October 2020
October 2020
Creation & Covenant – Abraham & Family
Gather
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
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.
Can anyone remember what our story last week was all about?
Today we are going to move forward another few chapters in God’s big story but we are still in the book of Genesis.
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? Have you ever been on a journey and you didn’t know where you were going?
Today we are going to hear about Abraham and his family who went on a long journey but God send some signposts to guide them on their way.
Engage
Read Genesis 17:1-8, 18:1-15, 21:1-7
A child called laughter (Bob Hartman’s Rhyming Bible)
You can use the items in the box to help tell the story.
A brief overview for the teacher
Abraham is the founding father of the Hebrew nation, the Israelites, and his story starts with a journey that God asked him to undertake. A journey which began in the city of Ur. Abraham and his family first travelled around seven hundred miles north-west to Haran and then moved on another seven hundred miles or so southwards to Canaan where they eventually settled in the hill country. Although God had promised a son to Abraham and Sarah, they both became impatient and tried to organise events for themselves. This did not turn out well; but eventually, when they were both extremely old, their son Isaac was born. The promise that Abraham would have more ancestors than there are stars, contained the seed of another great promise, that through him the whole earth would be blessed.
Wondering questions
I wonder what went through Abraham’s mind every day on his long journey? I wonder what kept him going?
I wonder Have you ever made any promises? Have you been able to keep them? We should only make promises that we can keep!
I wonder how Abraham felt when he was told his descendants would outnumber the stars? How many stars are there in the Sky? That’s a lot of descendants!
Respond
Use the family tree activity from Prayer Spaces in Schools https://www.prayerspacesinschools.com/resources/29
You could begin this as part of your reflection time in collective worship and encourage pupils to add their thank yous for people through the week.
Send
Prayer
Ask some pupils who want to say thank you for people in their class and school and those who guide them and help them.
You could set a home challenge this week.
God promised Abraham his descendants would outnumber the stars. Every time Abraham looked up at the stars, he would be reminded about God’s promise that God would make him the father of a great nation. Go outside when it is dark and see how many stars you can count. See what constellations you can spot. As you look at each star say ‘thank you’ for something.
Notes for the Teacher
In the collective worship box each week
- Cloth using the seasonal colour of the Church’s year (this week is green)
- Bible
- Cross
- Candle
For this week
a map – some stars – the word ‘Promise’ a picture of a baby – a picture of a tree
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 develop learning further in class using Rublev’s icon also known as ‘the hospitality of Abraham’ here are some ideas https://www.barnabasinschools.org.uk/idea/what-christians-believe-about-trinity-classroom-activity
Additional resource – Bible Infographics for Kids pages 12-13 ‘God builds his nation?’
Digging deeper and learning more
Abraham and his family group migrated some nine hundred kilometres up the valley of the Euphrates river to Haran. In the book of Genesis we read that God instructed Abraham to move from here to a new land, with this came the promise that Abraham would be the father of a great nation and through him the entire world would be blessed. Obediently Abraham with his wife Sarah and all their household travelled around six hundred kilometres southwards where they settled in the land of Canaan. Although God had promised a son to Abraham and Sarah, they both became impatient and tried to organise events for themselves. This did not turn out well; but eventually, when they were both extremely old, their son Isaac was born. Years later Abraham sent a servant back to Mesopotamia to find a suitable wife for his son as he was wary of the local people who worshipped other gods. Isaac and Rebekah married and settled in what was to become the ancestral homeland of the Hebrew nation.
Creation & Covenant – Jacob & Esau
Gather
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
Can anyone remember what our story last week was all about?
Today we are going to move forward another few chapters in God’s big story but we are still in the book of Genesis.
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 going to hear about Isaac – he is the son of Abraham and Sarah that were heard about last week. This is many years later and Isaac is now an old man with sons of his own.
Engage
Read Genesis 27:1-34, 28:10-15
The Lion Storyteller Bible – the bad brother
You can use the items in the box to help tell the story.
A brief overview for the teacher
Abraham and Sarah’s son, Isaac, married Rebekah had twin boys, Esau and Jacob. Though they were twins they were very different, Esau was the outdoor type who enjoyed hunting, but Jacob was happier staying close to home. As the eldest son, Esau was to receive the family inheritance, but he cared little for it, preferring to swap the future promise for a tasty bean stew. When father Isaac was very old and his eyesight failing Jacob and his mum conspired to trick him into blessing him instead of Esau. The deceit worked and Esau was extremely angry to have been cheated by his brother. Jacob had to flee. As he rested on his journey he had a dream in which God promised that he would be with him wherever he went. Even though Jacob had messed up God was working out his big plan.
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 if you agree with what Jacob did?
I wonder If you were in Jacob’s position, what would you have done?
Respond
Reflection activity :
Ask pupils to look at their hands
Our hands are a helpful reminder of the choices.
We can choose to use our hands for good things
Showing friendship and kindness by shaking hands, waving hello or reaching out a hand to help someone
We can also use our hands for bad things, they can also be used to hurt people.
Just like we learned in the story of Jacob and Esau. We all have a lot of choices to make every day – some are small, some are big.
Spend a minute looking at your hands and think about how you will make your choices today.
Who will you talk to when you have big decisions to make?
__________
You could ask pupils to draw around their hand and encourage them to add the good choices they make this week to the reflection area.
Send
Prayer
Dear God
Thank you that we can make our own choices.
Help us to remember that our choices have consequences.
Please help us when we have difficult choices to make, to make decisions that are helpful to us and to others.
Amen
Notes for the Teacher
In the collective worship box each week
- Cloth using the seasonal colour of the Church’s year (this week is green)
- Bible
- Cross
- Candle
For this week
2 figures representing Jacob and Esau (these could be Lego figures) – a bowl and spoon – a scroll (to represent the birthright) – a question mark (to represent choices)
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=hGs1WfRKIoM
Digging deeper and learning more
Detail is important, but especially when it comes to establishing the first born of twins. Isaac and Rebekah had twin boys; Esau was the oldest and was heir to everything. Although born just a little after his brother Jacob would have no share in this destiny; that is until Esau showed how little he valued his heritage by swapping it for a portion of bean stew. Old and partially sighted Isaac knew his death was imminent and so made proper provision, he sent Esau hunting before blessing him. Rebekah favoured Jacob and tricked her husband. Jacob appeared, dressed in his brother’s clothes bearing a savoury stew. Isaac was unable to see clearly so relying on touch to identify his son gave Jacob the patriarchal blessing. Esau was furious and threatened to kill his twin. Sensibly Jacob fled, but as he rested on the way he had a dream in which God spoke to him, promising to look after him and to bring him back to the ancestral lands.
Creation and Covenant - Harvest
Gather
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 going to think about Harvest as part of our journey through the church year
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 some examples in the box, I wonder what you are thankful for?
Discuss how we can sometimes take for granted the things that help us in everyday life.
Engage
Read the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23)
You could use Bob Hartman’s Rhyming Bible – Sow, sow, sow your seeds.
You can also use the items in the box to help tell the story
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 if the person was happy when the birds came and ate the seeds.
- I wonder if the birds were happy when they saw the sower.
- I wonder if the sower was surprised at the harvest?
I wonder what part surprised the sower most?
Respond
As a class you could plant some seeds – have a seed or seeds and a small pot with some soil in for each pupil. Give every pupil a seed to hold. Ask pupils to think about how small they are, what they might turn into, how you have to bury a seed before it can grow. Still holding the seed in their hands ask pupils to hold their hands with their palms up to think about all the things we are thankful for. As pupils to hold hands as if clutching bags to say sorry for the when our greed and selfishness affects others. As pupils to sow their seed and think about how we can spread help and kindness in our school and community. These could be placed in the reflection area. As the class watch their seeds grow they could add thank you post its for the how people have spread help and kindness in school and in their local community over the week |
Send
Prayer for Harvest 2020*
Loving God, we give thanks for those who produce our food: for farmers and fishermen, factory and shop workers. We pray for those for whom this has been a difficult year: farmers who have battled the weather to grow food, delivery drives and shop workers who kept working despite the pandemic. Help us to value and support each other. Amen
*from the Arthur Rank Centre (arthurrankcentre.org.uk)
Notes for the Teacher
In the collective worship box each week
Cloth with the colour of the Church year ( this week is green)
- Bible
- Cross
- Candle
For this week – choose some items linked with food and farming that can support the being thankful gather activity. This could be pictures of or items of food, a toy tractor etc
Include some packets of seeds, some soil and a toy bird or picture of birds to support the story today.
Making links
This connects with the concept of the creation and panel 1 of the Understanding Christianity frieze you could include the creation concept symbol in your box.
Further resources
Animated video from Saddleback Kids – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZEO_Ls2ERs
Creation & Covenant –
Jacob runs away & Jacob wrestles with God
Gather
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
Can anyone remember what our story last week was all about?
Today we are going to move forward another few chapters in God’s big story but we are still in the book of Genesis and we are still learning about Jacob
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?
Today we are going to hear more about Jacob and what happened after he ran away.
Engage
Read this part of the story spans 4 chapters Genesis 28-32 Jacob wrestling with God: Genesis 32: 3, 22-32
Lion Storyteller Bible – The runaway
You can use the items in the box to help tell the story.
A brief overview for the teacher
Jacob fled his family home and went to live with an uncle. There he married and settled to breeding goats. Eventually he decided that the time had come to return to the family, even though he knew Esau had threatened to kill him. He sent his large family and valuable herds ahead of him with gifts for his brother. As he rested the night before he was to meet Esau, he realised that he was not alone. All through the night Jacob wrestled with this unknown visitor. Neither could gain any advantage until Jacob’s hip was dislocated, but even so he clung on to his opponent, demanding that he receive God’s blessing. It was an altogether strange experience, but Jacob knew that he had met God face to face. He now had a new name, Israel, a name that reflected his struggle with God.
Wondering questions
I wonder how Jacob felt as he left home for his uncle’s house?
I wonder what Jacob thought after meeting with God?
I wonder how Jacob felt as he travelled back to his brother Esau?
I wonder what part of the story you liked best?
I wonder what part of the story was the most important?
Respond
Jacob had to face some challenges but God stayed with him and helped him to face those challenges and learn from them. We too face challenges, some small some big.
Hand out a footprint to every pupil and ask them to think about a challenge they are facing. You could display the following instructions.
‘If you want to, you can write your challenge on the footprint and stick it onto the ladder. You might want to ask God to help you with your challenge.’
You could have a display with a ladder that the footprints are attached to, linking with the story.
Send
Prayer
Dear God
Thank you for the story of Jacob. Help us, like Jacob, to choose to do the right thing not just the easy thing when we face challenges.
Amen
Notes for the Teacher
In the collective worship box each week
- Cloth using the seasonal colour of the Church’s year (this week is green)
- Bible
- Cross
- Candle
For this week – the figure from last week representing Jacob – a picture of a suitcase – a toy camel
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=0zIbU866z6A
Digging deeper and learning more
Jacob had tricked his father into blessing him and escaped his twin brother’s threats by fleeing to his maternal uncle. Here he married and settled down and swiftly built up his own flocks and herds making him very wealthy. After many years God spoke to him challenging Jacob to travel back to his ancestral lands and face his brother. Aware that Esau might still harbour enmity he sent gifts ahead of him before dispatching his family too, calling on God to keep his promises, the same promise as had been made to Abraham his grandfather. Jacob stayed alone overnight by the river, possibly a little apprehensive. That night the Biblical narrative tells that his sleep was disturbed and he spent the entire night wrestling with an unseen assailant. Jacob was tenacious and even in defeat demanded that he receive a blessing. God spoke with Jacob, blessing him and symbolically changing his name to Israel, one who wrestles with God and other people.
Creation & Covenant –
Joseph: slavery, dreams and freedom
Gather
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
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.
Can anyone remember what our story last week was all about?
Today we are going to move forward another few chapters in God’s big story but we are still (yes still!) in the book of Genesis.
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 going to hear about Joseph – he is the son of Jacob who we learnt about last week. Jacob had 12 sons and Joseph was the youngest.
( if you have Bible infographics for Kids you could use the family tree on page 12 to show how Abraham, Jacob and Joseph connect)
Engage
Read Genesis 39-42
Lion Storyteller Bible – there are 3 stories this week:
Joseph the prisoner, Joseph the ruler (there is also Joseph the dreamer if you want to include the story so far)
You can select bits to give an overview of the story or use this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ7wLTBnF84
You can use the items in the box to help tell the story.
A brief overview for the teacher
Worthy of a soap opera, Joseph’s story sees him sold as a slave in Egypt because of sibling rivalry. Honest labour and integrity led to him becoming the top man in the household, but false accusation caused his fall from grace and prison.
It was all about dreams, his brothers hated him because of his dreams, and in prison he accurately explained dreams of fellow prisoners from Pharaoh’s court. So when Pharaoh had some nasty dreams Joseph was called upon to explain them. The dream warned of years of famine but Joseph, with God’s help, was able to offer a solution – store any excess food in the seven years of plenty, then share it out in the seven years when the harvests would fail. He was put in charge of the whole country. Joseph’s brothers eventually came seeking food and after a touching reunion the entire family chose to move to Egypt.
- 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 If you were in Joseph’s position, what would you have done?
- I wonder what this story teaches us about friendship?
- I wonder what this story teaches us about forgiveness?
There is an opportunity here to introduce the word reconciliation and discuss what it means.
Respond
Use the broken friendships activity from Prayer Spaces in Schools and link it to today’s story https://www.prayerspacesinschools.com/resources/106
You could begin this as part of your reflection time in collective worship and connect it with this activity in your reflection space https://www.prayerspacesinschools.com/resources/73 to encourage pupils to think about what reconciliation means through the week.
Send
Prayer
Dear God
Thank you for the story of Joseph and how it can help us think about forgiveness.
Help us to say sorry when we get things wrong, thank you that we can have a fresh start.
Please help us to be forgiving people here in this school.
Amen
Notes for the Teacher
In the collective worship box each week
- Cloth using the seasonal colour of the Church’s year (this week is green)
- Bible
- Cross
- Candle
For this week
12 figures representing the 12 brothers including Joseph – a bunch of keys (locked in prison) – 7 cows ( you could have images of 7 fat and 7 thin) – a silver cup.
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 are 4 stories in Bob Hartman’s Rhyming Bible you could choose from
- Coats and dreams
- Dreams and answers
- Answers and famines
- Famines and family
Digging deeper and learning more
Given his own experience of sibling rivalry you might have expected Jacob to have done better, but he played favourites. Joseph himself, not only flouted his exclusive clothing but also boasted about his dreams. Hardly surprising that his jealous older brothers ambushed him and sold him to slave traders. Honest labour and integrity led to him becoming the top man in the Egyptian household, but false accusation caused his fall from grace and an apparently unlimited prison term. Then, while still in jail, he made a useful contact at Pharaoh’s court. Pharaoh’s sleep had been disturbed by unpleasant dreams and he sought in vain for an explanation. Joseph was sent for and when the dreams were recounted, he explained them, giving credit to God. There were to be years of plentiful harvest followed by years of famine, Joseph then suggested that Pharaoh appoint an able administrator to store the excess releasing it during the famine years. Later Joseph’s brother came seeking food and after a touching reunion the entire family chose to move to Egypt.
Alternatives to Halloween
Halloween celebrations are increasingly becoming part of British secular culture. However, many Christian groups, including churches and individual parents and carers do not agree with any involvement by adults or children in Halloween celebrations They hold the view that such involvement encourages a trivial approach to the occult and occult practices.
Whilst this is not a view held by all Christians it must be recognised as an increasingly popular and legitimate one. As such schools need to deal sensitively with the genuine and deeply held views by parents and groups in their local community. Many Christians claim any celebration of Halloween, which is increasingly being claimed as a pagan festival, as unhelpful or inappropriate in a church school context.
We would discourage schools from organising or engaging with Halloween based activities in their communities
Halloween is a corruption of All Hallows Eve (31st October), the night before All Saints Day (1st November).
All Saints Day is a major Christian festival within the Anglican tradition
and we would encourage it to be recognised and celebrated in CE schools.
We would encourage an emphasis on the positive celebration of these two days rather than on the secular recognition of Halloween.
There is an opportunity for church and school to work together to offer an alternative celebration event in place of Halloween activities such as a ‘Light’ party for children and families in the community.
There are also opportunities to make All Saints’ a special day. Is your school named after a saint? Is your church named after a saint? Why not work in partnership with your local church to research and learn more about this as part of a curriculum day.
DBE guidance document on Halloween
Why not encourage pupils to be light in the world this week
12 ways to be light in the world:
- Make something tasty like biscuits for your neighbours, teachers or class
- Read for someone who can’t see well
- Make a thank you note for someone who helps you during your week
- Call or write to someone who is usually left on their own
- When you go out take a spare snack to share with someone who might need it
- Tidy up and put away without being asked
- Smile and say hello to the people in your street
- Raise some money for a charity
- Write a letter to your MP about something you want to see changed
- Use kind words even when you might be feeling hurt
- Pick up litter in your street or local park (make sure you do it safely and wash your hands afterwards!)
- Sort out things you don’t need and give them away to people that do need them
