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October Week 4
Remembering the Saints
picture from http://coloringpages.net/pages/christmas-11.html
Materials:
You will need as many votive candles as you can place on the communion table. You can use tea lights if you do not have votives. Tea lights come in their only little metal containers.
A taper for lighting the candles
matches
Enlarge picture of the Good Samaritan
Flip chart and markers
Jack o’ Lantern
Lesson
Read scripture.
What do you remember about why Paul wrote those words. ( wait) He was thankful about the way the people at his church were loving God and caring for each other. Lets remember what we have learned about saints. ( Show the children an enlarge picture of the Good Samaritan used in the lesson on September 22 and on the cover of the chapel handout on October 6). Does anyone remember what happened in this story ( a man was hurt and a Samaritan helped the one who was hurt. ) Jesus teaches us that we are to help each other.
And who remembers the holidays that have saints? Like ( attempt to draw a Santa face on the flip chart) who can guess this one? (wait) What holiday do we think of that has Saint Nicholas in it? Christmas. It is a time of giving and that is what Saint Nicholas did. Remember he gave to help others who were poor. And what about this holiday ( flip the page and draw a giant heart) St. Valentine’s Day is a day we remember to tell people we care about them. St. Valentine was a person who loved God and cared for others and so we remember that we too are to love God and care for others. And ( flip chart and draw a shamrock) do you remember the holiday when people wear green? ( wait) St. Patrick’s Day reminds us of a person who loved God and cared for others - even others who had hurt him. Last week we learned about Jack of the Lantern. I have my little lantern here ( show children the lantern and ask) What do you remember about Jack?( affirm what the children remember) We don’t know if Jack ever did love God and others.
Today, we do something that is very special. We are going to light many candles. Remember when we light the candle at the beginning of chapel it is a reminder that God is present with us right here. Today, we light candles for everyone who has loved us. So, we sit very quietly and listen for the names. Watch. As I light the candles the light will be brighter and brighter. ( Start by asking one of the rows of children and teachers for names of people who love them. As each name is called like mom or dad, grandma, teacher, light a candle for each one mentioned. The teachers and children remain in their seats. A taper works best so that you do not have to keep lighting matches.) Look at this beautiful light. There are many people who have loved us and been saints in our lives.
Let’s sing our song.
(The acolytes still put out the Christ candle. The rest of the candles can be blown out after the children leave.)
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