21 November 2021

Bible readings for today

Collect

Christ our Redeemer,
you have crushed the serpent's head;
you have freed us from our sin;
rescue all your suffering world from evil
that attracts us still.
Hear this prayer for your name’s sake. 
​Amen

John 18:33-37

Jesus is our king and he wants to be involved in our lives.

Christ the King!

What you need: Crown (cardboard and foil) (you can use real crown or pictures of a crown)
What you do: Show the crown and say something like, “What is this?”  That’s right, it’s a crown.  Do you know who gets to wear crowns like this?  (Allow different answers).  Those people are called royalty- kings and queens and princes and princesses. We have a queen. What’s her name? (Allow answer).  What do you think queens and kings do? (allow answers). Those are good answers.  

Today is Christ the King Sunday.  That means it’s the day when we think about Jesus being our king. Kings and queens are rulers, they help govern and lead their people.  Jesus is a king because he’s our ruler.  He doesn’t live in a palace or meet with other important leaders in the world.  But like Queen Elizabeth, he was born to rule. The thing is, even though he’s a king, we have to choose to let him be our king.  He wants us to let him be the ruler in our lives. It’s easy to want to do things our way and to be our own boss, but Jesus doesn’t want to boss us around.  He’s not that kind of king.  Instead Jesus wants us to let him gently lead us into doing good things, loving others and asking him for help.  He wants us to choose to let him be king and help govern our lives.

I wonder questions

  • I wonder what you’d do if you met Jesus in person
  • I wonder what you think it means to have a King like Jesus
  • I wonder if there are things that you do for yourself that Jesus might want to help you with.

Tip of the week

Do you remember reading “Goodnight Moon” or “Hairy Maclary” to your children every single night for a very long time? Or how about a favourite game or song?  You know, the ones that make you feel that you’ll scream if you have to read, sing, or play it one more time! Children, especially young ones, love repetition.  As adults we often like to mix things up, try new ways of doing things, and while older children might love and appreciate the changes, often our youngest children can find that difficult. So this week, look at ways of encouraging gentle repetition.  Re-read your children's favourite stories, sing the same songs, and more. You’ll find your youngest children eager participants in stories, songs, poems and games when they’re able to anticipate what’s coming next.

Christ the King!

What you need:
  • Narrator
  • Jesus
  • Pilate
  • Optional-Simple props for Jesus and Pilate, eg beautiful cloak for Pilate, rag cloak for Jesus
    ​
Narrator: Then Pilate went back inside the palace. He called Jesus to him. 
Pilate: “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus: “Is that your own question, or did others tell you about me?”
Pilate: “I am not a Jew. It was your own people and their leading priests who brought you before me. What have you done wrong?”
Jesus: “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it belonged to this world, my servants would have fought to keep me from being given over to the Jewish leaders. But my kingdom is from another place.”
Pilate: “So you are a king!”
Jesus: “You say that I am a king. That is true. I was born for this: to tell people about the truth. That is why I came into the world. And everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me.

Preparing for Advent

Advent begins next Sunday, the countdown (and time of anticipation) to Christmas.
​Our Advent and Christmas ideas (Strandz)

Advent Ideas

​Advent Calendars
All-Age Advent
Advent Prayers
Advent at home
Jesse Trees

Advent Wreathes

Basic Advent wreaths have 5 candles; 1 for each week of Advent and then a white candle for Jesus which we light on Christmas Day (or Christmas Eve). Traditionally the four candles are purple.  Sometimes the Joy candle is pink, but you can make each candle any colour.  The four candles represent Hope, Peace, Joy, Love.

What you need: A base for the candles- a wreath pre-made, a Styrofoam ring with can be decorated, 5 candlestick holders or…
  • Decorations- leaves, vines, buttons, berries, glitter.  Whatever you’d like to use to make your wreath special.
  • 5 candles including 1 white one
  • matches

What you do: Create your Advent wreath using whatever materials you have.  You won’t light it until next week, but you can work together to make it beautiful.

Memory Verse challenge

Memory Verse download for John 18:37

Psalm 93

What you need: A copy of the Psalm for the leader
What you do:
  1. Teach the congregation the response, “Jesus, you are my King”
  2. As the Psalm is read, pause at given times (see italics) and lead the response. 

Our Lord, you are King!
Majesty and power
are your royal robes. Jesus, you are my king.
You put the world in place,
and it will never be moved. Jesus you are my king.
You have always ruled,
and you are eternal. Jesus you are my king.
The ocean is roaring, Lord!
The sea is pounding hard.
Its mighty waves are majestic,
but you are more majestic,
and you rule over all.  Jesus you are my king.
Your decisions are firm,
and your temple will always
be beautiful and holy. Jesus you are my king. 
Bible Explore
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