Object: Several large rubber bands.

Lesson: Do not let the sun go down on your anger.

As the children gather in the front of the sanctuary, I extract a large rubber band from my pocket. I dangle it from my index finger and ask one of the closer children to hook a finger through the other end. Once she has done so, I gently begin to pull the rubber band taut. Just as I am about to explain the concept of tension, the rubber band snaps! It is always wise to be prepared for surprises (Divine intervention?) during the children's sermon; I reach in my pocket for another rubber band and reconnect with a now cautious child who will only allow a minimum of tension to be placed on this one.

"The stress Lucy and I are putting on this rubber band," I explain to the children, "is what we call tensio…