Jesus is Risen! Along the Road to Emmaus (April 22nd)

Season of the Church Year: Easter (white)

Story in Scripture: Luke 24: 1-35

Please note: This story is being taught for a second time because so many students missed it last week. It is such an important part of the Easter story and a great story to reflect on during this time of celebration. Remember, these summaries can always be found on the trinityKids blog (www.trinitykidsministry.blogspot.com).

As we continue through the Easter season, it is so wonderful to consider all the different ways that Jesus reconciled with his disciples. They were so distraught, confused, and afraid. Jesus knew that each of them needed to be met in a unique way to reassure them of God’s promise in their lives. Over the next few weeks, we will learn about Jesus’ appearance to his friends and followers at the tomb, along the road to Emmaus, and in the Upper Room. We will also learn about the ways that Jesus helped his disciples (particularly Peter) to understand their own actions and choices on his last days. Today’s lesson focused on Jesus’ revelation to the disciples along the road to Emmaus. Just like in the story of Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdelene at the tomb, his disciples do not realize that it is their Savior until the right time. Luke explains that they walked along the road with a stranger, who shared great wisdom with them about Jesus’ death. They reflect later that their hearts burned with passion to hear is words. Yet they didn’t realize who it really was. As they invite the stranger to dine with them, his true identity is revealed as he breaks the bread. What a surprise!! Although we didn’t go into great detail about this in our classroom discussion, I encourage you to talk with your child about the ways that God reveals himself to us through the personhood of Jesus and through the love of our friends and family. Frequently, we may feel that we are alone in our struggles (as perhaps the disciples were feeling), yet God meets us and walks alnog with us, even when we don’t realize that he is there.

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

Now I wonder how Jesus’ friends felt when Jesus died before Easter?

I wonder how they knew Jesus was alive? Or how they knew the person sitting at the table was Jesus?

I wonder what it felt like to recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread?

I wonder if you have ever been close to bread like this?

I wonder how it feels to know Jesus is alive?

I wonder what it was like to tell others that Jesus was alive?

I wonder how we can celebrate that Jesus is risen? 

Prayer:

“Father, I love you and am so glad that you are here with us during all our struggles and in the dark times. Help us to love one another and to remember that you walk along the “road” beside us, even when we are confused. Amen.”

Looking Ahead:

We will be learning about Jesus’ Great Commission to the disciples. The story can be found in the book of Matthew, 28: 16-20.

Jesus is Risen! Mary Magdelene at the Tomb (April 15th)

Season of the Church Year: Easter (white)

Story in Scripture: John 20: 1-18

As we enter in to the Easter season, it is so wonderful to consider all the different ways that Jesus reconciled with his disciples. They were so distraught, confused, and afraid. Jesus knew that each of them needed to be met in a unique way to reassure them of God’s promise in their lives. Over the next few weeks, we will learn about Jesus’ appearance to his friends and followers at the tomb, along the road to Emmaus, and in the Upper Room. We will also learn about the ways that Jesus helped his disciples (particularly Peter) to understand their own actions and choices on his last days. Today’s lesson focused on Jesus’ revelation to Mary at the tomb. It is significant that Mary and her friends were brave enough to venture out in Jerusalem, but they were devoted to caring for Jesus. What a strange experience it must have been for them to approach the tomb and see it open! Mary was surely beside herself to think that someone had taken his body away. Then Jesus appears and speaks to her. The children are frequently intriguied that Mary doesn’t recognize Jesus at first, thinking he is a gardener. Then... he says her name. Oh, what a wonderful illustration for us!! As soon as she hears her name from her Savior’s lips, she realizes that it is him. Jesus truly knows us and this story reminds us that we must listen for him and be receptive when he speaks. This story is also important in context. Mary returns to the other disicples and so becomes the first to share the Good News of Christ’s resurrection. She is an example for us all as we share about God’s love to those that we meet.

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

Now wonder what it was like to be going to Jesus’ tomb that Sunday morning?

I wonder how Mary felt when Jesus died?

I wonder what it feels like when someone or something that you love dies or goes away?

I wonder how Mary felt when Jesus’ body was not in the tomb?

I wonder what it was like to hear, “Jesus is alive! Jesus is risen, indeed!” ?

I wonder how Mary knew this person was Jesus?

I wonder how Mary felt when Jesus called her by name?

I wonder what it felt like to tell others that Jesus was risen?

I wonder how we can know that Jesus is alive?

Prayer:

“Dear God, we are so thankful that you brought Jesus through death and made him alive again! We are so thankful for the resurrection and all the hope that it brings. Help us to think about and celebrate your blessings each morning, afternoon, and night. We love you and are grateful that you love us enough to send your Son to die for our forgiveness. Amen.”

Looking Ahead:

We will be learning about Jesus’ appearance to his friends on the road to Emmaus next week. This story is told in the book of Luke, chapter 24: 1-35.

Jesus' Last Supper (April 1st)

Season of the Church Year: Lent VI (purple)

Story in Scripture: Matthew 26: 26-28

Our lesson last week centered around the story of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. The people were so excited about Jesus’s arrival. They had heard that he would be King, but they still didn’t know what kind of King he would be. They shouted and said, “Hosanna in the Highest, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” This week, we discussed the meal that Jesus shared with the disciples before he died. This yearly Passover meal was always special, but this time Jesus prepared his friends for what was about to happen. Also, Jesus tried to help them understand the sacrifice that he was going to make. He broke the bread in a new way- he broke the bread and said, “Take. Eat. This is my body, broken for you.” He also took the wine and said, “Drink this, all of you. This is my blood, which is shed for you.” These words surprised many of the disciples and are stil difficult for us to understand today, even though we have all of Christian history to help us. The teachers went on to explain that shortly after this meal, people who didn’t like Jesus took him. They wouldn’t let him go. Later they nailed him to a cross to kill him…. Jesus died. It was terribly sad and awful.  Happily, the teachers explained that we will see that three days later, God did an amazing thing. God made Jesus alive again. We’ll get to talk all about that on Easter! Perhaps one of the most memorable aspects of this story, for children, is the connection to the communion table (and our weekly “feast” of fruit!). Every time Christians eat the bread and drink from the cup at Communion, they remember Jesus, and that he died for us, but God made him alive again. I encourage you to prepare your child for the darkness of Maundy Thursday (when we recall this final Passover meal), Good Friday (when we acknowledge Jesus’ death), and Holy Saturday (in which we await Easter morning, thinking carefully about the time that Jesus’ disciples -and the whole of creation- waited for Jesus’ Resurrection). It is a really special time.

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

Now I wonder how it felt to be around this table and hear Jesus say,

     “Take. Eat. This is my body broken for you.”

I wonder how the disciples felt when they were eating the bread and drinking the wine?

I wonder how they felt when Jesus died?

I wonder how they felt when they heard that God made Jesus alive again?

I wonder if you have ever been close to a table like this?

Prayer:

“Father, as we prepare for Easter, help us to follow Jesus’ example for loving others and glorifying you. Even though he knew things were going to be scary and painful, he knew that the most important thing was to show peace and love. Be with us as we think about Jesus’ sacrifice for our forgiveness. Amen.”

VBS 2012

trinitykids Vacation Bible School!

Monday- Friday

June 25-  June 29

Children entering Kindergarten- grade 2: 9:00 am- 12:00 noon daily

Children entering grades 3- 5:

9:00 am- 3:00 pm daily.

Youth in grades 6 - 8 may participate as Junior Counselors.

Saturday will be a celebration picnic & field trip: 9:00 am- 2:00 pm for all children & their families 

Sign ups will begin in late May

We will be studying the Fruits of the Spirit through story-telling, singing, play, creation, & service.