Additional Scriptures

Psalm 130; John 11:1–45; Romans 8:6–11

Preparation

Have paper and something to write with for each person. Distribute as people enter the worship space or wait until it is needed during the Scripture Reflection. Invite people to bring a sweater or jacket next week for Palm Sunday.

Worship Setting

[Optional] This is the fifth Sunday in Lent. Use five candles as part of this week’s Lenten remembrance. They represent Honesty, Humility, Hopefulness, Healing, and Wholeness. Each Sunday, add objects to the worship setting that reflect each weekly focus. Today’s object should be related to Wholeness—for example a picture of the Temple, a spiral, bandages—to represent the characteristic of wholeness. Begin this service with the first four candles (from the last four weeks) already lit.

Prelude

Community Share, Care, and Prayer

We Reflect

Lenten Welcome

Lent is about divine grace. It is a time to reflect on our discipleship and prepare for Easter. It is based on the example of Christ’s forty days in the desert preparing for ministry. Lent is a time to honestly examine who we are, recognize who we are called to become, and receive divine grace for the journey in between. Lent is an invitation to fast or replace a behavior with time connecting with God.

Unison Lenten Lament

Read in unison. Print or project this for all to see.

My soul grieves because of my sin.

I am surrounded by the temptations that so easily influence me.

When I desire to rejoice, my heart groans because of my sins;

Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trust.

—2 Nephi 3:32–34, adapted

Light the last of the Lenten candles. [optional]

Lenten Reading

Today we light the fifth candle to represent the last week of Lent and Wholeness. Our brokenness, separation, and grief change us, and we are made new. As disciples, we practice honesty, humility, and hopefulness to heal our relationships with God, self, others, and all creation. We experience wholeness by maintaining healthy relationships based on justice, peace and reconciliation. The good news of Christ comes into fullness within the blessings of community. We praise our loving Creator for the possibility of shalom that is extended to all. We open ourselves to fully receive God’s shalom.

Hymn of Shalom

“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” CCS 325

OR “When We Are Living/Pues si vivimos”   CCS 242/243

Encourage participants to sing in a language other than their own.

Prayer for Peace

Light the peace candle

Prayer for Peace

Invite participants to become part of this prayer by silently inserting words or phrases to complete the thoughts.

O Holy One, forgive us for…

Pause.

Giver of life, forgive us for…

Pause.

Lover of souls, renew us through…

Pause.

Filler of hearts, renew us through…

Pause.

Standard of peace, strengthen us with…

Pause.

Champion of the lowly, strengthen us with…

Pause.

Divine Creator, we ask for peace in our…

Pause.

Blessed Redeemer, we ask for peace in our…

Pause.

Lord, God Almighty, we will sue for your peace by…

Pause.

Amen. And amen.

Sung Response

“One Common Prayer”  sing twice  CCS 313

OR “God’s Melody of Peace”   refrain only   CCS 319

Scripture Reflection

Ezekiel 37:1–14

The scripture and questions may be projected or printed. Read the scripture the first time, then pause to allow participants time to write their reflections. Repeat this process. Invite participants to reflect on the questions and take note of their responses, if desired. If time allows, facilitate the sharing of their reflections.

First Reading: What words, phrases, or images stand out to you in this story?

Second Reading: What might God be whispering to you within this text?

We Are Transformed

Ministry of Music or Community Hymn of Spirit

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.

“Breath of the Living God/Soplo del Dios viviente” CCS 43

OR “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” CCS 190

Morning Message

Based on Ezekiel 37:1–14

Disciples’ Generous Response

Statement

The season of Lent is all about God’s grace as a gift generously revealed to creation and gratefully received by us. Our Enduring Principles interconnect and intertwine, with this foundational generosity from God.

 The principles Grace and Generosity and Continuing Revelation combine to state, in part: “God’s grace, especially as revealed in Jesus Ghrist, is generous and unconditional.

…God graciously reveals divine will today as in the past. …We offer all we are and have to God’s purposes as revealed in Jesus Christ. …In humility, individually and in community, we prayerfully listen to understand God’s will for our lives, the church, and creation more completely. …We generously share our witness, resources, ministries, and sacraments according to our true capacity.”

—Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, pp. 28–29

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes

We Journey

Unison Statement

Participants read in unison. Print or project this for all to see.

During the coming week, we will focus on wholeness as individuals and as a community. We celebrate all aspects of creation and take our place as caregivers of Christ’s peace. We welcome God’s peaceable kingdom in our hearts, and in our lives. Help us recognize your surprising grace. Grant us strength to see clearly where we are, and courage to step where you beckon us to go. Our journey requires honesty, humility, hopefulness, healing, and wholeness. Breathe your Spirit on us. Make us whole—make us yours.

 Moment of Silence

Hymn of Transformation

“Called by Christ to Love Each Other” CCS 577

OR “Rain Down” CCS 260

Prayer for Wholeness

Response

Postlude

Gathering

Welcome

Lent is a time for personal and community spiritual renewal. The Lenten season is the 40 days (excluding Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. As we journey with Jesus we are called into the wilderness to prepare for something new. In this wilderness we confront the most painful parts of ourselves, face our weaknesses, and await the transforming power of grace, hope, and resurrection.

Prayer for Peace

Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.
Light the peace candle.

During the Lenten season we will use a verse from CCS 221, “Spirit of Christ, Remember Me,” as our prayer for peace.

I will read aloud verse 5. Then I will read it phrase by phrase, and you will repeat each phrase after me. I will close with Amen.

Read verse 5 aloud from CCS 221, “Spirit of Christ, Remember Me.”

Say: “Repeat after me.”

Read the first phrase of CCS 221, verse 5, aloud. Wait for congregation to repeat.

Proceed in that way through the entire verse.

Close with, “Amen.”

Spiritual Practice

Practice of Silence

Practicing silence may be difficult at first. The mind may run wild. Allow yourself grace in this practice. We will begin when I ring the chime. We will be silent for five minutes. I will ring the chime again at the conclusion of our time of silence.

Remember to breathe deeply. Focusing on each breath can help quiet the mind. Become aware of your surroundings; notice how the air feels on your skin; trust that you are in the presence of the holy—fully surrounding and embracing you. Allow your inner conversations to stop for a while, being fully present with the One who is fully present with you.

Ring a chime to begin.

Wait five minutes.

Ring the chime to conclude the period of silence.

Ask: How does it feel to be present with God in silence?

—Adapted from a Guide for Lent 

Sharing Around the Table

Ezekiel 37:1–14 NRSVue

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you and will cause flesh to come upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

So I prophesied as I had been commanded, and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”

Our last Sunday of Lent points directly to the coming of Easter with the story of Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones. It is a memorable story of new life.

The prophet Ezekiel lived during the time of the Babylonian conquest. During this time the leaders, artisans, and wealthy people were taken captive and lived in exile in Babylon. God’s promise to give the Israelites their land for all time seemed empty. The temple, the dwelling place of God, lay in ruins. The Israelites no longer had a national identity. It seemed that God had deserted them.

Today’s scripture contains prophetic words of hope for the exiles. Ezekiel’s vision begins in a valley filled with dry bones. It is an apt metaphor for the plight of the exiles. They lived with no joy in the valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. In this vision God asks, “Mortal, can these bones live?” One meaning would be, what hope is there for these people?

God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones. There is a double meaning here. In the vision, Ezekiel addresses the human bones on the ground. In real life, Ezekiel speaks the word of God to the people. In the vision, the bones come together with a rattling noise, and they take on flesh, muscle, and skin. But they are not living beings. The exiles in Babylon tried to live normal lives: eating, working, building, serving. But there was no hope, no life, no spirit.

Ezekiel calls the breath of God to come from the four winds and enter the bodies. The Hebrew word ruach meant breath, wind, or spirit. In Genesis, God’s Spirit, wind, or breath moved on the face of the waters. God breathed into the newly formed Adam. Now, God’s Spirit fills the bodies covering the dry bones, “and they lived.”

We continue throughout each era to experience life as a valley of dry bones when crisis, illness, death, or economic ruin destroy our lives. Hope flees, and we do not know where to turn for purpose, joy, and light. Ezekiel reminds us that only God can fill us with the Spirit and call us back into life. Only the breath of God, breathing through us, can recreate us in God’s image and restore our spirit.

Questions

1. In what ways have you felt like you, and those around you, were simply existing—like dry bones in an alien valley?
2. How have you sensed the Spirit of God bringing new life and hope?

Sending

Generosity Statement

Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint.

—Doctrine and Covenants 163:9

The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing, small-group ministries as part of your generous response.

The offering prayer for Lent is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response:

Ever-present God, Forgive us when we are less than loving, less than hope-filled, less than you have created us to be. Your mercy and grace are always with us. May we find strength in your presence, and may we respond to your love with generous spirits. Amen.

Invitation to Next Meeting

Closing Hymn

CCS 237, “God, Renew Us by Your Spirit”

Closing Prayer

Optional Additions Depending on Group

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Communion Scripture

Choose one scripture to read from this selection: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Matthew 26:17–30; Mark 14:12–26; Luke 22:7–39.

Communion Statement

All are welcome at Christ’s table. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a sacrament in which we remember the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Jesus Christ. In Community of Christ, we also experience Communion as an opportunity to renew our baptismal covenant and to be formed as disciples who live Christ’s mission. Others may have different or added understandings within their faith traditions. We invite all who participate in the Lord’s Supper to do so in the love and peace of Jesus Christ.

During this Lenten season let us share in Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community. In preparation let’s sing from Community of Christ Sings 526, “Is There One Who Feels Unworthy?”

Blessing and serving bread and wine.

Thoughts for Children

Materials: dry sponge, bowl of water, towel

Pass the dry sponge around so each child can touch it.

Ask: What does this sponge feel like? Can you describe how it feels to your touch? (dry and scratchy)

What will happen to the sponge if I put it in the water? (It will soften, absorb the water, get bigger.)

Let’s see what happens. Place the sponge in the bowl of water, then squeeze most of the water out and pass it around to the children.

How does the sponge feel now? (soft, moist, wet, and heavier)

When the sponge was all dried up, it wasn’t very useful for scrubbing. Now that the water has filled its cells we can use it to wash the counter or scrub the dishes.

Our scripture helps us understand that sometimes when we are sad or lonely, we feel all dried up, like our sponge. But when we ask God’s Spirit to be with us, it fills our cells, just like the water filled the sponge. We soften our hearts, and we feel alive and hopeful again.

Let’s each dip our hands in the water and feel how the water softens our skin. Then we will pray to thank God for filling us with hope.

Let all the children dip their hands in the water and dry them with the towel.

Offer a brief prayer:

Thank you, God, for your life-giving Spirit that fills us with hope. Help us remember to call on you when we feel sad or lonely, and you Spirit will be with us.

Amen.

Exploring the Scripture

Our last Sunday of Lent points directly to the coming of Easter, with the story of Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones. A memorable story of new life, it brought hope in a time of despair and has continued to inspire writers, artists, theologians, and preachers through the centuries.

The prophet Ezekiel lived during the time of the Babylonian conquest. He counseled the people during the siege of Jerusalem and after Jerusalem was destroyed. The leaders, artisans, and wealthy people were taken captive and lived in exile in Babylon to serve the Babylonian king. The Jewish king was captive in a foreign land. God’s promise to give the Israelites their land for all time seemed empty. The temple, the dwelling place of God, lay in ruins. The Israelites no longer had a national identity. It seemed that God had deserted them.

Today’s scripture passage contains prophetic words of hope to the exiles. Ezekiel’s vision begins in a valley filled with dry bones. It is an apt metaphor for the plight of the exiles. They lived with no joy in the valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. God asks a penetrating question, “Mortal, can these bones live?” (v. 3). What hope is there for these people? Ezekiel has no answer but refers the question back to God, who is the source of all life.

God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones. There is a double meaning here. In the vision, Ezekiel addresses the human bones lying on the ground. In real life, Ezekiel speaks the word of God to the people. In the vision, the bones come together with a rattling noise, and they take on flesh muscle and skin. But they are not living beings. The exiles in Babylon tried to live normal lives: eating, working, building, serving. But there was no hope, no life, no spirit.

Ezekiel calls the breath of God to come from the four winds and enter the bodies. The Hebrew word ruach meant breath, wind, or spirit. In Genesis, God’s Spirit, wind, or breath moved on the face of the waters. God breathed into the newly formed Adam. Now, God’s Spirit fills the bodies covering the dry bones, “and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude” (v. 10).

God provides the interpretation in verses 11–14. The dry bones are the entire house of Israel. That implies both the exiles and those who remain on the war-torn land far away in Judea. God promises to “open the graves” of the people and bring them forth. It meant new life for the exiles, and new hope in the face of despair. It also became the foundation for an emerging theology of resurrection after death. The foreshadowing of the stories of Lazarus’ and Christ’s resurrection is obvious to those of us who are Christian.

We continue throughout each era to experience life as a valley of dry bones when crisis, illness, death, or economic ruin destroys our lives. Hope flees, and we do not know where to turn for purpose, joy, and light. Ezekiel reminds us that only God can fill us with the Spirit and call us back into life. Only the breath of God, breathing through us, can recreate us in God’s image and restore our spirit.

Central Ideas

1. War, natural disasters, and personal tragedy can leave us feeling like dry bones, devoid of life and hope.
2. Only God can give the gift of new life, new hope, and the Holy Spirit to revitalize us.
3. We are called to be the prophetic voice that announces the presence of God’s Spirit in the lives of people who need transformation and restoration.

Questions for the Speaker

1. When have you felt like you and those around you were existing as dry bones in an alien valley?
2. When have you felt the Spirit of God bringing new life and hope into your existence?
3. When have you found yourself preaching the word of God to those who were parched and dry, longing for living water? What was the good word to those people? What was the result?

Focus Scripture Passage

Ezekiel 37:1–14

Lesson Focus

God’s breath brings life.

Objectives 

The learners will…

• explore God’s promise of the Breath of Life.
• identify situations or places where darkness permeates life.
• understand how God’s Spirit resurrects life.

Supplies 

• Bible 
• Pens or pencils
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS)

Notes to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Ezekiel 37:1–14 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: Old Testament, pp. 64–65, available through Herald House.

Gather

Activates background knowledge, prepares, and motivates for lesson (15% of total lesson time)

Invite the class to close their eyes and visualize this scripture coming to life as Ezekiel 37:1–14 is read aloud.

Offer a prayer for insight as the class studies the scripture.

Engage

Invites exploration and interaction (35% of lesson time)

The Israelites lived in captivity under Babylonian rule after the destruction of Jerusalem. Their temple was destroyed, their national identity gone, and God’s promise of owning their land for all time seemed empty. Far from their homeland, they lived in the desolate valleys between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It was dusty, dirty, and barren. They had lost a sense of hope; God seemed distant. But God had not left them or forgotten them. As a visual he instructed the prophet Ezekiel to prophecy to the valley filled with dry bones.

The visual narrative is much like science fiction: dead, dry bones knitting back together; muscles, tendons, organs and all body parts forming a living being. Even though there is a body, there is no life until God’s breath from the four corners of the Earth is breathed into them.

Dry bones represent the house of Israel. Through the prophecy God recognized their lifelessness, hopelessness, and despair. God did not plan to leave them in their desolate state. By reconnecting with God, the Spirit of life would pour into them, and they would find renewal and wholeness and regain hope for the future.

Certainly darkness and “dry” periods of life come to each of us causing a sense of disconnectedness with God.

• Share a time when you experienced spiritual “dry bones.”
• What factors contributed to the dryness?
• What does this tell us about the richness of our spiritual practices?

Respond

Takes the learners from hearing to doing (35% of lesson time)

Most of us identify with periods of doubt, depression, fear, or anxiety that draw us into darkness or despair. We do not sense God’s presence or light. The good news in today’s scripture passage is renewal, resurrection, restoration, and hope! As we near Easter, the hope of resurrection is strong. We celebrate Christ’s rising from the dead and the joy that event promises.

The world resonates with “graveyards” where hope is diminished. News of wars, poverty, oppression, slavery, immigration issues, hunger, and disease cross our news feeds daily. The growing distance between the “haves” and the “have nots” increases yearly. Public rhetoric is more hostile and accusatory and political.

It is into this world we are called as disciples to share the good news of the gospel! We can hold fast to God’s promises. In 1988 the following counsel was given to the church by President Wallace B. Smith:

In the many places where you are called to labor, the forces of darkness and destruction are active indeed, and seem to hold sway. Your hearts are burdened by the magnitude of the tasks that are yours in bringing the light of my gospel into such darkness.

Nevertheless, I have heard your prayers when you have cried out to me, and I have been with you in the places where you occupy. I am aware of your desires to serve me and my assurance is that as you go forth, your offerings of faith and service are acceptable to me.

In all your efforts, therefore, continue to trust in my grace and respond in love to the leadings of my Spirit. If you will come before me in unity and love I will bless you with a great outpouring of compassion, both for one another and for the world into which you are sent.

—Doctrine and Covenants 157:16–17

• What can we learn about ourselves and our relationship with the world from difficult paths we are called to walk?
• How do we open ourselves to the living breath of the Spirit?
• What would resurrection—life breathed into dry bones—look like in your life, in your congregation, in your community?
• How can we be disciples in the world who share hope and the promise of resurrection?

Send

Explores how the lesson might be lived (10% of lesson time)

As Easter approaches, spend time in reflection. How healthy are your “spiritual bones”? Choose a spiritual practice to engage in daily from now until Easter. Seek resurrection!

Bless

Time of prayer, praise, blessing, and hope (5% of lesson time)

Sing or read “Now the Green Blade Rises” CCS 482.

May wintry hearts come back to life through God’s blessing of the risen Lord. Amen.

Focus Scripture Passage

Ezekiel 37:1–14

Lesson Focus

Develop Disciples to Serve

Objectives 

The learners will…

• choose the attributes they believe make someone or something alive.
• tell the story of “Dry Bones” in their own words to glean deeper understanding.
• relate the scripture to times in their lives.
• convey a strategy they use to come “back to life.”
• commit to using strategies to help others to come “back to life.”

Supplies 

• Bibles
• Puppet or doll
• Marker board or chart paper with markers
• Small ball or beanbag to pass among the students
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS), copies for students to share

Note to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Ezekiel 37:1–14 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: Old Testament, pp. 64–65, available through Herald House.

Gather

Activates background knowledge, prepares, and motivates for lesson (15% of total lesson time)

Ask for a volunteer to sit in a chair in front of the group. Place a puppet or doll in another chair beside them. Ask the students what the difference is between the two. Challenge the group to describe qualities and characteristics of each “person” that could be explained to someone who is just learning the concepts of “alive” and “not alive.”

On the board or chart paper, create two lists to describe the differences between alive and not alive. Ideas might include warm, has a heartbeat, breathing, moving, eating, and so on.

Ask: How might these characteristics also describe what it means to be spiritually alive or spiritually not alive? What might you add to the list or take away from it?

—“The Walking Dead: Week 1, Dry Bones,” ©2011 by Callie Dean

Engage

Invites exploration and interaction (35% of lesson time)

Before reading the scripture passage, tell students to be on the lookout for any of the signs of life or lack of life that were on the list they created.

Take turns reading aloud Ezekiel 37:1–14.

To make sure the students get the gist, have them retell the story using a format called “Then suddenly…”

In this group-retelling of the story, only one person can speak at a time. They will be holding a ball or other object and will say what happens first in the story, creating a cliffhanger by saying, “Then suddenly…” at the end of their sentence. Whomever they pass the ball to picks up where they left off. You may want to demonstrate with a well-known story. For example,

• Student 1: Once upon a time there were three bears that lived in a house together. Then suddenly…PASS THE BALL
• Student 2: …they decided to go for a walk. Then suddenly…PASS THE BALL
• Student 3: …a girl named Goldilocks came inside…Then suddenly…PASS THE BALL

—“The Walking Dead: Week 1, Dry Bones,” ©2011 by Callie Dean

Ask:

• Did Ezekiel really go to a place filled with bones? How do you know?
• Why do you think Ezekiel didn’t question what God wanted him to do?
• What was in Ezekiel’s prophecy that made the bones “live again”?
• Based on the scripture passage, who was dried up that Ezekiel needed to go help to live again?

Respond

Takes the learners from hearing to doing (35% of lesson time)

The Israelites were “dried up,” which conveys a sense of physical or spiritual weakness or hopelessness. They, in fact, had been exiled from their homeland and were withering in their new land.

Ask or say: 

• Can you recall a time in your life when you felt empty of spirit or physically spent? If possible, share about that experience.
• How did God, Jesus, or your church family help you “come back to life”?
• Do you have a ritual or physical place that helps you renew and “get your breath back”? If possible, share about it.
• Now think about the people you interact with every day. Do you think any of those you encounter have felt as you have or do? Do you think any of them are “out of breath”?
• In Doctrine and Covenants Section 163:1, we are counseled on our faith journey—“Do not be afraid to go where it (your faith) beckons you to go.”
• How could you use your experience of going from emptiness to fullness to support your friends you encounter each day? Share your ideas. Record the ideas on the board.

Send

Explores how the lesson might be lived (10% of lesson time)

Examine the list the students generated.

Say: Commit to two ideas you can utilize this week when you hear others around you expressing their stress and emptiness, both physically and mentally.

Ask every student to complete this phrase:

         I will embrace the calling of Community of Christ by… (name the two ideas the student is committing to) and become a blessing to creation.

Optional

use your phone to video the class as they individually complete the phrase. Then email or use social media to send them the video midweek to encourage them on their discipleship. Be sure parents are aware of the recording and include them when you share it midweek.

Bless

Time of prayer, praise, blessing, and hope (5% of lesson time)

Together read or sing “Holy Spirit, Come, Confirm Us” CCS 505, stanzas one and four.

Focus Scripture Passage

Ezekiel 37:1–14

Lesson Focus

God breathes new life into bones in the Valley of the Dry Bones. 

Objectives 

The learners will…

• hear the story of Ezekiel and the Valley of the Dry Bones.
• explore the Holy Spirit and how it works in their lives.

Supplies 

• Bible 
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS)
• Latex-free balloons
• Black paper and white paper
• Black marker
• Cotton swabs and Glue
• Bubbles and bubble wands

Notes to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Ezekiel 37:1–14 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: Old Testament, pp. 64–65, available through Herald House.

Gather

Activates background knowledge, prepares, and motivates for lesson (15% of total lesson time)

Teach children the song “Dry Bones (Dem Bones)”. See YouTube for an example. This song was inspired by today’s scripture passage from Ezekiel.

Engage

Invites exploration and interaction (35% of lesson time)

Read Ezekiel 37:1–14 from an NRSVue Bible or a more common-language translation such as The Message. This is a challenging passage for children. Children need to understand that the bones are a symbol for the people of Israel, who were living as exiles (they were not allowed to live in their own land). The breath of God is symbolic of God breathing new life into the people. When they were hopeless, God gave them hope.

We continue even today to experience times in our lives as a valley of dry bones when bad things happen to us. We lose hope, and we do not know where to turn for comfort, joy, and light. Ezekiel reminds us that only God can fill us with the Holy Spirit and call us back into life. Only the breath of God, breathing through us, can restore our spirit. This is a passage of hope and promise.

• When have you felt hopeless or afraid?
• What promise can we learn from Ezekiel?
• How does God “breathe new life” into us?

Using latex-free balloons (in case of latex allergies), show children an uninflated balloon. Talk about how the balloon looks sort of sad. It doesn’t seem to bring much joy. Then blow up the balloon. This is like the “breath of God” from today’s scripture passage. The Spirit of God can fill us and give us joy. Blow up a few more balloons and let the children bounce them to each other, sharing some joy!

Respond

Takes the learners from hearing to doing (35% of lesson time)

Invite children to create a skeleton craft. Draw or print a skull on white paper for each child. Place the skull at the top of a piece of black paper. Then glue cotton swabs on the paper to look like bones. Adults might need to help children cut the cotton swabs into smaller pieces. (For more information, see www.thrityfun.com.)

As children work, remind them that the bones represent God’s promises to us.

Send

Explores how the lesson might be lived (10% of lesson time)

In today’s scripture story, the Holy Spirit is represented as the “breath of God.” Read the Community of Christ Basic Beliefs statement on The Holy Spirit:

We believe in the Holy Spirit, Giver of Life, holy Wisdom, true God. The Spirit moves through and sustains creation; endows the church for mission; frees the world from sin, injustice, and death; and transforms disciples. Wherever we find love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control, there the Holy Spirit is working.

—Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, p. 34

• Discuss how children think of the Holy Spirit. Do they think of the Holy Spirit as the breath of God, a gentle wind, a dove, a warm blanket or something else?
• Invite children to blow bubbles. Encourage them to imagine their breath as the breath of God, moving among creation. Where have they seen the Holy Spirit at work?

Bless

Time of prayer, praise, blessing, and hope (5% of lesson time)

Sing “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” CCS 190.