John 20

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Book of John: Chapter 20

The Empty Tomb (John 20:1-19)

The aim of today is to understand that Jesus rose from the dead and brings us hope of new life in him, and that something happy and wonderful can come out of something very sad.

Intergenerational Services

Intergenerational Services from Scripture Union

Printable Easter Holiday resources

The Children's Mission (children's ministry in the Salvation Army NZ) have some great printable resources, including an Easter booklet - perfect for printing out for visiting families, or including in Eater isolation packs.

Wrapping the Cross

Wrapping the Cross is a powerful visual way to tell the Easter story, as the cross is wrapped up in clothes on Good Friday, and revealed on Easter Sunday. You may need to adapt the story if greater sensitivity is needed (like young children).

Worship Resources

The Church of Scotland have some worship resources for today

I wonder questions

"I wonder what Mary was thinking when she saw the empty tomb? Turn to the person next to you (if you have many kids) and tell them" or ( with a small group) "Would anyone like to share what they're thinking?"
"I wonder why Mary didn't recognise Jesus when she first saw him?"
"I wonder what you would have been thinking if you'd gone to Jesus' tomb and found it empty?"

Transformation

There is a sermon from the Church of Scotland, which uses a simple upside down face as a visual aid, to describe the transformation between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. This could be helpful for families with younger children.
Source: Rev Rosie Frew, Church of Scotland

Easter Egg Relay Race

This is a great game for people of all ages; children and adults can both be accommodated easily.

What you need:

1 teaspoon, tablespoon or soup ladle per 2-4 players
1 hard boiled egg or plastic egg that's weighted with lollies per 2-4 players
Tape, rope or chalk to mark the two starting points- point A and point B
If desired, kind of small prize for the winning team

What you do:

Divide the players into teams of 4. If you have a small group, you can have teams of 2.
Divide each team into two groups, 2 players at Point A, and 2 players atPoint B.
The first player at point A is given an egg in a spoon to carry from Point A to Point B. At that point the egg and spoon are handed off to the next player in their team who carries it back to Point A to the third player and then to the fourth. If players are using different sized spoons, allow them to use their fingers to move the egg between the implements. A dropped egg means that the person carrying the egg must go back to where he or she started from. The first team to complete the relay wins.

Variations:

For younger children, allow them to carry the egg in a ladle.
Adults and old children can use a teaspoon or tablespoon.
If the teams are mixed age (which is fun) give each team one of each kind of spoon so that play is fair.
If you fill plastic eggs with lollies, allow each team to eat their lollies at the end.

Bead Necklaces

For our craft activity today we are going to make bead crosses which you can take home and hang up somewhere, or wear to remind you that God loves you, even you, always, even when you forget about Him, He never forgets about you!

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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Gospel Reflections

A huge thanks to the Diocese of Dunedin for this Gospel Conversation. In one of the most moving Conversations we have had, Lisa, Gary and Mannie join Michael to rejoice in the deep mystery, love and hope of Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Jesus in the garden. You won't want to miss this one!

Seven minute sermon

Centuries of speculation have given Mary Magdalene a bad reputation. But her life actually provides a great example to follow. This 7 minute sermon podcast from Rev. George Penk is based on Luke 8.1-2 and John 20.14-17

Easter Bubbles

A couple of years ago, Strandz put together some 'Easter Bubbles' resources to help families navigate the Easter story at home. This would be good for those families who cannot join in the Easter celebrations this year, and who want to do something at home.

Hand printed cross

This activity could be done on a large sheet of newsprint paper, to include everyone's handprints on the one sheet, or each child could have their own smaller piece of paper to make a cross. It could be done as described, with the hands forming a cross, or in reverse, with the handprints providing the background to a white cross (as per the pictures below). Craft idea was taken from this website

"PAINTED HAND PRINTS: Spread some paint on each child's one hand and let them place their painted hand print on a poster board and all the hands need to be in a formation of a cross when the prints are completed. When I did this activity, I did these cross-formation-hand-prints on our class room wall for decoration. The kids loved it and enjoyed it for years!"

Papier Mache Tombs

Note: These tombs take a long time to dry. If possible, children should take them home still wet on their paper plate. Those that are left will be dry by the following week.
What you need:

A partially blown up balloon for each child and a few extras
school glue watered down a little in shallow bowls
newspaper to spread on your work surface
scissors
lots of string and yarn cut into 10-15 cm pieces (older children will be able to handle slightly longer pieces)
paper plates or trays for drying the tombs
a bucket of warm water (or access to a sink) and paper towels for washing and drying hands
Felts for naming the plates

What you do:

Put the cut pieces of string and yarn and the bowls of glue on the newspaper on each table.
Give each child a balloon, explaining that everyone is going to make an empty tomb to help remind us of the empty tomb that Mary found. When we see what we make, we'll be able to remember that Jesus was dead, but then he was alive again.
To make the empty tomb, dip one piece of yarn in the glue and then wring it out gently by sliding your fingers down the length of the yarn.
Wrap the yarn around the balloon.
Repeat this process until the balloon is about 3/4 covered with yarn.
Leave to dry.
Once the yarn framework is completely dry, pop the balloon and pull it out through any of the openings to create the empty tomb.

Media

Seeing is believing (John 20:19-31)

This story looks at Jesus appearing to his disciples, and how Thomas doubted that he was really the resurrected Jesus.

Doubting Thomas

Look up! Even though he was one of Jesus’ closest friends, Thomas had big doubts and questions about whether Jesus was really alive again. God is not disappointed by our questions or doubts! Write down any questions you have about God, and find someone to talk to about them.
Look in! Even though Thomas didn’t believe the other disciples were telling the truth, they still remained his friend. We can disagree with people, and still love them. Pray for someone you have disagreed with recently.
Look out! Thomas’ friends showed they could be trusted, by telling him the truth about Jesus. Being a trustworthy and honest friend can show others what God is like. How can you be a trustworthy friend this week?

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.

In an earlier Gospel Conversations, Michael talks with Katie Marcar (Otago University Programme and All Saints’, North Dunedin), Tony Martin (St Paul’s Cathedral and Emergency Management Otago) and Richard Johnson (Dean for Rural Ministry and Interim Priest, Winton) on this passage from John 20: 19-31.

Reflection questions

In small groups discuss

Which was your favorite part of the story?
Why did you like that part?
In the story the disciples felt afraid, very happy, disbelieving and faith fulled. Which of these feelings do you related to most at present?
Why do you think that is?
What do you think God might be saying to us today through this story?
Pray for one another.

Interviewing Thomas

Write a script for a 'Resurrection Interview', where a journalist can interview Thomas. Thomas can describe the impact the resurrection had on the disciples and then on himself. You can do this sketch live, or prerecord it using a camera or phone. It is a great way to get young people involved in your all age services.

Questions can include:

Thomas, we hear you weren't in the room with the disciples, when Jesus visited... where were you?
What did you think when you heard their stories?
Why didn't you believe them?
What happened next?
What did you think when Jesus appeared again?
What did you say to Jesus?
What do you think of the other disciples calling you 'Doubting Thomas'? Do you think it will stick?

You can adapt and change this interview to suit your congregation and needs. Let us know how you get on.

For a script of something similar, see the All-Age Lectionary Services: Year C from Scripture Union

Peace be with you!

You can read today’s story in John 20:19–23, and the Jesus Storybook Bible p. 318-321

Look up! ‘Peace be with you!’ Jesus says this to his friends twice, so it must have been really important! God’s peace can calm, reassure and comfort us when we are fearful. If you are worried about something, ask God for His peace.
Look in! Do you hold grudges? Jesus talked about forgiveness, and how the Holy Spirit can help us forgive others. If you need help to forgive someone for hurting you, ask God to show you how.
Look out! When we worry about something, we can feel like the disciples – stuck (in a locked room!) and scared. God’s peace changed the minds of the disciples, and they were ‘overjoyed.’ Pray for a friend who is worried and ask God to send them His peace.

From 'Journey to Pentecost' by Strandz

Reflection

A daily devotion reflection on 'Doubting Thomas' from Scripture Union USA

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

Visio Lectio

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)

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 (shown below)
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.

Doubting Thomas game

A game with paddles and true/false questions, from the Easy Breezy Sunday School website. See the website for instructions on how to make the paddles. Each child gets an "I Doubt It" sign, which they use to respond to a list of unusual facts about the bible/life etc. If they doubt the fact, they show the 'I doubt it' side, but if they believe the statement, they do nothing. Give the correct answer and award a point
Possible statements could include:

The disciples were hiding in the room because they were afraid of dinosaurs (false)
Jesus appeared and all the disciples were in the room (false)
Thomas wasn't there when Jesus appeared, but he believed everything that his friends said (false)
Thomas wanted to see Jesus for himself before he believed his friends (true)
Jesus showed Thomas his ears and fingers (false)
Jesus showed Thomas his hands and his side (true)
When Thomas saw Jesus' wounds, he replied, “You are my Lord and my God!” (true)
Even if we haven't seen Jesus, we can still believe in him (true)