3 Ways Into Sunday’s Stories for Children: Another Way to Live

Third Sunday of Easter

Jesus’ friends were afraid and sad, and some had run away. This is what many people do when they’re scared. Some people react by fighting, but Jesus told his friends, then showed them, that there is another way to deal with fear — another way to live.

In these 50 days of Eastertide, Jesus appears to people who don’t recognize him at first. But through his words and actions he shows them who he is, and who we are, in the true power of love over fear and death. It is something that people to this day struggle to recognize.

In this story, they recognized Jesus when he broke bread and served them. That one small act of kindness and friendship made it possible for them set aside their fears and recognize Jesus — and know that God was with them.

Print, fold, read, and color the story booklet.

1. Sing and Dance

Sing “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” In what ways can we see Jesus? The writer of this and hundreds of other hymns, Helen Lemmel, wrote this after she had become totally blind. Another blind hymn writer was Fanny Crosby. Both often wrote about seeing Jesus. 

2. Play and Pray

Play How Do You Know? If you have some plastic Easter eggs around, put a few small objects in them and hide them for another person to find. Once the other person finds the eggs, blindfold them and see if they can guess what the objects are using all of their senses except sight. 

Pray: Loving God, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to be with us. Help us recognize Jesus’ presence in our lives and in each other. Help us share Jesus’ love with others through our words and actions. Amen.

3. Create

An excellent way to see Jesus is in your heart through prayer. This week in Children’s Time, we will start making prayer beads, and we’ll begin a prayer practice called Examen. This version is designed especially for children. And here are instructions for making sliding prayer beads.