Hot off the press is the next issue from the Spill the Beans Resource Team. Issue 37 is 150 pages of resources and ideas covering the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany season all the way to Transfiguration Sunday (29 November 2020 to 14 February 2021) and based on the Revised Common Lectionary texts. We are continuing to provide a rich variety of resources and mindful that many of us may have a mixed economy of worship and age group activities, some in person and others online.
Note that we are adding audio-visual resources regularly to the Facebook group, so please do keep an eye on that.
Sampler
Created by folks here in Scotland, this issue has lots of ideas and resources for you to inspire, adapt, use in leading worship or for age groups in Junior Churches and youth groups. If you have not used Spill the Beans before then please have a look at this sample.
If you'd like to download a full copy of Issue 37 (including audio files) for use in your church or personally, then click the 'Buy Now' button below. The cost is only £12 (GBP). You can make a secure payment via PayPal and then an email with secure link to the download should wing its way to you. Please note that you can only download the file using this link three times, so please make sure you save the file to your computer as soon as you have downloaded it. We recommend first downloading to a laptop or desktop computer before moving to phone/tablet.
Please follow the instructions carefully. The compressed zip file is large at approximately 15 MB so it may take some time to download. Please be patient as your computer does so! Once it has downloaded (you may want to check your "Downloads" folder) you will need to extract the contents (this option may appear at the top of the window or if you right-click on the file).
You can also get involved in feedback and discussion on the Spill the Beans blog, where we try to put up weekly PowerPoint backgrounds too. There is also a facebook page in which we share ideas and we have introduced a new facebook group which you can link to from the facebook page and which we hope will provide a place of mutual support, ideas and encouragement as we trek together through this new adventure.
Print Copies
The office in which the printed copies are made is currently still closed due to the pandemic so we cannot provide any printed copies of this issue. Our apologies for that inconvenience.
Previous Issue
You can still purchase the previous issue that covers until 22 November 2020 below.
We are continuing to live in very uncertain times and with a variety of different forms of worship being planned for the autumn months depending on the state of the pandemic. The Spill the Beans Resource Team have continued to create resources for worship leaders and age group leaders, recognising that variety, and we hope and pray that they are useful for you.
Note that we are adding audio-visual resources regularly to the Facebook group, so please do keep an eye on that.
This is the fourth issue in Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary and covers from Pentecost 13 to Reign of Christ Sunday.
Sampler
Created by folks here in Scotland, this issue has lots of ideas and resources for you to inspire, adapt, use in leading worship or for age groups in Junior Churches and youth groups. If you have not used Spill the Beans before then please Download Spill-the-Beans-Issue-36-Sampler.
If you'd like to download a full copy of Issue 36 (including audio files) for use in your church or personally, then click the 'Buy Now' button below. The cost is only £12 (GBP). You can make a secure payment via PayPal and then an email with secure link to the download should wing its way to you. Please note that you can only download the file using this link three times, so please make sure you save the file to your computer as soon as you have downloaded it. We recommend first downloading to a laptop or desktop computer before moving to phone/tablet.
Please follow the instructions carefully. The compressed zip file is large at approximately 15 MB so it may take some time to download. Please be patient as your computer does so! Once it has downloaded (you may want to check your "Downloads" folder) you will need to extract the contents (this option may appear at the top of the window or if you right-click on the file).
You can also get involved in feedback and discussion on the Spill the Beans blog, where we try to put up weekly PowerPoint backgrounds too. There is also a facebook page in which we share ideas and we have introduced a new facebook group which you can link to from the facebook page and which we hope will provide a place of mutual support, ideas and encouragement as we trek together through this new adventure.
Print Copies
The office in which the printed copies are made is currently still closed due to the pandemic so we cannot provide any printed copies of this issue. Our apologies for that inconvenience.
Those of us who are worship leaders, planners and creators are in a very different world at the moment in our organising of worship and ways of encouraging people in their worship of God during the Covid-19 pandemic response. In recognition of the difficult circumstances many of us are in at this time, the Spill the Beans Resource Team offer their latest issue as a free gift to our friends and colleagues around the world.
This is the third issue in Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary and covers from Trinity Sunday to Pentecost 12, taking us through the summer months.
Collaboration with Fischy Music
We continute our collaborative work with Fischy Music with a new song titled "A Little More" which debuts in this issue and explores our calling to be more like Jesus and to see the world as if through Jesus' eyes. You will find the score within the issue and audio tracks both with vocals and the backing track alone.
Download the Pack
We are not using our usual delivery service for this free of charge issue. So please click on the image of the issue above or click here and the download of the zip pack should begin.
You can also get involved in feedback and discussion on the Spill the Beans blog, where we try to put up weekly PowerPoint backgrounds too. There is also a facebook page in which we share ideas and we have introduced a new facebook group which you can link to from the facebook page and which we hope will provide a place of mutual support, ideas and encouragement as we trek together through this new adventure.
Print Copies
The office in which the printed copies are made is currently closed due to the pandemic so we cannot provide any printed copies of this issue. Our apologies for that inconvenience.
Previous Issue
Issue 34 (up to 31 May 2020, Pentecost Sunday) is still available to purchase using the following button:
We complete our journey through Holy Week and our collaboration betwee Spill the Beans and Fischy Music. Today's resources have been prepared by Rev Gayle Taylor of Newbattle Church.
Today we have arrived at the most celebrated day in our faith calendar, Easter Sunday.
Call to Worship
Holy One, we celebrate the joy of this day, Christ has risen!
The Light of Christ shines out. We come to worship. We exalt with each other: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Halleluiah!
With joyful thanksgiving let us sing together and share a blessing from Dunblane Cathedral:
Praise
"Jesus Calls us Here to Meet Him" which we sing in a different way from the way it was sung earlier in the week as we remembered the last supper. Then after the blessing, we sing our resurrection anthem Thine be the Glory.
Reading
Read John chapter 20 verses 1-18 from your bible at home.
Giving God, creator of all that we have, and all that we are. We rejoice in resurrection, as those who have not seen, and yet believe. We dedicate ourselves to you, to your commission, to your commandment, to go forward and spread your love. Accept our offerings of time, talent and money, as a sign of our gratitude and our resolve, to walk every day in the light of Christ. Amen.
Fischy Song / Activity
The song “Tiny Seed” reminds us of how things grow from very small beginnings and that growth is happening even in the dark times.
Spring Flowers
have a look online for pictures of spring flowers – see how many colours and shapes they have – create a picture of your favourite spring flowers using crayons and pens or coloured paper or tissue paper if you have it. Let’s give thanks and celebrate the new life that is blooming all around in gardens and parks.
The Stone Has Rolled
Talk about the story and the women arriving in the garden to discover the stone had been rolled away and Jesus was not there in the tomb. Discuss how the women might have been feeling at this time. Talk about how their feelings changed when they discovered Jesus had risen and explore with the children how they feel on Easter Day knowing the good news that Jesus is alive.
Boil an egg, let it cool down in cold water, dry it, then paint or colour your egg with felt pens and get ready to roll it! Hollow chocolate eggs can be rolled too and if they break they remind us of the stone that rolled away when Jesus broke free from the tomb to bring new life to the world.
Reflection
The First Preachers
Fear and death flow about their feet as the first preachers plod towards the finality of stone and grave. The angels speak their peace and hope rises. A gardener, who is not a gardener, speaks a name, and their re-cognition turns fear into hope; finality into resurrection. Before the sun is up, the tomb is empty, and they flee with terror and joy. Then heavy of breath and alight with love their first fear fuelled sermon begins: Christ is risen. Easter joy begins in the grip of chaos and fear- Behind locked doors with a future uncertain, a timescale unknown. Yet it is hope that rises in the darkness before the dawn. The first sermons whisper on the wind: He is risen indeed!
Praise
Sending
The stone is rolled away! Death is overcome! Jesus is alive, and all is well! Halleluiah, halleluiah, Christ is risen! Amen.
As part of a continuing collaboration with Spill the Beans, Fischy Music and Rev Gayle Taylor to bring family-oriented worship resources to you for Holy Week, here are some ideas for Holy Saturday compiled and prepared by Rev Peter Johnston from Ferryhill Parish Church.
Opening
Today is Holy Saturday. Yesterday we remembered the death of Jesus. Tomorrow we will celebrate his resurrection. But today is Holy Saturday— it is not time for Easter Eggs yet.
Today is a day in which we are encouraged to think about life and death: to wonder what happens to us when we die. It is a day to think about the dead: our friends, our families, those we will never know.
Jesus is no stranger to human death. He has been there before us. Death and life are part of who we are, part of what makes us human, part of being mortal and alive.
On Holy Saturday we remember those who have died and know them to be safe in God.
Praise
When we are living Words: Mexican trad (v.1), Roberto Escamilla (vv. 2-4), John L Bell (English version)
Reading
Read together from your Bible Mark chapter 15, verses 46-47 or use:
Joseph bought some linen cloth, took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in the linen. He put the body in a tomb that was cut in a wall of rock. Then he closed the tomb by rolling a very large stone to cover the entrance. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw the place where Jesus was laid.
It was the least I could do, this one last thing for Jesus, when I think of all he did for me, for so many others, bringing laughter and life, hope and joy, and now… well, this is not how we expected it to end.
But I couldn’t just leave him there, the ravens circling above, I had to lay him to rest.
The tomb I had prepared for myself was sitting empty, thankfully, so that is where I took Jesus’ body, wrapping it carefully in cloths.
I offered my own prayer for him, and then I rolled the stone to protect the entrance from wild dogs and foxes.
And I went home, nodding to the Mary’s who had watched all I did, tears rolling down their faces, and I sat as the darkness came, wondering if that was it.
Have you ever visited a cemetery? Perhaps you have a family member who is buried in a cemetery that you can visit. Not everyone does, but many people do. It can be strange to visit, knowing that the body of your loved one is beneath you, and yet that their soul is with God.
Going to visit a tomb or graveside can help us to remember that person, it is time we set aside to be with our memories of them, but we can find many other ways to hold on to those memories.
What do you do to hold on to your precious memories? Could you keep a diary? Draw a picture? Or tell a story?
Fischy Song / Activity
You will need: the cross and ripped cloths you made yesterday, red felt tip pens, flowers.
Take the cloths that you had written or drawn on yesterday and ripped apart. Draw red heart shapes amidst the thoughts you had written yesterday, to represent love and good memories that can drown out the negative ideas.
When you have done this, take the cloths and wrap them around the cross carefully and respectfully, as if wrapping a body ahead of burial. Ask the children to find a safe place either inside the house or in your garden where you can lay the wrapped body to rest.
If you have flowers growing in the garden, cut one and lay it on top of the cross.
[Note that on Easter morning you may want to place an Easter egg in that place having removed the cross after the children have gone to bed.]
Children’s Prayer
By Harriet and Robert (from Ferryhill Parish Church)
God, thank you for the memories you have helped provide and thank you for the memories you will provide for us in the future.
Please watch over us as we create new memories even if we may not know it yet, and look after those who are only in our memories.
Those who have left us to be under your care we keep close to our hearts through fond memories.
Thank you for giving us the people and opportunities to be able to have the memories which keep us going even on the darkest days. Amen.
All-Age Prayer
We give thanks for kindness, for Joseph who looked after Jesus’ body, for all who helped, for the women who kept watch and did what they could.
God everyday show us ways to be kind.
May we build up special memories by finding, in every day, a way we can be kind to one another knowing that every kindness is an act of love.
Jesus, your living and dying modelled love for us. As we remember you today may we want to follow you in love. Amen.
As part of a continuing collaboration with Spill the Beans, Fischy Music and Rev Gayle Taylor to bring family-oriented worship resources to you for Holy Week, here are some ideas for Good Friday compiled and prepared by Rev Peter Johnston, Ferryhill Parish Church.
Opening
Today is a difficult day, it is a day when we think about endings, about how sometimes good things stop, and sometimes we have to say goodbye. It is a day to remember that not everything in life is easy, sometimes it can really hurt. And it is a day to remember that Jesus has been right there with us, facing the worst that the bullies could throw at him.
Praise
The Servant King
Reading
Read together from your Bible Mark chapter 15, verses 37-39 or use:
Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice and died.
When Jesus died, the curtain in the Temple split into two pieces. The tear started at the top and tore all the way to the bottom. The army officer that was standing there before the cross saw what happened when Jesus died. The officer said, “This man really was the Son of God!”
Have you ever had that strange feeling right in the pit of your stomach, a sinking feeling when you realise that something you have done has gone terribly wrong?
I had just that feeling on that day, standing underneath the cross where Jesus died.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a soldier. I’ve seen things that are not fit for a child to see, if you get my drift, things that would make some people faint, others turn a shade of green, but never have I felt the way I did that day.
I was doing my job, of course, guarding the place where the crucifixions happened, nothing unusual there, though it is not my favourite job, I will admit.
And there was something different about this Jesus, the way he didn’t get angry but seemed to look at me, even me, as if he understood, as if he forgave me, silly really, but I felt a lump in my throat when he cried out and then fell silent.
The whole city seemed to fall silent.
And then I heard it, a wailing from the Temple, screams of people in fear, I didn’t know whether to run back to the city or stay on the hill.
Then the word came that the curtain in the Jewish Temple had ripped apart, and that is when I felt that heavy feeling deep in my stomach, that I had been a part of doing something very wrong.
That’s when I knew Jesus was what he said he was, he was the Son of God.
People say goodbye all the time. Sometimes it is easy, because you know you will meet again, like saying goodbye to school friends when you go on holiday.
At other times it is hard, like when a friend moves away, and you know you may never see them again.
And then there are the times when it breaks your heart, like when someone dies, because you know how much you will miss them, and how much you loved them.
Today we remember that Jesus’ friends felt just that way, everything seemed to be over, everything seemed to be finished, and hope seemed to have gone.
Life turned upside down for them.
Life has been turned outside in for us, flowers grow as if nothing has changed, the days go by, sun rising and falling, yet we are stuck inside our homes, fearful that a virus might mean saying goodbye to someone we know.
But we will not give up hope. We will hold out for a better time to come.
Fischy Song / Activity
You will need: hammer, nails and some bits of wood (or cardboard), an old bed sheet or piece of cloth you no longer need, felt tip pens, scissors.
Supervised by adults nail two pieces of wood together into a cross shape, and each time you hammer a nail into the wood take some time to think about something that hurts other people and have the children write or draw a picture to represent that on the cloth (e.g. violence, climate change, bullying, coronavirus).
If you do not have access to pieces of wood, you could cut out a cross from cardboard.
When you have finished adding nails to the wood and thoughts to the sheet then make a snip with the scissors at one end of the sheet and gather everyone around the sheet, holding on to the edges of the sheet rip it into two pieces.
Keep the cross and pieces of cloth to use tomorrow.
[Note that on Easter morning you may want to place an Easter egg in that place having removed the cross after the children have gone to bed.]
Children’s Prayer
By Katie (from South Holburn Parish Church)
Dear Lord, it’s hard just now. We can’t go out and see our friends and family – it gets lonely and it’s sad.
Let us stay healthy during this difficult time and in particular keep our grandparents safe.
We want to pray for those who have lost loved ones, not just through COVID 19, and aren’t able to grieve properly.
Please support people who are still working hard through this horrible disease – there are some very kind people out there.
Help people look through and past this to the future with hope and maybe make changes to their lifestyle that will benefit all in our community. Amen.
All-Age Prayer
God we know that bad things don’t last for ever. On this day that we call Good Friday it got really bad for you.
And then, when it was too late, people realised that you really were God’s son.
So we remember the bad things that you endured for us: how you took on everything that is wrong, everything that keeps us back from doing what is right, everything that keeps us from being your friends and you carried all those when you died on the cross so that we could be free.
You showed us what real love is by dying for us.
Today, when we have the chance to show love by staying at home, by keeping our distance so that others might live, help us to do the right thing and, while we are at home, may we take the opportunity to think more about all that you did for us and about what we can do for one another to show love.
And may we keep remembering that bad things don’t last forever. Amen.
The resources for Maundy Thursday's ideas for worship at home have been prepared by Rev Roddy Hamilton from New Kilpatrick Parish Church, Bearsden. This is part of a continuing collaboration with Spill the Beans, Fischy Music and Rev Gayle Taylor to bring family-oriented worship resources to you for Holy Week.
Reading
Read together Mark chapter 14, verses 66 to 72 from your own Bible or you can use:
Peter was still in the courtyard when a servant girl of the high priest came there. She saw Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked closely at him.
Then the girl said, “You were with Jesus, that man from Nazareth.”
But Peter said that he was never with Jesus. He said, “I don’t know or understand what you are talking about.” Then Peter left and went toward the entrance of the courtyard.
The servant girl saw Peter there. Again she said to the people who were standing there, “This man is one of those who followed Jesus.” Again Peter said that it was not true.
A short time later, some people were standing near Peter. They said, “We know you are one of those who followed Jesus. You are from Galilee, too.”
Then Peter began to curse. He said, “I swear that I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”
As soon as Peter said this, the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter was very sad and began to cry.
Retelling
It was late at night – very late, and it was cold – very cold. So one of Jesus disciples – yes only one – waited outside in a courtyard while inside Jesus was being questioned.
Peter didn’t know what was happening. No one did but he just wanted to be there, as close to his friend Jesus as he could be.
There was a campfire to gather around, and a few people did, to keep warm, to talk together, their faces lit orange by the flickering flames.
“I’ve seen you with him,” someone said, almost a whisper beside him.
“No, you are mistaken,” said Peter, and he moved around to the other side of the fire.
The person looked at him again over the flames. “It is you! I’ve definitely seen you with him,” she said more loudly. Others heard her and looked at Peter who pulled his cloak around him to hide his face.
Then other joined in, “Yes, you are one of his disciples. We’ve seen you with him. I recognise your face.”
“Nooooo!” shouted Peter, but before the word was out a cockerel crowed and Peter hung his head as he remembered what Jesus said about how he would deny him. And Peter sunk down by the fire and began to weep.
Praise
Sing together or listen to Meekness and Majesty (CH4 356).
All-Age Prayer
When you invite us to follow help us say, ‘yes’.
When we make mistakes help us say, ‘sorry’.
When we get lost help us find home.
When we’re asked who you are help us say, ‘our friend’.
When you ask ‘are you mine?’ help us say, ‘Amen’.
Fischy Song / Activity
There must be so many things we have done that we are sorry for. I wonder how Peter felt when he denied Jesus as he stood by that fire. Take some paper, it could be newspaper or coloured paper and cut it into flame shapes. Write there some of the things you want to say sorry for. Depending on how many you cut, you could create a circle that reminds us of God’s love despite what we do that hurts others: a love that is eternal and holds us despite what we do.
The resources for today's worship ideas for you to do at home have been prepared by Rev Roddy Hamilton from New Kilpatrick Parish Church, Bearsden. This is part of a continuing collaboration with Spill the Beans, Fischy Music and Rev Gayle Taylor to bring family-oriented worship resources to you for Holy Week.
Reading
Read together Mark chapter 14, verses 32 to 36 from your own Bible or you can use:
Jesus and his followers went to a place called Gethsemane. He said to his followers, “Sit here while I pray.” Jesus told Peter, James, and John to come with him. Then Jesus began to be very sad and troubled. He said to them, “I am full of sorrow. My heart is breaking with sadness. Stay here and watch.”
Jesus walked a little farther away from them. Then he fell on the ground and prayed. He prayed that, if possible, he would not have this time of suffering. He prayed, “Abba, Father! You can do all things. Let me not have this cup of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want.”
Retelling
And Jesus went out to pray, to be alone with God. And the place he went was a garden of olive trees.
Olive trees are twisted and gnarled; it was how Jesus felt this night: confused at what best to do.
He had so many questions about what was going to happen, and he knew the best thing to do was go and pray.
And so he did.
He found a quiet place, and spoke to God, about exactly how he felt, all the hurt, all the worry, all the questions.
And there he knew, somehow, God was with him through all things, all the way, for that is what love does.
Praise
Sing together or listen to Go To Dark Gethsemane (CH4 377), note that you can get the words by turning on Subtitles/Closed Captions in the YouTube video clip.
All-Age Prayer
Father God, we are all a bit worried about the virus just now. Thank you for all the nurses and doctors and paramedics who are working hard to look after people in hospitals all over the world.
Dear God, please look after all our friends and members of our family whom we can’t see just now. Please be with anyone who is feeling sad or lonely.
Dear God, we want everyone to have a safe home to live in and the medicine that they need.
Even though this is a difficult time, please help us to enjoy the good things in your world like hearing the birds singing when we go out for a walk and talking to our friends and family on the phone and internet.
Thank you that we can still share our prayers and be a church even though we can’t go to church right now.
Amen.
Fischy Song / Activity
Jesus in the garden tells us about how honest you can be in prayer. Jesus was very honest with God. Why not create a prayer tree that reminds you of this story and also is a place for honest prayer.
Find a few twigs from the garden and place in a vase. Cut out leaf shaped pieces of paper and tie a piece of wool or string or thread through a hole in the leaf. During today whenever you things of a concern or a problem or a worry, like Jesus, share it with God but writing that prayer on a leaf and hanging it on a branch.
We continue our family-oriented resources for worship at home during Holy Week in our continuing collaboration with Spill the Beans, Fischy Music and Rev Gayle Taylor. These resources were chosen and prepared by Rev Barbara Ann Sweetin from Forfar East and Old Parish Church.
While we usually focus on the last supper on Thursday during this week, we are following the events in Mark's gospel in their order there, and to the next main scene in the story which is this event. We will have other thoughts about Maundy Thursday later in the week.
Reading
Read together from your own Bible (or use the text below from the NIV) Mark, chapter 14, verses 22 to 26.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Retelling
Jesus and his friends were sitting around the table having some supper together. They were chatting about what had been going on that day and some whispered to each other about the how strange things seem to be that night. Jesus picked up the loaf of bread that was on the table and he prayed to God and said thanks! He then passed it around his friends with each person tearing off a piece of bread and eating it. He told them ‘this is my body’ but his friends were struggling to understand what that meant and no-one wanted to ask him.
He then took the goblet of wine and once again he thanked God and as it was passed between them all they all took a drink from it. Not very hygienic if you ask me!!! He then told them this was his blood!!! His blood that was poured out for many! His friends really didn’t know what to make of this either they were so confused!
Bread for his body? Wine for his blood? and then Jesus finished off saying that he wouldn’t drink again until he was in heaven? What on earth was Jesus talking about? But no-one dared ask him to explain it further – this was a strange night indeed!
Everyone sang a hymn together and then it was time to go out to the mount of Olives – Jesus friends hoped this was the last of the strange events that night!
Praise
You could read or sing "Jesus calls us here to meet him", there is a video with accompaniment provided here. Words: John L Bell & Graham Maule
Jesus calls us here to meet him as, through word and song and prayer, We affirm God’s promised presence where his people live and care. Praise the God who keeps his promise; praise the Son who calls us friends; praise the Spirit who, among us, to our hopes and fears attends.
Jesus calls us to confess him Word of Life and Lord of all, sharer of our flesh and frailness saving all who fail or fall. Tell his holy human story; tell his tales that all may hear; tell the world that Christ in glory came to earth to meet us here.
Jesus calls us to each other: vastly different though we are; creed and colour, class and gender neither limit nor debar. Join the hand of friend and stranger; join the hands of age and youth; join the faithful and the doubter in their common search for truth.
Jesus calls us to his table rooted firm in time and space, where the church in earth and heaven finds a common meeting place. Share the bread and wine, his body; share the love of which we sing; share the feast for saints and sinners hosted by our Lord and King.
All-Age Prayer
When hope seems gone and the future broken, may we tell your story. When the hungry need fed and injustice is rife, may we tell your story. When people are suffering and dying, may we tell your story.
Lord we don’t want to retell your story just in church for your story is the hope of the world, this bread the means of a new world, the wine the promise for all, the table a meeting place for all.
May your stories be the ones we tell that plants hope and sows longing into the fabric of the world. So we come as we are, O Lord Jesus, with all the worry we have, the ability to change sides so easily, the fear of the future and the hurt of the past with what is broken in us and what is a burden to us. We come as we are with all that we have done. Renew us; refocus our vision; dare us to believe; call us anew and name us your body in the world. So be it. Amen.
Fischy Video / Activity
Supper
Set the table for your family or set a picnic on your floor. Then make some sandwiches and place them on your table along with a jug of blackcurrant juice. As you eat and drink name and recall as many stories of Jesus that you can.
Bread Making
If you are bread makers make a loaf for your meal tonight or try your hand making unleavened bread (there are plenty of recipes online) and failing that try some pancake making instead. As you are making the bread talk to God and bring to God in your prayers all the things that are troubling you but also the things for which you are grateful.
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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