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Scripture: Genesis 1:1 – 2:25
Memory Verse:
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 (CEV)
Concepts:
· We are most like God when we nurture and bless the world and each other.
· God loves us and the world.
Objectives:
1. Children will see videos of both Creation stories.
2. Children will describe what God is like and what God does.
3. Children will describe ways that we can be most like God.
4. Children will think of ways to look after the earth.
Procedure:
Welcome and Introductions:
1. Greet the children and introduce yourself.
2. Hold up a hand mirror to your face and ask. What do I see? (your face, your image). Now show a couple of children the mirror. What do you see? (my face, my image). Tell them that they also see the face of God! Huh?? We are like God – in some ways, not all! Today we will look at the 2 creation stories in Genesis. We will describe what these stories tell us about God and how we are in God’s image.
Bible Story and Application:
1. On the whiteboard, you should have already written Day1, Day2, etc. in a column down the left side of the board. Tell the children that they are to watch the first video and tell you what was created on each day.
2. Distribute the popcorn with help from the Shepherds or volunteer children. (Popcorn should already be made.) Start the video The Electronic Campfire. It’s about 4 minutes long if cued to the beginning. Stop the movie at the end of the beach scene, just before the next story on the video.
3. Discuss with the children, the creation “days”. Fill in what happened on Day1, Day2 etc. Have some props hidden in a box to pull out to prompt memory e.g. sunglasses, a hand mirror, a stuffed animal, an umbrella, the light switch, etc. Keep the props hidden from the children until you are ready to present each one.
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How does God make each step of creation happen? (God speaks. “then god said...)
·
What does this tell us about God? (God intended to create the world, it is not an accident. God was
personally involved, God was there.)
·
What did God have to say about what was created? ( God saw and it was good.)
·
Notice that God did not say it was “perfect”. What is
the difference between “good” and “perfect” (good
means that there is still need for improvement and development. We are to be
like God when we care for the earth and look after it.)
4. Older Children. Read Genesis 1-2:4a. Listen for what this passage tells us about who God is and what God does. What do we know about God from this story? Make a list of all of things that tell us who God is, or what God does. Listen for the action verbs. Read a couple of verses at a time, then add to the list, read some more, add to the list.
God is: (v.2) a spirit, God creates, God speaks, God commands, God names (v.10) God judges (God looked ... and saw that it was good.), God blesses (v.22), God made humans in his likeness and blessed them), God provided (food to eat).
5. All What kind of God would do all that? A God who is kind, loving, cares for us, provides for us, blesses us, and wants us to do the same in caring for the earth. That is how we are like God (v.26) when we rule over the fish, the birds, and all other living creatures.
The mirror in the video reflected
an image. We humans (not the other living creatures) are made in God’s image,
like God. How can we be like God? (be
kind, loving, care for each other, bless others, care for the earth and all
that is in it). Be sure to
emphasize how we are like God in what we do rather than just what we look
like. The mirror not only reflects
images but it mimics/reflects actions also.
We are most like God when we
nurture and bless the world and each other as God does.
6. Watch the next video, Genesis Part 1. (7 minutes) Have it cued to the beginning of the Adam and Eve sequence. Stop it after “they were naked and not ashamed.” This is the second creation story and focuses on God creating humans. Listen and watch for what this story tells us about God and about us.
7. Older Children. Continue the list of what this tells us about God and our relationship with God. Genesis 2.
God wants us to help carry out God’s work in the world. (v19-20) God
brought the creatures to man to be named.
God shows concern and provides.(v.18)
It isn’t good for man to live alone. God made a suitable partner.
God commands us. (v. 15-17) take care and look after the Garden of
Eden. Eat from any tree except from the tree of good and evil.
8. All. Hold up a hand mirror and show the children their faces. How can we possibly be like God? We can mirror or reflect God when we:
Care for God’s creation
Live as God commands
Rest
Bless the world and each other
Reflection Time:
Say the memory verse together: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 (CEV)
Hand out the journal sheets. Give each child a square of shiny foil to glue on their journal sheet as a reminder that we are to be a reflection of God. God wants us to do as God commands. One way is to care for the earth and each other. List several ideas that you do or could do to show that you care for God’s creation.(pick up litter, recycle, plant trees, protect wildlife, take care of one another, be kind, help others, do what pleases God, etc.)
Prayer: Dear God. Thank you for this beautiful world that you created for us all. Help us to look after it and each other. Help us to love each other as you love us. Amen.
Tidy and Dismissal: Ask children to help clean up popcorn as they wait for their parents to arrive. Turn out the lights and lock the doors to Holywood.
Teacher preparation in
advance:
1. Read the scripture passages and attend the Faith Quest Workshop Leaders Bible Study, Prepare a closing prayer.
2. Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located. The bin with supplies is in the closet.
3. Preview the videos and have them cued to the correct starting place.
4. Gather your props.
5. PRACTICE OPERATING THE POPCORN MACHINE. If this is your first time in Holywood, visit the current workshop leader for instructions before your rotation begins. Be sure you have plenty of popcorn popped BEFORE the children arrive. You will need to have your attention on the children at that point. Ask the shepherds or child volunteers to help distribute it to children who are sitting quietly.
References
Genesis. Part 1, The New Media Bible. Video. Distributed by the Genesis Project.
The Electronic Campfire – New Storytelling from Scripture. Video. Cathedral Films and Video. Available from the Episcopal Media Center (800) 229-3788
Supplies
Heavy tin foil/reflective tissue cut in 3” squares. One
for each child.
Glue sticks
Journal sheets
Pens, pencils
White board and markers
Props from the Campfire video: hand mirror, umbrella, stuffed animal, picture of a fish, bird, paper plate sun and moon, rose or flower, flashlight, etc.