Pentecost Three - Sunday, June 1, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Third Sunday after Pentecost
Read the Gospel for the day over- Matthew 7: 21-29. Pay attention to the words or phrases that jump out at you.
Read over the lesson so that you are familiar with what is intended to happen. Gather the materials that you will need for each section of the lesson. For deeper thinking or for ways to extend the lesson take a look at the following websites:
http://www.textweek.com/yeara/propera4.htm
http://www.efree.mb.ca/lectionarypuzzles/in-awvv.htm#p09
http://ecusa.anglican.org/50534_59724_ENG_HTM.htm
http://msssbible.com/newtestament/houseonrock.htm
http://www.emmanuel.kiev.ua/Kids/dom2E.html
http://children.calvarychapel.com/site/pdf/New/Curr187.pdf
Materials needed:
Small table or end of one table
White candle
Bible & Bookmark
Green cloth (optional)
Large rock
Small container with sand in it
Gather around the small table or at the end of one table. If you have the green cloth put it down and place the candle on it. Put the Bible, large rock and container with sand near the candle (you may want to let the children help with this).
Light the candle.
Pray the following prayer together:
Creator God you are here,
Loving Jesus you are here,
Holy Spirit you are here,
Come and show us the way.
Amen.
Blow out the candle. Ask the children how houses are built (hopefully some will say on a foundation, with wood, stone and other materials). Ask the children if they know why some houses fall down (some answers might be wind, fire, storms, etc.) Explain that in today's story Jesus is talking about houses but he might be referring to something else.
Materials needed:
Comfortable place to set up a story area - around a table or on the floor with cushions
Large rock and container with sand from the Gathering
Jesus had been speaking to his followers for a long time. He had told them about the blessings of living in God's way. He had taught them the way to pray. He had taught them about fasting in secret. He had reminded them God looks after everyone and that they should not worry. Now Jesus had just a few more things to tell his followers before going and taking a rest.
Jesus said to all the people listening: "Everyone who calls me Lord will not automatically come into God's kingdom. Only those who do the will of God will come into the kingdom."
Jesus said, "It is like this. There were once two families. They each needed to build a house. Both families thought they had found the best place to build their homes. The first family built their home on rock - a very strong foundation (hold up the rock). The second family built their home on sand - not such a strong foundation.
Suddenly a storm came up. The wind blew and blew. The rain fell and fell. So much rain came that the waters caused a flood and the waters came up to the house on the rock. The house built on the rock did not move. It had a very strong foundation.
The same storm hit the house on the sand. The wind blew and blew. The rain fell and fell. So much rain came that the waters caused a flood and the waters came up to the house on the sand. The house on the sand fell down. It did not have a strong foundation.
The family that was wise and built their house on a rock are like the people who listen to my words and act on them. They will come into God's kingdom.
The family that was not wise and built their house on sand are like the people who listen to my words and do not act on them. They will not come into God's kingdom."
Everyone who heard all the words of Jesus, who had been up on the mountain with him the whole time, they were all amazed by what he had said. They were amazed because he taught them as one who had much authority. Jesus spoke to them with the authority of God. They all knew that they needed to listen to what he was saying and act the way that Jesus had taught them.
Idea #1: House Picture
This project will enable the children to connect with the idea of building our houses in God's image and likeness.
Materials needed: house picture (found at end of lesson), card stock or heavy construction paper, small pebbles, sand, white glue, scissors, and markers
Instructions: Make copies of the house, so that each child has two copies. Give each child two pieces of card stock or heavy construction paper and two copies of the house picture. Invite them to cut out the houses and then glue them onto the two pieces of card stock. Print up where the children can see it the following phrase: Build your life on God's way. Encourage the children to print that up above the two houses. Let the children colour the two pictures as they want. On the one picture help the children to put some glue at the bottom of the house and cover it with the sand. On the other picture help the children to put some glue at the bottom of the house and put the small pebbles in the glue. Invite the children to share the story of the two houses with other people.
Idea #2: House Picture Frame
With this project the children can share the main idea of the story with their families.
Materials needed: construction paper, craft sticks, holepunch, scissors, yarn and glue
Instructions: Invite the children to create a house with the craft sticks on the construction paper. You might want to suggest that two layers of craft sticks (as in side by side) are used to outline the house. Suggest that the children leave the inner part of the house free. Once the craft sticks are glued on have the children cut the excess construction paper off from around the edge of the craft stick frame. With the holepunch punch a hole at the top of the house and using the yarn make a loop to hang the frame from. Encourage the children to find a picture of their family to put into the frame and share the story of building the house with them.
Idea #3: Paper Weights
This idea will help to remind the children of the need to follow God's way - the way of the rock.
Materials needed: large mostly flat rocks, sand, glue, and permanent markers
Instructions: Give each child a rock. Invite them to think about the story and choose words that will remind them of the story (some choices might be rock, build, act, God, etc). Have them print up the words on the rocks with the permanent markers. Outline the words with the glue and sprinkle the sand on the glue. Shake the excess sand off the rocks. Invite them to think about who they would like to give the paper weight to, reminding them to tell the story of the two house builders when they give it to that person.
Gather with the children around the worship table again. Relight the candle. Say the prayer line by line and encourage the children to repeat it after you:
Creator God thank you for loving us,
Loving Jesus thank you for teaching us,
Holy Spirit thank you for helping us grow,
Be with us in everything we do.
Amen.
House Shape 
