Beyond Cotton Ball Sheep

Last night, just as I finished writing this post, our cable modem went on the fritz. I’m trying not to interpret this as divine judgment against the “daily posting in Lent” plan. Hmm.

Bearing in mind that I am dust and that to dust I shall return – and therefore not having particularly high expectations of my own success – I’m going to attempt this whole “daily posting during Lent” thing. Can’t hurt to try. To start with, I’m going to offer three different children’s sermon options for the first Sunday of Lent. I used this first one at Smithfield this past Sunday, for Transfiguration, but it could very easily be adapted for the first Sunday of Lent instead (especially if you’re part of a not-particularly-strict liturgical community that won’t mind a little Alleluia shouting at the start of worship). It’s based on a children’s sermon I heard Molly Baskette preach at First Church Somerville in 2007, complete with imaginative “catching” of alleluias. You can read more about the tradition of burying the alleluia here.

Supplies you need: large plant pot, potting soil, small box, white banner reading “Alleluia”

We have talked before about how the church tells time. Here in the church, we have different seasons from the rest of the world. Instead of having seasons like summer, winter, fall, and spring, we have seasons like Advent and Easter and Epiphany. Every season has a different mood and meaning. And every season has a color. What color do you see in the church today?

White! Today is a special day called Transfiguration. It’s the day we celebrate the moment when the disciples finally realized just how special Jesus is. They went up a mountain and suddenly saw Jesus standing there, with his face shining, and two very important people, Moses and Elijah, standing next to him. The disciples knew then that Jesus was the special Son of God. Today is a very happy day.

When we are happy in the church, we sometimes shout “Alleluia.” Alleluia is a word that means “Glory to God” in Hebrew. It’s a word that we shout when we’re happy about all the wonderful things God has done. Let’s shout “Alleluia” together on the count of 3 … 1, 2, 3, ALLELUIA!!

But next Sunday will be different. Next Sunday is the first Sunday of the season of Lent. The color for Lent is purple, a dark and serious color. Lent is a quiet, serious time of year when we get ready for Easter. It is so quiet and serious that we don’t shout “Glory to God.” We do not say the word “Alleluia” at all. We go without it, so it will seem even more special when we hear it again on Easter Sunday.

So, you will not hear the word “Alleluia” again in the church until Easter. For the next forty days, no one will say that word. We are going to put the Alleluia away. In fact, we are going to put Alleluia in this box and bury the box in this pot. And we won’t dig it up again until Easter.

So, let’s catch some Alleluias in the box. I need your help. Can you say “Alleluia”? (As the kids say “Alleluia,” pantomime “catching” them in the box.) Ok, I think I’ve got them all – here’s the Alleluia (show banner). We’re going to put it in this box, and then let’s sprinkle some dirt over it. (Be careful with the dirt pouring … I spilled so much that on Monday morning the church custodian thanked me for providing him with job security.) Goodbye, Alleluia. We’ll see you on Easter.

Let’s say a prayer together: Dear God – be with us – in the happy times – and the serious times too – Bring us to Easter – when we can say “Alleluia!” — Amen.

I’m going to use our buried Alleluia every Sunday in Lent this year; as a congregation, we will be learning about spiritual practices, and so each week we will water the Alleluia, symbolizing our nourishment of our relationship with God by our practice of the disciplines. And then, on Easter Sunday, the Alleluia will burst into bloom! I’ll have an array of flowers inserted in the plant pot; each child will have one to take home.

Stop by tomorrow for another possible children’s sermon for the first Sunday of Lent.