7 May 2023

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Bible readings for today

• Acts 7:55-60
• Psalm 31: 1-5, 15-16
• 1 Peter 2:2-10
• John 14:1-14

Liturgical Colour: WHITE

Collect

Eternal God, 
your Son Jesus Christ 
is the way, the truth and the life for all creation; 
grant us grace to walk in his way, 
to rejoice in his truth, 
and to share his risen life; 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and for ever. 
Amen. 

E te Atua mutunga kore, 
ko tāu Tama ko Īhu Karaiti 
te huarahi, te pono, me te ora mō ngā mea katoa; 
Hōmai ki a mātou he ngākau atawhai 
kia hīkoi ai i tāna huarahi, 
kia harikoa ai i tōna pono, 
kia whai wāhi ai ki tōna oranga; 
ko ia e ora ana, e kīngi tahi ana me koe me te Wairua Tapu, 
kotahi anō Atua, ināianei, ā, mō ake tonu atu. 
Āmine. 

The Way (John 14:1-14)

Today Jesus told his disciples that he is the way, the truth, and the life!

Visio Lectio

Another great print from Rev. Sarah West from Visio Lectio. 
PNG Download
Download w/ background
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Talking points

Activity

• Blind walk – kids all put on blindfolds and are led in a conga line on a walk of faith ending at a Bible (and maybe gold chocolate coins!)

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Discussion points

• Our life is a lot like a tramping trip or a journey and we all need a map. Every day we have to make choices about how we act and what we should do and how we should live our life. There are many paths to pick from. The Bible (God's word) is like a map because it tells us how we should live and which paths to take and which ones we should avoid.
• For some people the paths are well marked and it is easy to find their way, but for others the trip is a lot harder; their paths aren't very well marked.
• Some people have better equipment and more supplies. God created us all different. He made some of us smarter, some of us stronger, and gave us different personalities.
• God provides us with guides along the way that can lead us. Our church family, our parents, Jesus, are all guides.
• Some of us are given a map that isn't very good or one that is torn and missing pieces. Some people seem to stumble around running into obstacles and tripping over everything that is in their way. Some travelers don't have anyone to tell them the way or they follow other people who are lost.
• Some people are given very good map and directions but think they know a better way. We choose to follow our own map, but sooner or later we find out that following God's map, the bible, is the only way to keep from getting lost.
• All of us forget our maps sometimes and veer off into the wrong direction for a while, but if we studied our map and learned the right way before the trip, we eventually find our way back to the correct path. All of us forget what we have been taught and do the wrong thing, but God will forgive us.

• We all know our physical address, where we live. But what is more important is where our hearts are. 

• Discuss what things help us recogise and choose to follow Jesus' path? What things might distract us? How can we help each other follow Jesus this week?

• Pray together, asking God to help us recognise and want to follow His path together. 

Reflective questions

Ask everyone to consider:

• What was your favourite part of the reading/story?
• What part of the reading/story surprised you?

Read the story again and then invite each person to share either their favourite or most surprising part of the reading.

• Ask them why was it their favourite? Or why did they find that part surprising?

You may like to work in small groups or 3 or 4 for this part
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Ask everyone to consider 

• What might God be telling us about himself? 
• Why is that important?

After each person has shared their thoughts, ask them 

• What might God be asking us to do in response? &/or
• What is one thing you can do about that this week?

When you have finished, pray together - each thanking God for one thing and asking God for one thing.

Gospel Conversations

Another great video from the Diocese of Dunedin. As we journey through the Easter season, the lectionary takes us back - unexpectedly? - to Jesus' final talks with his beloved disciples, preparing them for his death. But maybe he's preparing us for life beyond both his death and resurrection! Join Lisa, John, Anne and Michael as they talk of troubled hearts, faith, dwelling places and coming home.

Memory verse treasure hunt

You will need:
6 clues and hiding places. Each clue is a section of the memory verse from John 14:5-6
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Instructions
Put together a treasure hunt for the children depending on the space you have! Along the way, the children will find parts of the memory verse and another clue leading them to a different location. 
e.g.

• Clue 1: Lord, we don't even know where you are going!  (Could be near a map, a schedule or plan)
  
• Clue 2:  How can we know the way (Could be near an arrow)
  
• Clue 3: Jesus answered (Near a speaker or microphone)
  
• Clue 4: "I am the way, (near a door)
  
• Clue 5: the truth, (near a Bible)
  
• Clue 6: and the life" -- with the final prize!  (Near something that gives you joy)

If you are doing this at home...
Do not worry if the clues are found out of order. Part of the game could be coming together at the end to look up the verse and all helping to put the clues in the right order, to win the prize.

Intergen resource

Rev Sandy Brodine looks at utilising stones, Mandalas and paths as a way of exploring the readings from 1 Peter, Acts and John. Downloadable now from https://intergen.org.au/

Labyrinth maze prayers

• Labyrinths and maze prayers can be a great interactive way for children to talk to God. There are a variety of ways this can be set up depending on how much space you have. 

Labyrinth ideas include:

• beach labyrinth marked in the sand
• prayer stations dotted around the labyrinth
• labyrinth craft on round paper plates
• mowing one onto a grass field
• rope of lights marking out a labyrinth in the dark
• mark one out of chalk in the playground or park
• masking tape on your hall floor (don't use gaffa/duck tape, it stains floors!)

The concept of the maze helps kids think about how there is a start and a finish — with multiple different paths and turns they can take, but only one way to complete the maze. Jesus says that he is the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE — let's encourage the children to follow his way today!

• Labyrinth activities for kids
• Finger Labyrinths 
• Working with the Labyrinth This book offers ideas and examples of labyrinths in use in various situations: arts, community and social settings; schools, colleges and universities; a hospice, and a secure hospital; counselling, psychotherapy and well-being; churches, retreats and interfaith contexts. (Di Williams is one of the leading UK Labyrinth trainers)
• Lego maze prayers

Source: Flame creative

Maze

We have put together two different mazes for you to try -- a medium level one, and a more advanced level one! Find the symbols as you navigate your way through the maze.

way_truth_life_maze.pdf
File Size:	50 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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"I am the way" compass

Use milk bottle lids and split pins to make a compass to remind us to keep our way focused on God and that he will lead us in His ways.
The craft instructions are on Ashley Hackshaw's Lil Blue Boo website, here: https://www.lilblueboo.com/2015/11/diy-ornament-ideas-vintage-compass.html

Media

Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:55-60)

The Seven Minute Sermon

Each week Reverend George Penk (St Mark's Remuera) brings a short message of encouragement from the Bible in the Seven-Minute Sermon Podcast. Accessible, relevant and life-giving. Today's sermon looks at the faith of Stephen in Acts 7:55-60