22 March 2026
Bible readings for today
Today is also known as Passion Sunday Liturgical colour: VIOLET |
CollectGod in Trinity,
Creator, Saviour, Giver of life and truth, reveal the possibilities within us, that we may attain to the fullness of our humanity. Hear this prayer for your love’s sake. Amen. E te Atua Tokotoru, Te Kaihanga, Te Kaiwhakaora, Te Kaihōmai i te oranga me te pono, whakaaria mai ngā pūmanawa kei roto i tēnei, i tēnei o mātou, kia tae atu ai mātou ki te puāwaitanga o te tangata. Whakarongo ki tēnei īnoi i runga i tōu aroha. Āmine. |
Lazarus (John 11:1-45)
Today's passage from John tells the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead.
Input for leadersLent 2020 Week 5 (Diocese of Wellington) - An amazing sermon from Rev. Caleb Rowe, from Whanganui Anglicans.
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Gospel Conversations 2023 (Diocese of Dunedin) - John 11:1-45
This week our group delves into the amazing story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead: a pivotal story for John's Gospel and a thing of unending challenge and good news for us. |
Intergenerational Worship
TalksFull lessons plans & activities (Trueway Kids) - for a variety of ages.
Jesus raises Lazarus (Ministry Spark) - free primary school lesson. The raising of Lazarus (Gary Neal Hansen) - a paraphrased retelling of the story with wondering questions. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead (Sermons 4 Kids) - did you know Jesus cried too? Jesus and Lazarus (RFour) - sadness is not where our story stops! What makes you cry?
I’m wondering… When was the last time you cried? It might have been a long time ago or maybe just earlier today. What are some of the things that make you cry? (allow different answers and add a few more if needed- someone you love is sick or hurt, falling off of your bike, someone being mean to you, saying good bye at the airport, someone dying, a sad movie or book, etc) I cry sometimes and usually the things that make me cry are when people that I love are hurt, or when they move somewhere else or when they die. The people that I love the most are my family and my friends. When Lazarus died, Martha and Mary, his two sisters, cried. And people from their village, their friends, also cried. It was a very sad time. But when Jesus came, something amazing happened. Ask: Do you know what this amazing thing was? (Allow time for people to respond, expect some children to say raised Lazarus back to life.) Before he brought Lazarus back to life, Jesus watched Mary and Martha and their friends crying and he felt very sad for them. And then Jesus remembered Lazarus, who was his friend, and Jesus cried, too. That’s amazing to me.It’s easy to think about Jesus being God’s son, being our Saviour, even being a wonderful teacher, but sometimes I forget that Jesus cries with me when I’m hurt or upset, he cries when I’m sad or have lost someone I love, because Jesus is my friend. Pass the Parcel - telling the story together
You'll need some images or props and the story broken into bits. (e.g. use the Trueway Free Printable Bible Story here for a simple version or see what you can find online). Wrap up each prop and the story in a different layer of paper, starting with the last one first. You might like to wrap this one in bright coloured paper (lollies) and end with the first layer being a picture of Lazarus. Each layer should have a short part of the story for the children to read, with some questions throughout. Get the group to sit in a circle, and have some music playing to signal when to stop passing the parcel around. Once the music stops, the child opens the parcel and removes a layer. In each layer, encourage the children to read the piece of paper and show everyone the props. The game ends when the final layer is unwrapped. Once the story has been told, you might like to encourage the children to retell the story with the props. 
ActivitiesPop up Lazarus craft (Bible Explore)
Pop up Lazarus story (City Life Church) A selection of Lazarus activities and games (Trueway) More Lazarus activities and games (Ministry Spark) 
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Quick Questions
Art in LentIf you want to mark Lent in a simple rich way, how about creating a space where your kids can spend some time with Jesus-related art. Try these questions or make up your own. Think about offering resources for kids to make art too.
Take Away The Stone - by John August Swanson
Preschool PlayFull Lesson Plan (Trueway Kids) - a great all in one lesson with a simple story and fun activities!
Build the Tomb Blocks, boxes, stones, toy people Invite children to build a “tomb” or small cave using blocks or boxes. They can move toy figures in and out as they play. Wonder together: I wonder what it was like when Jesus called Lazarus? I wonder why the people were amazed? Feelings and Comfort Soft toys, blankets, cushions Children can cuddle or comfort the toys. Talk gently about how Jesus cared about His friends when they were sad. Wonder together: I wonder how it feels when someone helps you when you’re sad? I wonder who helps you feel better? Tactile Prayer Sit together in a circle with a soft heart or small light. Pass it gently around. Leader prays slowly: Jesus, thank you for loving your friends. Thank you that you bring hope and life. Help us share your love with others. Amen. Pray it!Try this Body Prayer (Ministry Spark)
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Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37)
Input for leadersA spooky story? (The Reflectionary)
A load of dusty bones that rattle themselves together and stand up to make an army of skeletons? It’s straight out of Indiana Jones and the Rat Temple of the Crystal Dungeon. Seriously, I think I’ve even seen this story on Scooby Doo! But this passage is not about creepy zombie warriors, like when suits of armour come to life (do I watch too many cartoons?). It’s about hope, it’s about God-with-us, it’s about life... Keep reading here |
Gospel Conversations 2026 (Diocese of Dunedin) - Ezekiel 37:1-14
Today we venture into Ezekiel's Valley of the Dry Bones, while keeping in mind the wonderful story of the raising of Lazarus in the Gospel. Ezekiel's is a strange, visionary story - the stuff of science fiction - where bones clatter together and grow sinews, muscles, flesh, and stand upright . Can we learn anything from such a weird story? |
TalksThe valley of dry bones (Ministry to Children) - full lesson plan
Ezekiel and the dry bones (Bible Fun for kids) - full lesson plan Ezekiel the watchman (Ministry to Children) - full lesson with active games. Activities
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Games Dry Bones Game (Missio Dei Kids)
Children can be encouraged to run or move around a designated area until the teacher says, ‘FREEZE DRY BONES!’ Then immediately the children will stop and freeze until the teacher tells the DRY BONES to come alive and children will continue to move around and continue to have children FREEZE, as time allows. Resurrection Tag (Ministry to Children) Pick one student to be It. That student is Death. Pick another student to be Jesus. When Death tags someone, they fall down and lie on the ground like they’re dead. Jesus can then come tag them, and they can get back up. If Death tags Jesus, Jesus must count to three (because Jesus was dead for three days), but can then get up again. If Jesus tags Death, the round is over. Play until everyone has had a chance to be both Death and Jesus or as long as time permits. Remind students that Jesus will come back one day and will raise everyone who believes in Him back to life. Dry Bone Hunt (Sermons 4 Kids) Print out some paper bones (try this skeleton template from The Artisan Life) - and on each one write a word from today's verse/story. Hide these around the room. Get the children to hunt for the bones and reassemble on a table or bulletin board. Once finished talk about what the words remind us. |
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