Lesson Plans that Work
Revised Common Lectionary Old Testament Readings
Year A - Epiphany
Unit background: What is Epiphany?
The word Epiphany means “appearance” or “manifestation” of Christ to the gentiles. We think of revelation, insight or “shedding light” on who Christ was and is to us.
The feast day of Epiphany is January 6, concluding the Twelve Days of Christmas. We associate it with the arrival of the Wise Men; the Magi who followed the star, the light that led them to the Christ child. The symbol is usually the enlarged star over the manger in Bethlehem.
Epiphany 6
Lesson Plan for Young Children
Theme: The Light of Christ
The theme is about going from darkness into light, a common metaphor the prophets used to speak to God’s people. It is about opposites: light vs. dark; insight vs. ignorance; listening to God vs. not listening; following God vs. waywardness. The easiest way to explain to children is compare and contrast. God’s love is always there to direct us into the light of Christ by giving us guidelines on how to treat each other. This unit includes words of the prophets and the commandments.
This Week’s Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may life, 20 loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Background Information for Scripture
· The Book of Deuteronomy – Moses presents the history and law to prepare the next generation to return to the land of Israel after the Exodus and establish guidelines for a concentrated location (Jerusalem) of leadership, both spiritually and socially to take care of the poor and disadvantaged.
· History – After Moses leads the people out of Egypt (the Exodus) they wonder in the wilderness for forty years. The people who first heard the Ten Commandments have died off and this next generation needs instructed in the ways of the Lord. Basically, it is the first Sunday school; lessons to prepare them to be good steward of the Promised Land and be faithful to God.
· Theology – The opposite today is life and death; making choices to have a good life with God as opposed to a life full of sin and death. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-21) were given by God so we can have a wholesome life. Be careful not to fall into the conversation of why bad things happen to good people; accidents happen and God does not cause mean things. However, even the youngest child realizes there are consequences to acting badly i.e. time out or loss of privileges. This is about choosing wisely. God’s directions are there to help us, not trip us up. For example, if we eat good food, we can expect to be grow big and strong.
· Liturgy – During Lent, the season follows Epiphany and prepares us for Easter, some congregations begin worship by reading the Decalogue (BCP, p. 317-318.) Lent is a time of reflection, to consider how we can live a more righteous/Godly life.
· New Testament passages – cross references
o Matthew 22:37-40. The Great Commandment; Jesus sums up the commandments: love God and your neighbor as yourself. This is part of our Penitential Rite (BCP, p. 319-321.) It is also part of our Prayer of Confession; “we have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves (BCP, p. 360.) The Great Commandment simplifies all the other commandments; one concise rule of thumb to measure our choices.
o Matthew 7:12 – from prior session/s – Golden Rule: treat others as you want to be treated.
The Story
(May begin with a song from music section below.)
Moses came before the prophets. He loved God and wanted the people to be close to God. God wanted the people to have the best life they could have so the Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments, ten rules to live a good life in harmony with God and others.
Moses wanted to make sure the people of God knew how to make good choices before they entered the Promised Land. So he sat them down and told them these words from God: (Deut. 30:19-20)
“I call on heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may life, loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days. So that you may live in the land the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
The past few times we have been talking about opposites. What is the opposite of darkness? What is the opposite of kindness? (Give children time to wrestle with that concept.) How do you think God wants us to treat others? (Allow time to talk.) What happens when we are nice to our friends? What is the opposite of curses? Do you think God wants us to be blessed? How so?
We can make choices that are good for us. What happens when we eat healthy food that is good for us? What is the opposite of death? How do you think making good choices help us to live longer? (Give plenty of time to answer, but move on when they wonder off topic.)
(This is an appropriate time to introduce a prayer option.)
Today we have more activities to show us about opposites; that God wants us to have a good life and know the love God has for us.
Response/Activities with extra supplies needed
· Art
o Footprints with acts of kindness written on t hem. Trace and cut out each child’s footprint from light colored paper and glue on dark background. Theme for discussion: follow God’s lead to the light/life.
o Use a magnifying glass to look at different objects. God is like a magnifying glass and helps us see things more clearly.
o Free art is always a good option; most will welcome a blank sheet of paper. Younger children cannot color in lines, but neither are they inhibited to freely express themselves. You may want to direct their color choices to include both light and dark colors.
· Games
o Whisper down the lane – have children line up on two rows. Whisper a phrase to each team and see how it evolves as it is passed along. Last time use the phrase: “Choose life.”
o Card puzzle – Use pictures of things good for us. Cur each one in half at different angles. Mix up cards and have children match them.
· Drama
o Promised Land – have children pretend they are going on a journey to a new land; what would they take with them?
o Marching - have children march around the room until they are under the light. You can talk about shadows and how bad things scare us, but the light makes all that go away.
· Music (same as Session 1)
o This little light of mine
o He’s got the whole world in his hands
o The Hymnal 1982, #490 - I want to walk as child of the light
o Wonder Love and Praise, #787 – We are marching in the light of God
· Cooking
o Trail mix – combine raisins, M&Ms, and peanuts. Make sure no child has the peanut allergy; pretzels may be substituted for peanuts.
o Vegetable dip – have children combine ranch dressing mix (powder) with cream cheese to dip crackers and veggies.
Closure/Prayer Time
These prayers may be used at the end of “circle” time and/or to close the class session. Know your class and choose what is appropriate for them. However, you may want to choose one for the entire unit. The repetition of ritual brings structure and a true sense of closure to the session.
Option 1: Leader: Receive the light of Christ and go into the world.
Class: To walk in love as Christ loved us.
Option 2: The Song of Simeon/Nunc dimittis (recite together) (BCP, 93)
Lord, you now have set your servant free
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior
whom you have prepared for all the world to see;
A Light to enlighten the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Option 3: Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thy shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets (BCP, 423)
Option 4: The Lord’s Prayer
Option 5: It is always appropriate to say a prayer where the children each thank God for something. It is easier if everyone stands in a circle and holds hands. The child squeezed the hand of the child on his/her right when finished. This gives the option of “passing” if a child is bashful. It should begin and end with the adult. Peace to you.
Epiphany Lesson Plans for Young Children Writer: Linda Nichols