Children’s Message, Sunday, January 27, 2008

A about story living out God’s commandments

Today’s scripture reading is a very familiar one—the ten commandments. Now I know that in Sunday school you learn about the ten commandments and probably can name many of them—so I’m not going to talk too much about the commandments themselves today. I thought we could talk about how we live out God’s rules in our lives—not only the ten commandments, but also the Shema, Jesus’ new commandment in John 13 to “Love one another” and other rules that God has given us.

In the ten commandments, the first four tell us how to relate with God, while the last six tell us how to relate to each other. I want to share with you a story about how two brothers related to each other:
§ 2 brothers shared a farm—one married with a large family—the other a single with no children. The brothers worked together, so decided that each got half of the grain from the farm.
§ The married brother often woke in the night worrying about his brother. . . “With my wife and children, I have all the security I need for my old age, but what about my brother? Who will care for him?” so he would sneak out in the night with a sack of his own grain and pour it into his brother’s granary.
§ The single brother also worried. . . “My poor brother has so many to feed and support, where I am more than able to care for my own needs—surely it is unfair for me to have half when he has so much need” so he too would sneak out with his grain to pour into his brother’s granary.
§ And so they did this for many nights until one night they met and realized how much the other had cared for the other.
§ Years and years later, after the story of the two brothers had been shared in the village when it came time to build a church, the villagers chose the spot where the two brothers had met, for no one could think of a place in their town that was holier than that spot.

The reason I love this story is that it shows people who are loving each other, and by caring for the other are living out God’s commands to us.

Let’s pray: Help us to know your rules
To follow your ways
And to live out your commandments
In all that we do. Amen.

**Story adapted from a story on pg. 60 & 61 of "Taking Flight" by Anthony DeMello

Children’s Message, Sunday, January 6, 2008--Epiphany

So we couldn’t avoid it anymore--we took our Christmas tree down yesterday. As we were doing it, I thought about the star on top of our tree. Now all growing up, we had an angel on top of our tree, but the first year that we were married, my sister gave us a lovely star, and we have been star people ever since.

So let‘s do a little poll. . .raise your hand if:
Ÿ you have an angel on top of your Christmas tree.
Ÿ you have a star on top of your Christmas tree.

I love both of these Christmas symbols for the tops of trees. Angels remind us of the messengers that announced all the important news--Angels told both Mary and Joseph about Jesus’ coming birth. Angels filled the skies to tell the shepherds that Jesus had been born.


As I think of it more, it seems to be that the angel is all about preparing--the angels prepared everyone for the birth--they were the messengers. Both the angel and the star announced the birth, but the star then kind of took over. The star was the guide, leading everyone to Christ.

The star pointed everyone in the direction of Jesus--especially the wise men.

Today is Epiphany, the day when we especially remember the wise men and the star. And it is hard to think of the wise men without thinking of the star. Our first hymn today talked about the wise men who, “. . . hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright.” We Three Kings calls it the “star of wonder, star of light, star of royal beauty bright.” and later, “guide us to thy perfect light.”

And of course, “thy perfect light” is Jesus, the light of the world.

So when you see an angel on top of a tree, or anywhere, remember that we should always be preparing ourselves to do Jesus‘ work, and when you see a star--think of light--the light of Jesus, and the light that we can be in the world when we spread Jesus’ love.

Let’s pray: Loving God,
Thank you for angels to prepare us,
Stars to guide us,
And Jesus who is our light.
Help us to share your light with the world. Amen.