Beulah Land: Easter Week

• Memory Verse: It is true! The Lord has risen. Luke 24:34a
  
• Summary: Today’s story is taken from all four Gospels. It depicts Jesus’ encounters with people after the resurrection. Your children will hear about Jesus revealing himself to Mary Magdalene, Cleopas, the disciples and Thomas.
• I Wonder… : why nobody believed Mary when she said that she had seen Jesus? why Jesus’ friends did not recognize him at first? how many things we believe without seeing or touching them? if this is the end of the story with Jesus?
• Follow up Ideas: There is a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer that draws imagery from resurrected Jesus’ encounter with Cleopas on the road to Emmaus. Maybe you can use this prayer over the week:

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past. Be our companion in the Way. Kindle our hearts and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture, and in the breaking of bread. Grant us this for the sake of your love. Amen.

Godly Play I & II: The Good Shepherd and Communion

• Memory Verse: I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me. John 10:14
  
• Summary: Today’s story is a remarkable one to witness! I tear up nearly every time I hear it. Your child will hear the words of John 10 and watch the Good Shepherd story connect with the lesson of Communion. The Shepherd figure will lead the sheep from a pen to the good, green grass, which places them at a table surrounded by people from all over the world. The Shepherd will stand with a pastor figure as the storyteller explains that the pastor reads the words of the Good Shepherd and gives us the bread and wine.
• I Wonder…: if you have ever been close to this table? if those sheep have a name? what the table really is? what the bread and wine really are? if you ever thought about taking this special meal? who all takes this meal? where people who take it are from?
• Additional Followup: Lessons about Communion can be full of mystery and wondering! Explore with your child what it means to take communion. You can also use your worship folder to review our order of communion with your child. They have probably already made some interesting and even profound observations (see photo below). You could even play/ act out “communion” using your worship folder. You could also pretend to be the Good Shepherd/ sheep and walk beside green grass and cool waters. HERE is a beautiful version of Psalm 23 (word for word).