No matter where you are, or when you meet, we hope that you will enjoy this time with the story.

When you are ready to worship have someone in your house find the scripture in the Bible. Some of the translations may be difficult to understand, and it is a long scripture, so you can also choose to read just portions of it.

John 11:1-45

Watch this video of the story, Jesus Makes Lazarus Alive Again.

If you have some more time to wonder, you can use these questions to start and wonder even more together:

• I wonder how Mary feels when her brother is so sick?
• I wonder how Martha feels?
• I wonder how Martha and Mary feel as they watch Lazarus die?
• I wonder what they might be saying to each other as they prepare Lazarus' body to be placed in the tomb?
• I wonder how they feel that Jesus didn't come before Lazarus died?
• I wonder how they feel when they see Jesus?
• I wonder how they feel when Lazarus is alive again?
• I wonder why Jesus loves Lazarus, Martha and Mary?
• I wonder why Martha, Mary, and Lazarus love Jesus?
• I wonder how Martha knows Jesus is the Christ?
• I wonder who Mary thinks Jesus is?
• I wonder who Lazarus thinks Jesus is?
• I wonder why some of the people who love Jesus and follow him?
• I wonder why some of them will not follow Jesus.

Consider anointing one another with oil. Olive oil or any cooking oil in your house will work. Touch some oil to the back of your hand in the shape of a cross.

​What blessing do you have to offer one another?

Click Here to find the coloring sheet for this week. It should have also come in your packet mailed to your house.

​Click Here to find a secondary coloring sheet for this week.  It corresponds with Psalm 130 that you can find here. 

As we experience the stay at home order together across the metro KC area, I realized that many of us may not have sacred spaces in our homes to create a place for worship. We are, and will be, doing everything in our lives right now in our houses - working, raising our families, going to church etc... With all of these activities running together in one place it may be difficult for us to find sacredness in things like online worship and daily prayer. So, I wanted to share some simple ideas for finding items around the house that you can use to create a sacred space to meet with God while you are #stayinghome during the COVID-19 outbreak. 
 
If you have children that have journeyed through Children Worship & Wonder at any point, they may recall this as a “Focus Shelf.” Sacred Space or Focus Shelf, no matter what you call it, or where you choose to keep it, it can help us to focus some time and space for God when life swirls around us.  You are not trying to recreate the physical space you find at church because we know that is nearly impossible, but what we can recreate is the sanctuary of peace and calm you find in your community of faith.
 
Step 1: Choose a space in your home where you can set up your space for worship. Perhaps a small table or bookcase. Even just a small square of flat space with some natural light will be inviting to you in this time.
 
Step 2: Clear the space of its usual items. Even if you intend to use some of them in your sacred space, have a moment of beginning to honor this sacred space.
 
Step 3: Find items from around the house that have meaning to you, to place in your sacred space. Perhaps a cross, a Bible, a candle, other decorative items etc... Find items that will make this sacred space one in which you can worship the Divine.  Perhaps something that reminds you of the world, or places you have traveled, as our global family is connected through this shared experience.  Perhaps something else that reminds you of your specific community. 
 
Step 4: Create your altar by covering your table with some sort of table covering; maybe a tablecloth, or scarf. The liturgical color for the Lenten season is purple, though that is not necessary if you do not have anything purple. The liturgical color for the coming Easter season is white. 
 
Step 5: Arrange the items you gathered on your table/shelf, space the items out so that they spread across your table and enable you to engage with the space as you come to worship. 
 
Step 6: Use candles and prayer to invite the presence of the Holy Spirit and mark your time spent in your sacred space as special. 
 
Step 7: Set a special time each day to come to your sacred space to spend some time with God. You can do this as a family, or as an individual. In your sacred space, you can pray, sing, cry, scream, laugh, read scripture, sit quietly, listen to music, draw, etc... however you might need to experience the presence of Jesus that day, you can trust that God will meet you there in your sacred space just the way God meets you in the sanctuary at the church building. 
 
Building sacred spaces was a common practice in the Old Testament for the Israelites (see Gen. 12:7; Exodus 17:14-15; Joshua 22:26-27) One of the first altars was built by Noah as a thanksgiving. Altars were built by Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebekah, Moses, Joshua & Miriam. All of these our faithful ancestors lived before the temple was built so they had to meet with God, and worship outside of a building, finding sacred space outside of a physical place. 
 
So friends, we are in good company.
 
Take heart in these days, as we meet with God in spaces that are unfamiliar, in online zoom meetings, on phone calls and across the information superhighway, I wholeheartedly believe that the Spirit of God is with us in these days as well, journeying with us, holding us close, spurring us onward, and keeping us together with grace, mercy, and love. ​

Many thanks to the Rev. Andrea Curry who started this conversation about Sacred Spaces!

We told the Children Worship & Wonder story of The Good Shepherd on Sunday Morning worship. In the event you would like to watch it again we have included it here.

You might also check out this video of a book, "Psalm 23" illustrated by Tim Ladwig

Dear OPCC Families:
 
May God be with you…..This is my prayer for you.  
 
I know that we have recently experienced a lot of rapid changes so far and it is a bit overwhelming.  
 
We are all experiencing strong emotions and if you are like me, I need to take several breaks in my day to breathe.  This is also happening with your children and grandchildren for they too are experiencing stress, sadness, and loss.   Our children pick up our feelings and emotions and they sometimes do not have the words to express themselves.  Recently Rev. Laura had a friend report to her the sadness of her young child and that he did not want her to go to church and get sick and die.  Thank you for paying attention to yourself and your children during this time.
 
Our reality is that our world has changed and has changed very quickly.  Be in touch with your emotions and state the reality with your loved ones.  For example: “ Hey buddy, Mom is really tired right now.  Can we just sit on the couch and cuddle?”  or “I know that I am very stressed.  I wonder how you are feeling?”
 
This week I have been comforted by this prayer:  The Light of God surrounds you, The Love of God enfolds you, the power of God protects you, The presence of God watches over you; and no matter where you may be, Remember that God is there with you, offering divine peace.  Amen.  
 
I have heard this so many times-when I was a child, it was used for the Benediction at my church in Scott City, KS. It brings me comfort.   It also reminds me of The Good Shepherd Story.  We have shared this story several times in Children Worship & Wonder at the church.  Your grand/children should know this story.  The Good Shepherd will be with us always, he will lead the way to green grass, to clean water, and lead us through the dark places until we are safely back home.  (Psalms 23)  I believe this and I know that God is with us.  

Whatever you and your family are dealing with during this time, I invite you to find a prayer, song or story and keep it close to you.   Use it to pray, teach it to your children, hold it near I trust it will bring you peace.

I have included some coloring pages/prayers, and a link to a recorded story:  The Invisible Thread.  I would also encourage you to download the Breathe App on your phone of iPad/Notebook.  It has meditation exercises for you and your children.   I hope these resources can offer you a time of processing and peace during this uneasy time.   
 
Remember that God is there with you offering peace.  This is my prayer for you and your children.  
 
Pastor Lisa Engelken
Interim Director of Children’s Ministries
Lisa's Email
Lisa's Phone
 
P.S.  Remember I am here for you and your families.  Please do not hesitate to call if you need anything, even if we just pray together.   Please continue to check our website, Facebook page, and email for updates on how we can meet together.  I hope to see you soon-even if by the Internet via Zoom or Facebook Live Stream.