From: HOMILIES BY EMAIL

Children's Messages
Holy Thursday
April 8, 2004

RCL Readings:
Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10), 11-14
Ps 116:1-4, 12-19
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b-35

#1
Topic: Questions
Texts: Exodus 12

In Exodus 12:26ff children are expected and encouraged to ask
questions about the Passover meal. It's a way of teaching them
about it.

Let the children ask you any questions that have about Holy
Communion or foot washing. This could be a real learning time for
them.

You might also teach them about Maundy Thursday and what
"Maundy" means? etc

#2
Topic: Meal Time
Texts: Exodus 12 and 1 Cor 11:23-26

Use this time to show the various elements used in the Seder,
explaining each one and what it means. You may wish to even let
them taste some of the items.

Then use the elements from the Lord's Supper to explain what they
mean and why we observe this meal. Ten let them be the first to
partake of the elements.

#3
Topic: Being Servants
Text: John 13:1-17

Good evening, everyone.

What is some task around the house that you really do not like to
do and no one else for that matter? (Let them answer. Possible
answers: cleaning the cat's litter? weeding? taking out the garbage?
washing the dishes?)

Well how would you feel about changing diapers? Cleaning the
bathrooms?

When I was growing up, I hated to wash dishes. They got so messy
and were not easy to clean.

Did you hear our Gospel reading tonight? It's about another task
that most people did not like to do. Anyone know what that was?
(Let them answer).

It was foot washing.

Before you eat a meal, I imagine your parents tell you to go wash
your hands, right?

Well, in the days of Jesus, they did wash their hands but they also
washed their feet. Do you know why? (Let them guess).

You see the nice shoes you wear. Did they have nice shoes like
that? No, that's right. Sometimes they went barefooted or wore
sandals.

Were their roads paved like ours? Nope. They were more like dirt
paths.

So what happened to their feet when they went for a walk? Right.
Their feet got dirty.

Now if they had been invited to someone's house, their feet would
have gotten dirty on the way over. So the host of the dinner, the
one who invited them, would see to it that the feet of his guests
were washed. This was usually done by a servant. It's not
something the mater of the house would do. Why? (Let them
answer). That's correct. It was thought beneath him to do.

But who washed the feet of the disciples that night? (Let them
answer).

Right. Jesus. Why do you think Jesus did this? (Let them guess).

Do you think he was trying to teach them something? What? (Let
them answer)

Maybe he was trying to show them that he, though the Son of God,
did not think too highly of himself that he could not wash feet, that he could not serve, even doing the most lowly thing. He was willing to wash their feet to show them how he wanted them to act around each other, to love each other so much that they would even do lowly things like washing feet for one another.

When we do those things even in our house that we do not want to
do, it is an act of love and service. It is a way for us to show our
parents and family that we love them enough to even do those
things we don't like to do.

Next week you look for something you can do, even if you reality
don't want to do it, but do it anyway to show you love someone.
Jesus did that. If Jesus lived this way, then we should too.

Prayer:
Than you, Lord,
for letting Jesus
show us
how to act
and live.
He loves us
so much
that he
was willing
to even give
his life
for us.
Help us
each day
to do
whatever we can
to show him
and others
that we
love them.
Amen.



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Bass Mitchell, Hot Springs, VA
HOMILIES & BIBLE STUDIES BY E-MAIL
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