Elijah is taken up into heaven

Today's selected reading: 2 Kings 2: 1-2. 6-14

Kids Address
• Does the parish priest stay in this parish for ever? (Discuss)
• What happens when one priest leaves and another comes to take his or her place. (Discuss)
• Normally there is a special service and presentation to say thanks for the years that the Priest has spent in the parish
• Then when the new priest comes, there is a special service of welcome and acceptance of the new priest's ministry in the parish.
•Some of you have grandparents that have retired from their job they were doing. Do you have grandparents like this and what did they do for a job? (Discuss)
• Their new job is partly to help look after you and help you to know all sorts of things, how to build, but especially how to love each other in the family.
• In today's reading we read about two men who worked for God. Elijah and Elisha and they too were very caring and loving to each other.
• Elijah somehow knew his life of this earth was coming to an end and wanted his friend Elisha to know that he was expected to continue the work he had started.
• Then Elijah died and was taken up to heaven in a huge whirlwind.
• Elisha then asked for God to bless his ministry and when he used Elijah's mantle, he too was able to part the water when he touched it with the mantle.
• This is a wonderful thing to learn today.
• When we show we truly love God, he always is there to help us
• Sometimes it may be that we are really in a stinky mood and just don't seem to be able to get out of it.
• When we ask God for his help, he is able to help us to become calm
• It may be we can't work out how to build something, and God can be asked "Dear God, help me to know what to do"
• You will be amazed what can happen, and who can come to your rescue.
• Like Elisha, who received the mantle which had special power to help him in his job of telling people about God, and how loving he is, God also helps us when we ask him. He gives us the gifts of kindness, care, love, sharing etc.
• God wants you to know you are special to him.

Kids Church Activity:
To give the idea that Elijah is taken up in a whirlwind. Whirlwind created with Elijah at the top. Whirlwind is self-standing.

What you need to get ready:
A4 card, Spiral design printed on card, Scissors, Figure of Elijah, textas