Virtual Sunday School Week 2:

Finding peace

(This week’s lesson from Illustrated Children’s Ministry)

Parents: read through the lesson and decide how you want to share with your family. This week’s focus is all about finding places of peace in chaotic times.

read

Reflect

This week’s scripture is from Psalms, an entire book of songs and prayers written to God. David, the author of this psalm, wrote many songs and prayers as a way to express his feelings to God about the things that happened to him - good things, difficult things, things he was thankful for, struggles he faced. In Psalm 23, David describes God as a shepherd. Shepherds are like guides who give love, care always, and never leave their flock. He also describes being with God is like the feeling of lying down in a quiet green meadow or like walking by a quiet creek. Spending time in quiet solitude, as David did, can help us to feel calm and safe when times are troubling, frustrating, and even a bit scary. When we begin to worry, we can tell a grownup or write in a journal or draw pictures or write songs (like David!) about all of our feelings and emotions. When we start feeling nervous or afraid, we can think of David’s words in Psalm 23 and remember God is like our shepherd, guiding us and with us always.

Discuss

1. What it might be like to lie down in a green pasture? Or to walk along a quiet creek?

2. How do you express what you are feeling?

3. What can these feelings teach us?

4. What things help you feel really calm and safe?

5. Is there a place in your house or outside that makes you feel particularly peaceful?

meditate

If you feel comfortable, try leading your child in a simple meditation. Click on the image below for a guided reading from The Global Guardian Project:

Create

Gather some paper, crayons, markers, paint, magazine clippings (or whatever craft materials you can find!), and encourage your children to create an image that represents peace for them. Maybe it’s a place in nature or even in your house. Feel free to join in and create an image yourself— reluctant kids are much more likely to create art if it’s something they can do beside you.

share

If you are part of Beacon Heights, we will have a zoom meeting time together this Friday at 10 a.m.! Look for a link and instructions in your email. If you are part of a different community, I encourage you to coordinate with friends and family to see each other through Face Time, Skype, Zoom, or whatever works best for you!