Filled with the Fragrance

This series framed around Lent and Holy Week will provide children and their families an opportunity to build upon the spiritual practice of prayer. Throughout the series, the children will create prayer beads as they learn through the words of the Lord’s Prayer. Each week, a bead will be added that connects prayer to the weekly message. This is especially important as we continue to face difficult days ahead with COVID-19. Families can create prayer times in their homes using the prayer beads. Thanks to Rev. Dr. Leanne Hadley for providing the instructions of how to make prayer beads for the children.

DOWNLOAD Prayer Bead PDF with Instructions and Illustrations

John 12:1-8 NIRV

12 It was six days before the Passover Feast. Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived. Lazarus was the one Jesus had raised from the dead. ²A dinner was given at Bethany to honor Jesus. Martha served the food. Lazarus was among the people at the table with Jesus. ³Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard. It was an expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the sweet smell of the perfume.

⁴But Judas Iscariot didn’t like what Mary did. He was one of Jesus’ disciples. Later he was going to hand Jesus over to his enemies. Judas said, ⁵“Why wasn’t this perfume sold? Why wasn’t the money given to poor people? It was worth a year’s pay.” ⁶He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor. He said it because he was a thief. Judas was in charge of the money bag. He used to help himself to what was in it.

⁷“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “The perfume was meant for the day I am buried. ⁸You will always have the poor among you. But you won’t always have me.”

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Materials needed:

• Beads
• Thin ribbon
• Charm in shape of cross.

Message:

Until today, we have focused on honoring God in our Lord’s Prayer. When we focus on God first, we understand more clearly what we need instead of what we want. In this part of the prayer, Jesus says that we can talk to God about us, our family, and all of us together.

The next line says, “Give us this day our daily bread.” That means we can ask God for what we need each day. Sometimes we want things that we don’t need. But when we ask for “daily bread,” that means we ask God to give us what we need one day at a time.

In this part of the prayer, we are asking God to provide for our immediate needs as we serve God. We are saying that for our bread (food), our clothes, all the things we need in life, we turn to God, and God will supply.

Notice that the prayer says, “our daily bread.” That means that you should think not just about yourself, but about others as well.

I wonder what your and our daily bread means to you. Give me some examples of what daily bread that other people need that God can supply. What can you pray for that will affect you, your family, or the world around you that God can provide? (Allow children to provide examples.)

Jesus calls himself the “Bread of Life” earlier in the gospel of John. Jesus teaches us that he satisfies our spiritual and physical needs. In today’s scripture passage, Mary shows how the disciples honor Jesus with everything they have, knowing he will supply their needs. Today, and every day, pray to God, our provider. Then pray, Give us today our daily bread. Let’s pray that now.

Prayer:

(Each week during the prayer, affix the bead to the ribbon when you begin the prayer.) God, who provides and supplies us with everything we need, teach us to turn to you as we ask for our daily bread. Give us our daily bread today, tomorrow, and each and every day! Amen.