This is the third lesson in a series that explores words frequently used during the Easter liturgical season. The words covered in this series are resurrection, joy, completeness, and victory.
Setting: The messages were written to be shared during the children’s message time of a worship service. The assumption is that the leader will have no more than 5 minutes per talk, meaning that pedagogically we can drop seeds of ideas in children’s minds but not do any deep dives on the content. That setting also means that the message has to be accessible for 5-year-olds to understand, but also has the opportunity to be instructive to all the adults listening in the congregation.
Note: Any text written in italics is either instructions to the speaker or the answer to a given question. Always allow kids a chance to provide the answer before giving it to them. Whenever possible, positively affirm their contributions to the conversation.
Good morning, everyone…
Today I have another Easter season word for us to think about — completeness. That’s a long word, and there’s a smaller word inside it – what is the word inside “completeness”? Give kids time to respond. Complete. What does the word “complete” mean? Pause to let kids think and respond.
The dictionary told me that the word “complete” means to have all the necessary or appropriate parts. Let’s think of some examples together.
When it’s Christmas time and your family is decorating a Christmas tree, what would you need to add to complete the tree? Lights, ornaments, a tree topper.
What about when you’re in school and taking a test or completing a writing assignment, what would you need to write for the assignment to be complete? The answers, your name (do your teachers have to remind you of that sometimes?).
We’re almost at the end of the school year. What are some things that happen at school to complete the year? Take artwork down, bring school supplies home, return library books, finish tests, thank your teacher.
Good thinking. We understand what completeness means, it’s having all the appropriate parts in place and taken care of. So here’s the really hard question – what does completeness have to do with Easter? Let kids have time to think and share thoughts, offer ideas below if needed.
- First, I think Easter marked the time when Jesus completed the work he had to do here on Earth. He could have lived longer, he could have done more miracles and taught more people. But when he was dying on the cross Jesus said, “It is finished.” which is kind of like saying, it is complete. So during the Easter season, we can remember that when his time here was complete, maybe he did just exactly what he was supposed to.
- Second, I think about how even though Jesus isn’t with us on Earth anymore, we have the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus’ love and presence with us always. And maybe that is what we need to feel complete.
Maybe a gift for us this Easter season is to think about how Jesus can help us feel complete — like we have all the parts in place or that Jesus will be with us until we do.
Will you repeat after me as we pray? (Speak one line aloud at a time, allow kids and congregation to echo before saying the next line.)
Dear God,
Our lives are full
Of many things.
Help us feel complete
With Jesus’ love.
Amen.
