Concept: Jesus, His Character and Uniqueness

LESSON PLAN

Candlemas, February 2

Concept: Jesus, his character and uniqueness

Note to teachers:

Thank you for helping. I am sending this to you electronically but hard copies will also be available.

My intention is that everyone studies the same topic but that we adapt the activities and our vocabulary to each age group. However, you may find that you get through what you intended to teach more quickly than you had expected. Or, you may have children who need stretching. If that is the case, feel free to move on to the objectives and activities suggested for the next older age group (these are listed in bold italic after the numbered objectives and activities).

The quiz has questions that increase in difficulty. All of the children should be able to answer the first few, if you phrase them rightly. Try asking the youngest children using different words and prompting them. The last questions in the quiz are intended to stretch the oldest children, who should be able to read them for themselves and write at least one word or phrase answers. They can do this while they discuss the questions with you. In school, I would discuss the questions in general and then get them to work on their own, to ensure that had learnt something!

To save you time and boost confidence, I have provided a “crib” version of the quiz for the teachers!

This handout contains:

Background reading so that you feel confident about the topic (do ask me for more, or for web links).
Our teaching objectives.
What to do in the lesson.
A prayer to end the lesson with.

TEACHERS’ BRIEFING

The presentation in the Temple: Candlemas

Candlemas, February 2, is one of the major feasts of the Middle Ages and one of only three feasts in the English language to be known by a name including the word “mass” (one of the names for the Eucharist). Christmas and Michaelmas (the Feast of St, Michael and All Angels, September 29) are the other two. It is also known as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary or The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, since it recalls the visit of Mary, Jesus’ mother, to the Temple in obedience to the Jewish law that required a woman to be ritually purified forty days after bearing a son. [If we start with Jesus’ birthday on Christmas Day, December 25, and count forty days, we arrive at February 2. Of course, this is the traditional date for his birthday and, at this point, 2,000 years later, we have no means of being completely sure of what his exact birthday was.]

While Mary was in the Temple, Simeon, the aged prophet, when he saw the baby Jesus, proclaimed him to be "a Light to the Gentiles" (Lk. 2.32). [Gentiles is the name given by the Jews to all those people who were not Jewish. It comes from the Latin word “gens, gentis” meaning “a people”.]

The Feast's association with light also made it a great day for predicting the weather. According to an old legend, if the sun shines bright for the better part of the day, it means forty more days of winter.

Candlemas is the absolute last day for ending the Christmas season. Any Christmas items that had not been taken down at Epiphany should be put away now. So, the crib will finally be removed tomorrow!

As the Bible describes it:

Luke 2.22-52 Jesus Is Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; † this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. †27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon † came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon † took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant † in peace,

according to your word;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon † blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna † the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child † to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

These assume that the children may be split into two groups, with the older ones either being supervised by a separate person or working on their own.

To appreciate that this story highlights the “early recognition” of Jesus in Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. All years
To know the story of the Presentation in the Temple. All years
To be aware that some people had a special gift for knowing who Jesus was, even when he was a tiny baby. Older children
To be aware that the Church’s festival celebrating is called Candlemas because of the reference to “light” [“a light to lighten the Gentiles”] and that, being celebrated 40 days after Jesus’ birth, on February 2, it marks the “absolute end” of our celebration of Jesus’ birth. [We also spend 40 days getting ready for Easter – Lent – and celebrating Easter. Older children
To appreciate the background of the celebration of Candlemas. Older children
To understand that that not everyone can recognize Jesus, that it is a “gift of insight”, in this case conferred on very old and holy people. Older children

Method:

I have marked these sections A, B, C, & D. Just follow these (making selections that suit you) in order.

A. Getting the children to connect with the key concept

When you have a baby, it’s natural to want to show this new member of the family to other people (a baby “shower”).
People look at the baby and say “how like Mum” and “how like Dad”, etc.
Jesus’ presentation was, perhaps, a little like this. But it was also religious. I don’t want to confuse Jewish and Christian ideas in their minds, but we could say that this was a bit like baptizing a baby. [FYI: Luke has muddled “the purification” ceremonies that Jewish women obliged to undergo after their confinement with the “dedication” of firstborn boys to God].
Another way of looking at the story is to compare it to the way we can be with a book, video, or DVD. Sometimes, we skim to the end after looking at the beginning. We shouldn’t really do this, but we like to. Simeon is “fast-forwarding” to the grown-up Jesus when he describes him as “light to lighten the Gentiles”, i.e. a leader who would be important to everyone, including the Gentiles, those beyond.

B. Telling the story

Tell the story of the Presentation in your own words (Reception; Years 1 & 2) or ask the children to read it (in turn, if that works) (Years 3-6, possibly younger).
Ask the children questions about the story. You may use the quiz provided (or parts of it). With the younger children you will need to be selective and simplify the vocabulary with which you ask the questions. (All years).

C. Activities

Either read [Reception] the “Nunc Dimittis” (Latin – “now let your [servant] go - for the opening words of Simeon in the Temple) or ask one of the children to read it [Years 1-6].
Show them some candles like the ones used in church and apply decoration to the candles. All Years.
Use the colouring sheet provided. Younger children.
Decorate the ‘falls’ that catch wax from the candles. All years.
Use the attached quiz with the children. Ask them the questions. Older children
Get them to write answers to the quiz. Children old enough to do this confidently.
Ask them the more reflective questions. Children old enough to do this confidently.

Checklist of what you need

All

Candles
Quiz (with the youngest children, you will use this as a basis for asking your own questions)

Sheets for colouring (produced from a coloured image)
‘falls’ for candles which catch wax and which the children can decorate
Take all to the Church by 10.45, so that they can be involved in the candlelit procession!

Older children

Briefing to go with quiz to hand out to the children

D. Worship:

You may use the set prayer or extemporize putting it into simpler language (see my example beneath the set form).

Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, help us to offer ourselves to you, as Jesus was offered to you, with minds filled with love and kindness.

Quiz on the Presentation and Candlemas – CHILDREN’S SHEET

These questions get more difficult, so no. 10 is harder than no. 1

Why was Jesus taken to the Temple forty days after his birth?
What offering did they make in Temple?
What was the name of the old man who told them that Jesus was special?
What was the name of the very old woman present in the Temple?
What did she do when she saw Jesus?
What happened to Jesus when he returned home?
Why was seeing Jesus so important to this old man?
What did he believe Jesus would bring?
To which people would Jesus bring this?
To what might “a sword will pierce your own soul too” refer?

These questions get more difficult, so no. 18 is harder than no. 11

On what date is the Presentation of Jesus celebrated?
What two other festivals have names ending in “mas”?
When Candlemas is celebrated, how many days have passed since Christmas.
Why do we carry candles on this day?
Why do you think that the feast used to have a “weather forecasting” meaning?
What does Candlemas mark?
What have to be put away today (if that hasn’t already be done)?
Why was it important that Jesus was a “light to lighten the Gentiles”?
Why is the baptism of children a bit like the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple?
Why do you think that old people were the ones who recognized Jesus?

Quiz on the Presentation and Candlemas with answers

These questions get more difficult, so no. 10 is harder than no. 1

Why was Jesus taken to the Temple forty days after his birth? To obey the Jewish law that a woman be “purified” [in a sense, received back, as well] 40 days after giving birth.
What offering did they make in Temple? A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
What was the name of the old man who told them that Jesus was special? Simeon
What was the name of the very old woman present in the Temple? Anna.
What did she do when she saw Jesus? She also gave praise and foretold that he would bring salvation.
What happened to Jesus when he returned home? He became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Why was seeing Jesus so important to this old man? He felt he could die once he has seen the Messiah, the great ruler foretold by prophets of the past.
What did he believe Jesus would bring? Salvation [i.e. he would put everything right with God; the word literally means “health”.
To which people would Jesus bring this? Everyone, Gentiles as well as Jews.
To what might “a sword will pierce your own soul too” refer? The fact that Mary would one day know her Son’s suffering and death.

These questions get more difficult, so no. 18 is harder than no. 11

On what date is the Presentation of Jesus celebrated? Febriary 2.
What two other festivals have names ending in “mas”? Christmas and Michaelmas,
When Candlemas is celebrated, how many days have passed since Christmas. 40.
Why do we carry candles on this day? Because Simeon talked about “a light”.
Why do you think that the feast used to have a “weather forecasting” meaning? Because of its connection with light (bright, light and cold weather on this day was thought to be likely to carry on for the next 40 days).
What does Candlemas mark? The absolute end of the Christmas season.
What have to be put away today (if that hasn’t already be done)? Any remaining Christmas decorations.
Why was it important that Jesus was a “light to lighten the Gentiles”? It menat that he could change the world for everyone, including those not part of his own people, the Jews.
Why is the baptism of children a bit like the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple? It marks the “presentation” of a baby to the whole community. Of course, it is also the occasion when the Holy Spirit is at work in a special way [but Simeon and Anna believed that that was true of Jesus].

Why do you think that old people were the ones who recognized Jesus? They had developed wisdom and insight from having lived a long life.

STUDENTS’ BRIEFING

The presentation in the Temple: Candlemas

On account of Simeon’s reference to “light”, customs involving lights have developed for the celebration of the Presentation. The most famous of these customs - and the one from which the feast takes its common name - is the blessing of, and procession with, candles. One of the more distinctive features of this Mass is that the candles are held lighted in the hand during the reading of the Gospel (which includes Simeon’s words).