Goal for the Session

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Scripture ScriptureScriptureScripture

© 2016 Westminster John Knox Press Fall 2016 Multi-Age 1

After children hear about Zacchaeus, they will explore ways they can be welcoming too.

Come Down!Semicontinuous

Hab. 1:1–4; 2:1–4 Ps. 119:137–144Complementary Isa. 1:10–18 Ps. 32:1–72 Thess. 1:1–4, 11–12Luke 19:1–10

October 30, 2016 Proper 26

P R E P A R I N G F O R T H E S E S S I O N

Focus on Luke 19:1–10 WHAT is important to know? —From “Exegetical Perspective” by E. Elizabeth Johnson

Zacchaeus’s repentance demonstrates the presence of God’s salvation in the world. Jesus says to the crowds who have criticized him for associating with the (now former) tax collector, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost” (19:9–10). Zacchaeus (whose name derives from the Hebrew for “clean” or “innocent”) is in the end declared saved. Salvation has come to “his house” because he has repented, changed his ways, and come to follow Jesus. This is the very purpose of Jesus’ life and ministry, “to save the lost” (v. 10).

WHERE is God in these words? —From “Theological Perspective” by Robert Leach

When God calls us, we respond with faith and obedience. When Jesus calls out the name “Zacchaeus,” we can see a theological concept at work—namely, that in our divine call God names us as his own children (Gal. 3:26). This is the missiological objective of the Son of Man (Luke 19:9), who is Lord of salvation. The divinely providential initiative of Jesus illustrates that the salvation of God always begins with God. Jesus is God with us, Immanuel, who saves us because we are impotent to save ourselves (Rom. 7:19).

SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? —From “Pastoral Perspective” by Laura S. Sugg

As we try to follow Christ in worship, in our work lives, or in the marketplace, we can remember a happy saint of the church: wee Zacchaeus. We may not have to climb a tree to see Jesus above the crowd—Jesus will find us anyway. If, however, you are finding yourself tired of staring at the backs of the crowd, look for your tree to climb. If graced with a memorable encounter with God, perhaps your response will be as joyous as Zacchaeus’s and it will lead to your own kind of cheerful commitment to justice. “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

NOW WHAT is God’s word calling us to do? —From “Homiletical Perspective” by Marjorie Procter-Smith

Zacchaeus is, at least initially, apparently motivated by curiosity, but Jesus is motivated by love. Jesus meets Zacchaeus’s curiosity with invitation and ultimately with the declaration of salvation to his house. Importantly, Jesus’ desire for Zacchaeus’s salvation flies in the face of the normal expectations of the crowd. They grumble that Jesus is the guest of a notorious sinner like Zacchaeus. Jesus’ action, however, is consistent with a frequent theme in Luke’s Gospel. Jesus time and time again acts against social expectation and religious decorum, by associating with those regarded as outcast or unclean in some sense. In seeking out Zacchaeus, Jesus demonstrates the extravagant desire of God for the salvation of the lost, that is, for our salvation.

2© 2016 Westminster John Knox Press Fall 2016 Multi-Age

FOCUS SCRIPTURELuke 19:1–10

Focus on Your Teaching“I can’t see the parade!” “Dad, where are you?” Probably every child has been blocked from a view, whether a parade or a parent, because everyone else was taller than the child. They won’t blink an eye that Zacchaeus was frustrated that he wouldn’t be able to see Jesus. They know that maddening feeling. However, the session will not focus on the height of Zacchaeus, but on the welcome Jesus gave him and then the welcome Zacchaeus gave Jesus. This hospitality, even to a man others despised, is what makes Jesus Christ and his followers stand out.

Welcoming God, I pray that I can be as welcoming to each child as Jesus was welcoming to Zacchaeus. Amen.

L E A D I N G T H E S E S S I O N

GATHERINGBefore the session, for option 1 in Responding, arrange for the children to greet before church next Sunday. For option 2 in Responding, if necessary, get permission to put up the welcome signs. For option 4 in Responding, arrange for the children to visit a group of younger children during the church school time. If you need more leaves for the Discipleship Tree, cut some from construction paper.

Greet the children as they arrive. Invite the early arrivals to help set up the worship table. Place a green cloth on the table. On it place a Bible, an offering basket, and a candle. Place the Discipleship Tree and extra leaves nearby.

When everything is ready, gather at the worship table. Point to the green cloth. Explain this indicates that the church year season is Ordinary Time. Invite the children to tell about this season. Supplement their comments with information on Color Pack 1.

Light the candle.

Sing “Glory to God” (track 9 on Singing the Feast, 2016–2017), signing the words glory, God, and highest as these words are sung (see Color Pack 27).

Pray, inviting the children to echo each phrase after you: Dear God / be our guide / as we seek / to learn more about you / and how to follow / in the ways of Jesus. / Amen. All: Amen! (Clap twice.)

Extinguish or turn off the candle.

YOU WILL NEED green cloth Bible offering basket candle and matches

or battery-operated candle

Singing the Feast, 2016–2017; CD player

Color Pack 1, 19, 20, 27, 29

Discipleship Tree and leaves from previous sessions

construction paper, scissors (optional)

tape Resource Sheet 1

For Responding option 1: Color Pack

21 option 2: Resource

Sheet 2, supplies listed there for the selected project

option 3: solid-color gift bags or card stock, newsprint, markers

option 4: computer, Internet connection (optional)

Come Down!

3© 2016 Westminster John Knox Press Fall 2016 Multi-Age

EASY PREP

Say “welcome” to each child. Ask:P How do you welcome someone to your home?P How have you been welcomed to a friend’s home?

Invite the group to listen for who is welcomed in the Bible story for today.

ExploringAsk a child to get the Bible from the worship table and open it to the Gospel of Luke. Since several stories have been from Luke in this season, review that there are four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). They are at the beginning of the New Testament. Gospels tell the story of Jesus on earth. Ask:P What stories about Jesus have you heard from Luke this season?

They have heard Jesus tell the parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin, Jesus’ story about the widow and the mean judge, and his story about the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the temple. For children who were not present for the previous session, explain the role of the tax collector (see Resource Sheet 2 [The Pharisee and the Tax Collector] from October 23). Invite a child to turn to Luke 18. Explain that the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector is found in Luke 18. The story for today is at the beginning of Luke 19. Have Color Pack 20 ready as you tell the story on Resource Sheet 1 (Welcome).

Assign the parts of Zacchaeus and Jesus to two children and the rest will be the crowd. Tell the story again for the children to act it out. If there is time, act it out again with two other children as Zacchaeus and Jesus. Look at Color Pack 19 together. Ask:P What part of the story is shown in this picture?P How did Jesus welcome Zacchaeus?P How did Zacchaeus welcome Jesus?P How can you welcome people as they did?

Responding Offer at least two options so the children have a choice. One might be more challenging to interest children who can work on their own.1. Rehearse Welcoming Greetings Welcoming members and guests on Sunday morning

is a way for the children to act out what they learned from this session. Rehearsing how to welcome people will make them more comfortable when it is their turn. Show Color Pack 21. Ask:

P What is happening in this picture?

Talk about the picture and how people are greeted when they come to your church. Model greeting at the church door with another leader or a volunteer from the group

being the guest. Be specific about how to be pleasant and what to say. For a group of five or less, stay together to rehearse. Larger groups may divide into pairs, with the children taking turns being the greeter and the guest. If feasible, go to the door of the church and rehearse there.

Come Down!

Arrange a Sunday for the children to be greeters.

Simple costumes, even headdresses, add to the enjoyment of a drama for children.

Glory to GodGlory to God,Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest!

Repeat three times

4© 2016 Westminster John Knox Press Fall 2016 Multi-Age

2. Welcome Signs The children can imitate the welcomes in this Bible story by making small welcome signs to display around the church building. Provide materials for the project you selected from Resource Sheet 2 (Welcome Signs). Explain that the children will decorate the building with the signs, and talk about where they might place them. Lead the group in making the selected project. If possible, take the group around the building to place the signs where visitors and guests will see them.

If necessary, secure permission to post the signs.

3. Welcome Bags or Cards Many congregations prepare welcome bags or folders for visitors. If your congregation does, find out if the children can decorate them or make welcome cards to include in them. Begin with solid-color gift bags for the bags or card stock for the cards. Brainstorm words for welcome messages. Print them on newsprint so younger children can copy the words on the bags or cards. Talk together about symbols or illustrations that would say “welcome.” Explain to the children how the bags or cards will be used.

4. Song about Zacchaeus The children can welcome the youngest children in the church with a song about Zacchaeus. Perhaps the children know “Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man.” If so, sing it together. If not, learn it by watching a YouTube video (www.youtube .com/watch?v=mV8wFANocHY). Working together, write another stanza for the song that expresses the welcome in the story. Then visit a group of younger children and sing the song for them.

Closing Gather at the worship table. Light or turn on the candle.

Sing “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (Color Pack 29 and track 21 on Singing the Feast, 2016–2017) or “Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man.”

Write welcome on a leaf and add it to the Discipleship Tree.

Close with this benediction:Welcome everyone you meet with the welcome that Jesus had for Zacchaeus.

Tell the children you hope to see them next week.

Come Down!

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings FlowPraise God, from whom all

blessings !ow;praise God, all creatures

here below;praise God above, ye

heavenly host;praise Father, Son, and Holy

Ghost. Amen.

© 2016 Westminster John Knox Press

Multi-AgeResource Sheet 1

October 30, 2016Come Down!

Walking day after day, Jesus and the disciples were stopped by people from time to time. One day Jesus stopped on the way to Jerusalem to heal a man who was blind. Some days parents brought their children to be blessed by Jesus. People stopped him to ask questions about following God’s ways. Every time someone asked, Jesus stopped and healed or taught or blessed. Now Jesus and the disciples were in Jericho. (Point to Jericho on Color Pack 20.) They were close to Jerusalem now.

As they walked through Jericho, the word spread that the teacher Jesus was there. In this town lived a tax collector named Zacchaeus. He was very rich, and nobody liked him.

Zacchaeus was short, maybe not as short as a child, but Zacchaeus was shorter than other grown-ups. When he heard that Jesus was in town, he wanted to see this man he had heard about. But by the time he got to the main street through town, lots of people were already there. Zacchaeus couldn’t see a thing! But Zacchaeus had a plan.

Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowd so he was ahead of Jesus. Then Zacchaeus did a surprising thing for an adult man; he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus over the heads of all the people. Then Zacchaeus waited.

Before long, Jesus was by the sycamore tree. He looked up and saw Zacchaeus. “Zacchaeus,” he said, “come down. I’m coming to your house today.”

The people nearby saw Zacchaeus in the tree and heard what Jesus said. They frowned and grumbled, “Jesus is going to the house of a sinner.”

Zacchaeus scrambled down from that sycamore tree. “Master,” he said to Jesus, “I will give half of everything I have to people who are poor. If I have been unfair to someone, I will repay that person four times as much.”

“Zacchaeus,” said Jesus, “today mercy has come to your house and you are a son of Abraham.”

Off they went to the house of Zacchaeus. I wonder what they talked about.

Welcomebased on Luke 19:1–10

© 2016 Westminster John Knox Press

Multi-AgeResource Sheet 2

October 30, 2016Come Down!

Welcome Signs

Project 1You Will Need

brightly colored paper scissors markers thumbtacks

Print the letters of the word welcome onto pieces of brightly colored paper, one letter per piece. Attach letters to a bulletin board with thumbtacks.

Project 2You Will Need

card stock scissors markers spring-type clothespins craft glue or hot glue

Cut a heart shape from card stock. Print Welcome in the center of the heart. Decorate it with marker designs. Use craft glue or hot glue to attach the heart shape to a spring-type clothespin. Clip these welcome signs to curtains, window shades, lampshades, and other places.

Project 3You Will Need

craft foam scissors permanent markers wooden skewers clear packing tape small !owerpots !oral foam or plastic foam shredded green or brown paper

Trace a handprint onto craft foam, cut it out, and print Welcome in the center of it, using permanent markers. Use clear packing tape to attach the handprint to one end of a skewer. Place a block of plastic foam or !oral foam in a small !owerpot and stick the other end of the skewer into the foam. Cover the foam block with shredded green or brown paper.

Welcome