Let Your Light Shine!

Children’s Chapel

February 5, 2017

Epiphany V

Bible Reference: Matthew 5: 14-16

I.         Welcome: Good Morning girls and boys! I am so happy to see you all this morning! Do we have any new friends with us? (Welcome new friends.)

II.       Church Practice: (light altar candles)

We light these candles to remind us that Christ is the light of the world. On our altar table today, we have a green cloth. Who would like to move the arrow on our liturgical calendar? (Allow one child to come up to the calendar to move the arrow forward one week.) The arrow is now pointing to the fifth green square which is the same color as the cloth that we have on our altar. We are in the fifth week of Epiphany in our church calendar year. You will notice in big church that the altar frontal is green and the clergy are also wearing green stoles. Before we begin our Bible lesson today, let us pray.

III.     Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are here to worship and praise you. Open our hearts and minds so that we may hear your words spoken to us through the Bible story today. Give us strength that we may serve you through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

IV.      Introduction: Do you know the song, "This Little Light of Mine?” Let’s sing it together. (Sing two verses, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine . . . “and “Hide it under a bushel, No!  I’m gong to let it shine . . .”)

I wonder what does it mean to let your light shine? Do I have a light bulb or a candle inside my head that shines like a lamp or a candle? No! That’s silly of course not! So what does it mean when I let my light shine? We have talked a lot in Children’s Chapel about one person who is the “Light of the World.” Can you remind me again who is the “Light of the World.” You are right! Jesus is the light of the world. And we know that Jesus lives where? Yes, in our hearts! So where does our light come from when it shines? You are right! It comes from Jesus! Today in our Bible story Jesus talks about the light that shines in each one of us. Let’s listen to Jesus’ words from the Gospel of Matthew.

V.        Bible Story: (Read aloud.)

Matthew 5:14-16

¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵No  

 one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the

 lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let

 your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and

give glory to your Father in heaven.

VI.      Response: When Jesus talked about letting light shine, he used words that we sang this morning in our song, “This little Light of mine.” Jesus sais “No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but instead puts it on a lampstand, and it gives light to all the house.” Now what in the world is a bushel basket? Has anyone ever seen a bushel basket? You may have used one when you went to pick apples or peaches at the orchards. A bushel basket looks like this (show basket.) Now what would happen if I put this bushel basket over a light. (Allow answers.) The light would be dimmed or it may go out if it were a candle. When we shine a light, we want all to be able to see it so that it can be useful to everyone who needs it. God is who is Jesus is the light that lives in each one of us. That light may look different in every person as God places different gifts and talents in each of us to shine his light in the world. When the light of God shines in each of us, love also shines into the world through God working in each of our gifts and talents. So, like a regular light that we wouldn’t want to hide under a bushel basket, neither do we want to hide the light of God that shines in each of us. We want to share that light with the world for God’s light to be received by all who see it.

Let us pray:

VII.    Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Son Jesus who is the “Light of the World.” Strengthen us as we trust in you that your light may shine through each one of us in the gifts and talents that you have placed in our hearts so that all in the world may see and experience your light and love. Amen.

VIII.  Response Activity (Crafts, Singing, or another activity will be provided.)