First Thoughts: On this second Sunday of Easter we encounter the disciples still frightened and confused after the empty tomb from last week. A few of them saw something, but they're not sure exactly what it meant. Full understanding hasn't opened their minds yet, and they huddle together in fear of what will come next. It is significant that Jesus' first words to them are gentle words of comfort: "Peace be with you." It is not the purpose of Jesus to shock and awe but to give them simple access to the truth before them: that he lives and that God's mission for them is just beginning. Particularly significant is the moment when Jesus breathes on the disciples, imparting to them the power and authority of the Holy Spirit. Even in Genesis, the breath is depicted as the movement of the holy into the mundane and in the breath there is a co-mingling of divinity and humanity. Take some time right now to honor your own breath. Consider its faithfulness to you even though it goes largely unobserved. Now consider that every breath is a gift from God, representing another moment of life and blessing, another opening for love and compassion to grow. Allow Jesus' words to echo in your mind, "Peace be with you." Carry that peace and the sacredness of your breath with you in your time with the children.
Teaching On Your Own: Hey, guys, you'll never believe what happened to me yesterday. I had such an adventure, I'm lucky to be alive! You want to hear my story? I went on a hike with some of my friends. We were going into a woodsy area, so we had a guide go with us. We were having a great walk when suddenly we turned a corner and guess what we saw: a huge snake slithering across the path! It raised up to look at us and hissed at us showing us its deadly fangs. Well, it didn't actually have fangs, since turns out it wasn't a poisonous snake. My friends said it wasn't all that big either -- only six inches. Anyway, it really scared me! In fact, I started feeling like I couldn't get enough air and felt like I was going to faint. Just as I was on the verge of certain death, I heard the voice of the guide telling me that it was okay. His voice was so quiet and calm that I began to relax a little. And then he told me to breathe slowly and deeply, which I did. I started to feel better right away. Okay, so maybe it wasn't that dangerous a situation, but it was frightening.
It reminds me of our lesson today. Jesus was raised from the dead on Easter morning, but his disciples still didn't understand what was really going on. So later that day they were all gathered in a room, sort of scared and hiding, when Jesus suddenly showed up in the room with them. At first they were frightened. That would be even scarier than meeting a snake, wouldn't it? But then Jesus spoke gently to them, saying "Peace be with you." He told them there was no reason to be afraid, because it was just him -- their good friend. When they heard his calming voice and really saw that it was him, they were so happy. Then something amazing happened: Jesus breathed on them and the Holy Spirit filled them and gave them new life and power. The disciples weren't afraid anymore. After all, they had faced the scariest thing in the world, the death of their friend, and here they were -- still filled with new life and power. Now they were ready to carry God's word and share God's love with the whole world. And you know what? The same is true for me. Now that I've faced down the great serpent, I feel braver than ever. Like I can do anything! But I think I'll take a break from the snake path for a while, just the same.
Teaching As A Team:
Leader 2: Hey, (name), you'll never believe what happened to me yesterday. I had such an adventure, I'm lucky to be alive!
Leader 1: Oh my. What happened?
Leader 2: I went on a hike with some of my friends. We were going into a woodsy area, so we had a guide go with us. We were having a great walk when suddenly we turned a corner and guess what we saw?
Leader 1: What?
Leader 2: A huge snake slithering across the path! It raised up to look at us and hissed at us showing us its deadly fangs.
Leader 1: Its fangs? So it was a poisonous snake?
Leader 2: Uh, no. It turns out it wasn't poisonous.
Leader 1: But it was really big, huh?
Leader 2: Well, my friends said it was only six inches, but it looked bigger to me. Anyway, it really scared me! In fact, I started feeling like I couldn't get enough air and felt like I was going to faint.
Leader 1: Sounds like you were hyperventilating.
Leader 2: Yes, but just as I was on the verge of certain death, I heard the voice of the guide telling me that it was okay. His voice was so quiet and calm that I began to relax a little. Then he told me to breathe slowly and deeply, which I did. I started to feel better right away.
Leader 1: Hmm, sounds like your experience was more scary than actually dangerous. But it does remind me of our lesson today. See, Jesus was raised from the dead on Easter morning, but his disciples still didn't understand what was really going on. So later that day they were all gathered in a room, sort of scared and hiding, when Jesus suddenly showed up in the room with them. At first they were really frightened.
Leader 2: Yeah, that would be even scarier than meeting a snake!
Leader 1: But then Jesus spoke gently to them, saying "Peace be with you." He told them there was no reason to be afraid, because it was just him -- their good friend. When they heard his calming voice and really saw that it was him, they were so happy. Then something amazing happened: Jesus breathed on them and the Holy Spirit filled them and gave them new life and power.
Leader 2: That does sound a bit like my story. After the guide calmed me down and I began breathing slower and deeper, I did feel stronger!
Leader 1: The disciples weren't afraid anymore. After all, they had faced the scariest thing in the world, the death of their friend, and here they were -- still filled with new life and power.
Leader 2: You know, now that I've faced down the great serpent, I feel braver than ever. Like I can do anything!
Leader 1: So did the disciples. Now they were ready to carry God's word and share God's love with the whole world.
Closing Prayer: Loving God, breathe new life in us today. Give us the power and love we need to carry your light into this world. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a home or work environment, spend more time reviewing the story, particularly focusing on the movements of the disciples' breaths in each part. Invite the children to picture the small room where all Jesus' friends were gathered so close and frightened. Ask them how their breath might feel in such an environment -- maybe taking small, shallow breaths, their chests feeling tight and constricted. Now what happens when Jesus arrives? Does their breath get faster and more anxious? Maybe they start feeling light-headed, like in the story when the frightened person began hyperventilating. Now think about the words "Peace be still." What happens next to their breathing? It slows down, grows deeper. When we breathe slowly and deeply our minds and bodies begin to calm down. We feel clearer, more relaxed, and ready to be gentle and loving in the world. Ask the children to think about the moment when Jesus breathed on the disciples and the Holy Spirit entered them. What might that have been like? Like a gust of wind coming off of the sea, a gentle breeze off of the meadow, or a whirlwind sweeping over them?
Invite the children to practice a bit of square breathing with you. Square breathing is when you breathe in for a certain count (1, 2, 3, 4), then hold, exhale, and rest for that count before taking another breath. This is a good exercise to try before praying, since it helps clear and focus the mind. Remind the children that as they are practicing this intentional breathing, God gives us life through the breath, as well as power and peace.
For a craft idea, give each child the materials they need to make their own pinwheel. First print the pattern out on copier paper and cut it out on the solid black lines. If you'd like a sturdier pinwheel, place the pattern on some colorful cardstock and trace around the outside. Otherwise you can allow the children to color their white paper before proceeding. Next cut on the dotted lines stopping short of the center circle. Use a thumbtack to punch holes into the corners of the pattern where indicated. Now take one corner with a hole and fold toward the center circle, matching up the hole with the center. Do the same on all other sides. Secure all sides together in the middle with glue or tape. Finally place a thumbtack in the middle of the pinwheel and push through to attach to a pencil with a new eraser. (Make sure the pinwheel doesn't actually touch the eraser or it won't turn. You might use a longer stick pin if necessary.) You can then decorate the pinwheel with sequins or glitter glue. As the children blow on their pinwheels, invite them to think of the breath of God inviting us to spin and dance just like their craft project. Close with a time of prayer.
