Anna
Light a candle and remember the presence of God is with you.
Cut out the pieces to help you tell this story.
There are times and places when women are treated as less important than men.
This is not right. God loves us all. (Pause.)
Yet, my name is still a part of God’s story.
Your name is also a part of God’s story. (Draw a heart with your finger.)
My name is ANNA.
Place Anna in front of you.
My story is found in the stories of Jesus.
Take time to look at the Bible timeline at the bottom.
I was one of the few people who got to see the small baby Jesus.
I had been waiting for him for many, many years. By the time he finally came to the temple as a small baby, I was a very old woman.
I had lived in the 2nd temple for many years, waiting.
I prayed and I waited.
… … … … … Wait… … … … Wait… … … … Wait… … … … Wait… … … …
Wait… … … … Wait… … … …
Wait… … … …
Then, one day, I saw him. I knew he was the one, the Messiah. Even though he was so small, my heart was so filled with love for this young child… Jesus.
I shared with Jesus’ family what I knew and felt about this baby. I was one of the first people to share that this child was the one who would bring us good news of great love.
God granted me patience.
That patience let me see, hold, and know Jesus.
My name is Anna. I am part of God’s story.
Luke 2:36-38 (Common English Version)
The prophet Anna was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. In her youth she had been married for seven years, but her husband died. And now she was eighty-four years old. Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating.
At that time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.
I wonder…
… how Anna felt seeing baby Jesus?
… what is was like living in the temple?
… how she knew to keep waiting?
… how she knew Jesus was the Messiah?