Supplies: a pair of binoculars
Faith+Open: Gather children to you. Hold up your binoculars and start using them to look around the sanctuary. Oh wow! Look at that--the colors are new! Oh my there are new candles and a wreath and a tree. Hhhmm, I heard it is Advent and I'm supposed to watch for something. Do you know what I'm watching and waiting for? Pause and take responses. Keep looking through your binoculars and pondering what you see.
Faith+Share: I read in the gospel of Mark that we are to keep watch and waiting. And it's Advent so we watch and wait for Jesus. So, do I need these binoculars for what we are watching for? You don't think so? But I want to see God right away and isn't God far away? .... It seems like in Advent we watch for God we also know that God is near. So maybe I don't need these binoculars to see God. Hhhmmm, what are the ways we know God is around us? Take responses. Focus in on how we can see God working in the acts of love around us in the world. And while we wait for Christmas, we can focus on how we see the light of Christ around us during this time when it's dark longer. At this time of year we say Christ is our Light because we think about God being the one that gives us light and hope. In our Gospel today and in all of Advent we talk about how we are waiting and watching for God's light. We can call those Godsightings--like when we see or hear stories of people helping others or acts of love. God is all around us and working in our world today. Where can you watch for God this week? Take responses.
Faith+Prayer: This week, watch for God in all you do. Keep a list or tell your family at dinner what you saw.
Prayer with me: Christ our light, shine us while we wait. Help us see you each day and know that your love is with us always. Amen
Faith+Blessing:
May the light of Christ be with you today and all your days. +
Extended Ideas:
Have a candle cut (or binoculars) out with Christ written on it and have kids take it back to their seats and write where they can watch for God this week.
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