Readings
- Jeremiah 8:18-23
- Psalm 27:1a, 7-10
- Matthew 10:28-31
I. Gather the Children
A.
Play reflective music as the children enter their worship space and prepare to hear God's word and to pray.
B.
Speak briefly about the terrible events in our country this past week, and invite a few of the children to express their feelings about what has happened. Acknowledge the personal loss of the children if, sadly, this is necessary, and then acknowledge the sadness, the fear, even the anger we all have in our hearts because of the horror we have experienced.
C.
Remind the children that no matter what happens God is still with us, and invite them to pray:
God of mercy and kindness,
we know you are always with us,
even now, in this time of deep sadness.
Yet sometimes we still wonder
where you are,
and sometimes we fear
that you have left us alone.
Please show us your presence,
and let us feel your love.
We pray this, as we always pray,
in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
D.
Sing the Kyrie with group. Bernadette Farrell's "God of Mercy" (from her Share The Light collection) is simple and appropriate. If the children do not know the piece, ask them to listen to the first two verses, and then join in singing the last verse several times.
II. Grieve over What Has Happened
A.
Remind the children that the prophet Jeremiah lived through most terrible events in the life of his own country: he saw the great city Jerusalem threatened and finally invaded by foreign powers who ultimately completely destroyed the city. When he saw the suffering of the people, Jeremiah, honest even before God, spoke of his sorrow in prayer.
B.
Tell the children that our first reading presents words of Jeremiah expressing his sadness over the suffering of his people, and suggest that the prophet's words also say what is in our hearts right now.
C.
Proclaim the reading slowly. For younger children the leader might proclaim only verses 18, 19a-b and 23.
D.
After the proclamation help the children relate Jeremiah's thoughts and words to our own sorrow, confusion, horror, copious tears, even despair, and assure them that it is acceptable to call out to God in our grief.
E.
Tell the children that the psalm we pray today couples a cry to God in our sorrow and fear with an expression of trust in God who is our light and our salvation, one who will always care for us. Then pray Psalm 27:7-10, using verse 1a as the psalm refrain.
III. Praise God for God's Care for Every Human Person
A.
Remind the children that we as Christians look constantly to the words of Jesus and the stories about him to find help for our lives. Tell them that Jesus knew that sometimes some people would do terrible things to others, and he wanted to help those who were harmed and their loved ones who would suffer with them. Our gospel offers some words of Jesus for these people.
B.
To help hold the attention of the children the leader might ask them to listen for a beautiful image Jesus uses to help us to understand how much God cares about us.
C.
Acclaim the gospel in procession and song, and then proclaim it.
D.
After the proclamation reinforce Jesus’ words that those who destroy a person's body, although they do a terrible thing, do not destroy a person's soul; that is, a killer does not have the power to take away the happiness people will have with God in heaven. Apply the words of Jesus specifically to the thousands of people who were killed this past week, and then allow the children a few moments of quiet to thank God that all these people are now in God's presence.
E.
Ask the children to recall the image Jesus uses of God's care. Especially for younger children the leader might find a picture of a sparrow in a book from the library, copy the picture, and then cut out several sparrows from the one copy. To illustrate Jesus' image, arrange the sparrows and several human figures, including children, on a poster board, and plan to display the poster where children and adults can see it in the coming months.
F.
The leader should know that even non-Christian children in the group, if there are any, may find comfort in the words of Jesus if the leader presents them sensitively.
IV. Remember and Pray for the Sorrowing
A.
Have a large bowl of sand, a large candle, and a number of slender tapers. Stand the larger candle in the center of the bowl and light it as a sign of the presence of God, our light. Invite the children to name persons or groups of persons who were hurt or who are grieving because of the tragedy: the dead, the injured, the relatives and friends of these people, rescue workers, medical workers, volunteers of all kinds, all people everywhere who have been touched and transformed by the horrible act. After all the children who wish have spoken, surround the large candle with the tapers and light the tapers as a symbol of the presence of the light of the Lord in the lives of all these people.
B.
Then pray the general intercessions, perhaps as follows:
Leader
Sisters and brothers in God's family, let us ask God to light up the lives of all people who live in the darkness of sorrow or sin. Please respond, "Lord, be our light and our salvation!"
For all who have died in the last few days, that they rest now in the peace and joy of God, we pray to the Lord.
All
Lord, be our light and our salvation!
Leader
For all who grieve for loved ones, that God wipe away their tears and remind them they that one day they will be together again, we pray to the Lord.
All
Lord, be our light and our salvation!
Leader
For the wounded who are suffering, that God comfort them and heal them in body and spirit, we pray to the Lord.
All
Lord, be our light and our salvation!
Leader
For all who work to rescue the injured and take care of the dead, that God guide them in their labor and support them in their heartache, we pray to the Lord.
All
Lord, be our light and our salvation!
Leader
For those still living who helped to plan and carry out this terrible act, that God melt their frozen hearts and bring them to repentance, we pray to the Lord.
All
Lord, be our light and our salvation!
Leader
For all of us here and for all God's people, that God forgive us for the times we have harmed others in any way, we pray to the Lord.
All
Lord, be our light and our salvation!
Leader
For our country, that God grant it wisdom and compassion as it responds to the tragedy, we pray to the Lord.
All
Lord, be our light and our salvation!
Leader
That God protect us and defend us from all harm, that God give us strength to bear our sorrow, that God heal our broken hearts, let us pray to the Lord.
All
Lord, be our light and our salvation!
Leader
God of mercy and kindness, hear the prayer of our sadness and come to our aid. Free our hearts from pain and bitterness. Show us how you want us to live and give us the courage and the goodness to do as you wish. Give us patience as we wait for you to answer our prayer, and help us to accept your will. We ask these things, as we always ask, in the name of Jesus, your child, and with your Holy Spirit who live with you forever and ever.
Leader
Amen.
C.
The leader might give the children cards with the words of our opening prayer on one side and a picture of a lighted candle on the other.
D.
Conclude the liturgy by singing the Kyrie a few more times.
Readings
Jeremiah 8:18-23
Psalm 27:1a, 7-10
Leader
The Lord is my light and my safety!
Whom shall I fear?
All
The Lord is my light and my safety!
Whom shall I fear?
Reader 1
Hear, Lord, my voice! I am calling!
Be gracious to me! Answer me!
My heart speaks to you. I seek you.
I seek your presence, Lord.
All
The Lord is my light and my safety!
Whom shall I fear?
Reader 2
Do not hide from me!
Do not turn aside from your servant,
You are my help. Do not leave me alone.
Do not abandon me, my God, my safety.
All
The Lord is my light and my safety!
Whom shall I fear?
Reader 3
Even if my father and my mother abandon me,
The Lord will care for me.
All
The Lord is my light and my safety!
Whom shall I fear?
Matthew 10:28-31
Copyright 2001 Mary Catherine Berglund
All rights reserved.
Used with permission.
Looking for resources to help young people cope with the tragedy? Saint Mary's Press offers resources for teachers, youth ministers, and parents.
Augsburg Fortress Publishers is the Publishing House of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
