September 30, 2021 - Recorded Story of Abram and Sarai

Story of Abram and Sarai

See this and other Children & Worship & Wonder here

Wonder:

I wonder what is the most important part of this story?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how this story helps us listen to children?

Response:

If you would like to make something that shows how this story feels to you. You may use any art materials that are available to you.

Read Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4.

Share:  We would love you to share your responses on our Light a Candle With Children Facebook page at facebook.com/LightaCandleforChildren.

September 29, 2021 - Story of Abram and Sarai

Story of Abram and Sarai

Go here for more guidance on engaging in this year's Light a Candle with Children.

Story Preparation: Find a place in your home to worship with the story.

Sing: “Be Still and Know that I Am God”

Be Still and Know I am God, Be Still and Know I am God, Be Still and Know I am God.

Center Your Mind and Body

Share the Story: of “Abram and Sarai” Young Children and Worship by Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman

Genesis 12-13

The desert is a strange and wild place. At night it is very cold, but in the day it is burning hot. There is almost no water at all….. The desert is always changing. The wind comes. And as it blows it shapes and molds. So the desert is never the same.

Once Abram…

And Sarai…

Lived in the beautiful city of Haran.

The one true God loved Abram and Sarai.

One day God said to them, “Move from your home. I will give you a new home and a new land. It’s all right to go. I will be with you. And I will bless you….

And I will make you a blessing.”

Abram and Sarai looked across the desert. It would be sad to leave their home and their friends.

They wondered if they would be safe. Would God be with them?

Abram and Sarai went. They trusted the one true God to show them the way.

They came to Shechem in the land of Canaan. God had been with them in Haran.

But would God be here too?

Then God said to them, “Look. Look at all this land….I will give this to your children.”

Abram and Sarai were so happy that God was with them, they couldn’t help but give thanks to God. So they built a special place, an altar and prayed their thanks to God.

Then they moved on to a place near Bethel.

And God was there too. Abram and Sarai were so happy that God was with them, they couldn’t help but give thanks to God. So they built an altar and prayed their thanks.

Then there came a great famine so there was not enough food to eat. They were very hungry. So Abram and Sarai moved to the land of Egypt for food.

Abram was scared. He was scared of the people of Egypt. He forgot that God had promised to be with him. But God did not forget. God kept Abram and Sarai safe. The Egyptians were good to them, and gave them food and animals… Abram and Sarai moved back to the land of Canaan, the land God promised to give them, to a place called Hebron.

Abram and Sarai wondered if God would be here too. God had been with them in Haran…and in Shechem, and near Bethel, and in Egypt. Would God be in Hebron too? Then God said to them, “I will give you many children to live in this land.” Abram and Sarai were so happy that God was with them they couldn’t help but give thanks to God. So they built an altar and prayed their thanks…

To the one true God who was with them.

Now Abram and Sarai knew that the one true God who spoke to them and showed them the way….

Was in every place…

And in every time….

Just as God promised.

Wonder:

I wonder what is the most important part of this story?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how this story helps us listen to children?

Response:

If you would like to make something that shows how this story feels to you. You may use any art materials that are available to you.

Read Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4.

Share:  We would love you to share your responses on our Light a Candle With Children Facebook page at facebook.com/LightaCandleforChildren.

September 28, 2021 - Reflection of Creation - Lisa Engelken

Reflection of Creation

What are some of the biggest gifts you have? As I ponder on all my gifts, I give thanks for the creation of being: My being, my children’s being, and my grandchildren’s being. I have the joy of spending time with my grandchildren three to four days a week. We play, we wonder, we create, but my favorite thing in our being together is when they reach out their hand to invite my hand into theirs to go explore their world.

Lisa Engelken

Minister for Children Worship & Wonder

Fairway, Kansas

Prayer: Creator God, thanks for the gift of children and grandchildren. Have them show us the way. Amen.

Wonder:

I wonder what is the most important part of this story?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how this story helps us listen to children??

Response:

If you would like to make something that shows how this story feels to you. You may use any art materials that are available to you.

Read Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:3

Share:  We would love you to share your responses on our Light a Candle With Children Facebook page at facebook.com/LightaCandleforChildren.

September 27, 2021 - Recorded Story of Creation

 Story of Creation

See this and other Children & Worship & Wonder here

Wonder:

I wonder what is the most important part of this story?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how this story helps us listen to children??

Response:

If you would like to make something that shows how this story feels to you. You may use any art materials that are available to you.

Read Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:3

Share:  We would love you to share your responses on our Light a Candle With Children Facebook page at facebook.com/LightaCandleforChildren.

September 26, 2021 - The Story of Creation

Story of Creation 

Go here for more guidance on engaging in this year's Light a Candle with Children.

CW&W Story Preparation: Find a place in your home to worship with the story.

Sing: “Be Still and Know that I Am God”

Be Still and Know I am God, Be Still and Know I am God, Be Still and Know I am God.

Center Your Mind and Body

Share the Story: of “Creation” Young Children and Worship by Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman

Genesis 1:1-2:3

What are some of the biggest gifts you have?

That is a very big gift, but can you think of something bigger? There are some gifts that are so big that it’s very hard to see them. They’re everywhere, but they are so big we forgot they are here. I don’t know how to see them unless we go back to the beginning…or just before the beginning. Let’s see if we can do that.

In the beginning there was nothing...except God…and perhaps an enormous smile.

On the first day God gave us the gift of light.

I don’t mean light like the light in this room or the light you can turn on and off. I don’t mean the light of the sun, moon, and stars. I mean light. All light. What is present in light that makes it light…. When God saw the light, God said, “It is good.”

On the second day God gave us the gift of water.

I don’t mean the water in a glass or the water in the bathtub, or the water that comes from the sky. I mean water. All water. What is present in water that makes it water…. When God saw the water, God said. “It is good.”

On the third day God gave us the gift of the dry land…

…and the growing things.

I mean all the land and all the green growing things… And when God saw the dry land and the green growing things. God said, “They are good.”

On the fourth day God gave us the gift of the great lights.

The light that rules the day…

…and the great light that rules the night.

And when God saw the great lights. God said, “They are good.”

On the fifth day God gave us the gift of the fish that swim in the sea and the birds that fly in the air.

When God saw the fish and birds, God said, “They are good.”

On the sixth day God gave us the gift of the creatures that walk upon the earth; the animals and the people.

When God saw the animals and the people, God said, “They are good.”

And God saw everything that was made, and God said, “It was very good.”

On the seventh day God gave us the gift of a day to rest and remember the gifts of all the other days.

On this day we find a special place to remember all the gifts of God.

Wonder:

I wonder what is the most important part of this story?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how this story helps us listen to children??

Response:

If you would like to make something that shows how this story feels to you. You may use any art materials that are available to you.

Read Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:3

Share:  We would love you to share your responses on our Light a Candle With Children Facebook page at facebook.com/LightaCandleforChildren.

September 25, 2021 - Reflection of The Good Shepherd - Linda Presley

Reflection of The Good Shepherd 

A child shall lead them:

I had a wonderful experience with a parent who told me about her 3rd grade daughter Evie. Evie told her mom not to worry so much about moving to their new house. Evie told her mom that God would provide. She ran to get her new Bible to find the verses in the Psalms which would help her mom. When Evie couldn't find the verses, her mom asked her to tell her some of the scripture. Evie said it began with "The Lord is my Shepherd". Her mom was able to show her Psalm 23 which they then read together. Evie is a graduate of Children Worship & Wonder.

Linda Presley, CW&W Trainer

Martinsville, Indiana

Prayer: Dear Good Shepherd, the one who shows us the way. Give us strength and peace for change and all things new. Amen.

Linda Presley, CW&W Trainer

Martinsville, Indiana

Wonder:

I wonder what is the most important part of this story?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how this story helps us listen to children?

Response:

If you would like to make something that shows how this story feels to you. You may use any art materials that are available to you.

Read Scripture: Psalms 23:1-4

Share:  We would love you to share your responses on our Light a Candle With Children Facebook page at facebook.com/LightaCandleforChildren.

September 24, 2021 - Recorded Story of the Good Shepherd

Story of the Good Shepherd

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See this and other Children & Worship & Wonder here.

Wonder:

I wonder what is the most important part of this story?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how this story helps us listen to children?


Response:

If you would like to make something that shows how this story feels to you. You may use any art materials that are available to you.


Read Scripture: Psalms 23:1-4


Share:  We would love you to share your responses on our Light a Candle With Children Facebook page at facebook.com/LightaCandleforChildren.

September 23, 2021 - The Story of the Good Shepherd

The Story of the Good Shepherd

Go here for more guidance on engaging in this year's Light a Candle with Children.

Story Preparation: Find a place in your home to worship with the story.

Sing: “Be Still and Know that I Am God”

Be Still and Know I am God, Be Still and Know I am God, Be Still and Know I am God.

Center Your Mind and Body

Share the Story: of “The Good Shepherd” Young Children and Worship by Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman

The Light (Psalm 23)

I wonder if this is a parable? Hmm. It might be. Parables are very precious, like gold, and this box is gold

This box looks a bit like a gift.

Well, parables are like presents. They have already been given to us. We can’t buy them, or steal them. They are already ours…. There is another reason why this might be a parable. It has a lid.

And sometimes parables seem to have lids on them. But when you lift the lid of a parable there is something very precious inside… I know. Let’s take off the lid and see if this is a parable.

I wonder what this could be?

It’s so green. It’s so soft and warm. I wonder what could be so green?

Maybe there is something else that will help us…

Here it is..

It is so blue… and cool. I wonder what it might be?

Let’s see if there’s anything else.

These are very dark. There seems to be no light in them at all.

I wonder what these could be?

I wonder what this could be? If I place it here…it looks like a road.

This could be the beginning, and this could be the end. Or this could be the beginning and this the end.

If I add another… then the road could be in between.

Then this could be the beginning and this the end. Or this might be the beginning and this the end.

There are more. If I put one here and one here…I could make this place very strong. It’s getting stronger…and stronger. Now I wonder what this could be? It could be a log cabin…Hmm, it could be a corral.

There is an inside…and an outside in this place. But I think there needs to be a way to go out…and a way to come in…I could make a gate.

I wonder who lives here?

Here are some sheep. If sheep live in this place, then it must be a sheepfold. It is called a sheepfold because the sheep are folded safely inside.

Once there was someone who said such amazing things and did such wonderful things that people began to follow him. But they didn’t know who he was. So one day they simply had to ask him, and he said…

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know each one of my sheep by name.

And they know the sound of my voice. So when I call my sheep from the sheepfold, they follow me.

I walk in front of the sheep to show them the way.

I show them the way to the good green grass…I show them the way to the cool, clear, still water….

And when there are places of danger….

I show them the way to pass through…

So they can come safely home to the sheepfold.”

Wonder:

I wonder what is the most important part of this story?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how this story helps us listen to children?

Response:

If you would like to make something that shows how this story feels to you. You may use any art materials that are available to you.

Read Scripture: Psalms 23:1-4

Share: We would love you to share your responses on our Light a Candle With Children Facebook page at facebook.com/LightaCandleforChildren.

September 22, 2021 - Reflection of The Light - Jane Nettles

Reflection of The Light 

Recently, I ran into my grown Children Worship & Wonder graduate, Katie Kirk, that is now in Yale Divinity School. Katie shared how much CW&W has influenced her spiritual formation. She had an internship this summer at Emory as a Chaplin in the ICU COVID ward and she shared with everyone and it was her motto every day: “The Light that was in one place at one time can be with you and in all places at all times and everywhere.” It made me want to cry.

Jane Nettles, CW&W Trainer

Auburn, Alabama

Prayer: Dear God of Light, may we always remember our light and that it helps us show the way. Amen.

Wonder:

I wonder what is the most important part of this story?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how this story helps us listen to children?

Response:

If you would like to make something that shows how this story feels to you. You may use any art materials that are available to you.

Read Scripture: John 8:12

Share: We would love you to share your responses on our Light a Candle With Children Facebook page at facebook.com/LightaCandleforChildren.

September 21, 2021 - Recorded Story of The Light

Story of the Light

See this and other Children & Worship & Wonder here

Wonder:

I wonder what is the most important part of this story?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how this story helps us listen to children??

Response:

If you would like to make something that shows how this story feels to you. You may use any art materials that are available to you.

Read Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:3

Share: We would love you to share your responses on our Light a Candle With Children Facebook page at facebook.com/LightaCandleforChildren.

September 20, 2021 - Story of The Light

Story of The Light

Go here for more guidance on engaging in this year's Light a Candle with Children.

Story Preparation: Find a place in your home to worship with the story.

Sing: “Be Still and Know that I Am God”

Be Still and Know I am God, Be Still and Know I am God, Be Still and Know I am God.

Center Your Mind and Body

Share the Story: of “The Light” Young Children and Worship by Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman

The Light (John 8:12)

Once there was someone who said such amazing things and did such wonderful things that people began to follow him. But they didn’t know who he was. So one day they simply had to ask him. And he said, “I am the Light.”

Let’s enjoy the light.

People who love the Light can become one with the Light. This is how your light becomes one with the Light of Christ. Watch.

_________, this is your light.

_________, this is your light.

Look how the light is growing. It all came from the Light here.

Look, the light is in so many places at once.

Many have come to the Light to be one with the Light. But the Light is not smaller. It is still the same…. I wonder how so much light could be given away and the Light still be the same?

There was even a day when I became one with the Light of Christ. Let’s enjoy the light.

There comes a time when the Light is changed so it’s not just in one place anymore. It can be in many places at once. Watch. You see the light is just in one place now.

I am going to change the light so it is not just in one place anymore. It can be in many places all at once. Watch.

Now I will change each of your lights so they can be in more than one place.

Even the Light was changed. The Light that was just in one place at one time is in all places at all times. So the Light can be everywhere in this room and even in other places.

Wonder:

I wonder what is the most important part of this story?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how this story helps us listen to children?

Response:

If you would like to make something that shows how this story feels to you. You may use any art materials that are available to you.

Read Scripture: John 8:12

Share: We would love you to share your responses on our Light a Candle With Children Facebook page at facebook.com/LightaCandleforChildren.

2021 Introduction to Light a Candle with Children - Lisa Engelken

Introduction 

The 2021 Children’s Sabbath, “Where Does It Hurt?” Listening to Heal Our Children, is encouraging Communities of faith to take action. Where can we start? Listen. Here is the best action that is the start of true social change. Children’s Defense Fund shares, “Why Listen? Listening is the heartbeat of movement building If we want to create social change, we have to stop talking, open our hearts, and listen without judgment or assumptions. When we listen, hear, and respond, our efforts to improve parent-school and student-school relations are organic and grassroots in nature. We move away from becoming “advocates” (literally “those who speak for”) and support families as they take their power, own their experiences and needs, find their voices, and take collective action to make the changes they want to see for their community’s children and youth. With Family Suppers, participants gather in the name of success for all students. Together, participants can see their value as individuals as well as the influence they can have in the school system if they work together, support each other, and advocate collectively for what they believe their children need.”

Many churches in our denomination have Children Worship & Wonder. This experience of God is a place where we can start in this listening practice. This year’s devotions are ways you can experience a little of what happens each Sunday morning with children. It will be in three parts: 1) You will read the story, 2) you will watch the story, and 3) you we hear reflections from the Children Worship & Wonder Trainers. As you work through the stories take time to reconnect with your inner child and wonder each day,

I wonder what is the most important part of this story?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how this story helps us listen to children?

We would like to hear your responses if you are willing to share. Please send to Light A Candle Facebook at facebook.com/LightaCandleforChildren.

Join us this year to listen first so we know where to heal.

Grace and Peace,

Lisa Engelken

Rev. Lisa Engelken

Minister for Children Worship & Wonder