Children’s Story for November 21th, 2004

From Darkness to Light

By Joanne Peters, Bergthal Mennonite Church, Didsbury, AB

Bible Passage

• Luke 23:33-43 (one criminal who is crucified with Jesus receives forgiveness & salvation)

Theme

• Jesus’ forgiving love can bring light into the darkest parts of our journeys; even when we face death.

Needed

• a soft, gentle light or lamp (a small reading lamp, sparkly lava lamp or a flashlight would work)

To introduce the Story

• Ask the children if they’ve ever experienced complete darkness (i.e. a power failure late at night when all the lights went off in the house, on the microwave and on the TV.)
• What would you do if all the lights went out and you were in complete darkness? (someone would light a candle or find a flashlight)
• What if you didn’t have a candle or a flashlight and you were in complete darkness. Would you like it? Tell the children that you, yourself, would be a little frightened and wouldn’t like it either.
• What if the darkness was going to last a long, long time?
• What if someone near you had a beautiful, warm and wonderful light. Would you want to move closer to them or would you want to stay in the darkness?

Have someone turn out the lights and have the curtains or blinds drawn as you continue to tell the story (below). It won’t be completely dark but it will give the children a bit more atmosphere to use their imaginations.

Story: From Darkness to Light

There can be times in our lives when we feel a little bit like this dark room. Maybe we are sick, or someone we know is sick. Maybe we're going through a difficult time in our life or maybe something has happened to make us feel sad or lonely or like we are hurting inside.

But (turn on your small light) in the midst of all the sadness and darkness and loneliness, Jesus is like a gently shining light. Isn't it interesting that, when it is all dark around us, and a soft light is shining, we are drawn toward the light? Jesus knows when we are sad or hurting and understands how we feel.

God's gentle love shines through his Son, Jesus, to help us stay close to him and to draw us close when things around us make the world feel dark or frightening.

Jesus’ light is always shining, even when it seems dark all around us. Jesus wants us to stay close to the light of God’s love for us. We can also give others a chance to see, hear and feel the love of Jesus by sharing what we know about Jesus. That way, we can share the light of his love. Each child could be given a little tea-light candle to take home, or to share with someone who is sick or sad. (Remind them to light it only under adult supervision!)