CREATIVE DRAMA LEADER GUIDE Banquet with Simon (Luke 7:36-50) Lower Elementary Workshop Focus: God forgives everyone. Keep these tips in mind as you welcome kids to the workshop and explore the story together. Each week, remember to welcome kids to the rotation. Keep in mind that for some kids it may be the first time they are visiting your workshop! If kids have heard the story several times during previous weeks, read it again! Kids learn through repetition, and every workshop will explore the Bible story in a slightly different way. Remember that the Shepherds are there to support you as they accompany kids each week. Be sure to visit www.sparksundayschool.org to download the Family Page for this story. Make copies of it and ask Shepherds to distribute it during the Wrap Up. Open the Bible (10 minutes) Banquet with Simon Storytelling Welcome to Creative Drama. It s great to see you today! Raise your hand if you re perfect, you ve never done anything wrong, not even once! Allow kids to think. No one? Well, today s story is about a man who thinks very highly of himself, let s listen! Read Banquet with Simon (pages 354-357 in the Spark Story Bible) having the kids follow along. Let s see what you remember about our story. Who invited Jesus to dinner? (Simon) Who showed up as a surprise? (the woman) What did the woman do for Jesus? (washed, dried and rubbed oil onto his feet) What did Jesus do for the woman? (forgave her) Do you think Simon needs forgiveness, too? Allow kids time to respond. Everyone needs forgiveness because everyone makes mistakes. Whether you make little mistakes or big mistakes, God forgives everyone! Today we re going to make some poster board costumes and sound-effect cards to help us tell the story of Jesus Banquet with Simon. Let s get started! Spark Story Bibles None creative drama Banquet with Simon 75
Activate Faith (25 minutes) Board at the Banquet Set Up Use 3 sheets of poster board to make 10 sound-effects cards. Write the following sound-effects words on the cards 1 sound-effect per card. (Knock, knock; Sob, sob, sob; Drip, drip, drip; Wipe, wipe, wipe; Rub, rub, rub; Clink, clink, clink; Clink!; Nod, nod, nod; Think, think, think; Hooray!) Cut three sheets of poster board into costume templates as follows: For the face, cut one 10" [25 cm] diameter circle in the middle of the board approximately 3" [8 cm] from the top. For the arms, cut two 8" [20 cm] circles 2" [5 cm] from each side of the board, beginning approximately 5" [13 cm] below the face opening. Place scissors, markers, yarn, tape, and poster board pieces where children can access them. Designate a stage area by hanging a bed sheet backdrop and placing the small table and two chairs in front of it. Spark Story Bible Poster board, 6 sheets Scissors Markers Yarn Clear or double-stick tape Bed sheet Small table Chairs, 2 Baskets or bowls, small Tablecloth or fabric piece Sound Story Place the baskets or bowls and tablecloth or fabric near the stage. Make copies of the Sound Story from page 87 of this guide. Activity Instructions 1. Ask volunteers to decorate the sound-effects cards. What kind of decorations make you think of that sound? 2. Have kids draw Simon, Jesus, and the Woman on each of the cut poster boards. The large hole is where someone s face will go and the small holes are for their arms. What kind of hair or hat would this person have? What color would their clothes be? Are they wearing jewelry? 3. Ask volunteers to set the props on the stage. Where will Jesus sit? How is the table set? 4. Recruit a leader or fluent reader to be the narrator, one kid to hold the soundeffect cards and three kids to act. Instruct the narrator to pause and point to the sound-effect card holder whenever there are sound effects in the story. Actors, try on your character boards. Practice moving with them on! Practice reading the sound effect-cards with the kids. 5. Where should the card holder stand so we can all see him/her? What kind of voice will you use for this sound? 76 Workshop Leader Guides
6. Perform the story: Gather kids in front of the stage. Ask the sound effect card holder to stand where kids can see him/her. Let s have Simon in his house on stage, Jesus at the door, and the Woman ready to enter after Jesus. Actors, try to have your character board facing the audience whenever possible. The Narrator can stand to the other side of the stage. Don t forget to point to the card holder when it s time for a sound effect. Audience, watch and listen so you know when it s time to add a sound. Let s start the Banquet with Simon! 7. After the story: Gather the kids to debrief the experience. What was fun about this workshop? Allow kids time to answer this and the following questions. How did the man who owed 500 coins to the bank feel when his payment was cancelled? Show kids the illustration of Jesus and the Woman on pages 355 and 357 of the Spark Story Bible. How do you think the Woman felt when Jesus forgave her? How would you feel if you were Simon? Just like the Woman, we can be glad because God forgives everyone, even us! Send (5 minutes) Wrap Up Remind the Shepherds to distribute the Family Page for this story if the kids haven t already received it, and come together for Wrap Up. Family Pages Thanks for coming to Creative Drama today! We learned that God forgives everyone no matter if they make big mistakes like the Woman or little mistakes like Simon! Be sure to ask your caregiver about the Family Page. There are some great ways to remember the story of the Banquet with Simon all week long! Prayer Time Gather the kids for prayer. Dim the lights if it s practical. Let s take a moment to think of a mistake you would like to ask God to forgive. Keep it in your head. You won t have to say it out loud. Pretend you are holding your mistake in your hand. During our prayer, you can give it to God. Let s pray. None creative drama Dear God, You are so wonderful! Thank you for the gift of forgiveness! Take the mistake I hold in my hand and forgive me as I let it go. Pause. Thank you, God! Amen. Banquet with Simon 77
CREATIVE DRAMA LEADER GUIDE Banquet with Simon (Luke 7:36-50) Upper Elementary Workshop Focus: God forgives all sin. Keep these tips in mind as you welcome kids to the workshop and explore the story together. Each week, remember to welcome kids to the rotation. Keep in mind that for some kids it may be the first time they are visiting your workshop! If kids have heard the story several times during previous weeks, read it again! Kids learn through repetition, and every workshop will explore the Bible story in a slightly different way. Remember that the Shepherds are there to support you as they accompany kids each week. Be sure to visit www.sparksundayschool.org to download the Family Page for this story. Make copies of it and ask Shepherds to distribute it during the Wrap Up. Open the Bible (10 minutes) Banquet with Simon Storytelling Welcome to Creative Drama! It s good to see everyone today! Think about times in your life when you acted like you were smarter, stronger, better than someone else. We all have done that, right? Give kids a chance to think. How did we treat other people then? Allow kids to answer. Open your Spark Bible and turn to Luke 7:36-50, page 1139. This is a story about a man who thought he was better at keeping God s law than other people. Have kids take turns reading the passage out loud. When they are finished, invite kids to mark the passage with a Spark Bible Sticker of their choosing. Allow time for kids to write answers in the margins of their Bible with pencil. Spark Bibles Spark Bible Stickers Pencils creative drama Let s talk about this story. Who invited Jesus to dinner? (Simon) Who was the surprise guest? (the woman) Why did Jesus tell the story about the moneylender? (to teach about forgiveness) Do you think Simon ever realized he needed forgiveness as well? Allow kids time to answer. Sin is sin. It doesn t matter if you sin big like the woman or small like Simon. Everyone needs forgiveness. Thankfully, God forgives all sin! Today we re going to use some props to help us visualize sin as we act out the story, Banquet with Simon. Banquet with Simon 79
Activate Faith (25 minutes) Burden of Sin Set Up: Designate a stage area with a bed sheet backdrop. Place the small table and 2 chairs in front of the backdrop. Set supplies, props and costumes in an area where kids can access them. Make several copies of the Simon and the Woman Skit Script from page 89 of this guide. Activity Instructions 1. Invite kids to create sin props out of pillows. Kids write the word sin on pieces of paper and tape papers to each of the six pillows. Does the size of your paper fit the size of the pillow? Pick up a small pillow. What size sin does this represent (having the larger pillows nearby will give the kids a clue to the answer you re looking for)? Pick up a medium-sized pillow. What size sin does this represent? Pick up a large pillow. What size sin does this represent? 2. Ask volunteers to set the stage with props and help choose costumes for the characters. What would Simon s house look like during a banquet? What should the woman wear? Each character, except Jesus, carries a sin pillow. What size should each carry? Spark Bibles Spark Bible Stickers Pencils Paper Marker Masking tape Bed sheet Small table Chairs, 2 Tablecloth or fabric Bowls or baskets, small Jar, small Bible costumes or fabric pieces Pillows (2 large, 2 medium, 2 small) Simon and the Woman Skit Script 3. Choose kids to play the following roles, Narrator, Simon, Jesus, Woman, Moneylender, Man Owing Much, and Man Owing Little. Give each actor a script to read. Actions are an important part of this script. Read the script. How will you interact with the other characters? What gestures will you make? 4. Give actors time to get their props and put costumes on. Each of you, except Jesus, will carry a pillow representing sin. How will you carry your pillow? 5. Perform the skit. Gather everyone at the stage area. Simon starts on stage with Jesus ready to enter. Everyone else waits to one side while the narrator stands on the other. This skit is taken from your Spark Bible, but we have added some extra props. Watch and listen. Then we ll discuss it afterward. Following the skit: Gather everyone to debrief the experience. 6. Great job! What was easy and what was difficult about this skit? Allow kids time to respond to this and the following questions. Why did everyone have sin pillows? (Everyone sins.) Were they all the same? (No, they were different sizes.) How did it feel to get rid of the sin pillows? 80 Workshop Leader Guides
7. Ask kids to read Luke 7: 44-48. Invite them to place a Makes Me Feel or Makes Me Wonder Spark Bible Sticker near the passage and write their answers in the margin. Jesus was ready to forgive Simon s sins just like he forgave the Woman s. Simon thought he was better than the Woman. Simon didn t understand, we all need forgiveness. Big sins, little sins, it doesn t matter. God forgives all sins! Send (5 minutes) Wrap Up Remind the Shepherds to distribute the Family Page for this story if the kids haven t already received it, and come together for Wrap Up. Thank you for coming to Creative Drama today. We learned a lot together! Will God forgive you no matter what kind of mistakes you have made in your life? (Yes, God forgives all sin!) Be sure to ask people at home about the Family Page. There are some great ways to remember the Banquet with Simon all week long! Family Pages None Prayer Time Think of something you need forgiveness for today. It can be something big or something little. It doesn t matter. We ll sit quietly with our eyes closed during our prayer. When I pause, you can ask God for forgiveness in your heart. Dear God, we come to you today, grateful that you forgive all sins. Forgive us for the things we name in our hearts right now. Pause. Thank you, God! Help us to forgive others the same way you have forgiven us. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. creative drama Banquet with Simon 81
CREATIVE DRAMA LEADER GUIDE Banquet with Simon (Luke 7:36-50) All Kids Workshop Focus: God forgives everyone. Keep these tips in mind as you welcome kids to the workshop and explore the story together. Each week, remember to welcome kids to the rotation. Keep in mind that for some kids it may be the first time they are visiting your workshop! If kids have heard the story several times during previous weeks, read it again! Kids learn through repetition, and every workshop will explore the Bible story in a slightly different way. Remember that the Shepherds are there to support you as they accompany kids each week. Be sure to visit www.sparksundayschool.org to download the Family Page for this story. Make copies of it and ask Shepherds to distribute it during the Wrap Up. Open the Bible (10 minutes) Banquet with Simon Storytelling Welcome to Creative Drama! It s great to see everyone! Raise your hand if you think you could go one week without doing anything wrong! Allow kids to time to respond to this and the following questions. Who could last one day? One hour? We re going to hear a story about a man who thought he was rather perfect! Direct older kids to find Luke 7:36-50 in their Spark Bibles, page 1139, and younger kids to find Banquet with Simon on page 354 of the Spark Story Bible. Follow along in your Bible as I read the story. I will pause in a few places and ask you to tell me what you think. Read Banquet with Simon from pages 354-357 in the Spark Story Bible, pausing occasionally to ask for the kids input about what will happen next. Invite older kids to mark the passage with an I Looked It Up or I Read It Spark Bible Sticker. Spark Story Bibles Spark Bibles Spark Bible Stickers Pencils creative drama Let s talk about the story. Why did Jesus go to Simon s house? (He was invited for dinner.) What did the woman do? (washed Jesus feet and dried them) What did Jesus tell the woman? (I forgive you, you have strong faith.) Jesus forgave the woman because God forgives everyone! Today we are each going to pretend to be one of the characters in the story while we retell it with a rhyme. Banquet with Simon 83
Activate Faith (25 minutes) Story Trios Set Up: Clear an area of the room where kids can stand in groups of three without bumping into each other as they move. Place cardstock, markers, hole punch, yarn, and scissors where kids can use them. Set fabric pieces in an area where kids can look through them. Make a copy of the Echo Rhyme from page 91 of this guide. Activity Instructions 1. Divide kids into mixed age and gender groups of three. In your group, decide who would like to be Simon, Jesus and the Woman. Boys can play girl parts and girls can play boy parts! Note: If you believe leaving the choice up to the kids may cause too much commotion, have kids count off 1-2-3 (Simon, Jesus, Woman). Spark Story Bibles Spark Bibles Spark Bible Stickers Pencils Cardstock sheets (8 ½" x 11" [22 cm x 28 cm]) cut in half, 1 per kid Markers Single-hole punch Yarn Kid-friendly scissors Fabric pieces, 1 per kid Echo Rhyme 2. Have kids use supplies to make character nametags to wear. Ask for help if you need it. What kinds of colors and styles would your character use? Keep the yarn short enough so your nametag doesn t get tangled when you act. 3. Direct each kid to choose a piece of fabric to wear as a costume. How will you wear your fabric, as a belt, a robe, a headdress? What kind of material would your character wear? 4. Direct the kids to form their groups in the open area of the room. Does everyone have their nametags on? Be sure your fabric is somewhat secure. Stand facing each other in your group. Give each other enough room to move without bumping into someone else. I ll read a line from the rhyme. You will repeat the line and make up actions to go with it. Sometimes you will have to interact with another person, so get ready to work together! 5. Following the echo rhyme: Give kids time to put away their props and pick up their Bibles. Gather everyone together to debrief the experience. The Bible doesn t tell us what happened to Simon and the Woman after the banquet. Do you think Simon ever figured out he needed forgiveness too? Allow kids time to answer. 84 Workshop Leader Guides
6. Direct the older kids to read Luke 7:39 and 7:44-50 in their Spark Bible. Invite kids to use a Spark Bible Sticker of their choosing to mark the passage and write their response to the sticker s prompt in the margin with pencil. Show the younger kids the illustration of Jesus standing with the Woman in the Spark Story Bible page 357. How do you think the Woman felt after Jesus told her that her sins were forgiven? Allow kids time to answer. How does it make you feel to know you are forgiven? Allow kids time to answer. Simon, the Woman, us, we all need God s forgiveness. It s great to know, God forgives everyone! Send (5 minutes) Wrap Up Remind the Shepherds to distribute the Family Page for this story if the kids haven t already received it, and come together for Wrap Up. Thank you for coming to Creative Drama today! We ve had a lot of fun! It s great to know that whether we make little mistakes like Simon or big ones like the Woman, we can count on God to forgive everyone! Be sure to ask the people at home about the Family Page. There are some different ways to remember the story Banquet with Simon all week long! Family Pages None Prayer Time Find a spot to sit quietly for our closing prayer. Take a moment to think of something you would like to ask forgiveness for. Imagine you are holding that sin in your hands. During the prayer, we will let go of that and give it to God. Let s close our eyes and pray. Dear God, just like Simon and the Woman, we come before you today needing your forgiveness. Please forgive our little mistakes as well as our big ones. We ask you to especially forgive the sin we hold in our hands. We give it to you now, God! Pause. creative drama We are so happy because we know you forgive everyone! Thank you, God! Amen. Banquet with Simon 85
Sound Story Jesus was invited to dinner at Simon s house. Knock, knock, knock! Thanks for coming, Jesus! Simon led his guest through the dark door to a low table. Dinner is served! Jesus was ready to eat his bread, when he heard a woman at the door. When she saw Jesus, she started crying. Sob, sob, sob. The woman was known to have done many things wrong. Drip, drip, drip. The woman bent over Jesus feet and cleaned them with her tears. Wipe, wipe, wipe. The woman dried the tears on his feet with her long, dark hair. The woman was kissing Jesus feet and rubbing them with oil. Rub, rub, rub. Simon s cheeks were red with embarrassment. He said, I didn t invite that woman! What is she doing? Jesus cleared his throat and told a story. One person owed a bank 500 coins. Clink, clink, clink! The other person owed fifty coins. Clink! The bank canceled the payments for both people. Who was more thankful? The one who owed the most, right? asked Simon. Nod, nod, nod. Jesus nodded yes. I m like the bank, he explained. I forgive and forget big and little mistakes. He put his hand on the woman s head. This woman made many big mistakes. She needs a lot of forgiveness. She shows me great love. You re my host, but you didn t greet me as a special guest. You have not made big mistakes in your life, but you did not show me great love, as this woman did. Dry your eyes, my friend. I forgive all of your sins, Jesus said to the woman in a kind voice. You have a strong faith. Simon learned a lesson that day. Think, think, think. All people are important and equal to Jesus. God forgives and forgets mistakes of all sizes. Hooray! Banquet with Simon 87
Simon and the Woman Skit Script Narrator: One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and Jesus went into the Pharisee s house and took his place at the table. (Jesus and Simon begin to eat.) And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. (Woman enters with jar.) She stood beside him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. (Woman washes Jesus feet.) Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, Simon: (Simon stands and talks to the audience.) If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him that she is a sinner. Jesus: Simon, I have something to say to you. Simon: Teacher, speak. (Jesus stands. The Moneylender, Man Owing Much, and Man Owing Little walk to the front of the stage.) Jesus: A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. (Both men give the Moneylender their sin pillows.) Now which of them will love him more? Simon: I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt. Jesus: You have judged rightly. (Jesus turns to the Woman.) Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little. Jesus: Your sins are forgiven. (The Woman gives her pillow to Jesus.) Your faith has saved you; go in peace. Narrator: But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins? Banquet with Simon 89
Echo Rhyme Simon was a Pharisee Who thought he was the best. He planned a great big banquet, Invited Jesus as his guest. Jesus went to Simon s house And knocked upon the door. Come in my dear guest, Jesus. Have a seat right on the floor. Jesus started eating When much to his surprise, A woman came in crying Wiping teardrops from her eyes. The woman used her teardrops To wash off Jesus feet. She dried them with her hair And rubbed on oil, oh so sweet! Simon was embarrassed, Who let this woman in? She was not invited! She is bad and full of sin! Jesus looked at Simon Standing in his glory, Listen as I tell you This important story. Two men owed some money, One a little, one a lot. The banker called them over Then forgave them and forgot. Which man was more thankful? The man who owed the most. Simon, I m the banker. You have no right to boast! This woman needs forgiveness. She has shown me lots of care. She washed my feet and dried them, With her long and shiny hair. You have offered nothing, Since I have been your guest. You look down on this woman. You think you are the best! Woman, you are forgiven. Your faith is very strong. God has now forgotten The things you have done wrong! Simon learned a lesson, God loves us one and all. He forgives all our wrongdoings, Whether big or very small! Banquet with Simon 91