2 November 2025

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Bible readings for today

RCL

• Habakuk 1:1-4;2:1-4 
• Psalm 119:137-144 
• 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4,11-12
• ​Luke 19:1-10

Liturgical colour: GREEN

All Saints Day (1 November) readings may also be used

• Daniel 7:1-3,15-18
• Psalm 149
• Ephesians 1:11-23
• Luke 6:20-31

All Saints Day ​resources here.

Sermon on the Mount / Luke 6:20-31 resources here.​

Collect

E te Ariki o te Hāhi,
nāu mātou i karanga ki te kauhau ki ngā iwi katoa.
Meingia mātou kia mahi i tāu e hiahia ana
me te pīkau i tōu rīpeka,
e tatari ana mō tōu wā kia kite i tōu korōria.
E īnoi ana mātou i runga i te ingoa o Īhu
Karaiti tō mātou Kaiwhakaora.
Āmine.

Lord of the Church,
you have called us to witness in every nation.
May we do your work and bear your cross,
await your time and see your glory.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus
Christ our Saviour.
Amen.

Extra collect

Banqueting God, 
unworthy though we are 
you call us to your table; 
may we rejoice in your presence, 
and share your bounty abundantly with others; 
through Jesus, the Bread of Life, 
who is alive and reigns with you, 
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

Input for leaders

Transforming Grace ​(Anglican Diocese of Wellington, 2019) - The Very Rev David Rowe re-enacts what it may have been like for Zacchaeus to encounter Jesus, and tells us of the "amazing grace" in the true story of John Newton, and the fictional story of Les Miserables.

​Gospel Conversations 2025: Here's a story familiar to most of us since Sunday School days! Short Zacchaeus doing his best to see Jesus. It's a great story. What does it tell us in terms of challenge, good news, and "so what?" 

Intergenerational worship

Ordinary Time Year C 2025 Part 2 Intergenerational Worship Series
(Angela Blundell, Auckland Dio Intergenerational Ministry)
This resource has 8 weeks of worship ideas to help your community connect to God and each other through worship, sharing and creativity.
27th Sunday Ordinary Time to Reign of Christ Sunday

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A collection of resources and ideas (Intergen Australia)
Written and compiled by Chris Barras. Bible references: 1 Thess, Habakkuk, Luke, Psalm.

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Questions to ponder

• I wonder why Zacchaeus wanted so much to see Jesus?
• I wonder what it felt like to be too short to see over the crowd?
• I wonder how Zacchaeus felt when Jesus stopped and spoke to him?
• I wonder what the crowd thought when Jesus chose to visit Zacchaeus?
• I wonder what Zacchaeus felt inside when he said he would give his money away?
• I wonder what it feels like when someone notices you, even when others don’t?
• I wonder what this story shows us about Jesus?
• I wonder what you might want to say to Jesus if he came to your house today?

Talks

Full lessons plans & activities (Trueway Kids) - for a variety of ages.

When you don't fit in (RFour)

Zacchaeus and Jesus (Sunday School Works) - object lesson using lemonade

Changed hearts (Ministry to Children)

Activities

• Printable craft (Tiny Truths Illustrated Bible)
• Paper Bag Tree  (Mrs Jones Creation Station)
• Snack Idea (E Recipe Cards)
• Toddler Playdough Tea Party (Little People Big Faith)
• Moving Zacchaeus Craft (Bible Class Creations)
• Tree Craft (Jesus Without Language)
• Cottonball Tree Craft (Toddler at Play)
• 3D Tree Craft (Twitchetts)
• Zacchaeus Song (YouTube)
• Leaf rubbing with watercolours (Art Bar)

Preschool Play

Full lesson plan for babies/toddlers (Trueway Kids) - definitely worth checking out. Or just use to share the story. ​

Tell the story - try some ideas from the following...  

• ​Read the story from your favourite kids bible. 
• Use a small world play tray to tell the story. See Small World station below. 

​Small world / sensory play - grab an underbed storage container or large tray with sides and fill it with sand. Try adding some of the following:

• plastic or wooden people, trees & shrubs
• trimmings from the garden that can be used as trees (flowers for colour, and herbs for scent are nice). Make sure to include a "big" tree for Zacchaeus!
• cardboard or fake coins.
• spoons and forks for digging/raking.
• Let the kids retell the story and create their own scenes. create gardens and scenes.

Things to chat about: the story and what happened in it.
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Giving Back the Coins - Provide a basket of pretend coins (paper, cardboard, or plastic). Children can play at collecting coins in a pouch or cup and then “giving them back” to toy people or friends. Talk about - why did Zacchaeus give the money back?

Leaf rubbing - grab some leaves with interesting patterns and use paper and crayons to make leaf rubbings. Instructions here. Talk about - how Zacchaeus might have felt up in the tree.

Welcome Table - set up a toy tea set or set up a toy tea set or play food for a “meal with Jesus at Zacchaeus’ house.” Alternately have a real snack at a table with the kids while you chat about the story.

Pray it!

Why not make your own prayer tree? (Flame Creative).

• print out some pictures of Zacchaeus (Worksheet Clipart Library)
  
• kids can decorate and write or draw their prayers on the back.
  
• then hang them on the tree.

Media