Week 4

Theme : Jesus loves us

jesus_children When I think of the people who love me, like my parents and grandparents,
aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, it makes me feel warm and safe.

Jesus tells us about God's great love for us. He tells us that God's
love is very deep and strong and that makes me feel warm and
safe too. Jesus' love is like a shepherd has for his sheep.

Sometimes we turn our back on God's love. We walk away from him when we are mean or selfish. But Jesus says that he is always waiting for us to come back. Jesus says that God's love for us never changes, no matter what we do. He will always come and find us and love us.

Jesus says that God loves us even more than we could imagine.

Story : At Peace

Jonathan was into his twenties and he was in love. His future wife was a perfect partner for him. They got on really well together and enjoyed each other's company and each other's talk. The day for the wedding was settled. They were going to live in a new home and raise a family. They didn't have much money but they had a precious diamond ring which would pay for a house and give them a start with their new business.

Jonathan's younger brother would stay on in the family house. The two brothers had lived together since their parents died in the Great Plague. The brothers were very close but they had both grown up and it was time for separation. Each one would go their own way.

The Church was booked for Jonathan's wedding and the marriage feast was planned down to the last detail. But the plans were shattered when Jonathan's younger brother ran off with the diamond ring. Why did he do it? What got into him? Why did he spoil his older brother's future plans? There were no answers. Someone said that his younger brother was deeply unhappy, that he felt a failure in life and was envious of the love and good fortune his older brother seemed to enjoy. Perhaps he had to get away from it all.

Jonathan was angry at first but, as the days passed, he became concerned about his brother. His future wife assured him that the ring wasn't everything. It would have made things easier for us, she said, but you and I have a closeness that's more important than money.

They postponed the wedding date. She encouraged Jonathan to think about going and looking for his brother.
He needs your love, she said. ‘You were always very close. Maybe he saw our marriage as a great loss for him, a separation from you that he couldn't face. You were such good friends. He couldn't face the break up of his friendship with you.

Jonathan took her advice and went off to the city in search of his
younger brother. He visited pubs and ale-houses, building sites
and boarding houses, always asking for news of his brother. One
day he found him. He met him by pure chance in the street. At
first the younger brother was very embarrassed but Jonathan made
it clear that he wasn't coming for the ring. He cared about his brother.
They went together to a coffee house and talked all that evening. The
ring was indeed gone. Sold for half its value and the money squandered.
But the younger brother was settled into a job and there was a girl at
work who smiled at him. Maybe he would ask her out.

Jonathan went home to his future wife and told her what had happened. ‘I'm coming up with you next week,' she said, ‘to meet your brother. I want to assure him that I care about him too.' The three of them met the next week. She invited him home for the wedding. ‘I want you to be our best man,' she said. ‘I won't come between you and your brother. You need each other still. You can be the most wonderful of friends.'

The younger brother did come home for the wedding. It was a smaller wedding than was planned. Jonathan and his wife didn't buy a house. They rented one. He didn't start the new business that year. His younger brother and himself decided they would wait for a year, save money and go into it together.

Jonathan's wife was delighted the two brothers were at peace again.

Prayers: Loving

Thank you, God, for being kind and caring.

Thank you for Jesus, our friend.

Thank you, God, for loving me and my family.

I love you too. Amen. Kim 9 yrs.

jesus_dali
Thank you, God,

for the earth, the birds,

the trees and all the bees,

But most of all thank you for me.

PS. Bless my mommy today - her feastday.

Amen. Tony 9 yrs.

Dear God,

Jesus asks us to show love.

Help us to show love by making people happy,

by inviting people to join in our games.

by doing chores without being asked,

by being friendly and kind and helpful.

I'm told you died for me, thank you for that too.

Amen.

Game 1: Teasing tangle

For this game you need children with patience and the ability to take instruction. An even number of children, preferably more than four, form a circle shoulder to shoulder.
One child is picked as a leader.
The children close their eyes, put their right hand into the circle and catch another hand. Now, put the left hand into the circle and catch another hand. Now they can open their eyes and without letting go of hands they must get themselves out of the tangle.

The leader's job is to talk them out of the mess, otherwise there will be chaos.
The children will have great fun scrambling over arms and legs until the circle is formed again.

After Game Discussion

What did it feel like to follow the instructions of your leader?

Did you think you'd never get out of the tangle?

Were you tempted to cheat and let go of hands?

At what other time would you have to follow instructions carefully?

Game 2 Finding the right words