Weekly Liturgy :: Children and Family :: Week of 5/2

May 5

Gather

If your child attended last Sunday, have them explain this activity to the family!

Before you gather, prepare a pitcher or a cup with water, a cup with ice, an electric kettle, and an extra empty cup on hand to demonstrate this lesson. Heat up the water right before you begin the object lesson so you will have a steaming cup of water to show (or you can simply show steam coming out of the kettle)

Does anyone know what H20 is?

That's right! H2O is usually referred to as water. But H2O is unique because it can exist as water, ice, and steam. Water is a liquid. (Pour water from one cup or pitcher to another.) Ice is a solid. (Show the kids an ice cube.) Steam is a gas. (Safely demonstrate steam by plugging in an electric tea kettle, pouring in the water from the cup or pitcher, and allowing it to heat up, creating steam.) Water, ice, and steam look different but they are all equally called H20. Similarly, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have unique qualities and all equally make up one God. But unlike H20 that can exist in only one form – water, ice, or steam – at any given time, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are each with us at exactly the same time!

God is SO big! There is so much we can learn about Him!

Work on the memory verse for this month.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”. Romans 10:9

Scripture :: Please Read Aloud :: Acts 3:1-10

Family Discipleship Questions

What does the beggar ask for?
What does Peter do in the power of the Holy Spirit?
What does the beggar do next?
What does the passage say about other people who saw the man after he was healed?
Have a discussion about people who are different from you. Have you ever been afraid to be nice to someone or to make eye contact with someone begging, someone who speaks a different language or has a different skin color, or someone disabled? Lead your family in ways to make connections with people who are different. Some suggestions: compliments, questions of likes, demonstrate ways to find common ground (look, s/he likes trains also). Read stories you have in your house about people who are different. The more you “front load” this topic in your home the more you will be equipped to handle the inevitable, uncomfortable questions that come up in public. Remember your child’s question is never “bad” - children are naturally curious. We need to respond with grace and with an effort to help our children see and honor the Holy Spirit within the person who is different.

Confession

Father, we confess we have sinned against you and our neighbor by ways we are unkind, impatient or judgemental to those who are different from us. Help us Father to be kind to all of your children and see your image in everyone.
Corporate Confession

Prayers

Jesus, help us to see with your eyes all of your image bearers. Help us when we feel afraid or when we don’t have the “right” words. Give us creative ways to love and serve those around us. May we be spurred on to learn more about each other and celebrate our differences as special and unique. Holy Spirit help us to love everyone as you do!

The Lord's Prayer