Faith Quest

Easter – Resurrection

March 14- April 11, 2004

Good News

Scripture:        John 20:1-18 and 21:1-14

Memory Verse:  “I am the way, the truth and the life!”  John 14:6 (CEV)

Concepts:

Ø Jesus conquered death.

Ø Jesus keeps his promise to us.

Ø God’s abundant gifts are available through Jesus Christ.

Objectives:

In the Good News Lesson we hope to:

1. Understand how faith helps us to be strong.
2. Know that if we look, we can find Jesus in our every day lives.  He knew Mary’s name, and He knows our name also.
3. Understand that our renewal is similar to spring.  We need to remember to look for life that surrounds us and be thankful for the promise of life through Jesus.  He conquered death and spring shows us life is renewed.

Procedure:

Welcome and Introductions:

This lesson will take place in the Bread of Life Café and not the normal Good News room.  Make sure you have made preparations for the cooking activity. Wear your nametag. Make sure the children are wearing nametags. If not, ask the shepherd to supply a temporary badge. Remember you are interacting with a different group of students each week that may not know you. Remember that if you need the shepherds to assist you in any way do not be afraid to ask, that is why they are present with the class. 

Scripture/Bible Story:

1. Have the Children to stand and say the memory verse.  (You may want to have the verse on poster board.)

2. Ask them to bow their heads for prayer. [Oh, Lord we come to you this morning with hearts filled with joy, as we know that Easter provides us with a promise of life.  We are thankful for the early signs of spring and the colors of renewed growth provided to us.  Be with us today as we learn more about your word. Amen.]

3. Have them to sit and open their Bibles to the Scripture. Ask the children to volunteer/assist in reading the scriptures.  It is not necessary to have all children to read.  If you want to read and have them to follow along, that is your choice.  John 20:1-18 and John 21: 1-14 OR you can read to them the read-aloud story “The Resurrection” from One Hundred Read Aloud Stories from the Old and New Testament by Joan Verniero found on pages 325-328.  (I will leave my book in the church office for you to borrow)

Application:

As you can see today we are studying the story of Jesus resurrection.  We will discuss how He made the disciples and the women remember their faith. We are going to bake cookies that are a symbol of spring and we will read an Easter litany to remind us of spring and the promises of life.

After the reading of the scripture and/or the story review using these questions:

1. Who went to the tomb first and discovered that Jesus was not there? (Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Joanna)
2. What did the angles tell Mary to do?  (Go tell the disciples what has happened)
3. What disciple ran ahead of the others to the place where they had buried Jesus? (Peter)
4. When Jesus met the disciples on the road and by the Sea of Galilee what four words did He say to them? (Peace be with you!)
5. What does Easter promise us?  (Renewal, believers in Christ will have eternal life. Jesus conquered death.)

Time to make/bake Flower Cookies

Explain that spring is a time when plants that have been dormant for the winter begin turning green and growing again. When we see the plants and flowers begin to grow again, we think of Jesus coming back to life after he was crucified.

Ingredients:

o Roll of refrigerated sugar cookie dough (one roll should make 12 to 14 cookies depending on how thick you make the slices)

o Flour – enough for helping the dough not stick to their hands

o Food coloring or sugar sprinkles in various colors

Kitchen Tools:

o Knife to cut the dough – teacher and/or Shepherd

o Baking sheets

o Oven set at the directions according to the package of dough

o Pot holders

o Small clean paint brushes for coloring the flowers

o Paper cups for the food coloring

o Aluminum foil – enough for each child to have a four inch square for their cookie

o Paper towels

Ahead of time do the following:

o Cut aluminum foil into four inch squares – one for each child

o Slice the cookie dough into 30 round slices and then cut the slices in fourths – like a pie

o Keep the dough chilled until ready to use!

o Make sure the paintbrushes are clean and the food coloring is in cups for painting the flowers if you are using food coloring.

Baking Time!

o Set oven at baking temperature as directed on package.

o Each child is to select six pieces of the sliced dough OR have the Shepherds to help distribute the six pieces to each child.

o The child is to take on piece and roll into a round ball and place in the middle of their aluminum foil and using their thumb press down just a bit as they are making the center of their flower – for younger children you may need to demonstrate how to do this.

o Place the other five slices around the center as petals on a flower look – the pieces should touch the center piece.

o Paint their flowers using the food coloring – or use the sugar sprinkles.

o Bake.

o Cool and eat.

As cookies bake, provide each student with a copy of the Easter Litany and explain to them how they will read it aloud. 

If time allows – have the Shepherds to pass out the journal page and they can begin working on that as the cookies bake and/or cool.

Reflection Time:

Distribute the journal page for the students to work on, if there is time.  This is when the Shepherds will provide writing tools for the students.  Remind the children that their offering will go to One Great Hour of Sharing.

By 10:45 close with a prayer.

Closing:

Tidy and Dismissal: Ask children to help tidy up. Have them to assist in cleaning the kitchen. 

Teacher preparation in advance:

1. Read the scripture passages and attend the Faith Quest Leaders Bible Study.

2. Prepare a closing prayer for your lesson.

Suggested Supply List

1. Bible Story book in church office with your name on it – return when the rotation is finished.

2. Ingredients for cookies as stated above in lesson.

3. Find out which kitchen is used for Bread of Life Café.

4. Poster with the Bible verse.

5. Copies of the litany for each student.

Reference:

Lori Houck, Kirk Faith Quest Bible Study Leader

Creative Bible Learning – Science and Cooking by Karyn Henley

The Idea Exchange Jan Marshall’s Litany

One Hundred Read Aloud Bible Stories by Joan Verniero

Easter Litany

Hope of Promises and Flowers

Leader	Have you heard the good news?  Jesus is not dead! He is alive! You may not believe it.  But I promise you it is true.  Jesus is alive!
Refrain	Flowers of every color, Bending in the blowing wind Remind us all that Jesus lives On this Easter day!
Leader	The people who arrested Jesus did not like him. They didn’t like what Jesus did. They told lies about him. They sentenced him to die.
Refrain	Flowers of every color, Bending in the blowing wind Remind us all that Jesus lives On this Easter day!
Leader	They beat him and made fun of him. They called him names. Then they placed him on a cross to die.
Refrain	Flowers of every color, Bending in the blowing wind Remind us all that Jesus lives On this Easter day!
Leader	On the third morning, when Jesus’ friends came to the tomb, they were surprised and afraid.  The stone had been rolled away. The tomb was empty. Jesus was not there.  Jesus was alive! Jesus was alive as he had promised.
Refrain	Flowers of every color, Bending in the blowing wind Remind us all that Jesus lives On this Easter day!
Leader	In the tomb set an angel, dressed in white. “Do not look here for your friend, he is not here.  He is not dead. He is alive!” Jesus’ friends were amazed.
Refrain	Flowers of every color, Bending in the blowing wind Remind us all that Jesus lives On this Easter day!
Leader	Now we must be like Jesus’ friends who lived so long ago. We must tell the good news to everyone we see.  Jesus is alive!
Refrain	Flowers of every color, Bending in the blowing wind Remind us all that Jesus lives On this Easter day!