Broken: Jesus Wept
Sunday, March 15, 2020 — family resources for continuing our sermon series on the need to address our own brokenness, pain and trauma
As our congregation has made the decision to move to a digital online format for our Sunday Family Gathering due to COVID-19, FirstPresKids is here to provide resources that can help you create your own at-home family worship experience or supplement the one that will be streamed on Sunday mornings, 10PST from FirstPres Hayward.
Focus: We all experience pain and suffering. Jesus did too. He did not run from his pain. Neither should we. Jesus sat with others in their sadness and anger about Lazarus’ death, just as Jesus sits with us in our sadness and anger.
Objective: To become disciples, we must learn about ways that we can healthfully process big emotions — don’t run from them! — (emotional literacy) and provide empathy — be with others in their pain as Jesus did.
Prayer: God, be here with us this today. Sometimes the world feels big, scary, and we feel uncertain. Sometimes we see or experience things that make us worried, sad, angry, frustrated. We know you feel what we feel and you are here with us. Thank you for being with us. Amen.
Scripture:
Discussion Questions:
- Why did Jesus cry?
- What are things that make you cry? Do you cry only when you’re sad? What other feelings can make people cry?
- Jesus cried when he was sad. What does this teach you about crying? Why do you think we are sometimes told not to cry? Is it all right for grown-ups to cry too? Do you think Jesus has ever cried with you?
- When you feel what others are feeling, this is called empathy. How do you think we can be like Jesus and have empathy: feel the pain and loss someone else experiences?
- Jesus showed that he cared for Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. He wants us to follow his example and care for others. What can you do to show that you care for someone who is hurting? If you are hurting, what would you want someone to do for you?
(Some questions excerpted from: https://www.gracelink.net/assets/gracelink/Lessons/Primary/2017/Q2/Primary/Teacher/P-17-Q2-L04-T.pdf)
Videos for Parents/Caregivers:
- Emotional Literacy: “Try This: Build Emotional Literacy” — This video from the Rachael Ray Show features Raising Happiness techniques for increasing gratitude, joy, and emotional intelligence in your household — while reducing sibling conflict and back-talk. Create a “Family Feelings List.”
- Empathy: “How to Help Your Child’s Compassion Grow” — Parents can encourage their kids to practice kindness and caring toward themselves and others
Videos for Kids:
- Emotional Literacy: “Emotions” — StoryBots Super Songs Episode 8 | Netflix Jr (younger kids, older kids)
- Emotional Literacy: “Why Do We Lose Control of Our Emotions?” (older kids)
- Empathy: Sesame Street: Mark Ruffalo: Empathy. (younger kids)
- Empathy: Empathy Song (older kids)
Activities:
- Together, think of people you know who are sad. Choose one and plan how your family can show caring to them this week. Pray for them today.
- When we weep, Jesus weeps. When we rejoice, Jesus rejoices. Make a T-chart with labeled columns “Weep” and “Rejoice.” Go through a newspaper or brainstorm things for each category. Pray together using your list.
- “Emo Dolls” or “Empathy Dolls” — try it on your own with toilet paper tubes, card stock and pens or click source links below for instructions and templates.
Books: looks like libraries may be closing and you may not have time to order books, but check out the lists below and often a quick internet search will turn up a video version of many picture books. Or scroll down for my two quick picks that you can “read” online!
- Emotional Literacy: “23 Children’s Books About Emotions for Kids with Big Feelings”
- Empathy: “35 Children’s Books That Teach Empathy and Kindness”
- Quick picks: “When Sadness is at Your Door” By Eva Eland (emotional literacy) and “Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt De La Peña (empathy)
