Exegetical Aim: Winter and cold as symbols and signs of the world's darkness and the need for God's intervention. (This Children's Sermon is a bit more symbolic than usual, but so is the scriptural text.)

Props: A branch with enough green leaves for each child to tear one off.

Lesson: As you were coming to church this morning perhaps you noticed the weather. What was the weather like? (response) What kind of things did you see? What kind of sky was there? (response) What was the temperature like? Was it hot, cold, or nice outside? (response) Summarize the weather conditions and then add to the end of your description: But weather can change quickly, can't it? (response) How do you know when it's going to rain? (response) That is righ…