Open the Word

Adult & All Age

To help the listener

The reader could use these words to provide context:

The prophet Isaiah warns rulers against worship that covers up the evils of injustice and oppression.

Jesus meets a member of a despised social class, whose transformed life is good news.

Present the Old Testament

Isaiah 1.10-18

The reading begins with condemnation of Israel’s worship, which while outwardly conventional ignores an oppressive injustice.

Before beginning the reading, draw attention to the weight of the prophet’s words with several strikes of a cymbal or gong. Add further strikes before verses 11 and verse 12, and introduce a long pause after 'who asked this from your hand?’ (v.12a). The reader could look around at the congregation as if waiting for a response. If you can, you could sustain a shimmering sound from the cymbal or gong as the reading continues, with a further pause and strike before verse 16, which is where the tone changes from condemnation to corrective instruction.

Present the Gospel

Jesus and Zacchaeus; Luke 19.1-10

The story of Zacchaeus is both dramatic and highly visual.

You could:

enact the story (see script below)
use pictures to illustrate it
use the template to make simple puppets-on-sticks to mime the story while the Bible text (or the script) is read. (Print the pictures, cut them out and colour them and, if you can, laminate them. Then fasten the completed figures onto garden canes with sticky tape.)

Template: Jesus and Zacchaeus

Template to use with: Meeting Jesus, CYP; Present the Gospel, AAA; A prayer for all ages together, AAA; and With very young children.

Children

Present the reading

Luke 19.1-10 - Two ways to tell the story, followed by ideas for discussion time

Jesus speaks to Zacchaeus, a hated tax collector, who is sitting in a tree in Jericho. Jesus invites himself back to Zacchaeus’ house and changes his life.

Choose from these two ways of telling the story.

Promenade Put up signposts around your space: Jericho; Zacchaeus’ house. Draw a sycamore tree on a roll of paper and stick it on a wall. Start the story at the town sign and read until *, then move to the tree. Read until ** then move to Zacchaeus’ house. You could sit at the table laid in the Gathering activity to finish the story.

Play reading Beforehand, print copies of the script , enough for one per child. Invite two volunteers to play Jesus and Zacchaeus; everyone else can be the crowd. Read the script together. You could pause at intervals and ask members of the crowd, ‘What do you think or feel about what’s going on?’

Talk together

Have you ever had a surprise visitor? What happened when they arrived?
How do you think the people of Jericho will treat Zacchaeus in the future?
What do you think is the most important part of this story?

For very young children

Play, and explore putting things right.

Play materials: play tea set and food.

Mini Bible story with actions

You are saved!

Zacchaeus collected too much money.

‘Collect’ money.

No one liked him.

Shake head.

He wanted to see Jesus,

Put hand above eyes.

but the people pushed him back.

Push.

So Zacchaeus climbed a tree.

Pretend to climb.

When Jesus came by he called out, ‘Zacchaeus,

Cup mouth.

I am coming to your house today!’

Beckon.

The people were angry.

Shake fist.

Zacchaeus said, ‘I will give back the money, and even more.’

Mime giving more.

Jesus said, ‘Now you are saved!

Hold out, then clasp arms.

You have put things right with God,

Point up.

and with the people.’

Point around.

Repeat so the children can join in.

Putting things right with God!

You will need: a cloth ‘road’, a model tree, toy figures, plastic coins/counters.

Invite the children to use the figures to retell the story.

Meeting Jesus

You will need: card cut-outs of the crowd, Zacchaeus and Jesus, crayons, coloured card, sticky tac.

Invite the children to colour in the characters and make a four-fold scene.

Prayer

You will need: strips of cloth, washable felt tips, a bowl of soapy water, towels.

Invite the children to draw on the cloth to represent something they would like to say sorry for, then wash away the pen markings.

Finish with this prayer. Ask the children to repeat each phrase after you:

Lord Jesus, thank you that when we say sorry, you forgive us.

Help us to put things right. Amen.