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4.13 date:  

Remembering and Celebrating God’s Freedom: Festival of Jubilee

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© 2012 David C. Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

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Inspire

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Until four years ago, I was satisfied. Satisfied in my relationship with Jesus. Accustomed to my spiritual life. And then I wasn’t. As I began to pursue a deeper connection with Him, I became, ironically, more aware of my sin and the things that entangled me. One day God gave me the picture of a little bird. As I thought about its meaning, I realized I was the bird, living in a cage. My fears, anxieties, and insecurities were the bars of the cage that held me. Inside the cage, my life was small and manageable—but not free. Within the safety of the bars I encountered God in real and tangible ways. He was present with me and He loved me in spite of my sin and brokenness. God invited me into a new way of living with Him—a life of freedom. Slowly I began to realize that the door to my cage wasn’t closed. The door had always been open. God had always been inviting me outside into a new life of freedom and abandon. Little by little the Holy Spirit drew me out of my cage. I began to experience life in a new way. Initially I could only live outside my allegorical cage for minutes at a time. Minutes quickly grew to hours. On good days, I could stay in this new place for longer periods of time. On difficult days, anxiety, self-reliance, or habitual sin took hold, and I would fly back into my cage, into the world I had created—a world that forced me to deal with life on my own. God is faithful and will not allow me to retreat to my previous life of self-confinement. Instead, He stands with me and invites me into the life He has created for me. God is relentless and continues to call to me each day. He lovingly reminds me I am no longer captive to fear or anxiety. I have been set free from the constraints of sin. I stand securely in the freedom that is mine.

Kit Rae TruStory Team © 2012 David C. Cook

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Equip Every 6th and 13th lesson, we pause to remember and celebrate, just as God instructed His people to do. The Year of Jubilee The Year of Jubilee occurred every 50 years after seven Sabbatical years. It was a consecrated year set aside to proclaim liberty and restoration for all of the inhabitants of the land. Debts were forgiven, and those who had sold themselves to settle a debt were set free. God reminds His people that He is their provider and He, in fact, holds the deeds to all of their possessions. Therefore, He commands His people to provide for the redemption of land and housing lost because of poverty or other circumstances such as these. Old Testament Significance Several times a year, the Israelites gathered for a feast or festival. In Leviticus 23, “the Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: “These are my appointed feasts … which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.”’” These seven feasts and festivals are Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Festival of First Fruits, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths). In addition, the Israelites would gather weekly to celebrate the Sabbath. These were times to remember what God had done for His people and to celebrate His goodness. They were times for the entire faith community to gather without the burden of work to simply worship and celebrate. During the feasts, the Israelites ate, danced, sang, played instruments, prayed, and offered sacrifices to God. New Testament Significance The Feast of Passover was fulfilled by the death of the Messiah, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled by His sinless sacrifice, and the Festival of First Fruits was fulfilled by His resurrection. The Feast of Harvest began with a great harvest of three thousand souls by the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, who continues to harvest souls today. The Feast of Trumpets will announce Christ’s return, the Day of Atonement will usher in His judgment of the nations, and, finally, the Feast of Tabernacles begins the journey to our new home in a new heaven and new earth. For more information on biblical feasts and festivals, see “How It Works” under the Resource Tab; or visit: http://www.shamar.org/articles/godsplan.php; http://www. maranathalife.com/teaching/jew-hol.htm

© 2012 David C. Cook

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Support We all have birdcages—figuratively speaking, of course. At one time or another, it was our primary residence. Then, one day, Jubilee! We were set free. The door flew open, and we stepped into the new life beyond the confines of our cages. Scripture tells us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1). To “throw off” is a conscious and deliberate act. The door has been opened. But the choice to leave the cage behind and live in freedom is ours. How? How do we live a life of freedom? It sounds simple but elusive. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Let’s remember what we know is true. Not only have we been given the gift of freedom, but we’ve also been given the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit will lead us out of our cage and into freedom. He will show us how to live, step by step. Stop for just a moment, and allow yourself to be still before the Lord. Ask Him if anything is keeping you from living a life of freedom. If so, what is holding you back? On each bar of the birdcage, write words or phrases that represent the things that make up your cage. Which bird represents you in your journey? Write your name on that bird. Consider using colored pencils to make designs that uniquely represent you today. TruStory Team

© 2012 David C. Cook

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Lesson Overview ///////

Experience

Anticipate// Small Group Check-In

Time Summary 5–10 min.

Encouraging interaction among kids, leaders, and parents; engaging the kids in curiosity and anticipation of the lesson; and creating an inviting atmosphere.

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Supplies/Prepare

(Master Supply List under Resource Tab)

Debts Forgiven • clean, empty milk jugs; shoe boxes; coffee cans; tissue boxes; oatmeal containers; etc. (optional for younger kids: paper cup with paper taped over the top)

• scissors, permanent colored markers, pencils, construction paper, tape, glue • images of paper money, piggy bank (see Resource Folder)

• coins: dimes, nickels, pennies, quarters Optional: Paper Maché Piggy Bank (for Leaders to Make Ahead of Time)

• newspaper • paintbrushes • pink paint (or pink tissue paper) • balloon • ½ cup flour, 2 cups cold water, 2 cups boiling water, 3 tbsp. sugar • clean paper egg carton • black permanent marker • tape or glue • sharp craft knife • pink chenille wire • photo example (see Resource Folder)

Remember// Large Group

25–40 Telling stories about what min. God has done in their lives, and in the lives of others.

Traditions • mementos for your church Traditions (rocks, gum balls, building blocks)

Connect Question • Connect Question slide (see Resource Folder) Connect Activity: What’s in the Bag? • paper lunch bags (or other inexpensive, solid-colored bags)

• small, firm objects (e.g., penny, birthday candle, bottle cap, AA battery, key, etc.)

• answer sheets (see Resource Folder), pens • upbeat music (e.g., “Jump Up,” TruWorship You Are; available on the Extras Tab for Premium, Unlimited, or Combo users; or iTunes) • Connect Activity slide (see Resource Folder)

Remember and Play • supplies for ZONK (see supply detail on p. 10; ZONK question and answer slides, see Resource Folder)

© 2012 David C. Cook

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Lesson Overview ///////

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Experience

Time Summary

Supplies/Prepare

Celebrate//

25–35 Celebrating like the min. Israelites during the biblical feasts and festivals—by singing, dancing, eating, playing instruments, worshipping together, and praying.

Remembering My Experience with God • Bible • Create and large group Respond pieces • Worship Response Stations

Large Group

(Master Supply List under Resource Tab)

Storytelling • Bible • image of a campfire and sound effect (see Resource Tab)

Feasts and Festivals • TruWorship (suggestions: “Your Love” or “Jump Up,” TruWorship You Are) • food, plates, napkins, utensils Celebration Station • rocks, permanent markers (1 each per child and parent)

Bless//

Small Group

© 2012 David C. Cook

5 min.

Sending the kids out with a sense of peace and blessing so that they can be a blessing to their families and others.

• Bible (for the blessing) • HomeFront Weekly (1 per child; see Resource Folder)

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SMALL Group

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Anticipate//

5–10 min.

Small Group Leaders

An energizing time for parents and kids to start engaging with the material that will be presented in the lesson. N OT E S :

Anticipate is an exciting time during the Remember & Celebrate weekends for parents, Small Group Leaders, and kids to begin engaging in activities that will be revealed within the large group time of Remember & Celebrate. Anticipate is intentionally designed to spark curiosity and cultivate a sense of awe and wonder about God. Encourage parents to participate as they transition with their child into worship.

Debts Forgiven God commanded His people to celebrate the Year of Jubilee every 50 years. During this special festival, debts were forgiven, land was returned, and many people living in slavery were set free. God required the Jews to celebrate this festival so none of His people would be doomed to slavery forever. You see, God owns all of the property and all of the money in the world! Through this festival, God showed His desire for all of His children to be free. SUPPLIES • clean, empty milk jugs; shoe boxes; coffee cans; tissue boxes; oatmeal containers; etc. (optional for younger kids: paper cup with paper taped over the top) • scissors, permanent colored markers, pencils, construction paper, tape, glue • images of paper money, piggy bank (see Resource Folder) • coins: dimes, nickels, pennies, quarters SET UP Print the images of the paper money and the piggy bank. Cut out the money, and create an example of a piggy bank using the supplies. Set out the rest of the supplies. ENGAGE Encourage the kids to make their own piggy banks using the empty boxes, milk jugs, etc., that you’ve provided. Depending on your supplies, you might have the entire group contribute to making one piggy bank, or you might have each child make her own piggy bank. The kids can color the banks with permanent markers, wrap them like presents by using the construction paper, or decorate them in any way they’d like. Help them cut an opening in the top through which they can insert money.

Partner Church Comments “We got jars and decorated them with drawings, stickers, etc., and are keeping them for our tithing jars!” Impact Christian Church

© 2012 David C. Cook

Encourage the kids to create money by coloring and cutting out the paper money or creating their own coins by laying paper over real coins and rubbing the coins with a pencil. They can cut out the rubbings. Ask them: How much money do you have? Once the kids have created their paper money, coins, and/or piggy bank, encourage them to pool their resources so every child has the same amount of “money.” Remind them of the Year of Jubilee and how, during this festival, everyone’s debts were forgiven.

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N OT E S :

Debts Forgiven Game (for Older Kids) Using the paper money from the Resource Folder, hand each child the same amount of money. Then encourage the kids to play games they already know (tic-tac-toe, thumb wars, rock-paper-scissors, etc.). The child who wins the game must give money to the child who loses. For Leader to Make Ahead of Time: Optional: Paper Maché Piggy Bank SUPPLIES • newspaper • paintbrushes • pink paint (or pink tissue paper) • balloon • ½ cup flour, 2 cups cold water, 2 cups boiling water, 3 tbsp. sugar • clean paper egg carton • black permanent marker • tape or glue • sharp craft knife • pink chenille wire • photo example (see Resource Folder) SET UP Mix the flour and 2 cups of cold water while the other 2 cups of water boil. Then stir the flour and water mixture into the boiling water and add the sugar. Let the mixture cool. Rip newspaper into 1 inch-wide strips. Blow up the balloon. Set out the other materials. ENGAGE Dunk the newspaper strips into the flour, water, and sugar mixture and squeeze off excess liquid. Then smooth it over the balloon. Completely cover the balloon with two or three layers of wet newspaper. Let everything dry for a full 24 hours. Separate the egg carton into cups. Glue or tape five of the cups onto the pig as the four legs and snout. Paint your pig with pink paint, or cover it with pink tissue paper in the same way you covered it with newspaper. Let everything dry for another 24 hours. To make a tail, shape a chenille wire into a spiral and stick it into a hole (at the pig’s tail end) you create with the point of a sharp craft knife. Draw on eyes and nostrils with a black marker. Cut an opening on the pig’s back for money. Keep the piggy bank in your large or small group room, and teach your kids about the Year of Jubilee, when God demanded that His people’s debts be forgiven. Encourage your kids to save their money but also to hold it loosely so they’ll be able to give to others in need. The bank can be used in conjunction with the tithing worship response.

© 2012 David C. Cook

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LARGE Group

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SECTION

Remember//

25–40 min.

Host/Storyteller

This is an opportunity to pause and look back at all that God has done and who He has been leading up to the present day.

Birthdays

A Group Tradition Every week, invite the children with upcoming or recent birthdays up for a group-singing of a birthday song and a blessing from the leader. Encourage the children to sing with their whole hearts and really celebrate the child with the birthday. Make this a tradition the kids will look forward to, one that makes them feel loved by their faith community.

First we will remember God’s faithfulness throughout The Big God Story. Children will hear how He has woven His redemptive plan throughout time. In response to what they have seen God do in the past through His story, children will share together in remembering what He has done in and through their lives, as they too are a part of His big story.

Welcome and Traditions After everyone is gathered together as a large group, open with Traditions. During Traditions, you are helping the kids work toward a common goal and giving them mementos to celebrate things like memorizing the Remember Verse, inviting a friend, or bringing their Bibles. Mementos can be anything, such as rocks, marbles, gum balls, or connecting blocks. Use a clear plastic or glass container to fill so kids can watch their progress. Or have them contribute to the building of a structure with connecting blocks. If you have multiple services, use separate containers or building stations for each one. Once the kids have been awarded their mementos, direct them to put the mementos into the container or to add them to the building effort. When the common-goal tradition is complete, have a celebration!

Connect Connect is a time to laugh, play, and enjoy each other’s company. Engaging questions, energizing games, and creative activities encourage the community to get to know each other. (See the Connect Question and Connect Activity slides in the Resource Folder.)

Question

What do you think your life will be like in 50 years?

Activity: What’s in the Bag? Partner Church Comments “The question was provocative. The kids really thought it through and had some thoughtful responses.” Mount Paran North Church of God

© 2012 David C. Cook

SUPPLIES • paper lunch bags (or other inexpensive, solid-colored bags) • small, firm objects (e.g., penny, birthday candle, bottle cap, AA battery, key, etc.) • answer sheets (see Resource Folder), pens • upbeat music (e.g., “Jump Up,” TruWorship You Are; available on the Extras Tab for Premium, Unlimited, or Combo users; or iTunes) • Connect Activity slide (see Resource Folder)

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SET UP Put one object in each bag. (The more objects you have, the longer the game will take!) Number the bags and keep a record of what you put in each bag. Split the kids into groups. (The groups can be as small as two and as large as 10.) Hand an answer sheet and pen to a member of each group. Cue the music. ENGAGE To play, allow the kids in each group to feel the item in the bag for 10 seconds, then write their guess on the answer sheet. Rotate the bags through the groups until each group has felt the object in each bag. At the end, reveal the answers and see which group got the most correct. (During the game, play upbeat music in the background.) To make this game harder, choose obscure objects for the bags. To make it easier, choose everyday objects, such as an apple or a pen. NOTE: If you have a larger group, every child might not be able to feel the item during every round. In this case, have leaders stationed around the room to make sure each child gets a chance to play.

Remember and Play The feasts and festivals were both fun and meaningful. God’s people reveled in how good it was to be together as they remembered what God had done in their lives. During this time, we will seek to remember in a spirit of fun and celebration—making the experience exciting and interesting as well as meaningful, community building, and spiritually forming.

Remembering The Big God Story

Engage the kids by playing a game to help them remember what God has been doing in their lives during the last few weeks. (See ZONK! questions and answers slides in the Resource Folder; and ZONK! blank slides and animation under the Resource Tab.)

Let’s Play ZONK! (New options included!) SUPPLIES • 30 index cards, hat or paper bag, permanent markers, paper, pen • optional: medium-size, perfectly square (equal-sided) cardboard box, all sides taped closed SET UP • Write point values (e.g., “1,000” or “200”) on 10 index cards, write “ZONK!” on 10 index cards, and place all the cards in a hat or bag. • Write 10 “Challenge Cards” with point values. Some examples of challenges: do 20 jumping jacks, sing “I’m a Little Teapot,” or quack like a duck. • Assign someone to keep score. • Optional: If you use the cardboard box, write a challenge on each side, and also write “ZONK! Cube” on an index card and put it in the hat or bag. © 2012 David C. Cook

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ENGAGE To play, split the kids into two teams (e.g., girls versus boys). Ask one team a question and have kids from that team raise their hands to answer. If a child answers correctly, have him come up and pull a card from the hat or bag. He can grab as many cards as he (and his team) wants. Point values are added together, but if he pulls a ZONK! card, his team loses all of its points. So watch out! If the child draws a Challenge Card from the hat, the whole team must act out the challenge (e.g., the chicken dance) to get the amount of points written on the card. Everyone on the team must participate in the challenge or the team loses the amount of points written on the card! If the child draws an optional ZONK! Cube challenge card, she must roll the box (like a die) between the teams. Her team must perform whichever challenge appears facing up, if she and her teammates want to continue drawing more cards. Whichever team has the most points after all the questions wins! Note: Kids get loud during this game! One team yells, “Points, points, points!” and the other team yells, “ZONK! ZONK! ZONK!” Note: Ask questions for the purpose of spiritual formation instead of memorization. Ask questions that remind the kids of the narrative of The Big God Story, what God did in their hearts during the past few weeks, or what they learned about who God is.

Sample Remember Questions (for playing ZONK!) 1) True or False: We can create the fruit of the Spirit on our own. ANSWER: False. The Holy Spirit creates the fruit of His Spirit in our hearts when we have a relationship with Jesus. 2) True or False: The fruit of the Spirit reflect character traits of God. ANSWER: True! Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are all character traits we can have because we’re in relationship with God. 3) What was Paul doing when he wrote the letter to the Philippians? a. Dancing a jig b. Swimming across the ocean c. Living handcuffed to a Roman guard d. Lying in an underground cave ANSWER: C. Paul was imprisoned in Rome—spending his days handcuffed to a Roman jailer. He endured this for the sake of Jesus Christ.

© 2012 David C. Cook

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Partner Church Comments “During this time of ZONK! I add some gift tickets with some numbers on them, and if a child pulls out the gift ticket, she gets that gift. We gave away McDonald’s gift cards, Walmart cards, etc. It was a blast.” International Church of Las Vegas

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4) What does it mean to be “content”? a. Being happy with what you have b. Being at peace c. Rejoicing even when things are hard d. All of the above ANSWER: D. The Holy Spirit gives us strength to have peace, joy, and contentment in Him. 5) True or False: We can be holy on our own. ANSWER: False. The Spirit can make us into holy people. 6) How do we become holy? a. Through the power of God’s Spirit b. Through walking with God every day c. Through allowing the Holy Spirit to make us more and more like God d. All of the above ANSWER: D. We become holy by becoming closer and closer to God. 7) When Paul was living in Corinth with Aquila and Priscilla, what work was he doing? a. Nothing b. Making tents c. Flipping hamburgers d. Driving a milk truck ANSWER: B. Along with preaching the good news, Paul made tents for a living while he lived in Corinth for more than a year and a half. 8) In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul compared the church to something we can see in this room. What is it? a. A computer b. A hand c. The human body d. A clock ANSWER: C. Paul called the church “the body of Christ.” Just like the parts of the human body are connected and work together, every member of the church is connected to every other member, and they rely on each other. 9) To what did James compare the tongue? a. The rudder of a big ship b. The bit in the mouth of a horse c. A forest fire d. All of the above ANSWER: D. James pointed out that the tongue is very powerful. It can cause a lot of harm or do a lot of good!

© 2012 David C. Cook

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10) True or False: Asking for wisdom from God can help us speak good words. ANSWER: True. God’s Spirit gives us wisdom so we can use our tongue to say good things. 11) Bonus True or False: Life here on earth is as good as it will ever get for people who love and follow Jesus. ANSWER: False. Jesus will return one day and take those who believe in Him to heaven forever. 12) Bonus: What are two amazing things the Bible says we will see in heaven? ANSWER: Varied. We’ll see a lot of different things! Some examples include streets of gold, angels, and cherubim.

© 2012 David C. Cook

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LARGE Group

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SECTION

Celebrate// Host/Storyteller

Kids gather together as one faith community and celebrate what God has done and who God is. They participate in storytelling and connect through fun and engaging worship. N OT E S :

25–35 min.

Remembering My Experience with God SUPPLIES • Bible • large group Respond* and Create**/Engage** pieces from previous weeks • Worship Response Stations

SET UP Set up the large group Respond* and Create**/Engage** pieces in lesson order around the room. Bring out the Worship Response Stations. ENGAGE From the large group Respond and Create/Engage pieces, choose three or so you might want to discuss, and have them available. Talk and pray about this with your team, and choose the pieces that most impacted your group. Storytelling tip: Present all large group Respond and Create pieces from your past lessons, highlighting what God did during these times. Have each child turn to another child and discuss a moment when God moved in his heart during these times. Afterward, move through the pieces and ask if kids have stories or memories to share about each specific activity or response experience. *Large Group Respond • 4.7 You Are Made New: During this lesson, you learned about how God makes us into a new creation when we have a relationship with Him. Do you feel like a new creation? • 4.8 Rejoice, Give Thanks, and Pray: God’s Spirit can give us contentment. Contentment means being happy with what you have. In God, we have everything. Would you live your life differently if you were completely content? • 4.9 Strengthening Us to Be Holy: God strengthens us to be holy like He is holy. What does it mean to be holy? • 4.10 Words of Love: During this lesson we learned that God leads us to love others through and in Him. What words or symbols of love and encouragement to others in your faith community did you write or draw? • 4.11 God’s Words for Others: James encouraged the church in Jerusalem to ask God for ways to love and encourage each other. How do you show God’s love to others, especially those who are hard to love? • 4.12 Water of Life: Jesus offers the water of life—water that satisfies our souls for all time. Is your soul at peace—satisfied? How does Jesus give you peace?

© 2012 David C. Cook

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**Create • 4.7 New Fruit, Fruit on the Vine: When we have a relationship with Jesus, we produce good fruit—the fruit of the Holy Spirit. What is the fruit of the Spirit? How does God grow this fruit in us? • 4.8 Soaked with the Spirit, Staying on the Path: God wants us to stay on the straight path toward Him. What are some of the ways we can do this? • 4.9 A Beautiful Life with God: During this lesson you colored in a painting to symbolize how God creates a beautiful painting through our lives with the Holy Spirit. Are you living with His Spirit inside you? Are you walking with Him every day? • 4.10 Love the Body of Christ: We talked about how each part of the body is connected to all the other parts. How can we use our hands to love others in the church body—the body of Christ? Our mouths? Our feet? • 4.11 God Reflected in Me: You wrote or drew the character traits of God. Do you see God’s character traits reflected in you? Are you made in His image? • 4.12 Decoding Secret Messages: In the book of Revelation, John’s writings contained many symbols, sort of like a code. How did his letter encourage the believers? How does the Revelation of Jesus Christ encourage you? Questions about How God Gives Freedom • What does the word “freedom” mean? • How did God offer freedom to the Jewish people through the Year of Jubilee? (Leviticus 25:39–41) • How did Jesus offer freedom to us through His death on the cross?

© 2012 David C. Cook

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Storytelling Campfire

Set up your storytelling time like an experience of telling stories around a campfire. Have kids sit in a giant circle. Be creative with ways to create the sense of being around a campfire by using sound effects of a crackling fire or crickets, pictures of fire on the screens, real wood, etc. (For an image of a campfire and sound effect, see the Resource Folder.)

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© 2012 David C. Cook

During Remember & Celebrate weekends, storytelling is a time for the community to tell stories about what God has been doing in their hearts—at church and at home. Storytelling is a time to hear the stories that have been gathered throughout the last few weeks (in the form of videos, emails from parents, written or spoken stories from kids and leaders, etc.). As you tell stories, encourage kids to be respectful of their friends and leaders by listening quietly while they speak. Also, whether you choose to experience storytelling with high energy or in a more restful way, remember to continue in a spirit of celebration for what God has done in the lives of your kids, leaders, church, and families. Storytelling Ideas Before the lesson, pick one or two of these options. Prepare ahead of time by gathering stories from your kids, leaders, parents, and faith community. • Set up open mics around the room and allow kids to tell their stories. • How God answered their prayers • How God used the Remember Verse—as encouragement, blessing, comfort, etc.—in their lives • What God did in their hearts during the last few weeks (e.g., what they learned about God and how that changed them) • How they saw God with their families or outside of church (Note: As weeks progress, prep kids to come prepared with stories so they will be ready and excited to share.) • Gather stories from the community. • Ask parents for stories about their experiences with God at home with their children. • Ask parents to email pictures of spiritual experiences with their children (example: a baptism). • Set up video cameras during Anticipate or Respond on the weekends prior to Remember & Celebrate. • Take pictures on weekends of family church experiences. • Show a video or picture collage gathered during the last few weeks. • Set up interviews. (Ask an interviewee questions about what he experienced, discovered, or learned about God.) • Someone who has recently come home from a mission trip • A parent who had a God experience with his child, or a child who experienced God with her family • Someone who recently accepted Christ

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Feasts and Festivals In the same way that the biblical feasts were times to celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness, festivals give believers a time to celebrate together as a community through food, music, dance, prayer, and worship. SUPPLIES • food, plates, napkins, utensils • TruWorship (suggestions: “Your Love” or “Jump Up,” TruWorship You Are; available on the Extras Tab for Premium, Unlimited, and Combo users; or iTunes) SET UP Ask parents to bring snacks or prepare food.

Celebrate by Breaking Bread Celebrate with the kids by “breaking bread” together. Explain that eating together is one of the ways people celebrate today and one of the ways the Israelites celebrated together during their festivals. You can break bread many ways. Here are some options: • Have parents bring food and come to eat with the kids—on both Remember & Celebrate weekends or on the last weekend of the quarter. • Have a feast after church—a potluck or smorgasbord. Parents, leaders, and kids can make food and bring it to church, then eat together after the service. • If your kids are filling a clear container or building a structure as part of a tradition, give out simple foods such as pretzels or animal crackers on most Remember & Celebrate weekends. Save the more extensive party for when they have completed their goal.

Celebrate with Music Play upbeat songs and encourage the kids to sing along and dance.

Celebration Station SUPPLIES • rocks, permanent markers (1 per child and parent) SET UP Set out rocks and markers for kids and families to use. Rocks are a symbol of remembrance in Scripture (e.g., Samuel setting up an Ebenezer pile of stones for remembrance). At this station (used only during Remember & Celebrate weekends), kids and parents write a word or phrase they want to celebrate (e.g., “new job,” “God is faithful,” “God has a plan for my life,” etc.) on the rocks. You can find an image and instructions for building your own Celebration Station in “How It Works” under the Resource Tab. Note: Feel free to adapt this idea to fit your program. © 2012 David C. Cook

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ANTI C I PATE | R E M E M B E R | C E LE B RATE |

B LE S S

SMALL Group

4.13

SECTION

Bless//

5 min.

Small Group Leaders

A blessing can be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words of encouragement or guidance. A blessing can be offered in order to ask God’s Spirit to overflow from the child’s life to bless others or prayed over a child for the purpose of declaring God’s protection, joy, or wisdom.

© 2012 David C. Cook

As the children are blessed, share with them about the opportunity they have to be a blessing to others. Encourage them to freely give away to others the love and joy they have received from God. For this experience, have small groups gather together. Spend time praying over the kids in your small group and think of a short blessing for each child. A blessing can be a phrase such as “I pray you have peace”; “I pray God blesses you at home, at school, etc., this week”; or “I pray God gives you joy.” Open a Bible and read John 8:36: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” May you experience the freedom that only comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ. May you walk every day in the joy that comes from that freedom.

HomeFront Weekly: Be sure to send home the HomeFront Weekly for next week’s lesson! This preteaching tool for parents encourages families to spend time in God’s Word together before children arrive on the weekend. HomeFront Monthly: Every four weeks we highlight one of the 10 environments. For each new environment, parents should receive HomeFront Monthly. This resource gives families ideas for how to create fun, spiritually forming times in their home—setting aside a sacred space for family in the midst of their active, everyday lives!

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