46- Lesson No. ( 46 ) Light and Candles in the Church

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen

Lesson No. (46)

References:
Numbers 31:50, Genesis 1:3.

Notes for Servants
-In using lights, the church aims to draw the attention of the people to the transfiguration of Christ.
(Matthew 17:1-8). When Christ transfigured to His beloved John, John saw the lights surrounding
the Lord.
-Christ is the light of the world. He enlightens our hearts with His true light, thus the darkness of sin
is no more.
-Lighting the tapers when we read the Gospel refers to the light of the Gospel which has been shown
in all the world (2 Corinthians 4:4). And the word of God is light. (Proverbs 6:23).
i St. Ironimus said, "The church is brightly lit while reading the Gospel as a sign of our happiness by
the good news of the Gospel about Jesus who is the light of the world."

Objectives
General: The light in the church.
Specific:
The children will be able to ...
A. Know about the light in the church.
B. Learn something about the meaning of various thing in the church.
C. Remember that every time they go to the church.

Bible Verse

“I am the light of the world”
(John 8:12)

Teaching Aids
None.

Instruction
(1) Review last week's lesson.
(2) Who remembers the verse?
(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.
(4) Teacher should prepare the appropriate questions to emphasize the objectives during the
lesson.

Story Time
Anyone can notice that there are many lights in the church. Light in the church remind us of heaven
and God, the source of light of everything. The church is the house of God and should full of light. The
church is like the sky, beautiful in the daytime because it is lit by the sun, and in the night time by the moon
and the stars. The church also is lighted byJesus and by us, the believers. Every time we enter the church,
we should feel that we are in heaven and God is shining on us. Light in the church also reminds us of the
Lord's transfiguration on the mountain.
The Bible tells us that the first church at the time of the Apostles used to be lit with many lights
during the services. “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And
there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.” (Acts 20:7-8). There
is also an important light in the church which is in the far east of the sanctuary before the Altar. This light
is called “The Lantern of the East” and is left on all the time. This Lantern refers to the star which
appeared in the east and guided the three wise men to the place were Jesus was.
Candles and tapers also are used in the church as source of light. We have two deacons holding
tapers, standing one on each side of the LECTERN (Bible stand) while the Gospel’s read. This means that
the Word ofGod is the light of our life our way. There are also, two candlesticks put on the Altar one on
the left side and one on the right side. These two candlesticks symbolise the Cherubim on the Ark of
Covenant.
We also see candles and lamps before the icons of the Apostles, the Virgin Mary, the Saints and
Martyrs indicating that they are lights in the world and shining stars in the sky of the church because of their
virtues and witnessing with which they praised the Lord, and that their souls shine with the light of glory
coming over them from the Father of Lights in heaven.

Discussion
1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.
Learning Activities
Activity Sheet.