Childrens Sermon Service

First Thoughts: How can we help our children encounter this Holy Week in a new way? By retelling the stories of these last days with Jesus and helping the children find tangible ways of living these truths. Here we remember Maundy Thursday, Jesus' last chance to talk with his disciples. Here he has one more shot to get his message through and what does he do? He adopts the attitude of radical servanthood. In order for us to be ready for God's kingdom our hearts must be radically open, ready to receive God's care even in our most vulnerable places. Furthermore, we must allow ourselves to be so full of God's love that we can offer that same care to others. This is the final preparation for the cross. Are we willing to empty ourselves of our pride and be served? Are we willing to empty ourselves of our prejudice and fears and serve others? Carry your time of prayer with you in your time with the children.

Props: basin and pitcher

Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 1 has the basin and pitcher)
Leader 2: Hey, what do you have there?
Leader 1: Something very special.
Leader 2: But it just looks like water.
Leader 1: It is. It isn't the water that's special, but what I'm going to do with it.
Leader 2: Um, what are you going to do?
Leader 1: Wash your feet!
Leader 2: Wash my feet? Ha, I don't think so.
Leader 1: Why not?
Leader 2: Because my feet are stinky and dirty. It's just embarrassing!
Leader 1: You know, that's exactly what Peter thought when Jesus wanted to wash his feet. He said, "No way, Jesus! I can't let you wash my feet!" But you know what Jesus said?
Leader 2: What?
Leader 1: That if Peter really wanted to do God's will, not only would he need to let Jesus wash his feet, but Peter would need to wash other people's feet too.
Leader 2: But why?
Leader 1: Because that's the way God loves us. God takes care of every need we have, even those needs we think are gross. And, if we're going to live in God's love, we have to offer that love to others. Remember six weeks ago when we had our foreheads marked with ashes? That was because we were at the beginning of our Lenten journey, getting ready for Easter. Now we're just a few days away, the day when Jesus said good-bye to his friends for the last time. This is how he said good-bye, his final lesson: let God love us, and love each other.
Leader 2: So at the beginning of the journey we put ashes on our forehead...
Leader 1: And at the end we wash each other's feet. Finally we are ready for the cross and for Easter morning.

Teaching On Your Own: (with basin and pitcher) See what I have here? It's something very special. What does it look like? It's water. It isn't the water that's special, but what I'm going to do with it. I'm going to take this water and wash your feet! What do you think of that? Would you like for me to wash your feet? What are some reasons you might not want me to wash your feet? Sometimes feet are stinky, dirty, or ticklish, right? A lot of people think it's embarrassing. You know, in our story today, that's what Peter thought too. Jesus and his friends were gathered together, and Jesus told them he wanted to wash their feet. But you know what Peter said? "No way, Jesus! I can't let you wash my feet!" Jesus told Peter that if Peter really wanted to do God's will, not only would he need to let Jesus wash his feet, but Peter would need to wash other people's feet too. Would you want to wash someone else's feet? Maybe not, but that's what Jesus said. Because that's the way God loves us. God takes care of every need we have, even those needs we think are gross. If we're going to live in God's love, we have to offer that love to others. Remember six weeks ago when we had our foreheads marked with ashes? That was because we were at the beginning of our Lenten journey, getting ready for Easter. Now we're just a few days away, the day when Jesus said good-bye to his friends for the last time. Jesus said good-bye with this final lesson: let God love us, and love each other. So at the beginning of the journey we put ashes on our forehead, and at the end we wash each other's feet. Finally we are ready for the cross and for Easter morning.

Closing Prayer: Thank you, God, for walking with us these forty days of Lent. Please be with us now, in these few days before Easter, as we learn the final lessons Jesus taught us. Help us to love each other and serve each other, the way you love and serve us. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.

Follow-Up Lesson: To follow up this lesson at home or in a classroom environment, I would recommend introducing the children to the ritual of foot washing. Children are much more willing than adults to try embodied rituals like this one, and the impact on them can be great. The most important thing for teachers is to be prepared for the ritual. Make sure you have warm, soapy water and plenty of fresh towels. Invite the children to form a circle and to watch prayerfully and quietly as each child has his or her foot washed. You can decide whether you want to wash each child's foot yourself, or whether you will let the children take turns washing each other's feet. After each child is served, take a moment to bless that child. Take the time to move slowly and prayerfully. If you are able to settle into the ritual prayerfully, the children will follow suit. If you're not comfortable with this ritual, consider something easier like washing or anointing hands. Close your ritual with prayer.