Open the Word

Adult & All Age

To help the listener

Context to today's readings Luke 21.5-19

The reader could use these words to provide context:

The New Testament reading calls us not to give up on our responsibilities to each other. In the Gospel, Jesus assures us that when our world seems to be falling apart, we can – and should – continue to trust in God’s faithfulness.

Present the New Testament

2 Thessalonians 3.6-13 – getting your priorities right

Set up a scene in which two people are lounging around and obviously gossiping about a third person – who is visibly working at building a tower out of bricks (e.g. large Jenga™ bricks or cardboard boxes). A fourth person arrives, taking food to the worker. One of the lounging pair says loudly, ‘I want some food’ to the food bearer. The worker stops and takes the food, says a big ‘thank you’, then turns to the idle ones and says, ‘Are you willing to work for it? If not, why do you expect free food? You must get your priorities right.’

Present the Gospel

Luke 21.5-19 – Do not be afraid; all this must happen

Prepare a card that says: ‘Do not be afraid. All this must happen. But not a hair on your head will perish, and by your endurance you will gain your souls.’ During a song before the reading, place this card discreetly and face down on the ground, and on top of it build a ‘temple’ with bricks (you could reuse the bricks from Present the New Testament, and invite some people to help with the building). A narrator (or two or more voices) reads a list of wars, major incidents and natural disasters – events in living memory will work best – pausing after each item for a brick to be removed or knocked from the temple. Continue until the temple is no longer standing, at which point ‘discover’ the card and read it out. Then read it a second time to reinforce the positive message of assurance.

Children

Present the reading & Talk together

Luke 21.5-19 - Two ways to tell the story, followed by ideas for discussion time

Jesus tells his disciples that the Temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed. They want to know when this will happen but Jesus tells them to have faith and trust in God for the future.

Choose from these two ways of telling the story.

Props galore

Hand out the following props to the children, explaining what they symbolise: bead necklace/pretty stones (Temple); sign saying ‘Follow me’ (people coming in Jesus’ name); toy soldiers/weapon (war); cymbals (earthquake); empty bowl (starvation); doctor’s kit/stethoscope (diseases); toy handcuffs/police helmet (arrested); crown (kings); microphone (tell people about Jesus). Read the Bible story and when you come to the relevant word/phrase, encourage them to hold up/play the right prop.

Contemporary catastrophes

Read the story and stop at the end of the second paragraph to talk about places in the world where these things might be happening today.

Talk together

Do you ever worry about what to say if people ask you questions about Jesus?
If you knew that Jesus was coming back tomorrow, what would you do first?
When have you struggled with something but stuck at it? Were you glad that you did?

For very young children

With very young children

Play, and explore helping each other with difficult things

Play materials: a play doctor’s set.

Mini Bible story with actions

Don’t worry

Jesus said, ‘Tell people about me.
Point to mouth.
Don’t worry when things are difficult.
Shake head.
I will help you,
Hold out hand, and bring it towards yourself.
and you can help each other.
Put your hand out towards another person.
Stand firm,
Plant feet on ground.
and you will help yourselves.’
Clasp your hands.

Repeat so the children can join in.

Coping with difficulties

You will need: a difficult game, puzzle or challenge, e.g. building a very tall tower, or transferring lots of objects, one by one, from one container to another.

Invite the children to tackle the game
or challenge. Offer them lots of help.
If they find it difficult, acknowledge the difficulty, and encourage them to work together.

Helping hands

You will need: a plastic cloth, a long strip of white fabric, e.g. old sheet, liquid paints on plastic plates, sponges, aprons, hand wipes.

Invite the children to sponge paint onto their hands and work together to create a handprint collage on the fabric.

Prayer

You will need: battery tealights, one per child, a dark cloth.

Invite the children to think of something they find difficult or scary, then switch their tealight on and place it on the cloth.