In my father’s house

Open with Prayer: God, we thank you for this time together, for the technology that makes it possible, and the hearts that connect us. Be with us as we travel, join us in this journey, and help us see and hear you always. Amen.

Why do we go to church?
Why do you think we want you to learn about God and Jesus?

Parents: do you remember going to church when you were a kid? Maybe when you were 12 or 13? Can you tell your children what it was like?

Jesus was once 12, too.

Read: Luke 2:41-52

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.

Wonder together:

Have you ever lost your parents someplace crowded?
How did it feel?
How did it feel once you found them?

How do you think your parents would feel if you were lost for THREE DAYS?

What do you think Mary sounded like when she said “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”
Was she calm? Should there be an exclamation point or two in there somewhere?

Jesus answered “Did you not know that I must be in my father’s house?”
How would you have responded to that?

Even Jesus went through a sassy teenager phase, apparently.

Finish with Prayer:

God, thank you for making us a family.
God, today we thank you for: (something or someone you’re grateful for)
God, today we need your help with: (something hard or difficult you need to do)
God, today please be with: (someone who may be sick, sad, or hurt)
We ask all this in Jesus’ name.

Amen