Meek saints
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: Grief work is immensely important work
-- especially in our culture of death-denial. This Sunday is an
opportunity for your congregation do some grief work. All Saints'
Sunday is a time to remember and grieve loved ones lost in death.
You may have children who have lost a significant person within
the past year. Use this Sunday for important ministry to them.
*List the names of members from your congregation who have died within this past year. Ask your children if they know any of these people and what they remember about them.
*Find out if there are names not included: the children's own great-grandparents, grandparents, or a significant, younger person from the community who died within the past year -- even well-known national figures important to the children.
*Remember and tell stories about that person. We are known and remembered in our stories.
*Look at hymns often used at funerals -- especially Easter hymns. Read the words. Learn the first verse of a well-known hymn.
*Talk about famous saints and compare them to the "meek" saints of your congregation. Note that all saints are also sinners and that we become saints, not by our works, but by God's grace. Do not ignore the negative in your memory of saints.
*Read a brief biography about a saint to your children: Saint Francis of Assisi, for example, or, in this time of elections, a beloved political figure and person of faith.
*Share feelings about death and dying. What experiences, fears, nightmares, or hopes surround your children and death?
*Share experiences of attending funerals. Many children have never been to a funeral. Ask your pastor to share with your children what he or she sees a funeral accomplishing.
*List the names of members from your congregation who have died within this past year. Ask your children if they know any of these people and what they remember about them.
*Find out if there are names not included: the children's own great-grandparents, grandparents, or a significant, younger person from the community who died within the past year -- even well-known national figures important to the children.
*Remember and tell stories about that person. We are known and remembered in our stories.
*Look at hymns often used at funerals -- especially Easter hymns. Read the words. Learn the first verse of a well-known hymn.
*Talk about famous saints and compare them to the "meek" saints of your congregation. Note that all saints are also sinners and that we become saints, not by our works, but by God's grace. Do not ignore the negative in your memory of saints.
*Read a brief biography about a saint to your children: Saint Francis of Assisi, for example, or, in this time of elections, a beloved political figure and person of faith.
*Share feelings about death and dying. What experiences, fears, nightmares, or hopes surround your children and death?
*Share experiences of attending funerals. Many children have never been to a funeral. Ask your pastor to share with your children what he or she sees a funeral accomplishing.
