Added on 13 May 2009
Aim
Help the children to understand events after the Crucifixion: Ascension, Pentecost.
Welcome
Children bring forward Bible and Cross (candle later)
Focus: new meaning statement for the Cross: 'death, not death'
A reminder: Jesus rose again
Goodbye at Last
The story from Lion Storyteller Bible is read slowly, as the children enact mime/drama of events.
(2 groups of 3 children as Jesus' friends, plus 1 as Jesus)
When Jesus came back from the dead, he appeared many times in different places and spoke to his friends.
1
His friends were hiding in a locked room, so the men who killed Jesus couldn't find them. And, all of a sudden, Jesus was there in the room with them! They were frightened. They were confused. They thought he was a ghost!
But Jesus said, 'Don't be afraid. It's me. It really is. Look, here are the marks the nails made in my hands, and the cut the solder's sword made in my side.'
Then Jesus joined them for dinner and ate a bit of food – to prove that he wasn't a ghost at all.
2
On another day later on, friends of Jesus were out fishing. They couldn't catch a thing. Then, all of a sudden, they heard a voice from the shore, 'Throw your nets on the other side of the boat!'
And when they did, they caught more fish than their boats could hold.
'Wait a minute,' said Peter. 'This is the same thing that happened all those years ago, when Jesus asked us to follow him. It must be him on the beach!'
And, all of a sudden, Peter jumped into the sea – clothes and all – and swam back to shore.
The other friends followed as fast as they could and when they arrived, they discovered that Jesus had been doing some fishing of his own. Jesus was cooking fish over a hot fire. They smelled delicious!
'Dry yourselves off. Sit down by the fire,' Jesus said. 'Let's have a picnic right here down on the beach.'
3
A few more weeks passed and, at last, the time came for Jesus to leave – to go to heaven and be with God his Father. So he took one last walk with his friends, up a hill near the Sea of Galilee where their adventures together had begun.
'I've got to go now,' Jesus said, 'and there is something I want you to do. Tell my story to the world. Start in Jerusalem, and don't stop until everybody has the chance to follow me.'
'And, if you ever feel scared or alone, don't worry. Just talk to me, and I'll be with you. I promise.
Go and wait together in Jerusalem for a while, then I will send you a special helper. He is called the Holy Spirit. He will come to live with you to help you understand about God and about what's good and what's bad. You can't see him but you will feel him around.'
Then, all of a sudden, a cloud took Jesus up and away into the sky. His friends stood and stared, their mouths open, their eyes filled with tears, until two angels appeared and spoke to them.
'Don't be sad,' the angels said. 'One day, Jesus will come back – in the clouds – just as you've seen him go.'
So off the friends went, down the hill – and into the whole world, to tell the story of Jesus.
Present Candle (use large candle). Light this.
Recap words about Jesus sending Holy Spirit; use candle to illustrate that Holy Spirit shows us right and wrong; comes to be with us to help us; teaches us about God and Jesus. We can't see Him, but we can feel Him with us if we believe in Jesus.
Reflection
Summary of the above, with emphasis on how we can always turn to God as we know He loves us because He sent Jesus, then the Holy Spirit, to help us.
Prayer
Song
' Never, never, never'