Leader s Guide for Episode 9

Leader s Guide for Episode 9

Leader s guide for Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew Welcome to the fun-filled world of Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew! We are so happy you have decided to share the good times with us! We created this DVD and teaching series to plant and nurture the seeds of a relationship with God that children can relate to, using fun, comedy, drama, songs, and arts and crafts to reveal God s truth and goodness to kids in relevant scenarios they can make sense of. Within these programs you will find a treasure trove of helpful teaching, especially created to enable children to connect with the Christian faith and understand it in the context of their everyday lives. Inside this guide you will find a range of fun and helpful activities, engaging questions, and leader s notes to help you and your kids get the most out of the time you spend with Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew! These resources are geared for children 3-7 years old, but you may feel they are suitable for older children, too. Fun and Faith, Hand in Hand! SHORTER OR LONGER SESSIONS: We ve created these lessons to be flexible and easy to use, with minimal preparation required. Just check the Preparation section in advance, and you ll find delivering these sessions straightforward and enjoyable, with all the hard work done for you! Each guide will contain various elements which will amount to well over 90 minutes worth of material, allowing you to select and tailor your sessions to fit your time slot, teaching preferences, and group requirements. Apart from the DVD, which will take up about half an hour of group time, all of the elements of this study guide can be expanded and contracted, and used or discarded as required. Episode 9: How Do I Pray? 2

Episode 9: How Do I Pray? THEME: Mr. Bon-Hovis is struggling to communicate with God, and he s trying all sorts of funny ways to get in contact! LEARNING OUTCOMES: Prayer is not about impressing God or using a special technique. The Lord wants prayers which are truthful, honest, and which don t go against his nature. We can talk to God through Jesus as a friend, not because we deserve him or because we are special people, but because he loves us and wants to spend time with us. God is kind and righteous and loving, so he will answer prayers which come from a good, kind, right and loving heart. PREPARATION: 1. For the Arty Crafty Time slot you will need 8.5 x 11" paper, colored pens or pencils and sticky tape. 2. For the bonus activity you will need bendy straws, craft tissue paper, glue, scissors, sticky tape and fine cotton thread. Consider groups with different abilities needing more or less preparation for this tricky activity. 3. For the game you will need a soft ball. *TOP TIP* Practice making the paper plane and the kite yourself first; it will be very helpful if you know how to make a successful flyer already! SECTIONS/ELEMENTS FOR THIS EPISODE: DVD VIEWING GUIDED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS OPEN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ARTY CRAFTY TIME ACTIVITY SONG TIME WITH DANCE ACTIVITY SCRIPTURE TIME SHARED STUDY COLORING FROM STORY TIME BONUS ACTIVITY: MAKE A KITE! GAME-TIME ACTIVITY *TOP TIP* Can you think of any personal examples of when God has answered your prayers? Share these with the children to really bring the message home! Episode 9: How Do I Pray? 3

DVD VIEWING Introduction to today s show: Tell the children that as ever, Mr. Bon-Hovis is having some problems today. We all know that Mr. Bon-Hovis is a good person, and today he s trying very hard. In fact, he wants to spend more time with God. There s nothing wrong with that of course! But see if you can spot how Jovis may have got himself a little mixed up! Tell the children you re going to stop for a time of sharing about the show, so they should keep their eyes and ears open! Play the DVD until 9:43, just as the Story Time stars appear on the screen. GUIDED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Here are some examples of the sorts of questions you might want to share with the children. Feel free to ask your own, but don t go too far into resolving all the issues at this point. Keep the questions focused on the activity that s just taken place rather than the meaning and theology of prayer. Please note, these questions are only suggestions. Feel free to explore the show in your own way and with your own style. What was Mr. Bon-Hovis trying to do today? Why did he put a moustache and a monocle on? Why did he stand on a chair? Does God live in the sky? Where then? What are Stripy Monkey and Booky Worm thinking? Why did he put a bucket on his head? Why did he sing his prayer? Stripy Monkey said singing wasn t the silliest thing he d done. Why do you think that was? The Creation Crew Kids made paper Prayeroplanes. What do you think they are? *TOP TIP* Why not ask some of the children if they d like to say a prayer? It s always a good time to pray! Play the DVD until 19:21, just as the song finishes. Story Time: No School Tomorrow! Teacher s notes: It s difficult to assure children that God will always give them the answers that they want or expect from prayer, so what this story seeks to illustrate is God s desire to answer prayers which are properly motivated. The children in the story are being wrongly and cruelly oppressed by selfish, unkind adults, and the prayer they offered was righteous and wholesome, and in line with what we understand of God s nature. Try to help the children understand that prayer is not the same as wishing for stuff we want, but is about bringing the kingdom of heaven into the world. Episode 9: How Do I Pray? 4

GUIDED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS At the start of the story, Billy Whistlestop thought they were getting good news! What did he think was happening? What was actually happening? What did Billy want to be when he grew up? What wacky idea did Billy s dad have? What happened in the end? The song said Pray to God from a good heart. What does that mean? Could that be why God answered Billy Whistlestop s prayer? What does the song mean when it says anytime, anywhere? What did Dora Mouse say to Jovis? How do you think Jovis will pray next time? Play the DVD until the end. OPEN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Having watched the whole DVD together now would be a great time to talk more generally and openly about what you ve learned. Encourage the children to talk not just about the show but about real life and real experience. Do you ever pray on your own? Why does God want us to pray? Does God answer prayers? What kind of prayers do you think? What is prayer for? How should we pray, what sort of things should we pray about? What do you think would happen to us if we never prayed at all? How often do you think we should pray? Should we only pray about big things, or little things too? Why is it good to say In Jesus name? Should we pray for ourselves, or just other people? Prayer is, of course, a big topic, and you won t cover it all today! Just ensure that the children leave feeling comfortable that they are able to and welcome to pray to God, and that they have some idea of why and how. *TOP TIP* Why not encourage the children to write a prayer diary? Could your group provide some simple note pads for the children to take home? Younger children could draw pictures to represent what they prayed about! Episode 9: How Do I Pray? 5

ARTY CRAFTY TIME ACTIVITY: PAPER PRAYEROPLANES! This is an activity which always goes over big with children. You ll need to keep a close eye on where the children put their folds. There s nothing as disappointing as a plane that doesn t fly! *TOP TIP* Why not get everybody outside for a prayeroplane competition? You could compete for distance, time spent in the air, as well as the quality of the plane! A picture prayer is just fine for any children who aren t writing yet. Perhaps they could draw a picture of a person they love especially for God? You may want to go back to the start of the activity, and play/pause as you work alongside Jovis Bon-Hovis with your children. All the activities are made very simple and easy to follow. SONG TIME WITH DANCE ACTIVITY Select the song from the DVD menu and play. Following the leader (you!) as they do the actions is great fun for the kids. Just play the song and read along below, doing the actions as they are written. Ask the kids to copy you! Don t worry about looking silly! Kids just love to dance and move about. They will just think it s great fun and will respond much better if you lead with energy. Why not consider practicing the song over a few sessions and doing a performance at the front of your church? Younger children can follow the dancing; older children may enjoy following the words on-screen and singing along. *TOP TIP* This is a slow, gentle song, so try broad, sweeping movements and steps. Here are the lyrics with actions and performance suggestions so that you can face the group: Pray to God from a good heart, (kneel and pray head down, lift head, and touch your heart) Anytime, anywhere. (stand up and spin around) Pray to Jesus from a loving place, (sway from side to side with your hands together) And he will hear your prayer. (cup your ears, then hands together again) Cause surely Jesus wants good for us, (clap hands and jump around celebrating!) And that s what we want too. (reach out, grasp, then hands on heart) All good people want what s good for each other, (point around the room, big thumbs up) Ask: What would Jesus do? (touch your head, kneel and pray) Episode 9: How Do I Pray? 6

Surely God wants good for us, (gentle sway, then arms out and turn) Surely we want the same as God? (gentle sway, lift hands and faces upwards) Pray to God from a good heart, (kneel and pray head down, lift head and touch your heart) Anytime, anywhere. (stand up and spin around) Pray to Jesus from a loving place, (sway from side to side with your hands together) And he will hear your prayer. (cup your ears, then hands together again) Cause surely Jesus wants good for us, (claps hands and jump around celebrating!) And that s what we want too. (reach out, grasp, then hands on heart) All good people want what s good for each other, (point around the room, big thumbs up) Ask: What would Jesus do? (touch your head, kneel and pray) Surely God wants good for us, (gentle sway, then arms out and turn) Surely we want the same as God? (gentle sway, lift hands and faces upwards) Cause surely Jesus wants good for us, (claps hands and jump around celebrating!) And that s what we want too. (reach out, grasp, then hands on heart) All good people want what s good for each other, (point around the room, big thumbs up) Ask: What would Jesus do? (touch your head, kneel and pray) SCRIPTURE TIME SHARED STUDY Remind the children that Mr. Bon-Hovis opened his Bible up, and suggest it might be exciting to see just what Mr. Bon-Hovis saw! Matthew 6:9-13 9 This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. *TOP TIP* See if anybody in the group can remember the Lord s prayer, and share it with the rest before you read it again! Episode 9: How Do I Pray? 7

EXTRA REFERENCES FOR LONGER STUDY: Psalm 95:2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Explanation for little ones: Prayer can be very joyful and happy. We thank God because he gives us everything we have, so singing and celebrating can be a great way of talking to God! James 5:13-14 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Explanation for little ones: God wants us to come and talk to him about everything, if we re singing or crying, whether we are poorly or well. God wants a friendship with us which fills all the areas of our life. Scripture Time Questions for discussion: What does hallowed be your name mean? What does your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven mean? What does forgive us our debts mean? Read the prayer again and talk about why you think it s in that order. Is that the order you should pray? Does Jesus mean we should repeat those exact words? Think of some other ways you could say some of the things Jesus prayed about. COLORING FROM STORY TIME Have some fun coloring the drawings from the Story Time (found at the back of this guide). Remind the children as they color what the story was about and what they ve learned from it. Episode 9: How Do I Pray? 8

BONUS ACTIVITY: MAKE A KITE THAT REALLY FLIES! We re enjoying a bit of an aerial theme today, and it s all about sending your prayers up to God, and how prayer is a joy and a pleasure! Connecting prayer with happy activities like kite flying and making paper planes positively strengthens children s feelings about the deep pleasure of prayer, what it means and how it feels to pray. It connects them with God on their level, as children, and doesn t demand that they be something they can t really relate to yet. So today, let's cover a few simple rules to ensure you can make easy kites which actually stand a chance of lifting, even though it's only the length of a bendy straw! It should be fairly easy to work from the simple diagram. 1: Using bendy straws will mean you can create the ESSENTIAL concave boat shape, which will give the kite balance in the wind. 2: Notice that the tissue will be facing you. When the kite is in the air the straws will be BEHIND the tissue. 3: Use thin, light cotton, not string! 4: A tail is essential. Cut a 12-15 inch tail from the same tissue you used for the kite. 5: As per the diagram, the length of the cotton forward of the knot is a little shorter than behind the knot. 6: Use a thin, light craft tissue. 7: Keep the tissue as wrinkle free as possible. If you are very crafty, cut a tiny thin dart or sliver along the rear spar to gather in excess loose tissue, and glue closed. 8: Use glue to attach the tissue to the straws and tie the crossed straws together using the same thread you will use for the line. 9: Tie a single piece of thread to the front and rear parts of the straw that runs front to rear. You will have to make a tiny hole in the tissue to do this. 10: Use a tiny piece of tape (to keep it as light as possible) to stop the thread from sliding. 11: The diagram shows tape at the ends of the spars for reinforcement. Use a small amount of glue ALONG the spars too. This activity will be quite simple if the leader understands it beforehand. The most important things are the concave shape, the lightness of the tissue, the cotton thread, the tail on the kite, and the point at which the main line joins the front and rear thread. You may need to attempt a few different lengths to get it right. Using felt pens, follow the cross of the drinking straws to make a Christian cross motif on the kite! Talk to the children about what a pleasure it is to share our prayers with God. Why not send us pictures of your kites? *TOP TIP* How crafty are you? Cut a slot out of the straws at the point where they cross over and they will sit together more neatly. Show off your skills! Episode 9: How Do I Pray? 9

GAME-TIME ACTIVITY: ALL I NEED IS... This fun, silly game will get kids thinking about how much we need God and how important prayer is. It s not really a game of right or wrong answers, just a fast speedy game which should cause lots of giggles. Speed is the key! Have all the children sit in a circle. One child starts with the ball, and the leader calls out an All I need statement. (See examples below.) The children must complete the statement as fast as they can, and then quickly throw the ball to whomever they choose, who then also must complete the same statement until nobody can think of anything else. At that point, the leader introduces another All I need statement. You will notice that in the list of suggestions below there is a liberal peppering of statements which accommodate faithful Christian answers. Try to do the same when you think some up! There are no winners or losers in this game, it s just an enjoyable time spent together. Try these: All I need for a great party is: All I need when I m praying is: All I need when I m poorly is: All I need on a beach is: All I need for the best ever pizza is: All I need to go to space is: All I need when I m sad is: All I need in a fashion parade is: All I need to play my favorite sport is: All I need to be a very good friend is: All I need to get ready for school is: All I need to be a good Christian is: All I need when I go to church is: *TOP TIP* Do any of the children have ideas of their own? Why not let them lead a few? In conclusion: Prayer should be a happy and open everyday conversation with God. We don t have to do anything clever or special, just grow our friendship with him by talking to him truthfully and from the heart about everything. Pray together to finish: Dear Lord, thank you for giving us prayer so that we can talk to you. You are a kind and loving God, and we pray that you will teach us and lead us into a wonderful friendship with you through open, real. and honest prayers. In Jesus name, amen. We would really enjoy seeing your photos and videos of your groups at work. Why not follow Jovis Bon-Hovis on Facebook? You ll find lots more regular games and activities to share with your kids, and it s a great place to join together with other Christian teachers, caretakers, parents, and leaders who are raising children in the Christian faith. http://www.facebook.com/jovis.bonhovis or search Facebook for Jovis Bon-Hovis. Episode 9: How Do I Pray? 10