Lesson Plans that Work
Revised Common Lectionary Old Testament Readings
Year A - Epiphany
Unit background: What is Epiphany?
The word Epiphany means “appearance” or “manifestation” of Christ to the gentiles. We think of revelation, insight or “shedding light” on who Christ was and is to us.
The feast day of Epiphany is January 6, concluding the Twelve Days of Christmas. We associate it with the arrival of the Wise Men; the Magi who followed the star, the light that led them to the Christ child. The symbol is usually the enlarged star over the manger in Bethlehem.
Epiphany 4
Lesson Plan for Young Children
Theme: The Light of Christ
The theme is about going from darkness into light, a common metaphor the prophets used to speak to God’s people. It is about opposites: light vs. dark; insight vs. ignorance; listening to God vs. not listening; following God vs. waywardness. The easiest way to explain to children is compare and contrast. God’s love is always there to direct us into the light of Christ by giving us guidelines on how to treat each other. This unit includes words of the prophets and the commandments.
This Week’s Reading: Micah 6:1-8
Hear what the LORD says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. 2 Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people and he will contend with Israel.
3 “O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! 4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5 O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the LORD.” 6 “With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD requires of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Background Information for Scripture
· The Book of Micah – Micah is a “minor” prophet who addressed Judah to the south at the same time as Isaiah addressed the northern kingdom in the eighth century BCE. (It has split into two kingdoms after King Solomon.) His message was concern for the poor and hope of returning from Babylonian exile. Micah asserts religious rituals are meaningless without justice.
· History – Assyria was expanding its empire and had replaced Babylon as the powers that be. Micah makes reference to God freeing the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt under the leadership of Moses, Aaron and Miriam (the Exodus). King Balak of Moab paid Balaam son of Beor to curse the Israelites before they entered Canaan after wondering in the Wilderness, but God intervened and they entered the Promised Land. Hopefully God would intervene once again and Jerusalem would be restored. Recounting saving acts tells much about God’s relationship to the Hebrews.
· Geography – Shittim to Gilgal; Shittim is east of River Jordan (Jordan today) and Gilgal is west of the river. This is the direction the Israelites took when entering the Promised Land, east to west.
· Theology – What does God require of you?
o Justice “mishpat” – fairness and equality in all relationships.
o Kindness “hesed” – better translated as mercy; loyalty or integrity.
o To walk humbly “hatsnea lekhet” – a way of life directly opposed to exploitation of power which is seen as the root of corruption and injustice.
· Liturgy – Micah emphasizes ritual is meaningless without justice. Burnt offerings were a major part of the worship in the Temple of Jerusalem. The offerings were animals and first fruits of the harvest which included (olive) oil. The first son became (was offered as) a priest; an offering of “first fruits” to God (not human sacrifice).
o Anointing of oil is used to ordain/consecrate priests, to heal and to Baptize. All these rituals, especially ordaining priests, have roots in the Old Testament (Exodus 30:23-25). Oil was also used to anoint kings and for burying the dead. Myrrh was one of the gifts from the Magi and used to anoint Jesus’ body at the time of death.
· New Testament passages – cross references
o Matthew 7:12 – The Golden Rule sums up the commandments and teaching of the prophets; treat others as you want to be treated. “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”
The Story: (May begin with a song from music section below.)
People who lived before Jesus waited a long time for him to be born. While the people waited God began to get them ready to receive the gift of Jesus. God told particular people called prophets what was going to happen. Prophets listened to God in a special way. The prophets reminded the people of God’s love and the great deeds God did.
The Lord God spoke to Micah and Micah said this to the people: (Micah 6:8)
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
What do you think it means to do justice? How are we to treat others? (Give children time to wrestle with the concept of fairness.)
What do you think it means to love kindness? What would the world look like if we were kind to everyone? God wants us to show mercy towards one another; sometimes being kind when someone isn’t kind to us. (Give children time to share.)
What do you think it looks like to walk humbly with God? How is this possible? (Let children reflect.)
The Golden Rule tells us to treat others as we would like to be treated. What do you think this means? How would our relationships be if we each lived like this?
(This is an appropriate time to introduce a prayer option.)
Today we have more activities to show us how light and dark are opposites; that God wants us to see the light (of Christ) and know the love God has for us.
Response/Activities with extra supplies needed
· Art
o Hearts – cut out hearty by folding paper in half, draw half a heart. Using scissors requires fine motor skills. Children enjoy practicing but might need direction at age 3-4 on how to hold scissors (thumbs up). Write messages of kindness on hearts inspired by the children. These can be sent home or given for pastoral care visitations.
o Prayer box – Have a shoe box for the class to decorate and/or cover with hearts. Have children name an injustice they want changed. These can be written on hearts and placed in the prayer box and used with future sessions and/or with closing prayers.
o Free art is always a good option; most will welcome a blank sheet of paper. Younger children cannot color in lines, but neither are they inhibited to freely express themselves. You may want to direct their color choices to include both light and dark colors.
· Games
o Ball toss – (make ball from crumpled piece of paper.) Whoever catches ball must name an act of kindness.
o Heart verse – (needed: chalk/white board, chalk/marker, eraser.) Write verse 8 on board and slowly read aloud in unison several times. Then replace one word with a (drawn) heart and read again as a class, including the missing word. Continue erasing words, adding hearts and saying the verse until there are only hearts left and they can say the verse by heart.
· Drama
o Have children act out Micah 6:8; much like Charades.
o If possible, visit sacristy to see where oil for healing and baptism is stored.
o Continue to dress up using light and dark fabrics from session one.
· Music (same as Session 1)
o This little light of mine
o He’s got the whole world in his hands
o The Hymnal 1982, #490 - I want to walk as child of the light
o Wonder Love and Praise, #787 – We are marching in the light of God
· Cooking
o Making scented oil. Give each child a small paper cup and cotton ball. Place a couple drops of vegetable/olive oil on cotton ball. Add a drop of perfume/scent from air freshener. Children can even anoint each other with sign of cross on forehead and say “Walk in the light of Christ.” Talk to the children about times that oil is used for anointing, especially for healing and baptism. You may even want to discuss kings and priests.
Closure/Prayer Time
These prayers may be used at the end of “circle” time and/or to close the class session. Know your class and choose what is appropriate for them. However, you may want to choose one for the entire unit. The repetition of ritual brings structure and a true sense of closure to the session.
Option 1: Leader: Receive the light of Christ and go into the world.
Class: To walk in love as Christ loved us.
Option 2: The Song of Simeon/Nunc dimittis (recite together) (BCP, 93)
Lord, you now have set your servant free
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior
whom you have prepared for all the world to see;
A Light to enlighten the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Option 3: Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thy shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets (BCP, 423)
Option 4: The Lord’s Prayer
Option 5: It is always appropriate to say a prayer where the children each thank God for something. It is easier if everyone stands in a circle and holds hands. The child squeezed the hand of the child on his/her right when finished. This gives the option of “passing” if a child is bashful. It should begin and end with the adult. Peace to you.
Epiphany Lesson Plans for Young Children Writer: Linda Nichols