And Jesus was known to them in the breaking of the bread

We started today's lesson by recalling that Jesus had died and was buried in a tomb. The children who were present last week helped with the review. They shared that Mary (not Jesus' mother one child was quick to tell us, but another Mary) had seen and spoken to Jesus. Jesus was ALIVE!

With everyone caught up, we used our wooden figures to show two male disciples heading out of Jerusalem--in a hurry. They were concerned about their safety. As the two walked toward Emmaus they discussed Jesus and all that had happened. Another traveler, a stranger, began walking with them. The stranger was amazingly familiar with Holy Scripture, which he discussed with the disciples as they walked. As night fell, the stranger accepted the disciples' invitation to eat and spend the night with them in town.

The stranger in our story is "played" by a risen Christ wooden figure. The children know who is really coming to supper, even though disciples do not. It's hard not to tell the disciples the surprise ending!

Back to the story. The stranger is given the honor of blessing the bread. As he breaks the bread the disciples suddenly know that their guest is Jesus, the Risen Lord. And then Jesus disappears. We don't know where he goes.

The disciples disappear as well. We know where they go. They race back to Jerusalem to tell their friends the news: Jesus is alive!

The children wondered about how the two disciples felt when they suddenly recognized their new friend. Surprised was the first response around the circle. And then...SHOCKED! Yes, the children agreed, recognizing Jesus as the bread was broken must have been SHOCKING.

Indeed, it is shocking to recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread. When I least expect it, I am shocked to tears, shocked in a good way, by the gift and blessing of Holy Communion. How wonderful, how...well...shocking...that even now, so many years later, Jesus is still profoundly known to us in the breaking of the bread.

This morning we somehow missed our call back to church. Blissfully unaware that our time was over, we kept working on art responses. Please enjoy the children's work, only work photographed with their permission is posted.

Faithfully,

Christine Yeannakis