AGE:
Infants and Juniors |
THEME:
Blowing Bubbles |
AIM: |
| To encourage children to reflect on the concept of trust. |
INTRODUCTION: |
| Using a children's bubble pot and stick, begin by blowing bubbles in front of the children. Encourage them to describe the bubbles. Ask the children to close their eyes, while you continue to blow bubbles near enough for them to be able to feel and hear the bubbles bursting around them. When the children open their eyes, ask them to tell you what they were doing when their eyes were shut. Encourage them to think about and explain how they knew - and encourage their sense of awe and wonder at how they knew something was there even when they couldn't see it. |
DEVELOPMENT: |
There are a number of things we can't see but know exist. There are a range of reasons why we know they are there. Print or write out the following and encourage the children to match the appropriate pairs:
| We know | * Night follows day | | because | * we have experienced it |
| | * We will be picked up from school | | | * we trust our parents |
| | * 'someone' is behind the voice on the telephone | | | * we can hear them |
We can't see God, but we can believe in his existence and presence around us.
(Draw links to the key words from the previous exercise.)
We can't see God but we can see and hear the wonders of his world around us. We can experience the love and security of being part of his family. We can trust in him and his existence.
Ask the children to make some suggestions about
- how they experience the wonders of God's world
- how they are learning to trust God's care for them
- how and where they hear examples of God's creation.
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PRAYER: |
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Thank you, Lord, for letting us know you are there. We feel happy and secure because we know you love us. We are amazed at the beauty of your world around us. Let us show others your presence through the care and love we give them. Help us to trust you and remember you in all we do. |
FURTHER IDEAS TO DEVELOP IN WORSHIP OR THROUGH THE WEEK: |
- Read about Peter and John healing the beggar (Acts 3). Peter and John could no longer see Jesus, who had gone to heaven to be with God, but they still trusted him. In fact they believed so strongly what he had told them that they made a lame man walk.
- Share children's ideas using the key words from the main resource:
- What are their favourite sights and sounds?
- What are their favourite / most memorable experiences?
- Who/what do they trust?
- Finish with some time to reflect on the ideas gathered and offer thanks to God for our experiences and caring friends and family.
- Read from John 20:24-29. Thomas had been a very good friend of Jesus but could not believe he had come back to life unless he saw him for himself. Trusting is hard. It is hard to believe something is there when we can't see it. It is OK to doubt - even Thomas did! But, as the Bible tell us, trusting and believing can bring us real happiness.
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RELATED ACTIVITIES TO TRY: |
- Children can make their own simple books with one page for each subtitle. They can then add their own choice of pictures and/or words as appropriate.
- Subtitles could include
- My favourite sights and sounds
- My best memories / experiences
- I trust...
- My thankful thoughts / prayer
- Play 'trust' games with children, in pairs or threes.
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SONGS: |
'I have seen the golden sunshine', No.6 in Someone's Singing Lord, A & C Black
'Stand up, Clap hands', No.14 in Someone's Singing Lord, A & C Black
'Peter and John went to pray', No.598 in Mission Praise, Marshall Pickering
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