Children's Faith Formation

Read Mark 2:2-9.

This Sunday is a day in the church year called Transfiguration Sunday.  It is the last Sunday before Lent starts.  Transfiguration is a big word that we don’t use very often.  What we remember on Transfiguration Sunday is how Jesus’ appearance – the way he looked – changed when we went up on a mountain with three of his followers, Peter, James, and John.

As Jesus, Peter, James, and John were on the mountain top, right before their very eyes, Jesus was transfigured or transformed.  His clothes became a dazzling white, bright and shiny like the sun.  Then Moses and Elijah appeared with them.  Moses and Elijah had lived a long time ago and taught people about God.  Peter was so excited that he wanted to build some shelters so they stay in this holy moment forever.

Then, just like when Jesus was baptized, a cloud appeared and voice from heaven said, “This is my son, the Beloved.  Listen to him.”

Let’s watch the video and learn more about this story.

Read:

Maybe you’ve seen a Transformers movie or had a transformers toy.  You know that a transformer can change from one thing into another.  That’s what happened when Jesus went up the mountain with Peter, James, and John.  He was transfigured or transformed.  His clothes became dazzling white, bright and shiny like the sun.  But that wasn’t the only amazing thing that happened that day.  A cloud appeared and a voice from heaven said, “This is my son, the Beloved.  Listen to him.”  This was God’s telling them that Jesus is God’s Son and is loved by God and that we should listen to Jesus.  This same thing happened when Jesus was baptized.  As he came up out of the water of the Jordan River, God’s voice was heard to say, “This is my Son, the beloved, with him I am well pleased.”

When you and I are baptized, we are transformed.  We are changed.  God washes away our sin, makes us part of God’s family forever, and gives us the gift of eternal life.  We are transformed into a new creation, a child of God, and nothing can ever change us back.  We are always God’s child and God will always be with us and God will always love us.

Today is also Valentine’s Day.  It is a day that we often think about and talk about love.  Today we especially remember how much God loves us and how nothing can change that love!

Discuss

• Why is it important to listen to others?
• God says to listen to Jesus.  How can you listen to Jesus?
• This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, a time when we focus on God and put God first.  What do you need to transform in your life in order to focus on God more?

Song

Little Light.  Go Fish Guys.

Activity

The disciples were surprised by Jesus’ transformation.  God’s changes can be surprising.  Let’s see some more changes.

Use a foam cup and draw a picture of yourself on the cup.  Put ½” of acetone or nail polish remover in a bowl.  Set the foam cup in the bowl.  Once the cup has melted, pick up the foam and mold it into a new creation.  Let it harden.  Use craft materials to decorate your new creation.

Activity

The day before Ash Wednesday is called Shrove Tuesday.  The name “shrove” comes from the practice of going to church to confess your sins and receive absolution (being “shriven”) before Lent.  Shrove Tuesday is sometimes called Fat Tuesday because people used up their eggs and fats before Lent by making pancakes on this day.  Make some plans to observe Fat Tuesday at home with a pancake breakfast for dinner.

Consider using the ideas in the handout downloadable below at home for Ash Wednesday.

Prayer

God, we thank you that we are transformed through the water and Word of baptism.  Help us always remember that we are your children and nothing can ever change that.  Amen.

Pastor Dan Fugate, Assistant to the Bishop for Discipleship in the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA, put this lesson together for Sunday School @ Home.  There will be a new one for each Sunday while we are unable to gather together physically in our congregational buildings.  Contact him at dfugate@iksynod.org.