In the collective worship box each week

• Cloth using the seasonal colour of the Church’s 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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5gAXoerjw stopping at 3:00

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 that resulted in the establishment of two distinct kingdoms; Israel in the north and Judah to the south. Each nation had its 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, the 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.

In the collective worship box each week

• Cloth using the seasonal colour of the Church’s 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.white or gold

In the collective worship box each week

• Cloth using the seasonal colour of the Church’s 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

Here is a video version of the story you could use
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ea9cNApeZU

Digging deeper and learning more

Observant Jews continue to celebrate the festival of Purim commemorating the heroism of Esther. Israel revolted against the Babylonians and was 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.