Open the Word

Adult & All Age

To help the listener

Context to today's readings Isaiah 25.1-9; Matthew 22.1-14

The reader could use these words to provide context:

Can you begin to think about how knowing God in your life has changed you? For many, such changes may not always be dramatic, but how has it affected the way you live and the decisions you make as you look to the future?

Present the Old Testament

The reading refers to past experiences, present circumstances and future hopes. This can be conveyed by using four different voices to represent past, present, foreseeable future and kingdom of God (eschatological) future. The division of verses would be: v.1 = past; v.2 = present; v.3 = foreseeable future; vv.4-5 = past; vv.6-7 = foreseeable future; vv.8-9 = kingdom of God future. To emphasise the point even more, you could also use placards to show what each reader represents – and the fourth reader might be positioned away from the others (e.g. in a pulpit).

Present the Gospel

If you know of anyone who has recently been invited to a prestigious or joyful event (e.g. a royal garden party, a wedding, a civic reception), briefly interview them in front of the congregation, asking them how they felt when they received the invitation or were asked to ‘save the date’. Ask them to show the invitation if they still have it (here is an example you could use, if no one else has one. Did they go? If not, why not? How did they feel about that? Or if they went, did they have to rearrange things to get there? Why was it so important that they went?

Children

Present the reading & Talk together

Matthew 22.1-14 - Two ways to tell the story, followed by ideas for discussion time

Jesus tells a parable about a wedding feast, where those who were invited refuse to attend. It teaches us about the importance of being ready to respond positively to God’s invitation.

Choose from these two ways of telling the story.

Tableaux

Read the story through once, then read it again, inviting the children to make a tableau at each point, as indicated in bold in the text. They will need to identify the characters, what they are doing, thinking and feeling, and organise themselves into a still picture that sums this all up. You could photograph each tableau to show them, but delete the pictures afterwards.

Draw the story

Split the children into small groups and invite them to draw a sequence of simple pictures on a large sheet of paper to illustrate the story as you read it slowly. Each group can retell the story to the others at the end.

Talk together

If you are having a party, how do you decide who to invite?
How do you think the king felt when the guests he invited did not come?
Do you ever invite people to church?

For very young children

With very young children

Play, and explore being invited to a feast.

Play materials: play tea set, cuddly toys.

Mini Bible story with actions

You are invited

Jesus said, ‘A man prepared a great feast.
Mime eating.
He invited all his friends,
Point around the room.
but they were too busy to come.
Shake head.
So he went out into the street
Mime walking.
and invited everyone he could find
Hold out hands.
to come and share his feast.’
Mime eating.

Repeat so the children can join in.

Enjoying the feast

You will need: a tablecloth, plastic cups and plates, play food or real food, e.g. biscuits, fruit juice.

Invite the children to help you prepare a ‘feast’ by laying a table with the cloth, cups, plates and food. Act out the feast with the play food or consume the real food.

Sharing the feast

You will need: paper plates, spoons, plain biscuits, icing made to the right consistency with icing sugar and water, sweets/edible sprinkles.

Invite the children to ice and decorate biscuits to share with the congregation after the service.

Prayer

You will need: musical instruments.

Invite each child in turn to name their favourite food, then all repeat and tap out the rhythm of the syllables with the instruments. Say together:

Dear Lord,
thank you for all the delicious food  we enjoy.
We have so much, and others have so little.
We pray for people who do not have enough to eat.
Amen.