Sunday, June 15 - Pentecost 5
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Preparation
Gathering
Story Time
Response
Closing
Read the Gospel for the day over - Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-23). Read the whole passage as the story takes into account the whole thing. 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/propera6.htm
http://www.faith-at-home.com/tips/index.html
http://www.dltk-bible.com/twelve_disciples.html
http://www.dltk-bible.com/jesus/twelve_disciples-index.htm
http://sewhttkr.home.comcast.net/~sewhttkr/bibleWS/bibleWS/53_apostles.htm
Materials needed:
Small table or end of one table
White candle
Bible & Bookmark
Green cloth (optional)
Newsprint and markers
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 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. With the children list on the newsprint everything that they might need for a journey or to get ready for a journey. Ask the children what they might have to leave at home when they go on a journey. List these on the newsprint as well. Spend a few minutes talking with the children about journeys that they have gone on. Ask them what was the best part of those journeys and what they missed most at home while they were gone. If some of the children have not been on any trips ask them where they might like to go. Keep the lists up where the children can see them for the Story Time and explain that they are going to hear about some special friends of Jesus who were sent out on a journey.
Materials needed:
This story is going to entail some movement around the room - be prepared to go from place to place if you are able. Make signs using construction paper that have printed them in large print the following places: BETHLEHEM, NAZARETH, JERICHO, and YOUR OWN COMMUNITY. Place these up around the room ahead of time.
Jesus called his friends to him. These were the ones that he was training to be leaders for the whole of God's people. First he called out, "Matthew, Peter and James." (Every time some names are called out have the children stand up and then sit down.)
Then Jesus called out, "Andrew, Simon and Thaddeus."
"John, Judas and Philip." called Jesus.
Finally Jesus called, "Nathaniel, Bartholomew, and Thomas."
They all came quickly to hear what Jesus had to say. They all had the feeling that it was something important. They thought it might be a new task for them to do.
"My friends", said Jesus, "there are many people out there who need to hear about God's love for them. I am going to give you a new job. I am going to send you out to God's people. You are to go to Bethlehem. (Move with the children to the Bethlehem sign.) You are to go to Jericho. (Go with the children to the Jericho sign.) You are to go to Nazareth. (Move with the children to the Nazareth sign.) You are to go to Your Town. (Go with the children to the sign with your town's name.).
Jesus' friends were very excited. They wanted to hear more about what they were to do. Jesus could see how excited they were. He looked at each one and said, "You are to heal the sick in God's name. You are to tell people that God's kingdom is close to hand. You are to raise the dead. You are to help everyone you meet."
The friends all looked at each other. They had many questions. They wondered how they were ever going to carry out this work. Jesus could tell that his friends had questions and concerns. He told them, "You are not to receive any money for the work that you do. You are to go into the communities. Look for people who will welcome you. Give them God's peace. Accept their hospitality. God will look after you as go and do this important work."
Jesus' friends began to see what they had to do. It was going to be quite exciting. They knew that God would be with them as they moved around to the different towns and villages. They set off with energized hearts and minds to do the work that Jesus was setting them out to do.
Idea #1: Journey Feet
This project will allow the children to remember that they are followers of Jesus and are going on the journey with Jesus.
Materials needed: construction paper, markers, scissors, stickers, glitter and contact paper
Instructions: Get the children to take off their shoes. Have them stand on one or two pieces of construction paper (depending on the size of their feet). Show the children how to draw around their feet. Get the older ones to help the younger ones. Once everyone is finished invite the children to cut out the tracings of their feet. Again, assist the younger ones as needed. Have the children print one foot I AM A FOLLOWER OF JESUS and on the other foot COME AND BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS. With the stickers, markers and glitter let the children decorate their feet as they want. As they are decorating their feet explain that they are going to take one foot home with them and the other one they are to give to someone to invite them to follow Jesus with them. When they are finished decorating use the contact paper to cover and protect them. Trim the edges of the contact paper to outline the feet.
Idea #2: Peace Cards
One of the key messages that Jesus gives his disciples is about sharing God's peace with the places and people that they visit. This idea will allow the children a concrete way to share this message with others
Materials needed: card stock, markers, stickers, glitter and anything else you think might be good to decorate a card with
Instructions: Fold the cards in half. Either print ahead of time or have the children print on the outside GOD'S PEACE and on the inside BE WITH YOU. Invite the children to decorate the cards as they want with the materials provided. If wanted, you could have each child sign all of the cards or the children could sign their own card. With the children think about ways that the cards could be used - they could go to shut ins, special ministries in their communities, to the sick in the hospital or be given to the pastoral visitors who do the visiting ministry. When they have decided where they should go help them to get to the appropriate person for delivery. Encourage the children to share the message of God's peace with all that they meet over the summer.
Idea #3: Journey Journals
As this Sunday is the last Sunday that materials will be available until the fall this idea will give the children, particularly older ones, a project that they can use over the whole summer period.
Materials needed: construction paper, white paper, stapler, markers and stickers (and anything else you think might be fun to decorate with)
Instructions: Give each child two pieces of construction paper and about 10 pieces of white paper. With the children create booklets, using the construction paper as the front and back covers. Invite the children to print MY JOURNEY WITH JESUS JOURNAL on the front cover. As they decorate their journals explain to the children that these journals are for them to share with God their experiences over the summer; they can do this by writing stories, poems, prayers or drawing pictures. If there is time invite the children to start a journal entry as they get ready for the summer with God.
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.
