This week, we continued in I Samuel. Bruce led the Bible story for the first time, from I Samuel 4. He did great! Here's the story:
In learning about God's attributes, we learned that (have child read): "God is Spirit". But people seem to need something concrete to remind them of the God they are to worship. So not long after they left Egypt, God instructed them to make something called a "covenant ark" as a reminder. What is a covenant ark? (send two boys to bedroom to bring ark(I made the ark after a pattern I found on the web. I'm quite proud of it)
So, basically it's a box. Is there anything in it? (have someone
There's this tablet, of the ten commandments. To remind people to obey God's law. There's this jar with manna inside. That's to remind people of how God provided their needs in the wilderness. And there's this rod that belonged to Moses' brother Aaron. That's to remind the people of the miracles God did to deliver them from Egypt. And then, on top of the box, there are these creatures called Cherubim. Their purpose in creation is to worship God, day and night. So what are they to remind God's people to do? (ask all)
Okay, so now we know what the ark is, so we can understand today's story better. It takes place in the time of Samuel, whom we met last week when he was a boy. Now he is grown up. Israel is always fighting with the Philistines (choose 2-3 as Israelites, 2-3 as Philistines, fight with swords) The Philistines fight well, and Israel is routed (Israelites run away, Philistines high-five)
So the Israelites confer among themselves as to why they lost. Who should they ask about this? (ask all) But they didn't think they needed to ask God. They had their own idea: Let's take the ark with us this time, and then God will have to give us the victory! (2 boys carry ark, 2-3 more fight with Philistines again) Did Israel win? (ask all) Nope, they lost again. Not only did they have to flee, but the ark was captured by the Philistines! (Philistines take ark, Israelites run away)
(have all sit down) So, what did the Israelites learn today? Can you force God to bless you? (ask each child) Who is in charge, God or man? (ask each child) So, you can say they learned, you can't manipulate God.
But what did the Philistines learn? They probably learned something very different—what? (ask all) They learned that Israel's God wasn't very powerful after all! But is that true? (ask each child)
We know that is not true—and in next week's story, the Philistines will find out too!
We didn't do a game this week. I just couldn't think of one, to tell the truth. People have been coming late enough that time is short, so it wasn't a huge loss, but I'd rather not make it a habit. Craft time was long enough for both though. We made mini-arks out of small cookie boxes, with pre-cut cherubim to attach on top & chopsticks for the carrying poles. Then we painted them all over with gold paint.
Bible study was on James 4:13-16.
Going into the second week of the New Year, I was desperate for new ideas. I know I mentioned earlier on this blog that we were going to move into a unit on the "I am" sayings of Jesus. But as I tried to plan for that I ended up scrapping the idea. But what instead? Especially in light of the fast-approaching Chinese New Year, when at least one Sunday, if not two, will interrupt our "regular programming." Better to not start a longer unit right away.
So…since we've learned a lot about what God is like, what should be our response to Him? An obvious answer: we should obey Him. One of our favorite "worship songs" includes the lines: "When I hear God's commands, I must say, 'Yes, Sir!'"
As an example of obedience, we did the story of the boy Samuel in the temple. Mr. Lei led it (and did a great job), so here it is in Chinese.
撒母耳的媽媽叫哈拿。她很切求神給她個兒子。 | 介紹女子﹔她跪低禱告 |
結果就是﹕生撒母耳 | 介紹男子﹐撒母耳 |
哈拿開心到想把她最保貴的物業獻給神。就是甚麼﹖ | (問大家) |
是撒母耳﹗哈拿把她送給祭司以利﹐後來撒母耳和以利一齊住神的聖殿。 | 介紹第二哥男子﹐以利 |
一天晚上﹐兩個已經睡了。 | 以利在啡色椅﹔撒母耳在地 |
撒母耳聽人呼叫他的名 | 叫另外一個小朋友呼叫他名 |
他跑到以利道﹐問﹐你要甚麼﹖ | 跑到以利道 |
以利說﹐我沒有呼叫你﹔你回去啦﹗ | 以利叫他走﹐他回來再睡 |
他再聽人呼叫﹕撒母耳﹐撒母耳 | 又呼叫 |
今次肯定是以利﹗他就跑到以利道問﹐你要甚麼﹖ | 跑到以利道 |
以利說他聽錯了﹐叫他回去 | 又回去睡覺 |
又有第三次﹐聽人呼叫他的名﹗ | 再呼叫 |
以利是不是哈他﹖ | (問大家) |
撒母耳不想再見以利﹐但太過聽話﹐要去 | 又跑到以利道 |
今次以利想想下說﹐可能是神呼叫你﹗你若再次聽他呼叫﹐不要起身﹐只要說﹐[主﹐請說話﹐我聽] | 以利教他說那一句。撒母耳練習﹐就回去睡覺 |
今次神顯然﹐又呼叫﹕撒母耳﹐撒母耳。撒母耳照以利所教他來答﹕主﹐請說﹐我聽。 | 那叫了三次的人戴光環﹐到撒母耳道再呼叫。撒母以回答。 |
神對他說﹕撒母耳﹐我是一個很聽話的兒子﹐我喜悅。因為我說話﹐你肯聽﹐所以我要使你作我的使者。很多人只聽自己的思想﹐所以不聽我話。但因為你聽以利話﹐又聽我話﹐將來大家都會聽你話﹗恭喜你﹐撒母耳﹗ | 神說了這話﹐撒母耳起身﹐與神握手 |
For our game, the kids were mixed & matched into sets of two (we only had three kids). One child had to read a command written on a slip of paper (fun things like, "get a glass of water for Mr. Lei" or "comb Pastor Damon's hair") and the other had to obey. Oh that they would always be so obedient—ha! Although to be honest, they usually are, if they are paying attention to a direct command. It's when they're on their own that anything goes! Guess that's the same with all kinds of kids! Smile.
For craft time, we covered small notebooks with pretty paper, labeled them with the kids' names, and then each child copied a sentence describing one way their parent wanted them to be obedient in the coming week. Then we would find out the following week who earned gold stars for their books. (Note from the following week: Ka Hei got TWO gold stars! Congratulations!)
Bruce led Bible study for the adults on I Samuel 15:22, "to obey is better than sacrifice."
I am obviously behind in keeping this updated. Just as I am always running behind at preparing for each Sunday so far this year. Sigh. But I can't go out on our regular Monday night date with my husband until I get caught up! So here goes.
For January 4, we did a review of the 14 attributes we'd covered over the previous four months. We had different kids re-enact little snippets from the various stories while the adults tried to guess which attributes they were meant to portray. It was not a howling success, in part because attendance has been so spotty that some people were seeing the stories for the first time. And even when people were present, they have not been paying as much attention, I think. Because it's getting old? Because of the subject matter? I don't know. Either way, something needs to change. Lord, please show us what & how.
Well, the game for review day was well-received, at least. They'd liked the fishing game so well (God's omnipresence) that we used it again. Years ago a friend had given me 20 different miniature, magnetized kitchen utensils that have been collecting dust on the exhaust hood over the stove. I chose 14 of them & had photos identifying each one with one of the attributes we'd studied. All the kids had to do was fish until they'd caught and identified each item.
Our "craft," or deskwork, was a Chinese word search. Can you find 14 attributes of God listed in the grid below?
有 | 家 | 公 | 義 | 女 | 光 | 愛 | 無 |
聖 | 潔 | 者 | 同 | 明 | 恩 | 智 | 全 |
他 | 應 | 小 | 真 | 的 | 沒 | 大 | 好 |
供 | 無 | 男 | 改 | 無 | 恆 | 永 | 強 |
德 | 所 | 更 | 你 | 所 | 我 | 忌 | 邪 |
快 | 不 | 無 | 所 | 不 | 知 | 安 | 信 |
樂 | 能 | 是 | 神 | 在 | 再 | 實 | 靈 |
The Bible study time was enjoyable. We just had a printed list of the attributes with an accompanying Bible verse to define each one. Each person had to choose one and say either what it meant to him/her, or ask a question about it. Everyone was willing to participate. One unbeliever said she most appreciated that God is faithful even when we are not faithful—her application being that she was glad she could come when she could & not have to have perfect attendance to be acceptable.
I am also very, very thankful to the Lord that we don't have to be perfect in any way in order for Him to keep faithfully loving us!!
There's probably a better word to use here, especially in light of already having looked at God's unchangeable nature. But I wanted to talk about how when we belong to Him, He doesn't give up on us. The story we used is that of Peter's denial:
Jesus and his desciples have finished their last meal together and are out walking together. | Several boys walk together, Jesus in white vest. |
Jesus says: Now, I know that I am about to suffer, and I also know that you are all going to run away and leave me. | |
They all say, no we won't! | all gesture No, No! |
Jesus says, you say that, but I know you will, because the Bible predicts it. | |
One disciple, Peter, says, now maybe these others will, but I? No matter what, even if I have to die, I will never leave you. | Peter looks proud; pushes away others, stands close to Jesus |
Jesus says, that is what you say, but something else I know is that this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. Peter says, no way! Never! | |
Jesus is feeling very troubled. He wants to pray, so he asks three of His closest disciples to pray for Him as He goes a little way off to pray privately. | chooses 3 boys, they all sit on stools. Jesus goes a little way off and kneels |
As Jesus continues praying, his disciples fall asleep. | 3 boys hold heads in hands, snore |
When He finishes, He finds them sleeping. He tells them to get up, because the people are coming to arrest Him. | Jesus has boys stand up |
A crowd comes, armed with swords, and asks, which one of you is Jesus? Jesus identifies Himself, so they arrest Him, and everyone else runs away—including Peter. | Several come with swords Jesus raises his hand in answer, they grab him; everyone else goes & sits down. Jesus taken to corner of room, guarded by boy(s) w/swords |
A little later, Peter & John really want to find out what happened to Jesus, so they go to where He was taken. The woman guarding the gate asked why they wanted to come in. John said, because my friend Jesus is inside. Peter follows him in, and the woman asks him, are you Jesus' friend too? Peter answers, not I! | Girl stands by line of stools. Lets them in; stops Peter |
It was cold that night, so some people had started a fire. Peter joined them, warming himself. Someone asked him, didn't I see you just a while ago, with Jesus at the garden? Peter answers, no, couldn't have been I, you must be mistaken. But then someone else says, but your accent is from the north like His. Even if you weren't there, you must be one of his disciples. Peter denies it furiously. | some people stand by "fire" on stool Peter stands with them, warming hands. & etc. throws a tantrum after being asked twice if he belongs to Jesus. |
Just then: a rooster crows! Peter remembers what Jesus says and feels awful. | (ask kids: how does a rooster sound?) |
We know that that night Jesus was sentenced to death and died on the cross the next day. His disciples went into hiding for fear they would be next | Several boys sit together. |
After just a couple of days, though, a woman comes in and says, I've just been to Jesus' tomb and He is gone! Can He have risen? | girl comes in, shakes boys by shoulders |
Peter & John to & look. John believes, but Peter isn't sure. | Peter & John look in storeroom |
Peter is miserable. Whether Jesus is dead or alive, stolen or risen, he, Peter, is still not qualified even to be His friend anymore, let alone his disciple! | They both go back & sit with others |
But that night, Jesus came to them in person. Everyone is thrilled—except Peter. Jesus goes over to him and hugs him. Peter protests that he is not worthy, that Jesus ought to hate him. But Jesus says, of course I don't hate you. Look at me—I have overcome death! Your weakness can't hurt me. If you still want to be my disciple, that is enough. Do you? Peter says, yes, yes! | Everybody jumps up & down, high-fives Jesus. Jesus goes to Peter who has stayed sitting. Pulls him up, hugs him. Asks him, seungmseung… They high-five |
Game: Tic-tac-toe—three denials vs. three affirmations
Craft: Roosters
Bible study: Numbers 23:19-20
We enjoyed our Christmas celebration on the 21st. We had invited at least 6 new families, but only one came. Chi Ming has been one of my therapy patients for many years. He is still wheelchair-bound, and lost his eyesight about a year ago, but he is very talkative and sociable so enjoyed himself in spite of not being able to participate fully in all the activities. We did cast him in the role of Joseph for the Christmas story. So instead of the typical Joseph-leads-the-donkey-on-which-Mary-sits, we ended up with Mary pushing Joseph to Bethlehem in his wheelchair! It worked fine! Here's the story:
Many years ago there was a man named Joseph | introduce boy as Joseph |
He was engaged to a girl named Mary | introduce girl as Mary |
One day, Joseph's neighbor came to him and said, "Psst—did you hear—Mary is pregnant!" | boy comes to Joseph & whispers in his ear, then leaves |
Joseph was very sad. He thought Mary loved him! He decided to break their engagement. | Joseph cries. Goes to bed (towel & pillow on floor) |
But that night and angel appeared to him and said, "Don't be afraid to marry her. She has not been unfaithful to you. But the Holy Spirit has come to her, and her baby will be the Son of God, the Savior the whole world has been waiting for." | Angel with halo |
Strange, but not as strange as believing that Mary had done something wrong. So, they got married. | Joseph with bow tie, Mary in TP veil. |
Not long after that, Joseph had to go to Bethlehem for a census. He took Mary with him. She was already very big! | Mary with pillow padding. J & M walk around room. |
When they got to Bethlehem, they tried to get a room at an inn, but it was already full. | boy standing behind table in corner; J knocks, boy says no room (puts up sign) |
Mary said, "We'd better find somewhere quick! I'm about to have the baby! So they went into the only shelter they could find: a stable | second table with pictures of horses & a cow. Box with straw. They spread a towel on floor. |
Pretty soon, she had her baby, Jesus. No crib, no pillow; she had to put him in the feed box. | Mary goes behind table, comes out with baby doll instead of padding. |
all sing: Away in a Manger | |
That night, outside of the city, some shepherds were guarding their sheep. | 2-3 boys with towels on heads. Sheep picture. |
All of a sudden they heard a noise. They were scared—was it a wolf coming to eat the sheep? No—it was—angels! | Look scared. 2-3 angel with halos |
all sing: Hark the Herald Angels Sing | |
One of the angels explains that the Savior has been born. That they would recognize him because he was lying in a feed box | Angels point the way & then leave |
The shepherds discuss it among themselves and decide they better go and see. | shepherds huddle |
all sing: O Come all Ye Faithful | |
So they go and see, and sure enough, there he is. So they knew what the angel was saying was true, and they knelt down and worshipped the baby Jesus | Shepherds kneel down. |
Everyone was happy because they had waited for many years for this day. Now they knew that God really loved them, because He had sent Jesus to save them. | Shepherds, M & J, and angels all high-five |
all sing: Joy to the World | |
Someone as important as Jesus shouldn't have been relegated to a stable, right? He should have been welcomed with a red carpet! So for our game we did a "red carpet walk" – the kids had to keep their feet on the floor so that the two squares of red "carpet" (paper) could stay with them all the way across the room. For Chi Ming, we did a variation in which each square had to be picked up from behind him and placed in front of him so he could travel on red carpet the whole way. It was neat to watch the kids wanting to help make it happen—one child pushing the chair, one child helping rotate the carpet squares.
This was a bit of a complicated story, but it turned out well. We used a very paraphrased version of Ezekiel 16, as follows:
Through His prophet Ezekiel, God told this story to Israel | Start with boy and girl holding (dirty) baby doll |
"When I chose you, you were like a baby that had been rejected by its parents. | they throw the doll on the floor |
I picked you up, and washed you | have one child wash the baby in a pan of water |
I gave you clothes to wear | another child dresses it |
and took care of you until you grew up. | exchange the baby doll for a (naked) Barbie doll |
Since I'd always loved you, I took you as my wife. | one child dresses Barbie in a wedding outfit |
I gave you beautiful jewelry, | another child puts necklace and bracelets made of foil on Barbie |
and satisfied you with abundant food. | another gives her a basket of food |
We had children together | and brings the baby doll back out |
We had a wonderful life, didn't we? | (ask all) |
We should have, but how did you treat me? You took the jewelry I gave you, and used it to make idols for yourselves. | one child takes off the jewelry and gives it to another, who sets up a foil-wrapped doll ("idol") in return |
You took the food I provided it, and offered it to your idols. | another takes the basket of food and puts it in front of the idol |
You even offered them the children we had together! | another puts the baby in front of the idol |
Was it right of you to treat me like that? | (ask all) |
I treated you as my own daughter, and as my wife, but you didn't love me; you went after other gods instead. How could I help but be jealous?! | |
Well, if you don't want me, then you don't have to have me, I said. When your enemies attack you, I won't bother you with my help. | one child takes a sword and "beats" Barbie |
So your enemies did attack. They beat you and stripped off your clothes and left you just as badly off as the first time I ever saw you. | another takes off Barbie's dress and throws her on the floor |
But, you know—if I didn't love you in the first place, I wouldn't have been jealous, would I? | (ask all) |
And so, after you had been through all this, and were willing to call to me again, I took you back, and restored to you all that was yours—clothing, jewels, food & wine. | one child puts new clothes on Barbie, another puts some new jewelry on and presents a second basket of food. |
I hope you will never forget that I really love you. And I also hope you will remember that all I want is for you to love me back." | one child cuddles the Barbie and comforts it. |
I think this worked because we didn't try and act it out; one
person read the story while another helped the children do the various activities. It slowed things down and got the kids doing practical tasks. Si Wa Hon was chosen to bathe the baby and he apparently thought it was about the most fun things he'd ever done!
For our game, we "dressed babies" in teams. Bruce (my husband) and I were the babies, complete with towel diapers.
For a craft, since God gave His people so many gifts, we wrapped gifts—Christmas gifts for them to give their siblings.
Bible study was from Proverbs 6:32-35, about how terrible adultery is, and how jealous it makes a husband. The point was to discuss how God wants to be married to us. If we are not, then it isn't shameful to be "married" to idols—even if it does mean you don't get any of the benefits of being married to God. (Such as forgiveness of sin & eternal life). It was good to be able to make this point, that we are not trying to criticize our unbelievers for worshipping their idols. We only want to offer them something better. It seemed to go well, thank the Lord.
