Where is the Prince? and

Transcription

1 Where is the Prince? and Presents for a King Jacob's fit dream Matthew 2 Genesis 28 Story and Craft Luke 2 The Shepherds story

2 JACOB'S DREAM Setting the scene You will need: The Bible Curriculum FlashCards and The Children s Bible in 365 Stories, by Mary Batchelor (published by Lion Hudson plc. paperback /hardback ). Tell the children that the stories they will hear over the next few weeks come from the Old Testament part of the Bible. Show the appropriate section in the children s Bible. If you have The Old Testament Timeline Flashcards, by The Bible Curriculum, show and talk about cards one to three. Starter questions When you re tired at the end of a busy day there is nothing better than to rest your head on a nice soft pillow. But just imagine if you didn t have a pillow. Imagine if the only thing to rest your head on was a cold, hard stone. Do you think you would sleep well with a rock for a pillow? Story reference Genesis 28 The Children s Bible in 365 Stories, story number 27, page 39. For a printable version of today s story see Jacob's dream in this week s Printables My story notes...

3 How to illustrate the story Telling the story using props: A pillow A large stone or small rock A small jar of olive oil I am the God of Abraham... speech bubbles (see Printables) If you are with me speech bubbles (see Printables) Another idea: Talk about why Jacob poured oil on the stone. Ask the children why they think Jacob made the stone into a pillar and poured oil on it. Listen to the children s answers then explain that Jacob wanted to mark the place as special. People who study the Bible think that Jacob made the stone into a pillar so that he would be able to find the place again. Bible scholars also think that Jacob poured oil on the stone to worship God. Many years later Moses poured a special oil on the Tabernacle (the worship tent) to show that it was extremely special to God (Numbers 7:1). And another idea: You will need: Angel and ladder templates (see Printables), sticky tac, sticky tape, chopsticks and a suitable safe light source such as a torch. Print off and cut out the angel templates. Print off three or four ladder templates. Trim the ladders top and bottom then join them together to make an extra long ladder. Stick the ladder to the wall using sticky tac. Use a small piece of sticky tape to attach the angel templates to the chopsticks. During the session help the children to create angel shadows by holding the templates in front of torch-beam as it shines on the ladder. Move the templates and the torch up and down so that the angel appears to be climbing up and down the ladder. Reflective Prayer Father God we think about Jacob. We remember the great lengths he went to to get the blessing meant for his older brother - Father we realise how important Your favour was to him how he longed to have good things from You. Father we think about Jacob a few days later, lying down in the open air and resting his head on the stone. We remember that as he slept You spoke to him clearly in a dream. Father we thank You that You still speak to people today in surprising ways, at times and in places when they are not expecting to hear from You. Father thank You that even when we are resting or sleeping we can be sure that we will not miss out on what You want to do or say to us. Father we remember the comforting words You spoke to Jacob. Thank You that You made it clear that Jacob would be blessed in an even greater way than he had hoped. Father we thank You that the promise to Jacob was about us too - that everybody, everywhere would be blessed through Jacob's family. Thank You that today we know that that promise is about Jesus, that through Him everybody everywhere can now say Yes to Your love and forgiveness and become close friends with You. Amen Things to take on Sunday...

4 A CLIMBING ANGEL You will need: How to make a climbing angel instructions (see Printables) An angel template (see Printables) Cereal-box card or equivalent (paper plates could be used instead) String cut to 1.5m lengths A drinking straw Sticky tape Colouring pencils and/or felt-tip pens Scissors How to prepare: Before the session print off or photocopy sufficient instructions for one between two or three children. Print off or photocopy sufficient templates for one per child. You may want to cut out the templates for the younger children in your group. Follow the instructions to make a climbing angel so the children know what they are making. How to make: 1. Make sure each child can see a set of instructions. 2. Encourage each child to colour in and cut out an angel template. 3. Work through the instructions one stage at a time making sure each child has completed each stage before moving on to the next. Dead Sea Comic Capers For an alternative activity, print and enjoy the puzzles in this week s Dead Sea Comic Caper (see Printables). Shopping list...

5 Printables 1. Story: Jacob's dream 2. I am the God of Abraham... speech bubbles 3. If you are with me speech bubbles 4. Angel and ladder templates 5. How to make a climbing angel instructions 6. An angel template 7. Dead Sea Comic Caper

6 1. Story: Jacob's dream JACOB'S DREAM Genesis 28 When you re tired at the end of a busy day there is nothing better than to rest your head on a nice soft pillow. But just imagine if you didn t have a pillow. Imagine if the only thing to rest your head on was a cold, hard stone. Do you think you would sleep well with a rock for a pillow? Esau and Jacob were brothers. Their mother was called Rebekah and their father was called Isaac. Abraham was their grandfather. One day Rebekah spoke to Jacob, Quickly, your brother Esau is angry with you. You must run away to your Uncle Laban in Haran. Jacob listened to his mother he knew why Esau was cross. Esau and Jacob were twins. Esau was the oldest. One day Isaac called Esau to him. He wanted to bless his oldest son he wanted to pray that good things would happen to him. But Jacob pretended to be his brother. He dressed in Esau s clothes and knelt down in front of his father. Isaac s eyesight was so poor that he thought it was Esau in front of him. He reached out his hand and prayed for Jacob. He gave his younger son the special blessing. When Esau heard what had happened he wanted revenge. He waited for a time when he could catch Jacob. So Jacob began the long journey to Haran. After a day s travel, the sun began to set and Jacob stopped for the night. He looked around and found a stone. Lying down on the ground he pulled the stone underneath his head and used it as a pillow. As Jacob drifted off to sleep he began to dream. In his dream he saw a huge ladder. The bottom of the ladder rested on the earth while the top stretched right up into heaven. Climbing up and down the ladder were angels. At the very top stood God. In the dream God spoke to Jacob. I am the God of Abraham and Isaac. To you and your family I am going to give the land that you are lying on. Your family will be so big, that counting them will be like counting the dust on the ground. Good things will come to everybody on the whole earth through you and your family. Then God made Jacob a promise, I promise to be with you and watch over you wherever you go. One day I m going to bring you back to this land. When Jacob woke up he felt afraid. He realised that God had spoken to him. This is an awesome place, he said. Then, early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had used as a pillow and stood it up on its end. It looked like a pillar. He poured oil on top of the stone. This place shall be called Bethel, said Jacob (Bethel means House of God). Then Jacob made a promise to God: If You are with me on my journey if You watch over me and give me food to eat and clothes to wear and one day bring me safely back home, then You will be my God and I will give back to You a portion of everything that You give to me. A little while later Jacob left Bethel and continued his journey to Uncle Laban s in Haran.

7 2. I am the God of Abraham... speech bubbles I am the God of Abraham and Isaac. To you and your family I am going to give the land that you are lying on.

8 2. I am the God of Abraham... speech bubbles Your family will be so big, that counting them will be like counting the dust on the ground.

9 2. I am the God of Abraham... speech bubbles Good things will come to everybody on the whole earth through you and your family.

10 3. If you are with me speech bubbles If You are with me on my journey; if You watch over me and give me food to eat and clothes to wear, and one day bring me safely back home...

11 3. If You are with me speech bubbles...then You will be my God and I will give back to You a portion of everything that You give to me.

12 4. Angel and ladder templates

13 4. Angel and ladder templates

14 5. How to make a climbing angel instructions

15 5. How to make a climbing angel instructions A CLIMBING ANGEL 1. You will need: An angel template Cereal-box card or equivalent (paper plates could be used instead) String or wool cut to 1.5 m lengths A drinking straw Sticky tape and masking tape Scissor 2. Colour in and cut out your angel template. 3. Stick the template to the card and cut out your cardboard angel. 4. Cut the drinking straw into 3 cm lengths. 5. Turn the angel over and use sticky tape to secure two pieces of straw to the tips of the angel's wing. Wrap the sticky tape over the top of the wings to make sure the pieces of straw are held in place. 6. Thread the string through the straws as shown in the picture. 7. Wrap masking tape around the ends of the string. 8. Hook the string over a door handle and gently pull first on one end of the string and then on the other. As you pull with one hand allow the other hand to move up with the string. As you repeat this your angel will climb to the top of the string. 9. You could stick the paper ladder (see ladder template) to the door to make it look like the angel is climbing the ladder.

16 6. An angel template

17 7. Dead Sea Comic Caper