Love Comes Down

Making the Connection

Welcome to the additional resources section! Our prayer is that Love Comes Down gently encourages children to contemplate Christ's humility reflected in creation, acts of kindness, and ultimately in the incarnation. We hope this supplemental material helps explicitly link these concepts to church life and everyday experiences! We plan on adding more resources in the months to come. Let us know if there’s anything you would like to see more of!



As you read…

Cover

  • What animals are a part of your child’s life? Share with your child a memory of caring for a pet.

  • Ask your child how the girl is making the cat feel. How is caring for the cat making her feel?

 

Inside the Book

  • God shows his love in every season and every kind of weather. What is one thing your child notices or likes about the current weather? How is it helping the creatures/plants that live around you?

  • Recall a time you remember seeing your child care for someone. What was the circumstance?

  • How are the children caring for others in this book? What are some other ways we can care for those around us?

  • Use the phrase “I wonder” as you look together at the illustrations. For example, I wonder if the cat has a name. I wonder what will grow from her seed. I wonder what it would feel like to be in a hospital.

  • Look at the depiction of Jesus. How does he feel about the children around him? If you could say anything to Jesus, what would you say? If you could give a gift, what would you give?

 

After Reading

  • Ask your child to complete the sentences.

The sun shines _____.

The snow falls ______.

The rain falls _____.

The girl bends ____ to plant a seed.

The boy bends ____ to kiss a cat.

Jesus came _____ from heaven to save us.

Love comes _____!!!!!

  • Make sure you bend down to kiss or hug your child!



Scripture

In Scripture, there are many verses about the humble love of God and imitating that love. Choose one or two to read with your child. Put the verses and stories in your own words!

 

Ephesians 4:32 (NASB)

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

 

John 13:34-35(NASB)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

1 John 3:17-18(NASB)

But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

 

James 1:27

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

 

Luke 10:30-37(NASB)

Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side. But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

 “The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law.

Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”



Feast Days

Annunciation

An angel announces to Mary that Love (Jesus) will come down from heaven to make her body His throne.

 

Nativity of Christ

Love (Jesus) comes down and is born as a tiny baby to save the world.

 

Theophany

When Jesus is baptized, Love (the Holy Spirit) comes down in the form of a dove.

 

Pascha / Ascension

Love (Jesus) comes down into death, even down into Hades, and raises the fallen human family back up to God.

 

Pentecost

Love (the Holy Spirit) comes down as tongues of fire to help the disciples to love God and share the gospel with the whole world.

 


Saints

Saint Sava

Born as a king, St. Sava came down from his throne and lived as a poor monk and prayed for his people and all the world.

 

Saint Maria of Paris

She rescued Jewish children from the Nazis by smuggling them in trash cans. She displayed the love of God in real and practical ways.

 

Saint Elizabeth the New Martyr

Once described as “the most beautiful woman in Europe,” St. Elizabeth left the life of a princess to serve the poor and suffering. Though soldiers threw her down to the bottom of a deep mineshaft, she showed her love for God by singing the Cherubic Hymn as she was dying.

Saint Stylianus

While living in a cave in prayer and fasting, he would smile at all the children who came to visit. Many who came to him were healed of mental and physical illness.

Saint Herman of Alaska

A humble monk who loved the Alaskan people, he miraculously protected them from storms and baked cookies for children. He even cared for a little ermine who lived beneath his cell and was devoted to him.



You!

  • Can you think of a friend who might be feeling down? How could you cheer up your friend?

  • Can you think of anyone who is smaller than you? A little brother or sister? A pet? How can you show them you care?

  • Can you think of anyone to pray for? Can you pray for God to come down and comfort or give strength to that person?

    Use your body!

  • In some cultures, people bow to each other to show respect. Practice bowing. Say something kind when you bow.

  • Go outside! In any tiny space of nature you can find, get on your hands and knees with your child. Try to find the smallest living thing you can and sing its praises!



Divine Liturgy

What are some ways we see that “Love comes down” during Divine Liturgy? What ways do we respond with our bodies and words?

 

Communion

Most importantly, Love comes down at every Divine Liturgy as we partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus.

Priest giving communion to young children.

“Send down Thy Holy Spirit upon us and upon these Gifts here offered.”

Prayer of Epiclesis, Divine Liturgy