14 April 2024

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Bible readings for today

• Acts 3:12-19
• Psalms 4:1-8
• 1 John 3:1-7
• Luke 24:36-48

Collect

Alleluia! 
Holy God, 
you set the example for us to follow; as we fulfil your call to tend your sheep make us faithful shepherds of your love. Through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, 
who is alive and reigns with you now and forever,
and in the power of the Holy Spirit. 
Amen

Seeing is believing (Luke 24:36-48)

This story looks at Jesus appearing to his disciples in the upper room. This passage is similar to last week's lectionary reading, however it omits the story about Thomas found in John 20

Gospel Conversations

Jesus appears to his confused, scared, doubting disciples - 2000 years ago and still today! Joel Stutter joins Michael Godfrey and the Dunedin Diocese 'Gospel Conversations' team for the first time, with James Harding and Trish Franklin, as we move deeper into the joyful season of Easter.

Telescope Craft

One of the key messages in today's passage is in John 20:29b -- Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed
We may never see Jesus face to face on earth, like his disciples, but we are reassured that we will be blessed by believing in what we have not seen.
What you need

• Print out of this template
• Cardboard tubes if printing template out on on A4 paper. You can print on thicker card if available. 
• Pens, felts
• Glue
• Decorations, googly eyes

What to do

• Print out the template for the telescope
• Today we're going to make a telescope to remind us that we don't need to see Jesus face-to-face to believe that he is real. 
• Give one sheet to each child and talk through the memory verse on the paper. Talk about how Jesus says we are blessed by believing in him, even though we have not seen him face-to-face. 
• Decorate sheet with felts, pens, glitter, googly eyes. Be creative and add your own decorating ideas! 
• Glue one edge of the paper and roll into a cylinder. 
• Get the children to look through their telescope and tell you what they can see.

Gospel Conversations

Gospel Conversations from the Diocese of Dunedin
In this Gospel Conversation, the Dunedin Diocesan Ministry Educator converses with Bishop Kelvin Wright, Anne Van Gend (Diocesan Community ministry Enabler) and Gary Griffith-Smith (Vicar of Gore Parish) around Luke 24: 36-48, the final appearance of Jesus to the disciples  (according to Luke) before he was taken up into heaven. 

Upper Room

Visio Lectio

A beautiful image from the Visio Lectio project, created by the Anglican Diocese of Auckland. © Sarah West. All Rights reserved, shared with permission. ​
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Preschool brainstorm

Young children can have difficulty distinguishing between fact and fantasy, so do not worry too much about explaining things that are not real to them in today's session. 
Brainstorm a list of things that we know are real, including things we can touch, taste or see, e.g.

• I know flowers are real
• I know my food is real
• I know my pet is real
• I know the sun is real
• I know the wind is real
• I know my family is real
• I know that Jesus is real

Activities

• Hole in Hand Illusion (Instructables)
• Game Idea (Creative Youth Ideas)
• Recognising Jesus Game (Flame Creative Kids)
• Hands Craft (Godly Play Blog)
• Hand Prints
• Bookmark Idea (God's Grace)
• Printable Thomas Craft (Jesus Without Language)

Media