. “Don’t go to Herod,” God told them. “Herod wants to kill the baby.” And when the wise men woke, they left for their own country another way. They never told Herod about the baby king.

PR-WC-EPIP-DL-C-Gospel Story

Gospel Story

Living the Good News: Ringgold’s Tar Beach 2 “Tar Beach 2” Quilt, copyright Faith Ringgold, 1990.

Living the Good News: Ringgold’s Tar Beach 2 “Tar Beach 2” Quilt, copyright Faith Ringgold, 1990.

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5

1 2 3

4 5

Tile the poster per the diagram to the left. We did not want to cut through any text and so this poster is tiled using shapes as needed. We recommend using a small piece of tape on the back of one piece to align with an adjoining piece. Once you are satis-fied with the alignment, add additional pieces of tape to secure.

Text Map

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 8

Part 7

Part 6

Part 9

Part 10

Part 1 I will always remember when the stars fall down around me and lifted me up above the George Washington Bridge.

Part 2I could see our tiny roof top with Mommy and Daddy and Mr. and Mrs. Honey our next door neighbors, still playing cards as if nothing was going on, and BeBe, my baby brother, laying real still on the mattress, just like I told him to his eyes like huge floodlights tracking me through the sky.

Part 3Sleeping on Tar Beach was magical. Laying on the roof in the night with starts and skyscraper buildings all around me made me feel rich, like I owned all that I could see. The bridge was my most prized possession.

Part 4Daddy said the George Washington Bridge was the longest and most beautiful bridge in the word and that it opened in 1931 on the very day I was born. Daddy worked on the bridge twisting cables. Since then, I’ve wanted that bridge to be mine.

Part 5Now I have claimed it. All I had to do was fly over it for it to be mine forever. I can wear it like a giant diamond necklace, or just fly over it and marvel at its sparkling beauty. I can fly, yes fly. Me, Cassie Louise Lightfoot, only eight years old and in the third grade and I can fly.

Part 6That means I am free to go wherever I want to for the rest of my life.

Daddy took me to see the Union Building he is working on. He can walk on steel girders high up in the sky and not fall. They call him the cat.

Part 7But still he can’t join the Union because Grampa wasn’t a member. Well Daddy is going to own that building cause I’m gonna fly over it and give it to him. Then it won’t matter that he’s not in their ole Union or whether he’s Colored or a half breed Indian like they say.

Part 8He’ll be rich and wont’ have to stand on 24 story high girders and look down. He can look up at his building going up. And Mommy won’t cry all winter when Daddy goes to look for work and doesn’t come home. And Mommy can laugh and sleep late like Mrs. Honey and we can have ice cream every night for dessert.

Part 9Next I’m going to fly over the ice cream factory just to make sure we do.

Tonight we’re going up to Tar Beach. Mommy is roasting peanuts and frying chicken and Daddy will bring home a watermelon. Mr. and Mrs. Honey will bring the beer and their old green card table. And then the stars will fall around me and I fill fly to the Union Building.

Part 10I’ll take BeBe with me. He has threatened to tell Mommy and Daddy if I leave him behind.

I have told him it’s very easy, anyone can fly. All you need is somewhere to go that you can’t get to any other way. The next thing you know, you’re flying among the stars.

Tar Beach—Woman on a Bridge SeriesBy Faith Ringgold © 1988

Winter • Year C


More about Today’s ScripturesEpiphany of the Lord

In today’s readings, we learn that Jesus was not only Israel’s Messiah, but sent, as well, to be “the light for the nations,” the Savior of all people. Isaiah suggests that all nations and kings will be blessed by the light brought by the coming Messiah. Ephesians announces that all people—Jew and Gentile alike—are united in the work of Jesus Christ. Matthew tells the story of the magi, foreigners (Gentiles) traveling to honor the young child-king, Jesus.

Isaiah 60:1-6

In today’s reading, the prophet looks beyond the limited restoration of Israel after the exile

and sees the future glory of the heavenly kingdom embodied in Zion. Thus, Israel’s return from Babylon is a type, a preceding but lesser instance of the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel. These promises of glory were partially realized as God’s people were restored to the land; but they will be fully consummated in the age to come (60:19).

Israel’s intended glory, God’s initial and eternal plan for this people, will be the final outcome after all their suffering. They will become a light to the nations and a source of blessing and well-being to all people (42:6). The heart of the prophet’s words can be summed up in one hope: restoration (49:8-26).

Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

Today’s reading begins as a prayer (3:1, 14-21) that the author interrupts with a statement about his ministry and God’s plan for the world (3:2-13). The emphasis is on the inclusive nature of the “mystery hidden for ages in God” (3:9). The mystery involves the previously impossible unity of Gentiles and Jews now brought together through the gospel of Christ Jesus (2:11-22).

The Church, a unique creation, realizes the unthinkable—all people become chosen people. Other religions of the time found room for many different gods, but only welcomed adherents who shared the same social, political and economic status. Christians were different because they believed in only one God and opened their communities to those of every race, social status, economic background or political alliance. God has chosen to make unity for all possible in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 2:1-12

In his birth narrative, Matthew is more concerned to reveal the theological implica-tions of Jesus’ birth than to give an historical account of what happened. Matthew makes us aware of who Jesus really is despite the ordinary appearances.

In the second chapter, Matthew illustrates the two possible responses that persons might have to Jesus. The responses of the magi and of Herod are contrasted. As Matthew stresses throughout his gospel, Israel rejects its King while the Gentiles accept him.

The wise men become, in later Christian tradition, three in number because of the

“Christ has chosen to dwell in people, and the difficulty of discovering him in ourselves and in others is the main testing of the Christian life. Pretending that men are not men, women are not women, but some sort of sublimated angelic beings, adds to the difficulty instead of diminishing it, for it is a manifest contra-diction of the reality which surrounds us, of which we are a part.”

––Masie Ward


00-WC-EPIP-SB-C-More About Today_s Scriptures

number of their gifts. They are portrayed as kings on camels by association with the kind of gifts mentioned in today’s other readings (Psalm 72:15, Isaiah 60:6).

ReflectionTired, overspent and sated by the recent Christmas holiday, we struggle to make the magi’s journey our own. Where do we find light in our lives? Remembering that the wise ones sought an infant who as an adult would declare, “the kingdom of God is among you,” we will not search too far beyond the parameters of ordinary life.


There are other stars in our skies. Psalm 72 points to the work of those who pity the poor, working out God’s desire for justice on earth. Broadening this, we might delight and participate in efforts to eradicate poverty, shelter the homeless, minister to the marginalized, encourage literacy, feed the hungry and find al-ternatives to war. We can’t do it all––but we can support those who do.

A sudden flight of birds, a concert, an idio-syncratic pleasure: these might also cause us to rejoice, seeing the star.

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Each

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•B

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Th

is section lists th

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Su

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s how

they relate

to each oth

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groups did in

their session

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a specific startin

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accomplish

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•P

rayerStarter

Th

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sed at hom

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at bedtime or w

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serve as th

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ords of the

prayer or the prom

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vites others to

participate.

•Parentin

gTip

Health

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g is a skill learned over

time. T

hese su

ggestions give paren

ts con

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ing th

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an

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message th

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How

to U

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Brin

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Your Fa

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•FamilyD

iscussionQ

uestion

In th

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th

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ave lon

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this qu

estion can

come u

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, durin

g the w

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ban

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t, or at bedtime.

Paren

ts can adapt it to th

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interests of th

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Intergen

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Brin

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Your Fa

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In today’s readings, we learn that Jesus was not only Israel’s Messiah, but sent, as well, to be “the light for the nations,” the Savior of all people. Isaiah60:1-6suggests that all nations and kings will be blessed by the light brought by the coming Messiah. Ephesians3:2-3a,5-6 announces

that all people—Jew and Gentile alike—are united in the work of Jesus Christ. Matthew2:1-12 tells the story of the magi, foreigners (Gentiles) traveling to honor the young child-king, Jesus.

Preschool/Kindergarten children reviewed the

Christmas story using crèche figures and were

introduced to the figures of the three kings. After

hearing their story, they made play-dough gifts

for the baby Jesus. They may have sung, played

“Follow the Star,” or moved to El Cielo Canta.

Primary(Grades1-3) children played the Christ-

mas Guessing Game, then heard the story of the

magi finding the child Jesus. They played a story-

review game using the carol, “O Come, All Ye

Faithful.” They may have heard and painted pic-

tures of a Christmas moment when heaven sings

for joy, or designed a Bible wordsearch puzzle.

Intermediate(Grades4-6) children explored the

definition of the word worship as they recalled

Christmas activities. After hearing and discuss-

ing the gospel, they made cardboard stars and

wrote on them a gift to share that honors Jesus.

They may have heard El Cielo Canta, created a

group “statue” to show a joyful moment from the

Christmas stories or explored the meaning of the

word ministry.

Epiphany • Year C

© 2015 Morehouse Education Resources. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce these pages for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Create luminarias by placing a candle inside a paper bag to line your porch or walkway and celebrate this feast of light.

Tired, overspent and sated by the recent Christmas holiday, we struggle to make the magi’s journey our own. Where do we find light in our lives? Remembering that the wise ones sought an infant who as an adult would declare, “the kingdom of God is among you,” we will not search too far beyond the parameters of ordinary life.


There are other stars in our skies. Psalm 72 points to the work of those who pity the poor, working out God’s desire for justice on earth. Broadening this, we might delight and participate in efforts to eradicate poverty, shelter the homeless, minister to the marginalized, encourage literacy, feed the hungry and find alternatives to war. We can’t do it all—but we can support those who do.

A sudden flight of birds, a concert, an idiosyncratic pleasure: these might also cause us to rejoice, seeing the star.

When we find Jesus, we are filled with joy as the magi were. Invite each family member to name one thing about Jesus that brings joy.

Psychologists say it takes twenty compliments to offset one negative

criticism. How’s your ratio: are you complimenting more than criticizing?

Where do you find light for the dark places in your life?

Winter • Year C


Take 5 gold gummed-foil stars. When you find an item, put a gold star next to its name on your list. Look for:◆ something gold: processional cross, candle holder, etc.◆ something that smells sweet: incense, flower, soap, perfume jar, etc.◆ something that holds water: holy water, font or bowl, drinking fountain, water bottle, etc.◆ something that gives light: candle, electric light, flashlight, etc.◆ a picture or statue of Jesus: crèche figure, stained glass window picture, Bible picture, etc.

Treasure Hunt List

PR-WC-CR02-DL-A-Treasure Hunt List

Scripture God’s Light for All Nations Lesson Plan... · complete session © 2015 Published by...

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Transcript of Scripture God’s Light for All Nations Lesson Plan... · complete session © 2015 Published by...