Moses and the Red Sea

Children’s Chapel

September 17, 2017

Bible Reference: Exodus 14-15:

Theme: Moses Parts the Red Sea

·        Welcome: Welcome all and ask if we have any new friends. Introduce new friends.

·        Church Traditions and Liturgical Calendar:

Who can tell me what liturgical season we are in right now. If you take a look at our liturgical calendar you will see that we are right in the middle of Ordinary Time. The color we use for this time is green so you will see that the cloth on our Children’s Chapel altar is green.  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 fifteenth green square.  You will also notice that in big church the altar frontal, church dressings, and clergy stoles are also green to show that we are in Ordinary Time.

·         Lighting of candles

(As one adult lights the altar candles, say.) We light these candles to remind us that Christ is the light of the world. We also 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 the Collect or prayer of the week.

·        Children’s Collect for September 17th:

Let Us Pray:

Heavenly Father, because we can not please you by ourselves, please send us your Holy Spirit to show our hearts and minds how to serve you and be your love and light in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives

and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and

for ever. Amen.

·         Introduction: Over the last several Sundays we have read from the Old Testament book of Exodus about Moses. We remember from last week’s Bible story that Moses went to the Egyptian Pharaoh to tell him that God demanded that he let the Israelites go. The Pharaoh did not want to listen to God and so God sent ten terrible plagues to warn the king. Finally, the king let the Israelites go and Moses led them out of Egypt. But as they were leaving, the Egyptian Pharaoh changed his mind. This is where the Bible story today picks up. Let’s listen to what happens next.

·         Bible Story: Read Aloud: “The Jesus Storybook Bible” p. 92-99

With Children in grades 1-5, have several children volunteers read aloud to the others.

·         Bible Reference: Exodus 14-15

·    Response: In the Bible story we just listened to, Moses begins to lead the Israelites away from Egypt after the Pharaoh had finally relented. But then the Pharaoh again changed his mind and sent his army after the Israelites to capture them and bring them back. Moses continued to lead the Israelites away from Egypt despite the threat of the Egyptians coming after them. They reached the Red Sea and it looked as if they would be captured by the Pharaoh’s army. The Israelites were fearful, but God again came to their rescue, parting the Red Sea so that the Israelites were able to pass through it to the other side unharmed and away from the Egyptian army. The Israelites would not have escaped capture had it not been for God’s strength and provision to make a way for them to pass through a sea of water. In the same way God is our strength in all that we do. There may be times in our lives when we are fearful of something that is occurring around us or happening to us. The good news is that just as God cared for the Israelites as they trusted in his power over their own, God cares for all of us too and provides us with all that we need. We know too that even when we are fearful and feel that we are unable to keep going, God is still with us, always strengthening us with his love and carrying us through to the other side.

·    Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your presence with us always in all that we do. Strengthen us in hope and peace as we trust in you. In your holy name. Amen

·     Response Activity will be provided.