Read the Bible texts using different translations or age-appropriate children’s Bibles, act it out, use puppets or visual aids.

• Zephaniah 3:14–20
• Philippians 4:4–7
• Luke 7:18–28 (29–35)

Memorize: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Listen to and sing the songs that will be a part of this week's worship service.

• “The Advent of Our King” (Lutheran Service Book 331)
• “Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness” (LSB 849)
• “Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding” (LSB 345)
• “Jesus Friend of Sinners” (Casting Crowns)
• “Jesus Only Jesus” (Matt Redman)
• “There is a Redeemer” (Keith Green)
• “Rejoice in the Lord Always” (CJ & Friends)

1. Rejoice-Create shakers (plastic egg or container and dry rice or beans) or streamers to rejoice in the Lord just as He rejoices over us. Spend some time using your creations in worship. Talk about why and how God rejoices over you.
2. Freeze Tag-Play a game of freeze tag. Talk about how our worries sometimes cause us to feel “stuck” and we don’t know how to get unstuck but God invites us to bring all of our worries and cares to Him in prayer. Pray together on any and everything in life right now.
3. I Spy-Play a game of “I Spy.” Talk about what the people with John the Baptist would have seen and heard and what they learned from him. They saw many things but kept going back because he pointed them to Jesus, the Messiah. What do people see when they look at us?

Recitation:The First Petition of the Lord’s Prayer and Meaning [Luther’s Small Catechism, Blue p. 176, Maroon p. 181, Black-p. 242]

Q & A: Assign one person to be the catechizer to ask questions and allow others to answer. (Guide them/provide unknown answers.)

• Luther’s Small Catechism, 2008 Questions 208-211 (Blue p. 177-178, Maroon p. 182-183)

• Luther’s Small Catechism, 2017 Questions 250-254 (p. 242-244)

Need a catechism? Let us know!

1. Share highs and lows of the day.
2. How have you seen God at work lately?
3. What does the Scripture reading teach about God?
4. What does it teach about people?
5. What is the key theme of the Scripture reading?
6. What do you learn about the key theme? How can you apply it to your daily walk with the Lord? (Yourself, your relationship with God or your relationships with others?)
7. Any cautions to heed? Any promises to anticipate?

• Adoration (Wow, God!): Proclaim at least three things that amaze you about God today.
• Confession (Sorry, God!): Confess, repent, and ask for forgiveness.
• Thanksgiving (Thanks, God!): Thank God for blessings, lessons, gifts, etc.
• Supplication (Please, God!): Ask God to intervene where you know of needs.