The Christmas Star
Children's sermon
Story Time At The Altar
86 Messages For Children
Once, long ago, a new star was born in the sky. Because it was a new star it was very small. Being small, the star was frightened of the large, dark night.
The other stars laughed and mocked it: "Afraid of the dark!" "Stars shine in the dark!" "Stars love the dark!"
The small star asked, "What is 'love'?"
"Love?" "Love?" "Love?" The stars could not explain.
One old star, however, so old its light was dimming, said, " 'Love' is shining bravely in the dark to give light. That is the purpose of stars."
"Will you teach me 'love'?" the small star asked.
"It is hard to teach love. There is no formula. You feel it; you do it. Come. I will show you love."
As the old star and the new star began their journey across the sky, the small star asked, "Where are we going?"
"I am leading you, as I led the shepherds ... to Bethlehem," and the old star told its story:
"Once, long ago angels came to say,
'Good news, dear friends, God's special Son is born
and will be found in a manger, in the hay.'
The angels sang and then the angels went away.
When they were gone the night was still
And darkness covered the silent hill.
'Where? Where will we go?' the shepherds cried.
In the darkness, though they tried,
they could not find the way.
'Do not be afraid,' the angel had said.
But in the darkness, how would they find
the Baby's bed?
Then God, who planned it all,
sent out God's call,
And I came to be the light that led the shepherds
through the night.
Following my light they came to Bethlehem
to worship him."
The old light spoke softer now, shone dimmer still until it shone no more. Its work was done.
It had shown (shone) God's love, the greatest love of all, the special baby in the manger stall.
Today, above our sanctuaries and our stables, the small star shines, leading us, as the shepherds, to God's Love.
Talk together: Have you ever been afraid in the dark? What helps give you courage? What did the old star teach the young?
Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for the light of the stars in the night and the sun in the day and for Jesus, "the light of the world." Amen.
The other stars laughed and mocked it: "Afraid of the dark!" "Stars shine in the dark!" "Stars love the dark!"
The small star asked, "What is 'love'?"
"Love?" "Love?" "Love?" The stars could not explain.
One old star, however, so old its light was dimming, said, " 'Love' is shining bravely in the dark to give light. That is the purpose of stars."
"Will you teach me 'love'?" the small star asked.
"It is hard to teach love. There is no formula. You feel it; you do it. Come. I will show you love."
As the old star and the new star began their journey across the sky, the small star asked, "Where are we going?"
"I am leading you, as I led the shepherds ... to Bethlehem," and the old star told its story:
"Once, long ago angels came to say,
'Good news, dear friends, God's special Son is born
and will be found in a manger, in the hay.'
The angels sang and then the angels went away.
When they were gone the night was still
And darkness covered the silent hill.
'Where? Where will we go?' the shepherds cried.
In the darkness, though they tried,
they could not find the way.
'Do not be afraid,' the angel had said.
But in the darkness, how would they find
the Baby's bed?
Then God, who planned it all,
sent out God's call,
And I came to be the light that led the shepherds
through the night.
Following my light they came to Bethlehem
to worship him."
The old light spoke softer now, shone dimmer still until it shone no more. Its work was done.
It had shown (shone) God's love, the greatest love of all, the special baby in the manger stall.
Today, above our sanctuaries and our stables, the small star shines, leading us, as the shepherds, to God's Love.
Talk together: Have you ever been afraid in the dark? What helps give you courage? What did the old star teach the young?
Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for the light of the stars in the night and the sun in the day and for Jesus, "the light of the world." Amen.
