Fairground Games: Turn the Key
AGE: Primary |
THEME: Fairground Games: Turn the Key |
AIM: |
| To think about how the people of the world, as well as the animals and the environment, are all important and valuable to God and to each other. To reflect on heaven and a future with God as the prize we seek in life. |
PREPARATION: |
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INTRODUCTION: |
| Sam worked at fairs. They were happy places, full of games and rides and excited, jolly people, pleased to be there. Sam looked after a game. It was a little like this: (show example if possible or use an image / mock up or simply describe the game in detail). Sam had a large board and on it was a box containing a large amount of money. The door of the box was locked. The game was to try and pick the right key from a large bag full of different keys of all shapes, colours and sizes. If you chose the right key when it was put in the lock the door would spring open and you were allowed to take the money away to keep. Sam felt his job was very important. As each person played, Sam made sure the key they had chosen, whether it was right or wrong, was given a little polish and carefully put back in the bag. Looking after your game as carefully as Sam did took time, and the boss of the fair got cross with him. But Sam explained, 'I need to look after all my keys, for if one goes missing my game will not be right. I must have 100 keys at the start of my game and in each game only one will turn the lock. Imagine how it would be if one of my keys got lost. There need to be the wrong keys in my bag for people to enjoy the game, to hear the clinking and clanking and to know they will be really lucky if they choose the right key. And of course I need the key that turns the lock. Each key is only a small part of my game but I want to make sure all the parts are ready for play and that people enjoy the game because it works properly. |
DEVELOPMENT: |
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Think / talk about what would happen if we were to: Try and play the game without any keys; Try and play the game with the winning key missing; Try and play the game with a small selection of keys (explain, only because of time constraints) including the winning key. Encourage children to share their response to each variation of the game. The game works when all the pieces are there, cared for and valued. |
BIBLE STORY: |
| Tell the story of the Lost Sheep from Luke 15. Encourage children to link the idea of the game and the story: we are the keys in God's game, we all matter to God because we are a part of his family. God knows something is wrong if we are not there - he cares about each and every one of us. |
DEVELOPMENT AND REFLECTION: |
| In Sam's game the prize for finding the right key was a sum of money. If we are like the keys, an important part of God's world, what would the prize be? Gather some ideas from the children. Maybe the best prize is a life knowing we are with God. Learning about him and living a life following his teaching and then living with him forever in heaven. What do the children think about heaven? Provide some time for reflection; listening to music may help children to focus on the theme, and providing a lighted candle for them to look at can also help. You may wish to gather some of the ideas the children have had in their quiet time. Alternatively give them another idea to think about as they leave: Why is a relationship with God a prize? What does this faith, or this relationship give to believers? Try and provide time for children to discuss their ideas and thoughts in small groups, ensure there is sensitivity and an understanding that the answers to these questions are not right or wrong and thinking about/answering them is a very mature and challenging thing to do. Provide children (individually, in pairs or small groups) with a key to look after. What will they do to keep their key safe? How do they feel about their key? What will happen if they lose it? Draw links back to the story of the Lost Sheep. How does God feel about us? How does he feel if he loses us? What does he do to protect us? |
PRAYER: |
| Thank you, Lord, for our wonderful world, for all the tiny parts that work together to make it the wonderful place it is. Help us to learn from you, respecting, valuing and taking care of each individual piece, me included, so that the whole thing works so beautifully together. Amen. |
SONGS / MUSIC: |
| 'There are hundreds of sparrows, thousands, millions' No.15, The Complete Come and Praise, BBC. 'Think of a world without any flowers' No.15, Someone's Singing Lord, A & C Black. Listen to Lene Marlin, 'A Place Nearby' or Eric Clapton 'Tears in Heaven' at times of reflection or when entering / leaving assembly meeting times. |
FURTHER IDEAS TO DEVELOP: |
Links to:
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