Love Comes From God

Christ Episcopal Church

Children’s Chapel

May 14, 2017

Easter V

·             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.)

·             Church Practice:

Today is the fifth Sunday of Easter. Alleluia! We remember that the season of Easter continues for 50 days past Easter Sunday ending on Pentecost where we see the red square on our liturgical calendar. The cloth on our Children’s Chapel altar is white today because we are now in the season of Easter. 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 white square which is the same color as the cloth that we have on our altar.  You will also notice that in big church the altar frontal, church dressings, and clergy stoles are white. (Light altar candles.) We light these candles to remind us that Christ is the light of the world. We remember that God is always with us, that Jesus lives in our hearts and that we are inspired by the power of the Holy Spirit. Before we begin our Bible lesson today, let us pray.

·             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. Draw us near to you and 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

·             Introduction: Today is a very special day. Can anyone tell me what day we are celebrating? You are right! Today we celebrate those who are our mothers or those who are like mothers to us in our lives. Just as we are all different and have unique qualities, mothers are all different too. But there are a few things that all mothers have in common. Can you think of a couple of things that mothers have in common? (Allow answers.) Most mothers have children or someone to care for and all mothers have lots of love to give. In the Bible, we learn that “God is love.” Paul encourages us in a letter to John saying:

·             Bible Reference: (1 John 4:7)

Dear Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

·             Response: In celebrating mothers on this special day we give thanks for the love that they give us which we also know comes from God. We are all so very blessed to have others in our lives who show us God’s love and to whom we can also show God’s love. Let us pray:

·             Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of our mothers and for the gift of your love that you show us through our mothers and others who love us. Strengthen us with your love so that we may be able to love others. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

·             Response Activity: An activity will be provided for the children.

Children will make a picture frame for their mothers or another special person in their lives. All materials will be provided.