Elisha Saves a Woman s Son

Transcription

1 Ages 3 5 June 17, 2018 E Elisha Saves a Woman s Son Goal: To hear how Elisha, God s messenger, saves a woman s son. RECOGNIZING GOD S GRACE In 2 Kings 4:8 37 This story of Elisha and the woman from Shunem has four parts. First, Elisha is offered hospitality by the woman and her husband when they built a room for him to use when he was in town (vv. 8 10). Second, a son is born to the woman, as Elisha predicted (vv ). Third, the son got sick and died (vv a). Fourth, Elisha responds to the woman s pleadings and restores the son to life (vv. 25b 35). In response to the son s new life, the woman fell at Elisha s feet, facedown on the ground (v. 37; CEB). Grace was given and received. Gratitude was offered. Elisha promised the birth of the woman s son, even though her husband was old and it would not appear to be likely for the woman to become a mother. The birth of this son was a gift from God, unexpected and brought about by God s power. When the son died, the woman sought help from Elisha. When Elisha s servant could do nothing, Elisha bent over the boy and he began to sneeze (v. 35). Elisha announced the boy was alive. This, too, was a work of God s grace bringing the dead to life. Only God could do this work and God did so. In response, the woman fell at Elisha s feet, acknowledging and recognizing the grace given with gratitude.... In your experiences with the children Here is another healing story, the healing of the woman so she could have a child and then Elisha s healing of her son. Neither of these things would have happened if the woman had not first offered hospitality to the prophet, welcoming him to their home and providing a place for him to stay and food to eat. Both were grateful to each other and thankful for God s presence. Children grow as spiritual beings when they can name their own experiences of God s presence, when someone does something kind for them, or when they do something kind for another.... In your relationships with the children Children are taught about stranger danger and how to be careful about meeting people they don t know, people who could harm them. That s a good thing. Children also learn from a parent about how to meet people they don t know and how to respond socially. And that s also a good thing. Elisha was welcomed into the home of the kind woman and her husband. They met this prophet from God and treated him like family. In turn, he became involved in their family and could help when they really needed it. Children can understand about strangers who become like family. Holy God, give me courage to invite guests into my life and receive the blessings you give. Amen Congregational Ministiries Publishing 23

2 Elisha Saves a Woman s Son Ages 3 5 June 17, 2018 E Supplies basic supplies (see p. vii) e-book or story audio (see p. vii) Music & Melodies (MM) Stories, Colors & More (SCM) 3, 3a, 27 28, Guided Play choice 1: copies of Grace Notes (GN) 1 Exploring choice 1: pictures cut out from SCM choice 2: copies of GN 2 choice 4: copies of GN 3 GATHERING IN GOD S GRACE Before the Children Arrive Select the activities that will work best for you and your children. You do not need to do everything suggested. Designate a story corner and lay out a blanket or individual mats for the children so their backs will be to the door. Use SCM 35 36, Your Visual Schedule, to provide clear expectations and a visual cue for the group. See SCM for the key to icons (for example, ) and ways to adapt for children with special needs or disabilities. Exploring God s Grace, choice 1, requires more prep. Welcoming and Guided Play Greet the children as they arrive and say, Grace and peace be with you. Prompt them to respond, And also with you. Be attentive to any children who might be coming for the first time. Introduce yourself to parents and caregivers that you do not know personally. Tell the parents today s story is about how the prophet Elisha saved a woman s son. Invite the children to choose a guided play activity to start: 1. Finding Elisha Give each child a copy of GN 1. Tell them that in today s Bible story, a woman runs to find Elisha and then they go back to her home. Invite the children to trace the path of the woman to find Elisha and then back again to her home. 2. Seven Invite the children to experiment with doing things seven times such as: jumping jacks, clapping, touching toes, hopping, and pretending to sneeze. Tell the children that they will hear the number seven in the story. 3. Building Blocks Invite the children to build a room for a guest. Tell them that they will hear a story where a couple built a room for a guest to stay with them. If transition times have been difficult, consider introducing an object such as a baby Jesus doll or a stuffed lamb. Show the children where the object will be next and allow them to follow. Assure them that the object will follow them throughout the session and that they will see it when they return again Congregational Ministiries Publishing

3 Elisha Saves a Woman s Son Ages 3 5 June 17, 2018 E Transitioning to Story Time When the children are ready to move into group time, call them to the story corner, singing God Is So Good MM 3; SCM 27. Repeat words and phrases as appropriate. Helper Song Using the tune If You re Happy and You Know It, teach the children the following song: If you re a helper and you know it, nod your head. (Nod, nod.) If you re a helper and you know it, nod your head. (Nod, nod.) If you re a helper and you know it, what you do will surely show it. If you re a helper and you know it, nod your head. (Nod, nod.) All of Me Invite the children to repeat each line after you and follow your motions. My hands are for clapping. (Clap hands.) My arms can hug tight. (Hug yourself.) My fingers can wiggle, (Wiggle fingers.) Or turn out the light. (Pretend to turn off a light switch.) My legs are for hopping. (Hop.) My eyes help me see. (Cup your eyes with your hands.) I love my body (Cross arms over chest.) Because God made me. (Raise arms in the air.) Hearing the Story Open the Bible to 2 Kings 4 so the children know the story comes from the Bible. Tell the children that they are going to hear a story about how the prophet Elisha saved a woman s son. Read SCM 3 or 3a. Express the emotions of the story in your voice, gestures, and facial expressions. If you are reading SCM 3a, do not do the actions in the parentheses during the first reading of the story. Conclude the story by prompting the children to say, Amen. Read the story on SCM 3a, inviting the children to mirror your actions found in parentheses Congregational Ministiries Publishing 25

4 Elisha Saves a Woman s Son Ages 3 5 June 17, 2018 E more prep EXPLORING GOD S GRACE 1. Sequencing Before the session, cut out the pictures from SCM Place them in a paper bag. Invite the children to take turns pulling out a picture from the bag. Ask each child to describe what s happening in the picture. Place the picture on the table in front of the children. When all the pictures have been taken out of the bag, invite the children to help you put the pictures in story order. Ask the children, What happened first? and then What happened next? until all the pictures are in sequence. 2. Healing the Son Before the session, cut copies of GN 2 in half. Give each child an 8½ x 11" sheet of white paper. Invite them to color it. Tell them that this will be the bed that the boy will be laid upon. Fold the paper along the long edges, about two inches in. Open the folds and set the edges of the paper on the table to make a bed. Hand out the half pages cut from GN 2 to each child. Invite them to color and cut out the boy. Help with the cutting as needed. Show the children how to fold the boy along the thin dotted line and glue just the bottom half of the boy to the bed so that he is laying down. Retell the story to the children and when Elisha prays, fold the boy at his waist to sit up! 3. Finding Elisha Tell the children that they are going to find Elisha to help the woman s son. Have them all stand on one side of the room. Using a different action for each child, call each by name, saying, (Name), zig zag across the room to find Elisha! or (Name), hop across the room to find Elisha! When all the children have moved from one side to the other side of the room, say, We found Elisha. Let s run back and help the boy! Tell the children to run back to the other side of the room. When they get there, instruct them to kneel down and fold their hands in prayer, saying, God, please help! Sneeze seven times. Invite the children to sneeze seven times too. Tell the children to jump up and celebrate Congregational Ministiries Publishing

5 Elisha Saves a Woman s Son Ages 3 5 June 17, 2018 E Use wonder questions that do not force a child to remember facts. Wonder questions help a child think aloud. Answers are neither right nor wrong. They help teach children to speak from their hearts. 4. Coloring Page Hand out GN 3 and crayons. Invite the children to color the picture. Engage the children in conversation as they color using the following wondering Z questions. ZI wonder, ZI wonder, Z Where did the woman find Elisha? What did the boy say after he sneezed seven times? Z What did Elisha say to God when he prayed? ZI wonder, Transitions can be difficult. This may be a good time for some quick physical activities, such as crouch down and jump up, turn in a circle, march around the room, and so forth. LOVING AND SERVING GOD Call the children together, singing We Are Blessed to Be a Blessing MM 10; SCM 28. Repeat words and phrases as appropriate. Tell the children that they can pray to God when they or others need help. Ask parents and caregivers for their addresses so you can send the Grace Sightings link, or invite them to visit gracesightings.org. If you would like to share a snack, now would be a good time. Pray: Thank you, God, for the food before us. Thank you, God, for the friends beside us. Thank you, God, for the love between us. Amen. As the children leave, bless them: (Name), go in God s grace Congregational Ministiries Publishing 27

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7 Grace Notes June 17, 2018 GN 1 Finding Elisha 2018 Congregational Ministiries Publishing Ages

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9 Grace Notes June 17, 2018 GN 2 Healing the Son 2018 Congregational Ministiries Publishing Ages

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11 Grace Notes June 17, 2018 GN 3 Elisha Saves a Woman s Son A boy sneezed seven times and showed that God healed him! 2018 Congregational Ministiries Publishing Ages

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