AIM:
To explore the theme of 'insiders' and 'outsiders' in our community and to make links with the Biblical story of Zacchaeus.
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PREPARATION: |
Prepare a focus table with an attractive piece of cloth. Place on it a candle and a Bible opened at Luke 19:1-10.
Prepare the 3 illustrations provided:
- Image 1: Figure looking at snow scene
- Image 2: Figure under tree
- Image 3: Welcome picture
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INTRODUCTION: |
Imagine in your minds a picture of a friendly school. What would you see there? How would it feel to be there?
- Give the children time to think about this - they could close their eyes for a few moments.
- Discuss the children's 'mental maps', focussing particularly on the feelings associated with being part of, or inside, a group of people where everyone is friendly.
Now imagine in your minds a picture of an unfriendly school. What would you see there? How would it feel to be there?
- Repeat the process above, but this time focus on feelings associated with being left out of a group, being an 'outsider'.
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DEVELOPMENT: |
(Project Image 1: Figure looking at snow scene.)
It can feel very lonely when everyone else is playing with their friends, but you have nobody to play with. Some people say that if you don't have friends it's like 'being out in the cold'. What do you think they might mean by this?
In the Bible there is a story about someone called Zacchaeus who felt like an outsider. Because of his actions, nobody liked him and he had no friends. And then, one day, his life changed completely.
Tell the story of Zacchaeus. You could say something like this:
- Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector - this made him very rich but also very unpopular because he would often cheat people and take their money.
- He was a very small man. People were always looking down on him, partly because they disliked him so much but also because he was so small. He had no friends. Nobody wanted to go near him or have anything to do with him. He was an 'outsider'.
- Then he heard that Jesus was coming to his town. He wanted to see him, but Jesus was so popular that there were crowds of people filling the streets. And Zacchaeus was so small he couldn't see a thing.
(Project Image 2: Figure under tree)
- So Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowds and climbed a tree so that he would be able to get a better view of Jesus. When Jesus walked by, he looked up into the tree and spoke to Zacchaeus, who could not believe it - for the first time in his life, someone was looking up to him!
- What's more, Jesus asked if he could come to stay at Zacchaeus's house. Zacchaeus was delighted and quickly climbed down the tree and welcomed Jesus into his home.
- The people around Jesus were shocked and began to grumble. 'Why is Jesus going to his house and not my house?'
- Meeting Jesus made a big difference to Zacchaeus. He realised he had done many wrong things and so he gave away his money to people who were poor and he gave back money to all the people he had cheated.
- It was an important day for Jesus too. He wanted to celebrate because Zacchaeus had realised why he had no friends and could now become part of his community again. Even though Zacchaeus was still a little man, people could now look up to him.
Briefly explore the story, using 'wondering' questions:
I wonder which part of this story you like best?
I wonder which part of this story you think is most important?
I wonder how Zacchaeus felt when people looked down on him?
I wonder how Zacchaeus felt when Jesus looked up to him?
I wonder why Jesus chose to stay at Zacchaeus' house?
(Project Image 3: Welcome picture)
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PRAYER: |
'Loving God
You are always there to welcome us.
Help us to make our school a place of welcome.
When people are isolated and lonely
Help us to bring them together with us
And to share all we have.
Amen.'
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MUSIC: |
'Zacchaeus was a very little man' No.42 in Come and Praise Beginning, comp. Geoffrey Marshall-Taylor, BBC Education, ISBN 0-563 -37475-6
'Make me a channel of your peace' No.147 in Come and Praise 2, comp. Geoffrey Marshall-Taylor, BBC Education, ISBN 0-563-34247-1
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FOLLOW-UP IDEAS: |
Make mental maps of your 'friendly' and 'unfriendly' schools. Children could work in small groups to record their thoughts. Use drawings, symbols and words to show what was visualised.
What can our mental maps tell us about our school?
In the story of Zacchaeus, how does Jesus challenge us to think differently about 'insiders' and 'outsiders'?
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