Summer Term 1

In the collective worship box each week

Cloth with the colour of the Church year ( this week is white or gold)

Bible

Cross

Candle

For this week –  ear and speech bubble, a small statue, sticks and stones, red and orange tissue paper for flames

Making links

This connects with the concept of the People of God and panel 3 of the Understanding Christianity frieze you could include the people of God concept symbol in your box.  

Further resources

Here is a video version of the story you could use the following video, stopping at 3.00

Play Video

God's Story: Elijah

if you want to explore more about the kings of Israel you could use pages 28-29 of Bible infographics for Kids Vol 2

Digging deeper and learning more

Solomon’s son Rehoboam provoked a revolt which resulted in the establishment of two distinct kingdoms; Israel in the north and Judah to the south. Each nation had their own kings, some chose to follow the traditional worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob while others favoured other religious practices. Elijah was tasked by God to challenge Ahab, seventh king of Israel, over his worship of foreign deities. The big showdown came at Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged the priests of Baal to a bizarre contest; they were to prepare a sacrifice and ask their god to send fire from the sky to consume it. No fire came, despite their long entreaties. Elijah doused his sacrifice with water, enough to fill the ditch around it. He then simply asked God to reveal his power, almost immediately fire came and consumed everything. Despite his victory Elijah fled, he encountered God on Mount Horeb where he was reminded that many still remained faithful to their traditional beliefs and practices; he was not alone.

Set up your worship table or centre of the class circle with the Eastertide (white or gold) cloth and take out the Bible, cross and light candle.  

Opening responses

If you have school responses or opening words for collective worship say them together or say the following:

We take out the Bible 
And think about God the Father
We take out the cross 
And think about God’s son, Jesus
We light the candle
And think about God , the Holy Spirit

Last term in our time exploring the Bible we looked at Judges and Kings. This term we are moving on to look at the next section of the Bible and we are going to explore and learn about exile and prophets

Today we are staying in the last book we looked at in God’s big story – the Book of 1 Kings

If you are using this for class worship – take out the items in the box (see notes for the teacher) and place them in the centre

Big question – looking at the clues in the box, I wonder what our story might be about today?  

Make connections 

It was quite some time ago but when we last looked at our journey through the Bible the last king we learnt about was Solomon.  Can anyone remember anything about Solomon?

Well today we are still in the book of 1 Kings were we found out about Solomon but Solomon has now died and the nation has been split in to 2 kingdoms. We join the story again with King Ahab…..

Read  1 Kings 18:20-39

You can use the items in the box to help tell the story.  

You can use the ear and speech bubble to help you explain what a prophet is.  A prophet is someone chosen by God to speak for God. Prophets listen to God and pass on his messages to others.  Elijah was a prophet.  King Ahab was not a very nice king and he also didn’t listen to God.  He choose to worship Baal and ignore what God had to say.  For 3 years there was no water and Ahab refused to listen to God.  Elijah is sent to Ahab…..

We join the story here in The Lion Storyteller Bible – God sends fire 

A brief overview for the teacher 

Following Solomon’s death the nation split into two separate kingdoms, Judah in the south and Israel to the north. Each had their own set of kings, some bad, some good; Ahab was the seventh king of the northern kingdom and he was not a good king. God asked the prophet Elijah to challenge Ahab and his wife Jezebel about their worship of foreign gods. The big showdown came at Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged the priests of Baal to a bizarre contest; they were to prepare a sacrifice and ask their god to send fire to consume it. No fire came, despite their entreaties. Elijah doused his sacrifice with water, enough to fill the ditch around it. He then simply asked God to reveal his power. Almost immediately fire came and consumed everything. The people were overwhelmed and returned to the worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Wondering questions 

I wonder what part of the story you liked best?
I wonder what part of the story was the most important?
I wonder why Elijah poured water on the altar?
I wonder how Elijah felt being asked by God to show Ahab what he was doing wrong?
I wonder if you have ever had to be courageous and stand up for what is right?
How did you feel?

Reflection activity :

 Have some speech bubble ready for pupils to write on.

In today’s story Elijah listened to God and he showed courage and spoke out for what he believed was right.  We all need to show courage sometimes and face difficult situations. What do you need to show courage about or speak out about this week?  If you want to you can write it on your speech bubble.

Prayer

Dear God

Thank you for the story of Elijah today and how he showed courage, standing up for what is right. Help us to show courage and speak up for what is right.  Help us to show courage this week. Amen

In the collective worship box each week

Cloth with the colour of the Church year ( this week is white or gold)

• Bible
• Cross
• Candle

For this week –  bandages, the number 7, blue cloth to represent the river

Making links

This connects with the concept of the People of God and panel 3 of the Understanding Christianity frieze you could include the people of God concept symbol in your box.  

Digging deeper and learning more

The two kingdoms of Israel and Judah were vulnerable to raiders and often people were seized as slaves and carried off. Amram, or Syria was a strong northern neighbour of Israel and when one of its army commanders appeared before the Israelite king he feared the worst. Naaman had come simply seeking help, not an excuse to declare war. A young Hebrew girl, abducted into slavery, learning of Naaman’s illness had generously suggested that Elisha, the man of God in Israel, could cure the debilitating skin disease. Elisha sent a simple message, the sufferer had only to dip himself in the Jordan river seven times and his condition would be cured. This appeared too simplistic to the general, who was at least expecting spells and incantations, but he was persuaded to comply. As Naaman emerged from the water a seventh time it was clear that he had indeed been healed. Out of respect for what had happened this powerful warrior declared his secret allegiance to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Set up your worship table or centre of the class circle with the Eastertide (white or gold) cloth and take out the Bible, cross and light candle.  

Opening responses

If you have school responses or opening words for collective worship say them together or say the following:

We take out the Bible 
And think about God the Father
We take out the cross 
And think about God’s son, Jesus
We light the candle
And think about God , the Holy Spirit

Today we are moving to a new book in God’s big story – the Book of 2 Kings

If you are using this for class worship – take out the items in the box (see notes for the teacher) and place them in the centre

Big question – looking at the clues in the box, I wonder what our story might be about today?  

Make connections 

Today we are learning about Elisha.  Elisha was a follower of Elijah (remember him from last week) and Elisha was also a prophet.  Can anyone remember what a prophet is?  

( you could use the ear and speech bubble here as a clue)

Read  2 Kings 5

The Lion Storyteller Bible – The helpful Servant

You can use the items in the box to help tell the story.  

A brief overview for the teacher 

Imagine the situation; a foreign warlord appears at your palace demanding that you cure him of a skin disease. Not surprisingly the king panicked, but Elisha, God’s prophet who had followed Elijah, heard about the problem and offered a solution. This foreign dignitary was to wash himself in the Jordan River seven times to effect a total cure. Naaman, the general, was affronted expecting all sorts of incantations and spells to be used, but was persuaded to at least try the cure. After the seventh dip in the water he was indeed healed, his skin was unblemished. He attempted to reward Elisha, but when it was declined asked to take some soil back with him as a symbol of the power of the God who had cured him. When he got home even though he attended public worship with his king, he continued to respect the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Wondering questions 

I wonder what part of the story you liked best?
I wonder what part of the story was the most important?
I wonder what Naaman thought when Elisha did not answer the door?
I wonder what Naaman thought as he went in to the river?

Reflection activity :

Naaman listened to the advice of the little girl and eventually the advice of Elisha.  Can you think of any good advice you have been given 

Do you always listen to advice?

Who do we listen to guide us?   Write their name/names on the ear cut out. You can say a thank you prayer for the person/persons if you want to. 

Prayer

Dear God

Thank you for the story of Elisha today and what it teaches us about listening and trusting Help us to listen to those who guide us. Thank you for the people who guide us.  Amen

In the collective worship box each week
Cloth with the colour of the Church year ( this week is white or gold)

• Bible
• Cross
• Candle

For this week –  a crown, an X, a star ( to hold up every time it says star in the story) a plate and cup, figures to represent Esther, Xerxes, Mordecai and Haman

Making links
This connects with the concept of the People of God and panel 3 of the Understanding Christianity frieze you could include the people of God concept symbol in your box.  

You could make links to the Jewish festival of Purim.  Purim celebrates the Jewish people being saved by Esther’s courage.

Further resources
Rhyming Bible – if I die, I die page 61

Digging deeper and learning moreO
bservant Jews continue to celebrate the festival of Purim commemorating the heroism of Esther. Israel revolted against the Babylonians and were defeated around 586 BC when many people were taken into exile. The narrative of Esther takes place around a hundred years later. The Persian king Xerxes was seeking a replacement wife, Esther, an orphaned Hebrew, was persuaded to enter the contest to become queen, and won. Her relative, Uncle Mordecai, offended the royal chamberlain, Haman, who set in motion a plot to kill not just Mordecai but all his fellow Jews.  Esther was challenged to risk her life by appealing to the king; entering the royal court without an invitation was punishable by death. Even so the queen, in her finest robes, took that risk; fortunately the king graciously welcomed her. Esther explained that she had come to invite him to supper. The meal gave her the opportunity to explain the plot against herself and her people. Immediately a new law was passed and the threat to the Jews was lifted.  

Set up your worship table or centre of the class circle with the Eastertide (white or gold) cloth and take out the Bible, cross and light candle.  

Opening responses

If you have school responses or opening words for collective worship say them together or say the following:

We take out the Bible 
And think about God the Father
We take out the cross 
And think about God’s son, Jesus
We light the candle
And think about God , the Holy Spirit

Today we are moving to a new book in God’s big story – the Book of Esther.  

If you are using this for class worship – take out the items in the box (see notes for the teacher) and place them in the centre

Big question – looking at the clues in the box, I wonder what our story might be about today?  

Make connections 

In our journey through the Bible we are exploring stories in the order of the books in the Bible.  However not all of the books are in chronological order.  The Books of Esther Ezekiel and Daniel are set in the time of the Jewish Exile.  After 70 years in exile, many of God’s people had returned to Jerusalem but some people including Esther chose to stay. 

There is an opportunity to make connection today with the story of Elijah on courage and standing up for what is right.

Read  Esther 2:1-10, 5:1-8, 7:1-7, 8:1-8

The Lion Storyteller Bible – Esther was a star

You can use the items in the box to help tell the story.  

A brief overview for the teacher 

The Persian king Xerxes was seeking a replacement wife. Esther, an exiled Hebrew girl, won the contest to become queen. Her only relative, Uncle Mordecai, had offended the royal chamberlain, Haman, who set in motion a plot to kill not just Mordecai but all his fellow Jews.  Esther was challenged to risk her life by appealing to the king. Entering the royal court without an invitation was punishable by death, even so the queen, dressed in her finest robes, took that risk. Fortunately for her the king graciously welcomed her and Esther invited him to supper. The meal gave her the opportunity to explain the plot against herself and her people. Immediately a new law was passed and the threat to the Jews of Persia was lifted.  Today Jews celebrate the festival of Purim in remembrance of Esther’s courage.

Wondering questions 

I wonder what part of the story you liked best?
I wonder what part of the story was the most important
I wonder how Esther felt when Mordecai asked Esther to save them?
I wonder how Esther felt when Mordecai said you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?’ Esther 4:14
I wonder if you can remember a time when you knew you had to stand up for what is right?  I wonder how that made you feel?

Reflection activity :

 Provide each pupil with a cut out of a crown.  You could also provide a selection of crafts, jewels and sequins to decorate the crown.

Invite pupils to think about and reflect on what their passions are, what they feel motivated to take action about in our world.  This could be a local issue or a global issue.  What do they feel called to speak up about and do in the times they live in? 

Pupils could choose to write these on the crown or simply reflect on and consider these thigs as they decorate the crown. 

Adapted from Creative Prayer Resources J Jenkins for Coventry Diocesan Board of Education 2019

Prayer

Dear God, Thank you for the Story of Esther and what it teaches us about courage and knowing what is wrong and what is right.

Help us to show courage, to be brave and stand up for what is right.  Help us to do this even when it is difficult.  Amen.

In the collective worship box each week
Cloth with the colour of the Church year ( this week is white)

• Bible
• Cross
• Candle

For this week –  some footprints, a crown and an ear and speech bubble

You could also use a torch to create shadows 

Making links

This connects with the concept of the People of God and panel 3 of the Understanding Christianity frieze you could include the people of God concept symbol in your box.  

Digging deeper and learning more

Although the kingdom of Israel had been absorbed into the Assyrian Empire Judah remained an independent nation. Hezekiah, king of Judah, was a faithful worshipper of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, though his tiny nation was threatened by many enemies God chose to protect his people from invasion. The king had restored the worship of the God of his ancestors and rid the nation of foreign worship places. His reign was likened to the golden age of David and Solomon, no other king of Judah was like him. When Hezekiah became seriously ill Isaiah, God’s messenger, warned that he was close to death, but Hezekiah called on God to heal him and continue to protect the nation. Three days later the king was up and about and attending services at the Temple church. Although Hezekiah lived for another fifteen years and his nation was preserved Isaiah warned that the riches of the city would be plundered and many of its citizens would be exiled to Babylon.and blinded, the enemy made him a public spectacle, but in a final show of strength he destroyed the building, himself and many of his people’s oppressors.

Set up your worship table or centre of the class circle with the Eastertide (white or gold) cloth and take out the Bible, cross and light candle.  

Opening responses

If you have school responses or opening words for collective worship say them together or say the following:

We take out the Bible 
And think about God the Father
We take out the cross 
And think about God’s son, Jesus
We light the candle
And think about God , the Holy Spirit

Today we are moving to a new book in God’s big story – the Book of Isaiah

If you are using this for class worship – take out the items in the box (see notes for the teacher) and place them in the centre

Big question – looking at the clues in the box, I wonder what our story might be about today?  

Make connections 

Isaiah was a prophet. You can use the ear and speech bubble and ask pupils to remind what a prophet is.  A prophet is someone chosen by God to speak for God. Prophets listen to God and pass on his messages to others.  In today’s story Isaiah has a message from God for the King Hezekiah.

Read  Isaiah 38: 1-8

The Lion Storyteller Bible – Hezekiah trusts God

You can use the items in the box to help tell the story.  

A brief overview for the teacher 

Hezekiah was king of Judah and a faithful worshipper of God. His tiny nation was threatened by many enemies, but God chose to protect his people from invading armies. The king had restored the worship of the God of his ancestors and his reign was likened to the golden age of David and Solomon. When Hezekiah became seriously ill Isaiah, God’s messenger, warned that he was close to death, but Hezekiah called on God to heal him and continue to protect the nation. God caused a shadow to move back up the steps as a sign that he would answer Hezekiah’s prayer. Three days later the king was up and about, and attending services at the Temple. Although Hezekiah lived for another fifteen years and his nation was preserved, Isaiah warned that the riches of the city would one day be plundered and many of its citizens would be exiled to Babylon. 

Wondering questions 

I wonder what part of the story you liked best?
I wonder what part of the story was the most important?
I wonder how Hezekiah felt when Isaiah delivered his first message?
I wonder how Hezekiah felt when Isaiah delivered his second message?

Reflection activity :

TRUST Hand Prayer

Encourage pupils to look at their hand and give them an opportunity to reflect or pray for each of the five themes

T say a thank you prayer for the people we have in our life that we trust to help us
R say a prayer to remember people we know who need our help
U say a prayer to for someone we know who is unwell
S say a prayer about something we would like to say sorry about. 
T invite pupils to put their thumbs up.  Thank you God for listening to our thoughts or prayers.

Encourage pupils to take their hand handout and use it through the week as a reminder to reflect or pray about the themes.  You could put some blank hand outlines in your reflection area for pupils to use and post their prayers or reflections into a reflection box.

This week we are encouraging schools to focus on climate justice and creation as part of Christian Aid week.

A resource pack including a collective worship

We are also encouraging our schools to take part in Letters for creation.  This is a project that invites children to tell the people in charge what they think about climate change and how they need to look after our world. Christian Aid will share these letters with some leaders and make sure that children and young people’s voices are heard. Pupil’s letters could be in any form: written word, art, song, rap, poetry or prayer. 

Go to the letters for creation webpage and find out about the project and the challenge.

There is also a series of reflection area resources for Christian Aid week written in partnership with Prayer Spaces in Schools.  You can download the activities here

In the collective worship box each week

Cloth with the colour of the Church year ( this week is white or gold)

• Bible
• Cross
• Candle

For this week –  an ear and speech bubble, a plastic spider, some clothes tied like a rope. 

Making links

This connects with the concept of the People of God and panel 3 of the Understanding Christianity frieze you could include the people of God concept symbol in your box.  

Further resources

You can use pages 28-31 of Bible Infographics for kids to show the different kings and where the prophets fit in

Digging deeper and learning more

The prophet Jeremiah was active through the reign of five kings of Judah, Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah. He repeatedly warned of impending disaster unless the nation returned to the morality of the ten commandments. Unlike many of his contemporaries the prophet used performance art as well as dictating his God-given message. One of his most compelling images is that of God the potter who shapes and reshapes clay until satisfied.  The prophetic warnings went unheeded by successive monarchs, despite being told that defeat would also mean seventy years of exile. When Zedekiah ordered Jeremiah to be thrown into a disused well it was hoped that he would be smothered by the thick mud which lay at the bottom. Relenting the king ordered that Jeremiah be hauled out of the miry pit, a task that took thirty men, but he remained a prisoner. Jerusalem was finally captured by the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar, resulting in the exile of many citizens. Jeremiah however was allowed to remain together with the poorest people.

Set up your worship table or centre of the class circle with the Eastertide(white or gold) cloth and take out the Bible, cross and light candle.  

Opening responses

If you have school responses or opening words for collective worship say them together or say the following:

We take out the Bible 
And think about God the Father
We take out the cross 
And think about God’s son, Jesus
We light the candle
And think about God , the Holy Spirit
Today we are moving to a new book in God’s big story – the Book of Jeremiah 

If you are using this for class worship – take out the items in the box (see notes for the teacher) and place them in the centre

Big question – looking at the clues in the box, I wonder what our story might be about today?  

Make connections

Jeremiah was a prophet. You can use the ear and speech bubble and ask pupils to remind what a prophet is.  A prophet is someone chosen by God to speak for God. Prophets listen to God and pass on his messages to others.  In today’s story Jeremiah’s message from God led to a bad King putting Jeremiah down a well!

Read Jeremiah 38

The Lion Storyteller Bible – Down in the Well

You can use the items in the box to help tell the story.  

A brief overview for the teacher 

Jeremiah lived through the reigns of five kings of Judah. His repeated message was that God would punish the kingdom through defeat in battle and their independent nation would be absorbed into the mightyBabylonian empire. Understandably this was not a popular message and he was treated as a traitor. The bad king, Zedekiah, allowed Jeremiah’s enemies to imprison him in an empty well full of mud. You can imagine the conditions that Jeremiah found himself in, simply for warning people that God was going to punish their failure to follow his way. Eventually Jeremiah was lifted out of the pit, a task that apparently required thirty men and the king asked his advice. Faced with inevitable defeat Jeremiah advised surrender, but this was not an option. Consequently when Nebuchadnezzar and his conquering army arrived the city was destroyed as God had warned, but Jeremiah was protected from harm.

Wondering questions 

I wonder what part of the story you liked best?
I wonder what part of the story was the most important?
I wonder how Jeremiah felt down at the bottom of the well?
I wonder how Jeremiah felt when he heard Ehed-Melech’s voice?
I wonder if there is a time you have been a helping hand to others?

Reflection activity :

Helping hands 

Give out an outline of a hand to every pupils.  Encourage them to think about how they can be a helping hand to others.  Pupils could write the name of someone they want to help this week with an action or intention on the hand.  Display the hands in your reflection area as a reminder through the week.

Prayer

Dear God, Thank you for the Story of Jeremiah and Ehed-Melech andwhat it teaches us about persevering at the right thing and being a helping hand to others. Help us to show courage, be brave and be a helping hand to those around us this week.  Help us to do this even when it is difficult.  Amen.

In the collective worship box each week

Cloth with the colour of the Church year ( this week is white or gold)

• Bible
• Cross
• Candle

For this week –  a toy trumpet, a picture of a golden statue, the word NO, some flames, 

Making links

This connects with the concept of the People of God and panel 3 of the Understanding Christianity frieze you could include the people of God concept symbol in your box.  

Further resources

There is further information about the book of Daniel in Bible Infographics for Kids pages 28-29

Digging deeper and learning more

Set in Babylon during the seventy year exile the Book of Daniel is a complex mix of narrative and prophetic vision; in it we encounter exiled Jews undertaking significant administrative roles and despotic rulers behaving out of character. Nebuchadnezzar, conqueror of Judah wanting to show off his power ordered the construction of a huge statue of himself, covered in gold. When the day of its unveiling came all the rulers, administrators and officials were drafted in to watch. The order was given that as the royal orchestra began to play everyone, without exception, was to bow down to worship the monarch. Three men of Judah stood upright, and when challenged they announced that they worshipped God alone, and whatever happened that would never change; despite being offered a second chance they were adamant. Understandably Nebuchadnezzar was furious with them instructing  that they be thrown into a super-heated furnace. Under the protection of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob they survived, giving the king cause to reflect on what he had witnessed. 

Set up your worship table or centre of the class circle with the normal time (green) cloth and take out the Bible, cross and light candle.  

Opening responses

If you have school responses or opening words for collective worship say them together or say the following:

We take out the Bible 
And think about God the Father
We take out the cross 
And think about God’s son, Jesus
We light the candle
And think about God , the Holy Spirit

Today we are moving to a new book in God’s big story – the Book of Daniel

If you are using this for class worship – take out the items in the box (see notes for the teacher) and place them in the centre

Big question – looking at the clues in the box, I wonder what our story might be about today?  

Make connections Daniel was a prophet.  Although we are looking at a story from the book of Daniel today our focus isn’t on Daniel but on 3 of his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  Daniel and his friends were in Exile ( this means they were living in captivity away from their home country) Like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego  worshipped the one true God and were faced with a King who wanted them to worship a false God

Read  Daniel 3

The Lion Storyteller Bible –the men who liked to say no

You can use the items in the box to help tell the story.  

A brief overview for the teacher 

Judah was defeated and its people taken off to Babylon, but Nebuchadnezzar was wise enough to use any with talents and skills and happily accepted them in his service. He did have one weakness, pride, and wanted to show off his power. He ordered the construction of a huge statue, covered in gold; an image of himself. When the day of its unveiling came all the rulers, administrators and officials were drafted in to watch. The order was given that when the palace band began to play everyone, without exception, was to bow down in worship of the monarch. Three men of Judah stood upright, and when challenged they announced that they worshipped God alone, and whatever happened that would never change. Understandably Nebuchadnezzar was furious with them and demanded that they be thrown into a fierce fire. God protected them, and Nebuchadnezzar realised that he was perhaps not as powerful as he thought.

Wondering questions 

I wonder what part of the story you liked best?
I wonder what part of the story was the most important?
I wonder how Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego felt when they were asked to bow down to the statue?
I wonder how Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego felt when they were ordered to the furnace?
I wonder who the fourth person in the furnace was?
I wonder what this story teaches us?

Reflection activity :

Have a basket or container next to the cross in your reflection area.   Give every pupil a pebble.  Encourage everyone to sit quietly and think about something they need courage for this week.  You can connect back to last week and their boats where they wrote about courage to do the right thing.

After a short time of quiet encourage pupils to place their pebble in the basket as a reminder this week of showing courage.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  Loving God, Just as they did, help us to stand up for what is good and right.  Help us to do it even when it is difficult.  Thank you for the people in our lives that encourage us and help us to do the right thing Amen.

In the collective worship box each week

Cloth with the colour of the Church year ( this week is red)

• Bible
• Cross
• Candle

For this week –  an ear, a speech bubble, a boat some blue cloth for the sea, a picture of a big fish (the Bible doesn’t actually mention a whale!)

Making links

This connects with the concept of the People of God and panel 3 of the Understanding Christianity frieze you could include the people of God concept symbol in your box.  

Further resources

Here is a video version of the story you could use

Play Video

Jonah and the Fish

You could also use The Rhyming Bible – Swallowed

Digging deeper and learning more

Although prophets could expect to be badly treated as they shared their message from God, few balked at the task. Jonah was the exception. Instructed by God to warn the inhabitants of Nineveh about impending judgement and punishment, not only did Jonah refuse, but set off by boat in the opposite direction. When a fierce storm blew up the superstitious sailors blamed Jonah, electing to throw him into the sea, immediately the storm eased. The narrative describes how Jonah was rescued by a big fish and three days later deposited on the shore. Chastened, he travelled through the city warning people that the threat of disaster hung over them. When the king heard the warning. he took it seriously, ordering the population to stop doing evil and not to harm others,  in the hope that they might escape judgement. Everyone immediately changed their behaviour, thus avoiding the threatened punishment.  Jonah however was angry at this and had to be reminded that the God of Abraham Isaac cared for all, not just his chosen people.

Set up your worship table or centre of the class circle with the normal time (green) cloth and take out the Bible, cross and light candle.  

Opening responses

If you have school responses or opening words for collective worship say them together or say the following:

We take out the Bible 
And think about God the Father
We take out the cross 
And think about God’s son, Jesus
We light the candle
And think about God , the Holy Spirit

Today we are moving to a new book in God’s big story – the Book of Jonah

If you are using this for class worship – take out the items in the box (see notes for the teacher) and place them in the centre

Big question – looking at the clues in the box, I wonder what our story might be about today?  

Make connections 

Have you ever been asked to do something you really didn’t want to do.  Have you struggled to do the right thing?….Jonah is a prophet.  Can anyone remember what a prophet is?  (use your ear and speech bubble as a reminder) Well in to todays story God asked Jonah to do something and Jonah decided to ignore God….

Read  Jonah

The Lion Storyteller Bible – Jonah the Groaner

You can use the items in the box to help tell the story.  You could encourage pupils to make actions for the waves and make a groan every time it mentions ‘Jonah the Groaner’

A brief overview for the teacher 

God’s concern is for everyone, but when God told Jonah to travel to the great city of Nineveh and urge them to change their ways he chose not to. Instead he set off in the opposite direction, taking a boat to get as far away as possible. When a wild storm blew up the superstitious sailors decided that it was all Jonah’s fault and threw him into the raging waves. A very large passing fish rescued the reluctant prophet and days later dumped him on the beach. Jonah admitted defeat and walked through the Nineveh warning people that if they did not change, punishment would follow. Prophets were accustomed to being ignored and Jonah was no exception, so he waited to see what would happen. To his great annoyance the people took notice of his warning and changed the way that they lived.

Wondering questions 

I wonder what part of the story you liked best?
I wonder what part of the story was the most important?
I wonder how Jonah felt when God asked him to go to Nineveh?
I  wonder why Jonah decided to run away?
I wonder how Jonah felt when he was on the boat?
I wonder how Jonah felt when he was in the belly of the big fish?
I wonder if you were Jonah what would you do?

Reflection 

Give a few moments of quiet reflection or talking partners for the following questions:

Have you ever been asked to do something you really didn’t want to do.  Have you struggled to do the right thing?…. Is there a time when you showed courage and said sorry even when it was difficult?

There are two activities this week

Sorry Strings – cardboard, pegs and string is needed 

We get things wrong. Sometimes we do and say things that hurt other people; Saying sorry is admitting that you are wrong and that you want things right again. Do you need to say sorry for something? If you want to, write or draw a sorry thought or prayer and peg it up; don’t use any names

Showing  Courage – outlines of a boat

Give each pupil and outline of a boat and encourage them to write or draw how they might be courageous and do the right thing this week