As part of a collaboration with Spill the Beans, Fischy Music and Rev Gayle Taylor, we bring you some material for each day of Holy Week particularly for families seeking to explore the events of this week together. Today's material has been prepared and picked by Rev Barbara Ann Sweetin from Forfar East and Old Parish Church.
A Woman Anoints Jesus
Reading
Either read Mark chapter 14 verses 1-9 from your own Bible or use this version (NIV):
Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Retelling
A crowd of friends with Jesus
walking the city through.
They wanted to show they loved him.
Together what could they do?
They found a tied up donkey,
and led it to Jesus’ side,
spread their coats along its back
and took him for a ride!
Through the streets they partied,
“Hosanna!” they shouted loud,
“Jesus is our friend and king!”
Oh what a happy crowd!
A quiet woman with Jesus
inside a rich man’s home,
She wanted to show she loved him.
What could she do on her own?
She brought a jar of perfume
and carried it to Jesus’ side,
poured it gently on his hair
and stroked it as he sighed.
“A beautiful thing you’ve done to me,”
that’s what Jesus said
to the woman who brought her perfume
and poured it on his head.
Whatever we do for Jesus,
to show that we love him too,
he still says to you and me,
“What a beautiful thing to do!”
Praise
Children's Prayer
By Jemma (from Forfar East and Old)
God, you tell us that you will take care of us and protect us
but so many people in the world are dying or are really ill.
So I just want you to take care of those who are ill
and help those families who have lost people they loved.
Jesus, I am missing all my friends at school and my teacher
and doing school work at home is not as good as being in class
so I pray to you that this virus will end really quickly
and everything can get back to being the way it should be.
I am trying my very best to do what Jesus would do
but it can very hard Lord.
Sometimes I argue with my sister and I am trying so hard to help mum and dad
as they are both key workers.
Help the world God.
Amen.
All-Age Prayer
Holy, Holy, Holy God, great is your name.
We want to shout it from the rooftops,
we want to sing it from the balcony,
we want to share it with everyone.
You are our God, and we are your people.
God, we want to praise you today,
we want to shout and sing,
to celebrate that we have Jesus in our lives.
We also want to thank you and shout and sing
for all those who are in the front line of working with people:
all healthcare professionals,
all hospital staff, shop workers,
transport workers, postal workers
and refuge collectors and so many more.
We don’t want to look too far ahead
into the week and months that are coming,
we want everything to go back to normal.
Holy God, stay with us,
support us and strengthen us as we face the future.
Don’t let us be afraid,
don’t let us shy from keeping communication open with you
and with others but let us journey together.
Lord Jesus, may we stop and make the choice
to turn every word about love you have ever uttered
into commitment and example.
For we ask this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Fischy Song/Craft/Game/Activity
Hand Cream
For children with a Mum or Gran (or even Dad!) at home. Talk about the woman caring for Jesus as the young person massages some hand cream into their Mum’s hands. Mum/Gran cares for the children so this is a way for a child to care for them.
Word Game - Expensive Perfume
How many three letter words or more can you make from the two words above ‘expensive perfume’.
Activity - Name that smell?
In individual containers place some smelly substances you have at home. Under each container face down place the name of what is in each container. Guess what the smell is? Leave the perfume to the end.
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