Candlemas
AGE: Infants and Juniors |
THEME: Candlemas |
PREPARATION: |
You will need:
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BACKGROUND: |
| This is a chance to involve a parent and a governor. Try to get a mum with a young baby to help by being Mary, and a parent or governor to be Joseph. There is no speaking involved! An alternative is to prepare a Year 6 girl and boy and use a doll. Joseph carries the box to symbolize the sacrifice described in the Bible account. Be Simeon yourself. All dress up simply. Make the story your own so you can ad lib if necessary. Choose a good reader for Luke 2: 22-35. |
DEVELOPMENT: |
| Dramatize the story from Luke 2: 22-35. To create atmosphere, have at least 8 lighted candles in holders and place at one end of the hall to represent the Temple. Play some taped sacred choral music as children enter the hall ('For Unto Us a Child is Born' from Handel's Messiah would be appropriate). Begin by asking the children to think back to the story of Christmas and to remember who Mary and Joseph are, and take them back in time and place to the country of Israel two thousand years ago. Tell them that it's now a few weeks since Jesus was born and the family have moved out of the stable. They have travelled to the city of Jerusalem. It took them all morning to walk there. The children know they are here, but it's going to be a surprise for someone else. His name is Simeon and he's very old. He goes to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship God. Let's go there now.... (You slip out to dress up). READING: Luke 2: 22-27 (Good News Bible). Enter Simeon, stooped but dignified, not comical. Walk as you talk. Talk slowly, with sentence pauses. 'I've waited so long! I had to come to the Temple today, but oh! it was an effort. I'm too old for all those steps now. I can hardly see where I'm going. Still, I know my way easily after all these years. It's been a long life and I'd be happy to die soon - but there's the Promise! I must keep going for that... And God has told me that I won't die until I've seen the Promise... A Saviour, he said, someone that would spring up and grow strong like a young plant... Young! How long it seems since I was young! I remember all those years ago reading from the prophets. That's how I learned about the Promise... (thinks aloud) 'The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, Those who live in the land of darkness, on them has the light shined...'(Simeon goes to a candle and peers at it closely). My eyes are getting bad but thank God I can still see the light! He said the Saviour would be like a light, showing us the way to live...' Mary and Joseph enter uncertainly and walk about as if looking where to go. Simeon doesn't notice at first. Eventually he turns and sees them. Then he suddenly recognizes something. He throws up his hands and looks in thanks to heaven. The Promise is here! He goes to Mary and stands by her as if talking. After a moment she gives him the baby to hold. Simeon starts to talk, as if to himself: 'Lord, now you have kept your promise,Simeon speaks: 'Bless you all! How old is he? Six weeks? What a beautiful baby. I'm so glad I came today. Today is the day I've been waiting for....waiting for years and years! Bless you my children! It will not always be easy. This child will be a blessing to many - but many will speak against him when he shows the secrets in their hearts. There will be light because of him, but you, Mary, will feel bitter sorrow too. Be strong!' |
MUSIC: |
| 'Lord the light of your love is shining' No. 445 in Mission Praise. |
REFLECTION / PRAYER: |
| Choose a child from each year group to come and stand beside a candle. Say that some Christian churches remember this story on February 2nd each year. Candles are sometimes blessed and given out to people who walk in procession. If appropriate and safe, say that as each class processes out today, their candle will lead them back to the classroom. (Make sure that staff are happy with this. They need to walk with the 'candle' child). Suggest that the children look at their class candle as you say a prayer: Dear Lord God Thank you for coming as a baby and being like us. Thank you that Mary and Joseph knew you had come from God. Thank you that old Simeon was expecting you. Thank you for bringing light to the world. Amen. |