The Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36)
When Jesus takes Peter, John, and James up a mountain to pray, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. The Transfiguration is also covered in Mark 9:2-9
What is transfiguration?The word "transfigured" is a very interesting word. The Greek word is "metamorpho" and it means to transform, literally or figuratively to metamorphose, or to change... In the case of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ it means to match the outside with the reality of the inside. To change the outward so that it matches the inward reality. Jesus' divine nature was "veiled" in human form and the transfiguration was a glimpse of that glory. Therefore, the transfiguration of Jesus Christ displayed the... glory of God incarnate in the Son.
Transfiguration Sunday is the Sunday before Lent. Its position in the Christian year suggests why the Transfiguration was given; to offer encouragement before a time of focused prayer and fasting. Intergenerational worshipThis offering written and compiled by Elizabeth Waldron Anstice looks at Transfiguration Sunday and offers an opportunity to keep our feet on the ground and stay conscious of our own humanity knowing that we don’t need bright lights or mountain tops to listen to Jesus.
Downloadable from https://intergen.org.au/ 
Changing AppearancesSource: This game was found on the Family Faith Ministry website
Purpose: Play this game to help students begin to think about how Jesus’ appearance changed. Supplies: None Can you tell when something changes? Sometimes seeing how something has changed is easy and sometimes it is hard. Today, we are going to learn how Jesus’ appearance changed on the mountain. Everyone who was with Jesus noticed the change. Before we discover what happened, let’s play a game to see how well you see changes. Directions:
Gospel ConversationsThe Transfiguration is one of the most important feasts for the Orthodox Church, yet can be overlooked in Anglican or Protestant churches. What is it about this story that some Christians find so important? What is it that speaks to the core of our life as followers of Christ? A team from the Dunedin Diocese (Nicki, John, Anne and Michael) talk it through together.
A gospel conversation from last year's passage in Luke on the Transfiguration
The Transfiguration is a mysterious and yet vitally important episode in the Gospel story. This week Archdeacon Michael Godfrey is joined by Bishop Kelvin Wright, Dr Lisa Emerson, and the Rev'd Rose Scott for what is often a profound, hopeful and inspiring conversation on Luke's version of the story. |
I wonder
Discussion Questions"Moses and Elijah were about to leave, when Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But Peter did not know what he was talking about."
Transfiguration and GraceBishop Eleanor, Assistant Bishop of Wellington until she moved to become Bishop of Hull (UK), shares a short talk about a painting of the transfiguration, as apart of the Wellington Lenten series for 2019
Seven Minute Sermon'Listen to him!' A Seven Minute podcast sermon from Rev. George Penk, from St Mark's Remuera, on Rhema.
Tent buildingTent building is a lot of fun, and can happen outside in the garden or indoors. Here’s how to make a simple tent with blankets or sheets:
What you need:The best thing about building your own tent is that you only need objects you’re likely to have lying around the house already. You may need to pay a quick visit to the garden centre for the bamboo canes!
PrayersSource: Church of Scotland's worship resources, found here
Dazzling God of the heights and the depths all Creation is full of Your glory all the signs are there to read all the warnings made in love all the encouragement, all the guidance. Though the path be steep, and new ways needed to get there and things look different; still, with Christ, we do not face them alone. Called together, we can listen sharing, we can grow ourselves – but from a new perspective our world – beloved through the Chosen Son. Worship ResourcesThe Church of Scotland has some worship resources and ideas for today, found here
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The cost of following Jesus (Luke 9:51-62)
In today's reading, Jesus and his followers are rejected by the Samaritans and Jesus speaks about the cost of following him.
Input for Leaders
Visio Lectio
A beautiful image from the Visio Lectio project, created by the Anglican Diocese of Auckland. © Sarah West. All Rights reserved, shared with permission. Download Terms of Use Things to think about (Ministry Matters)
"Verses 51-55 are a lesson in what to do when someone you have tried to love refuses to love you. Children will need background information on Jewish-Samaritan relations to understand the story, but they will need no help in understanding its "reality" message. The reality is that even Jesus was turned away by some people he tried to befriend. Children need to realize that the same probably will happen to them when they try to reach out to lonely, unhappy people at school and in their neighborhoods. When this happens, they are to be as forgiving as Jesus was. Verses 57-62 report Jesus' conversations with three would-be disciples. A child's version of these excuses: "I am not ready to be a real disciple yet. When I grow up, I'll be one. But now I'm just a kid. All I can do is learn about Jesus." Jesus' response is that now is the time to be a disciple. Jesus needs children to do his work on the playground, in the swimming pool, the locker room, and all those other places where adults are not as influential. So children are called to be disciples now." |
Gospel Conversations 2025: This week we step out of the continuum of lectionary readings to celebrate the Feast of St Peter and St Paul. While St Paul gets a look-in in the other readings for the day, the Gospel focuses on the one time Peter gets things right - briefly - within the Gospel story.
Gospel Conversations 2022: Jesus does not do what we as individuals or we as the church tend to expect him to. Today's Gospel reading is a clear example of this, which means it brings with it daunting challenges, thought-provoking good news, and a lot to think about as we live our everyday lives.
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Kids TalksFollowing Jesus Talk (Ministry to Children) - relates it to how we passionately follow sports teams or celebrities.
Following Jesus Sunday School Lesson (Ministry to Children) - similar to previous but includes some activities. Making Excuses (Sermons 4 Kids) Following Starts With Love (Faith Formation Journeys) Jesus is Focused (RFour) - Ask, Tell, Seek. Looks at all the unfinished tasks in this passage and what would get finished! Holding onto Jesus (Sermons 4 Kids) - simple talk about holding onto Jesus. Uses blindfolded follow the leader as a starter. The Cost of Following Jesus (Sunday Childrens Focus) - Following Jesus costs us everything but it is really worth it. What it takes to follow Jesus (Ministry to Children) - full lesson plan. 
Games & ActivitiesJesus is King! Colouring Book (Ministry to Children)
Discipleship Sandal Craft (Flame Creative) Following Jesus Take Home Sheet (Flame Creative) Trust the leader (Healthline) Divide the group into two teams, with a leader for each. Have the teams line up behind their leaders, one hand on the shoulder of the teammate in front of them. Set up cones for each team. Leaders must take their teams from one side of the room to the other, navigating the cones. This means the leader must pay close attention to the team, and offer directions to people at the right time to avoid hitting a cone. Make it a race to see which team can finish first. Then switch leaders and repeat. Try to make everyone a leader one time. Tag Game (Flame Creative) Play a version of tag where players have to run from one side of the room to the other. If they are caught on the way, they will have to join the team of taggers. It will get more and more difficult to follow a straight path to get to the other side! Alternatively, set up an assault course for children to pass from one end of the room to the other. Talk about - how hard it can sometimes be to follow God's path, even though we know it's the right one. Sometimes we need help from God and from others. Intrepid Adventurers (Sparklers NZ) A game for working together in pairs and trusting each other. Talk about - was it easy to trust your partner? Why? Why not? Is it easy to trust Jesus? Why? Why not? Walking with Jesus Have everyone trace their own feet and cut them out. As a group, brainstorm what it means to follow Jesus today. Pray and ask Jesus to show you each something he wants you to do this week as his disciples. Kids can write or draw on their feet cut-outs and then these can be put together as a group display - or can go home with them as a reminder for the week. For a less structured outside group version, grab some chalk and take it outside. Draw footprints on your church path or driveway along with some verses about following Jesus or practical suggestions. Hold onto Jesus (Sermons 4 Kids) Divide into two groups and play "tug of war". Tell them to hold on just like we need to hold on to Jesus. If one side seems to win too easily, change the children around and continue. Afterwards brainstorm times we need to hold on to Jesus. |
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Preschool FunStarter - why not lay out a trail of footprints from church to kids church or from the back of church to the front of church. Get kids to "follow" the footprints to your lesson space.
Sharing the Story
Active - Follow the leader. Play a simple game of Simon says or follow the leader. Or change it to "God says". Talk about listening to someone else and doing what they say. Is it easy? Is it hard? How do you know whether to listen to them or not? Are there people we should listen to? Are there people we shouldn't listen to? Following the Jesus Path: Have the children trace their own feet and cut them out. Tell the children to place their cut outs on a path around a designated area of the classroom. Then let the children walk (or dance) the path while music is playing. Or set up an art station to decorate them to take home. Talk about - Who do you listen to? who listens to you? How can we listen to Jesus? Footprints - Set up a making footprint making station with some plastic animals and a damp sand tray, or with some paper and a paint tray. Talk about - the footprints are all different. Do we all have to be the same to follow Jesus? Sensory Prayer Path (Flame Creative) - a sensory pathway for kids to walk along and connect with God. Pray it!Labyrinths have been used by Christians as a spiritual practice for many centuries. A labyrinth is different from a maze because it only has one path - just like Jesus is the one true way.
You may like to make some labyrinths during your activity time with the kids. Flame Creative has lots of easy fabulous different versions to make including:
To pray, simply get the children to sit on their own and silently follow the pathway with their finger. encourage them to think about God as they do this and ask God to speak to them. |
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