Time for Children
"Getting a Clear Picture"
Matthew 28:16—20

Props Needed:
A three-legged camera tripod with removable or adjustable legs
A camera loaded with film

         Good morning. Have any of you seen one of these before? (Show your assembled tripod.) It is called a tripod. Does anyone know what a tripod is used for? (Pause for answers.) A tripod is used to hold a camera. The tripod holds the camera very still while the photographer takes a picture. The tripod helps make the picture turn out clear, rather than blurry, by holding the camera still. Another time you might use a tripod is when you, the photographer, want to be in the picture yourself. You put the camera on the tripod, push a timer button on the camera, run around to be in the picture, and the camera snaps the picture itself.
         So a tripod is used to hold a camera. Does anyone know why it is called a tripod? (Pause.) It s called a tripod because it has three legs. In Greek, tri means three, and pod means foot. So, tripod means ‘three-footed or ‘three legs. How many wheels does a tricycle have? (Pause.) How many sides does a triangle have? (Pause.) How many legs does a tripod have? (Pause.) Why do you think a tripod has three legs? (Pause for answers.) It takes three legs to hold up the camera, doesn’t it?
         If you were to remove one leg from the tripod or make one leg shorter than the others (remove or shorten one leg), the camera won’t stay up, will it? (Try to set up lopsided tripod. Catch it as it falls.) You need three legs that are the same length to hold up the camera. Each leg is as important as the other two. Without all three equal legs, the tripod is not complete. It cannot do its job.
         God is like this tripod. We worship one God. But God is made up of three equal parts. We believe in God, who created the world and everything and everyone in it. We also believe in Jesus who came to earth to teach us about God, to show us how much God loves us, and to save us from our sin. And we believe in God the Holy Spirit, who lives in our hearts and helps us in our work as Christians.
         There is one God with three parts, just like one tripod has three legs. And like the legs of this tripod, each part of God is just as important as the others. Without all three equal parts—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—God is not complete.
         God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are called the ‘trinity.’ The word trinity starts with the letters T-R-I, tri, just like tripod, triangle, and tricycle. That’s because the trinity is God, three-in-one. Only by knowing all three - God, Christ, and Holy Spirit - can we get a clear picture of God.
         To end our time together, I want to put this tripod to the test by taking our picture. Everybody bunch together. (Set up the camera on the tripod, push the time release button, and run around and get in the picture yourself.) Say "Trinity!" (Next Sunday, bring the snapshot to show the children.)

from A Time with our Children (year A)
by Dianne E. Demming
©1992, Pilgrim Press, pp. 74-75

Affirming our faith

         As Brethren, we that that we have no "creed" but the New Testament. However, we can affirm many of the basic creeds of Christianity. Please turn to #712 in the back of your hymnal, what's known as the "Apostle's Creed," which dates back to second century after Christ. Can you "affirm" these words, realizing that they can't say everything, but they do reveal a great deal.  If you will, let speak them together.

(for more on Creeds, check out "I Believe")

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
            born of the Virgin Mary,
            suffered under Pontius Pilate,
            was crucified, died, and was buried;
      he descended to the dead.
      On the third day he rose again;
      he ascended into heaven,
      he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
            and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the holy catholic* church,
      the communion of saints,
      the forgiveness of sins,
      the resurrection of the body,
      and the life everlasting.

            *universal

Responding with our tithes and offerings

         A "holy kiss" to greet a brother or sister in Christ ... "A cup of water" given in Jesus' name ... God reaches out, in so many ways, to those who need his touch - and often you and I become his hands. As you respond to God's goodness with your offering just now, think of someone you know - a friend, a schoolmate, a co-worker, a neighbor - someone who could sure use the personal touch of Jesus extended through somebody like you. Pray for that person as you release your gift, and ask God for the boldness to reach out in Christ's name.
        Will the ushers come forward to serve?

Benediction

Read 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 and then, "say Trinity."