Open the Word

For children

Build a picture

The Gospel reading for today is not easy to use with children. It will help to have some visual aids. On a large sheet of paper, draw a background of land and sky — or stick on coloured paper. Draw the relevant pictures — or photocopy and enlarge the pictures on pages 27-9, colour them, and cut them out. Add sticky tack to the back and stick on to a board at the relevant points in the story.

One day, some people wanted to meet Jesus, (Picture 1, Jesus .) but it seemed that Jesus had other things on his mind. (Picture 2, Jesus’ friends. ) He told his friends that the time had come for him to do what God wanted him to do. ‘It’s like this,’ he said. ‘Unless a grain of wheat goes into the ground and dies, it stays as just one seed. (Picture 3, a grain of wheat. ) But if it goes into the ground, it eventually grows lots of fruit.’ (Picture 4, a stalk of wheat. ) Then he said something else. ‘If you want to serve me, and follow me, you must go where I go and do what I do. (Picture 5, children playing ‘follow my leader’. ) Sometimes it will be hard. But if you do it, God will be very, very happy with you.’

After he had said that, Jesus started to pray.

(Replace the picture of Jesus with one of him praying, no.6. ) He said something like this. ‘Dear Father, I don’t want to do the next bit. It will be hard. I want to ask you to rescue me. But, actually, I know that I have to do it, because I want everyone to know how wonderful you are.’

At that moment, the crowd was surprised, because God spoke to Jesus from heaven. (Add a speech bubble, with God’s words, coming from the sky.) Some people said it was thunder. Others thought it was an angel.

God said: ‘I have glorified my name and I will glorify it again.’

While they were wondering about it, Jesus told his friends: ‘That voice came to help you. Not me.’

Then he said that the time had come for him to fulfill his mission. He knew that he was going to die. His friends did not understand all that he said then, but when he died and came alive again, everything began to make sense.

Challenge

When you have told the story, maybe twice through, challenge the older children to tell it again from memory, and put up the pictures in the right order. The younger children could draw pictures of themselves to add in to the crowd, as if they had been there. What would it have been like to be there that day? Do you think God’s voice sounded like thunder? What would an angel’s voice sound like? Some of the crowd thought it had been an angel.

For young people

Picture this

To illustrate the Gospel text as it is read out, create a series of pictures, OHP slides, a computer presentation or even a video. These could be literal representations like seed planting and harvest, or more symbolic, like storm clouds representing the troubled soul. Use a ‘chillout’ CD as background music.

Covenant

Read with the group the Jeremiah reading, which talks about a new covenant and of people knowing the Lord. How does it relate to Jesus’ mission? Pay attention to the last line from Jeremiah, which assures us that God will no longer remember our sins. Link this to Christ’s sacrifice.