First Thoughts: As we enter the Third Sunday of Advent, our preparation for the coming of Christ grows deeper. Now we are called to abide in prayer, to allow our hearts to soften and be molded in the likeness of Christ. Often we are taught that prayer is us talking to God. We are encouraged to fill all the "prayer space" with requests for help and protection, as well as words of thanksgiving. While there's nothing wrong with this type of prayer practice, on its own it's incomplete. In order for prayer to be truly powerful, we need not only to make our impression on God, but allow God to make God's impression on us. Every true encounter with the Divine shapes us, even if only a little. We are more aware of our giftedness, more aware of the changes we need to make in our lives, and more full of compassion for others. We must bathe ourselves in prayer if we are to be ready for the coming of Christ. If our hearts aren't soft enough, not pliable enough, Christ will come and go without leaving any real impression. I invite you to look back at your own life, noting the places where God has left a mark on you. How did that change come about in your life? How did your spiritual practices make room for that change to happen? Carry your experience with you in your time with the children.
Teaching On Your Own: Hey, guys. Do you like playdoh? I really like playdoh! In fact I have some right here. (opens can of dried playdoh) Hey, wait a minute. Something's wrong with this playdoh. Look at it. (passes it around) What's wrong with it? It's dried out? Well, that's no good. Look, it's crumbly and hard. I can't even roll it into a ball. But wait a minute. I think I have another can right here. (pulls out fresh can) Hey, look at that. That's better. (plays with it) Nice and soft and I can make all kinds of shapes with this one. You know, this playdoh reminds me of our lesson today.
Remember John from last Sunday, the guy who was telling everybody about Jesus? In our lesson today he tells folks that if they really want to make room for Jesus to come into their lives, they have to allow God to mold them, to shape them like clay. See, God wants to mold us into people who look and act like God. To make us people who are kind and gentle and sharing. God wants us to be like fresh playdoh! And you know how we stay fresh? By praying. Each time we come to God in prayer, we are inviting God to mold us, shape us, and keep us soft. We tell God that we're willing to be changed into the people God wants us to be. So we stay fresh! Let me tell you, being fresh is a lot better than being dried-out. It's true with playdoh and with people!
Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 2 has dried-out playdoh)
Leader 1: What do you have there, (name)?
Leader 2: Playdoh. I just love playdoh, don't you? (takes it out) Wait, there's something wrong with this.
Leader 1: What is it?
Leader 2: Look, it's crumbly and hard. I can't even roll it into a ball.
Leader 1: Oh, that's what happens to it when you don't close the can well enough. It dries out.
Leader 2: It dries out?
Leader 1: Sure. (offers fresh can) Look at this playdoh. It's soft because it's still moist inside.
Leader 2: Yeah, you're right! Look, I can mold it into all kinds of shapes.
Leader 1: Yep. You know, this playdoh reminds me of our lesson today. Remember John from last Sunday, the guy who was telling everybody about Jesus? In our lesson today he tells folks that if they really want to make room for Jesus to come into their lives, they have to allow God to mold them, to shape them like clay.
Leader 2: You mean God wants to make us into different shapes?
Leader 1: Sort of. God wants to mold us into people who look and act like God. To make us people who are kind and gentle and sharing.
Leader 2: So God wants us to be like fresh playdoh?
Leader 1: Exactly. And you know how we stay fresh? By praying.
Leader 2: What do you mean?
Leader 1: Each time we come to God in prayer we are inviting God to mold us, to shape us, and to keep us soft. We tell God that we're willing to be changed into the people God wants us to be. So we stay fresh!
Leader 2: Well, being fresh is a lot better than being dried-out.
Leader 1: That's true with playdoh and with people!
Closing Prayer: God who is coming, help keep our hearts fresh and soft to your touch, so we become more like you every day. We offer ourselves to you in prayer, so that our lives will take your shape. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a home or classroom environment, we're going to elaborate a bit on the practice of prayer. We will use as our biblical example Simeon and Anna, the two people who were in the temple when Jesus was brought to be dedicated as an infant. These two people spent all their time in the temple, serving God and looking for the Christ Child. But mostly they prayed. Think about that -- every day spending time alone with God, every day having God mold you and shape you. What kind of folks do you think they were after all that time in prayer? Ask the children about their prayer life. What are the things they tell God, things they ask for? How would it feel for them to include in their prayer life this poem: "You are the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, this is what I pray." (If you know the song you can sing it for them.)
As a meditation practice, give each child some silly putty. Invite them to see themselves as that putty, soft and ready to receive an impression from God. Give the children different objects on which to press the putty (leaves, sandpaper, a comb, their own hand, and so forth). Note that the putty always resembles whatever was touching it. It makes sense, then, that the more we put ourselves in God's hands, the more we look like God. Give each child a container of silly putty with the poem invocation for them to continue their meditation at home.
