Second Sunday in Lent
March 7, 2004
Luke 13: 31-35

A notation for this week's Gospel

Lights! Camera! Action! The drama is about to begin. The powers that be collaborate to extinguish the ministry of Jesus. Jesus, keenly aware that time is running out, continues his work. In this poignantly feminine image, Jesus muses that he had longed to gather these children -- as a hen gathers her chicks. The hollowness of power confronts the powerfulness of the gentle.

Before Class. Be sure to bring the container of bags and additional pieces of paper and pencils as well as additional supplies of tape. You will need Bibles and Books of Common Prayer.

Beginning. Tell the children that Jesus always used examples familiar to the people. (Especially if your church is in an urban setting, be sure the children realize that chicks are a real challenge for the hen to gather.

Opening Prayer. Help us, God, to hear what you have for us as we begin our Spring Training. Amen.

The Scripture. Luke 13: 31 - 35. Tell the children this passage comes near the end of Luke's Gospel and near the end of Jesus ministry. The narrator has only a few words to say (verses 31a and 32a), most of the rest of the passage is Jesus speaking. You might ask for one person to read verses 31b and 32b - 33, and a second voice to read verses 34-35.

Some Questions.
Ask if the children know who the Pharisees are and who Herod is. (Pharisees, leaders of the Jewish religion whose job it was to protect the faith from people who were not doing it right. Herod, the king who was not in the least interested in being replaced by another King.)
Why do they think the Pharisees came to warn Jesus of the danger he was in? (Some of them probably were thinking that Jesus just might be the Messiah and didn't want him to get hurt. Others might have just wanted him out of their face.)
What does Jesus answer the Pharisees? (verses 32b and 33)
What made Jesus so sure that prophets are killed in Jerusalem? (prophets are usually killed when they bring words powerful people find to be a threat.)
Who might have been shocked at Jesus' story of the hen and her chicks? (Possible the more powerful men who did not think women were at all important.)
Who might have seen themselves in the story? (Possibly women and little girls who were not used to hearing stories that included them.)

Activity. Invite the children to figure out and then present a very brief skit using the concept Jesus was sharing. But, tell the children they are to present it to people who know nothing about hens and chickens so they will have to find something else to stand for the hen and chicks -- something in their own experience. Could be something from school - could be something in their families - could be something they know of in their community. (If they are stuck, offer some suggestions: a dog keeping little children from running into the street, a babysitter with a scared little child, a tutor working with children having trouble learning to read, for example). Invite them to present their skit which you will then enthusiastically applaud.

Getting Closure. Gather the children and put the container in the middle of them. Ask each child to select his or her bag. Pass out pieces of paper and pencils. Have the tape dispenser handy. Tell the children to open their bags, read what is there, add something more they have noticed this week to improve their Spring Training, and then write what they want to and then re-seal the bags. When all the bags are back in the container, ask the children to seal it so it can ride around again this week in the trunk of your car. Then, pass out copies of the Book of Common Prayer. Show the children the Collects Section (beginning on page 211) and turn to page 218 and read the Collect for the Second Sunday in Lent - in the middle of the page.

Closing Prayer. Thank you, God, for the prayers in our Prayer Book, the prayers we hear in church, and for the prayers that we find in our hearts. Amen.