Anglican Life Prototype Lesson

Anglican Life Curriculum 1C.1

First Sunday of Advent

 

THE LORD RETURNS

 

Luke 21:25-36


 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

This lesson has three parts: play acting, a picture project, and the demonstration of a trap. For this lesson you will need: colored construction paper, scissors, gold glitter, glue, small Bibles or Testaments, mirror(s), and a mouse trap.

The text above contains words treated two ways.  Those to be acted out are in italics and those alluding to the scene at the Lord’s return are underlined.  In one case they overlap.  That indicates the core concept of the lesson.

Read through the lesson with proper responses, according to the custom of your church.

For young children we must make an exception to this passage.  Tell them that staying awake at night is for grown-ups only and that they should go to sleep after their prayers.

Have the children stand in a line or semi-circle, facing the teacher.  The teacher demonstrates the following words and phrases, having the children imitate expressions, gestures, and actions:

Distress – make a distressed face

Perplexity – express questioning by scratching your head and saying, “What’s going on?”

Roaring – make a roaring sound and a motion to indicate crashing waves

Fainting with fear – give a frightened sound and expression then slump to the ground

Foreboding –with wide eyes ask, “What’s going to happen next?”

Shaken – shake your hands and arms, head and body

See – point upward and say, “Look!”

Straighten up and raise your heads – begin bent over then stand up and look up

Pass away – with your left hand make a sweeping motion, right to left

Not pass away – hold your Bible up high with both hands

Watch yourselves – pass a mirror around so that the children can watch themselves do something

Dissipation – this word in Greek means tipsy, one too many drinks, acting silly or goofy

Drunkenness – this word in Greek means completely drunk, staggering, even falling down

Cares – this word in Greek means distracted; have the children stare at an object while the teacher tries to break their concentration; younger children will have great difficulty with this

Praying – have the children kneel in prayer and make the sign of the cross

Strength to escape – pair off the children by size and have them take turns grasping each other’s wrist with one hand and breaking free by twisting toward the thumb; remind them not to be too rough

Stand before the Son of Man – demonstrate how to stand at a respectful but relaxed attention, chin up, eyes straight and arms to the side, and with good posture

Read the passages asking the children to play out the words and phrases that were just learned and rehearsed.  Do it a couple of times, enough that they are rewarded for being able to anticipate and act out the verses but not so many times that it becomes boring.

Demonstrate how a mouse trap works, calling attention to the passage about the Day of the Lord coming suddenly like a trap that springs.

For the picture project, arrange four pieces of construction paper in this order, taping them together from the back:

yellow/black

brown/light blue

The brown and light blue pieces should be ½ the height of the yellow and black.  According to the motor skills of children in the class, have ready to apply or to cut out the following: larger white sun, smaller white crescent moon, white stars of various sizes and shapes, dark blue waves, black trunk and limbs of a tree, green leaves, a fluffy gray cloud, and figure of Jesus in a purple robe.  Use glue and gold glitter to adorn the Christ figure with a crown or halo.  Read through the text slowly one more time as the children cooperatively put together the picture project with glue.  Have them arrange the stars so that the sign of the cross appears in the night sky.  When finished brag on them profusely.