​Have you ever faced that proverbial lion?  You might have felt like you were in a lion’s den surrounded by multiple carnivores that wanted to consume you or at least create a mammoth obstacle.  Have some of your challenges in life felt like you had been placed in a  fiery furnace and there wasn't enough water to put out the fires.  There may not even have been enough water to wet your whistle!
 
There’s this prophet, Daniel, who faced a lot of challenges.  Yet each time he was tested, he came out without a blister or scratch.  What was his secret? How was he always able to stand up to the king and those enormous obstacles? Well, Daniel believed that he should worship and pray to the one true God.  He believed, beyond a doubt, that his prayers would be answered. What a prayer warrior he was!
 
We have felt like we were standing in the middle of a fiery furnace at one point in our life but as Christians we all have the hope that comes from the one true God.  The hope that tells us try one more time.  Look up!  It is important to carve out a little quite time to be with that one true God and share your concerns with Him.  He can take the lamenting and He wants to hear from you!
 
Our children’s Sunday School lesson this week is about Daniel.  We suggest that the children pray about their challenges.  We remind them about the power of prayer through the visual of a lion.  Having a ROARING good time with your children making lion pancakes, puppets, cake pops and craftivities!

So what was the upper room and what happened at that the last supper?  For many years Jesus shared a typical Seder meal with His disciples.  Then when Jesus’ last days were eminent, He shared the meal one more time in a new way.  The twelve traveled to the upper room in a modest residence in Jerusalem to partake in this simple supper.  This time the meal turned into a remembrance of Jesus’ faith journey here on earth with his followers.
 
Historians say that traditional meal would include:

• Maror- bitter herbs; such as horseradish
• Charoset- sweet mixture of nuts, apples and cinnamon; such as apple sauce
• Karpas-  vegetables dipped in salt water
• Zeroah- roasted meat such as lamb or chicken
• Beitzah- roasted eggs
• Matzot- a stack of flat bread such as matzah
• Wine- for children we would offer grape juice

 
Some scholars suggest that the Last Supper-Passover connection was created in part by early Christians who want to connect Jesus’ martyrdom to the redemption of the Jews from Egypt.  This symbolic moment dovetails perfectly with the figure of the Passover lamb, which ancient Jews sacrificed to commemorate their salvation from slavery in Egypt.
 
We can share this rich history with our children by hosting a mini-Seder meal.  Maybe it could look like more like appetizers for a typical meal.  It might be fun to include a menu of; horseradish, apple sauce, parsley dipped in salt water, a chicken drumette, boiled egg, matzah and juice.
 
This tradition represents a story of flight, candle-lit prayers over enemies that were vanquished and unleavened bread and wine to help us remember the grace Jesus offered to all people.
 
Check out this week's Sunday School lesson which includes menus, recipes and prayers to help families retell this rich history through a simple meal.  “Do this in memory of me.”  
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The Road to Emmaus Bible story can be found in the Young Children and Worship book.  The scripture can be found in Luke 24:1-35.

During this story our children learned more about an unexpected moment. Two disciples were traveling on the road to Emmaus and they didn't expect to meet Jesus.

Those travelers had a preconceived idea of who Jesus was, what He had come to do, and how He should do it. But when things did not turn out like they thought they should, they dismissed Jesus’ entire ministry as a mere failure.

It was only as the disciples had fellowship with Jesus that He disclosed Himself to them. Jesus reveals Himself to those whose eyes He has opened through the truths of His Word.   Can you imagine the excitement they must have felt? They said to one another, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" That moment with Jesus had to have been emotional. It had stirred them on the inside. It had moved their very hearts. And once moved they could not help but share.

All who have experienced God moments are moved with similar emotions. All who have come to know Him should react that way. We should not be able to contain it. Jesus told Thomas in John 20:29, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed."

We need to remain Jesus warriors, truly convicted to sharing those moments of grace and peace He has offered each of us!

​The history of Easter egg and its many designs can be found in the fourth volume of the Godly Play books.

Easter eggs can help us retell stories.  The intricate designs etched into the eggs have meanings.  The colors chosen for the designs have meanings.  The reflections of the memories that were shared with those present have an even greater meaning.  These memories can then be retold to future generations by the designs that are recreated on the eggs.

This lesson introduces children to the Eastern European tradition of decorating eggs with the symbols of Easter as a way to reclaim a wonderful sign of new life and our rich Christian history.
 
Our NSUMC Sunday School lesson includes traditional Ukrainian designs as well as contemporary egg creations like: egg shell mosaics, tissue paper eggs, string egg art, tie-dyed doily eggs, aluminum foil etched eggs, and a ghost egg science experiment.  Share the joy of Easter again this Sunday with these kid-friendly activities.