Prepare the space
Ideas for a focal point with children and young people
For children
Collect some natural objects like stones, seeds, twigs, leaves, buds, soil, flower heads, an egg, shells and so on. Leave these in a jumble, to be sorted later in Order in Gathering activities .
Wrap up some small gifts or objects with many layers of paper. Arrange these within a cave shape made from tables or chairs draped with cloth. These will be used in 'What's inside?' in Gathering activities
Arrange a collection of lengths of different coloured fabrics to depict the themes of the story. Include a dark fabric, brown, gold, white, green, red and blue. To use in 'Your colour' in Gathering activities .
Contact your local Cruse bereavement counselling centre or children’s library to display a selection of books about death.
If you have a churchyard with tombstones then arrange to go to the churchyard.
Prepare or buy some funeral wreaths. Also buy a selection of deepest sympathy cards. Copy out some prayers from the funeral service from your tradition. Arrange these on an appropriate piece of material.
If you are building up the Journey map through Lent, display it for all to see.
Display a range of pictures or icons depicting this story (see Further resources ).
For young people
Display headings for four lists: Makes me happy; makes me sad; I look forward to; I dread. Invite the young people to write or draw something appropriate on each of the lists.
Play quiet classical music to create a peaceful atmosphere and make sure the room is comfortable. Display copies of poems such as ‘Death is nothing at all’ by Henry Scott Holland and ‘Do not stand at my grave and weep’.
Set out some purple, black, yellow and white fabric or ribbon. Drape it over a table with the white and yellow over the purple and black.