Sunday School, Creation, Day 1

Sunday School Lesson

September 11, 2016

Theme: “Creation: Day 1”

I.         Entry Task/Spiritual Development Activity (5 minutes): All children will be greeted and welcomed at the door by an adult teacher. Children will then be directed to quietly enter the room and find a seat at one of the tables where an exploratory box will be located. Second teacher will invite children to look at the different items in the “Creation” exploratory boxes and to write or draw about what they see on a piece of drawing paper. This time is meant to have children thinking and exploring quietly objects that will later be used for group discussion. Encourage children to use small, quiet voices as they explore. This beginning exercise is also to set the tone for a calm, peaceful environment we are working towards within the classroom.

II.       Gather Time (5 minutes) Teachers will invite all children to find a place on the “Gathering Carpet” for group check-in and discussion. Ask each friend to say his/her name and share one thing he/she discovered in the “Creation” exploratory box. After all children have shared, invite children to think about how God can be seen in each of the objects that they “discovered.” Encourage children to look for more objects after they go away from Sunday school and to think about how they might see God in the objects they find.

III.     Church Practice-Instruction in common church practices and basic terms. (5 minutes) Teacher will ask children to identify on the liturgical calendar what season the church is celebrating by looking at the color (green, purple, white or red) in which the arrow on the calendar is pointing. Teacher will invite two children to “dress” the classroom altar with the cloth corresponding to the color on the liturgical calendar. Encourage children to take note of the altar frontal in “Big Church” and see that it is also dressed in the same liturgical colors. Light the candles on the classroom altar and explain to children that lit candles are a symbol to remind us of the presence of the Holy Spirit who is always with us. (Children will learn about other symbols used in the church as the year progresses.) Encourage children to take notice of the candles in “Big Church.” After the candles are lit, take the Bible and show children the two parts, old and new testament. As stories are read, identify where we are finding the Bible story before it is read aloud.

IV.      Bible Lesson (10 minutes)

A.  Introduction: Today as we begin a new year in Sunday School we are also going to listen to and talk about God’s creation from it’s very beginning. There are many different types of beginnings. Think for a moment about something that was a new beginning for you (Allow answers.) We have a beginning to the new school year, a beginning to a story, a beginning to each calendar year . . . There are many beginnings.  The wonderful thing about the beginning of creation is that God was there even before it all began. God is in creation now and God will always be in creation. Now as we listen to the story of the first day of creation, let us think about God being there as he is with us right now. Today our story comes from the first book of the Bible which is located in the Old Testament. Let’s listen.

For Teacher Reference: (Read the Bible verse through one time while children listen. As you read verses 1-5 of the book of Genesis a second time, illustrate the creation of light with the visual experiment seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtdHIkYTA4I. All materials will be supplied and the “darkness” bottle will be prepared before hand. You will simply add the oil to create the “light” and to show the separation. You will also tape down the top once you are finished adding the oil to avoid a big mess.)

B.  Bible Reference (Read Aloud)

  Genesis 1:1-5

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, ²the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.

³Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. ⁴And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

C.  Response: In the beginning, God was present before creation just as he is present now and will be in the future. God’s presence hovered above the darkness until he spoke with just his words, “Let there be light!” And the darkness and the light were separated. God looked at his work and saw that it was good.  We know that God sent his Son Jesus, who is the “light of the world” to live among us. Because Jesus is the light we also know that Jesus was present at the very beginning of creation too. The good news today is that Jesus came before us, he is with us now and he will go ahead of us always in our lives.

V.        Response Activity: (10 minutes) Children will work on a simple “Creation” Day 1 craft wheel. Have children write their names on the wheel and collect them to be used for the next Sunday school lessons.

VI.      Closing and Dismissal: (5 minutes) Teachers will invite children to clean up and come back to the “Gathering Carpet” for prayer and a benediction before dismissal. One teacher stand at the door to greet parents as they pick up their children. Children will remain in the carpet until their parent comes.

A.  Pray: Heavenly Father thank you for the gift of your creation and for being with us always. Strengthen us as we trust in you and let your light and love shine through each one of us. Amen

B.  The Lord’s Prayer (Say together.)

C.  Benediction: Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. (All) Thanks be to God!