CREATION STATION
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6,7 and Luke 1:46-55
Key Scripture Verse for this Workshop
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be
called children of God.” (NRSV)
Concepts:
·
God
wants us to live in a world of peace and justice.
·
God
has a plan for peace.
·
Jesus
came to earth to teach us about peace.
·
God
wants us to work for peace and justice.
Objectives:
· The children will learn to fold paper cranes or doves to contribute to the Advent project to make 1000 birds for peace.
· The children will learn that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s plan for peace as written in Isaiah.
Procedure:
Welcome and Introductions:
1. Welcome the children and introduce yourself. Wear your name tag.
2. Explain the purpose of this lesson. The crane and dove are symbols of peace. We will be making paper cranes (grades 3-5) or doves (grades 1,2) for peace. This is part of a Kirk-wide project to make one thousand paper cranes and send them to Japan in the name of peace.
Bible Story:
1. Read Mary’s Song of Praise Luke 1:46-55. Mary is joyful that God as chosen her to be the mother of Jesus. Mary knows that God has a plan for peace and justice (v 51-53). Why does she think this? (It was written in the Old Testament scriptures.)
2.
Read
Isaiah 9:6,7. “A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will
be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal
Father and Prince of Peace. His power will never end; peace will last
forever.” CEV
This passage was written about 700 years before
Jesus was born. This is why Mary knows that God has a plan for peace. Jesus was sent to teach us about peace.
3. Recite the memory verse together: Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Jesus said that anyone who works for peace is a child of God. Even children can work for peace! What can children do?
4. Tell the story of a Japanese girl named Sadako. Children in grades 3-5 only will have seen a video about Sadako in Holywood the previous week.
In 1945 there was a war among many nations of the
world. It was called World War II. Because of the type of weapons that were
used in Japan during this war, many people in Japan became very sick. One person who became sick after the war was
an 11-year-old girl named Sadako. While she was in the hospital Sadako began to fold a thousand paper cranes so that her wish for
good health would come true. Sadly, Sadako died before completing her task. Her
fellow students folded the remainder of the thousand cranes, which were buried
with her.
Sadako’s courage and faith inspired her
friends, and others from around the world, to raise money for a memorial to the
children who were innocent victims of war. Each year children and
adults from all over the world fold a thousand paper cranes to be taken to the
Children’s Monument in the Peace
Park in Hiroshima where the inscription reads: ‘This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.’
Application:
1. Make the cranes (older children) or doves (younger children) according to the instructions. Work step by step with the children.
2. Make as many cranes as you can. The children may take home one bird for their tree.
3. Optional: Play Christmas music softly in the background.
4. Remind the children that they can continue to work on this project with their families. We need 1000 birds!! They will take home instructions.
5. Discuss. Some of the children will find it difficult to make an origami crane or dove. They may whine about it being too hard and it takes too long. Yes! That is true for peace too! Peace is hard to achieve, often shows little results, we want to give up. Until we make cranes so often that it becomes automatic and part of our muscle memory, we will struggle. Yet we can do it. The same is true for the struggle to have peace in the world. Are we up to the challenge?
Reflection Time:
This is short and simple because you will need most of your time for bird making. Shepherds will pass out the journal sheets and glue sticks.
Tell the children that there are other symbols of peace besides the crane and dove. The children will be learning about other symbols in other Faith Quest workshops too. Give each child a slip(s) of paper with the dove and/or rainbow. Glue one or more of the symbols on the journal sheet. Explain the symbols.
Closing:
Say the Memory Verse together. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Ask for ideas about how children can be peaceful this Christmas season. (don’t fight with siblings, give to Family Ties, be kind to someone, smile at someone who is shy or new to the school, sit at lunch with someone who might be lonely, bring your Faith Quest offering to President Bush’s Afghan Children Fund, make birds for the Kirk peace project. ) Write the ideas down and use them in the closing prayer.
“Dear God, we thank you for sending Jesus as part of your plan for peace and justice in the world. Help us all to be peacemakers this Christmas help us to: (list children’s ideas). We pray this in the name of Jesus who is the Prince of Peace. Amen.”
Remind the children to make cranes/birds at home. Hand out the instructions as the children leave the workshop. “Go in Peace.”
Teacher preparation in
advance:
1. Read the scripture passages
2. Obtain colorful origami paper and/or use Christmas wrapping paper and cut to size. Make several samples. Practice making the birds until you are quite confident.
3. Prepare all the materials you will need for the creation process. Have the materials ready to go. There will be limited time for the creation process so do everything you can to conserve time.
4. Photocopy the symbols page of this lesson and cut into strips for gluing onto journals sheets
5. Visit the listed web sites for more background information.
Materials:
Wrapping Paper, cut into 6-inch squares
Scissors
Glue sticks
Symbols cut into strips for journals
Folding instructions for each child to take home
References:
· peace symbols web site: http://www.rosella.apana.org.au/~mlb/cranes/symbols.htm
·
Instructions
for folding peace doves (which are easier for younger children than cranes) at http://members.aol.com/pforpeace/peacepals/project2.htm
· Instructions for folding cranes at http://www.sadako.com/how-to.html and http://www.hiroshima-is.ac.jp/Hiroshima/foldcrai.htm