Holywood

Scripture: Luke 22:7-23 and Mark 11-16 (emphasis is on the gospel of Mark)

Memory Verse: “Jesus said, ‘Do this in remembrance of me.’” Luke 22:19 (CEV)

Offering: One Great Hour

Concepts:

¨ Jesus taught us how to celebrate the Lord’s Supper and wants us to do it to remember Him.

¨ The Holy Spirit is with us in Communion.

¨ Celebrating Communion is one way to give thanks to God.

¨ We treat the bread and wine with respect because they are special symbols of God’s love.

Objectives:

1. Children will view the video: “The Easter Story.”

2. The children will learn the events of Holy Week according to the Gospel of Mark.

3. The children will be able to put the events in order.

Procedure:

Welcome and Introductions:

1. Greet the children and introduce yourself. Wear your name tag. Make sure the children are wearing name tags. If not, ask the shepherd to supply a temporary badge. Remember you are interacting with a different group of students each week who may not know you.

2. Explain the purpose of this workshop. This unit is a study of the Last Supper. The other workshops will focus on the significance and meaning of the Last Supper. We will look at the main events that took place during Holy Week, including the Last Supper. We are going to discover the events that took place before and after the Last Supper.

Bible Story:

1. Set up the story for the children. In the interest of time, start the video a few minutes into the story. You should already have it cued to the segment when as Mark begins to tell the story and the two disciples are sent to fetch a donkey. Explain that the story is about three kids who are sent back in time and they talk to Mark, one of the gospel writers. Mark is telling the story about the last week of Jesus’ life.

For older children, you may wish to define the words: blasphemy (making fun of God), “betray” (to help the enemy), and “fall away” (run away from Jesus).

2. Start the video. It’s about 24 minutes long if cued as suggested.

3. Distribute the popcorn with help from the Shepherds. (Popcorn should already be made.)

Application:

Story sequencing. Clear space in the middle of the room by moving the bean bag chairs along the walls. The story sequence statements (see below) should be printed on large cards/paper (without numbers or Bible references) and handed out randomly to the children. Ask the children to put the statements in order according to the story. You can lead the discussion by asking what happened first in the video? Who has a statement they think was one of the first events of Holy Week? Continue until you have put all in order. Or, if you think the older groups can manage it, let them figure it out. Arrange the cards on the floor in proper sequence. When you are done, ask the children to read it.

For 1^st and 2^nd graders: Print the statements on 3 colors. The first color identifies events leading up to the last supper and Gethsemane (1-8). The next color is Judas’ betrayal, Jesus’ capture, trial and crucifixion (9-13). The third color represents events after Jesus’ death to ascension (14-17). The 3 colors represent the beginning, middle and end of the story. If you wish, remove some of the statements to further simplify the activity. When you are finished sequencing, read the story from the cards.

For 3^rd-5^th graders: Hand out the statements on single colored of paper and have them put the events in sequential order

Reflection Time:

At 10:35 a.m. ask the shepherds to pass out the journal pages and pencils/markers.

At 10:45 ask the students to put away their pencils/markers and sit quietly for prayer.

Closing:

Prayer (suggestion): Thank you God for the gift of the Gospel of Mark – so that we have a record of the events of Holy Week. Thank you God for the sacrament of Communion, as a way to give thanks to God, to remember Jesus, and to let God's spirit make us strong. Amen.

Tidy and Dismissal: Ask children to help clean up popcorn as they wait for their parents to arrive. Put bean bag chairs in piles against the walls, clearing the floor space. Wipe out popcorn machine thoroughly.

Teacher preparation in advance:

1. Prepare a closing prayer or use suggestion provided.

2. Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located.

3. Preview the video and have it cued to the correct starting place.

4. Copy the statements (without Bible references or numbers) onto card board, construction paper, or card stock and then cut into individual statement cards. You may wish to make 2 sets. One set for the 1^st-2^nd graders could be on 3 colors to give clues as to beginning (blue), middle (green) and ending statements (red). The set for the 3^rd-5^th graders is all one color.

References

Hanna Barbara – The Easter Story – The Greatest Adventure Stories from the Bible, distributed by Sparrow Communications Group, ISBN 0-936817-26-7

Statements for the Sequence of Events

1. Two disciples go to look for a donkey. (Mark 11: 1-6)

2. Jesus rides into Jerusalem as crowds shout “Hosanna”. (Mark 11: 7-10)

3. Jesus goes to the temple and chases out the money changers and turns over tables. (Mark 11:15-17)

4. The chief priests and temple leaders make a plan to get rid of Jesus. (Mark 14:1-2)

5. Jesus sends two disciples to find a man carrying a pitcher of water. (Mark 14:12-16)

6. Jesus and the disciples eat the Passover meal in an upstairs room. (Mark 14: 16-18)

7. Jesus has the first communion service with bread and wine (Mark 14:22-25)

8. Jesus tells the disciples that they will tell people they don’t know Jesus. The disciples say they would never deny Jesus (Mark 14:27-31)

9. Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-34)

10. Judas kisses Jesus to show the crowd whom to arrest. (Mark 14:43-46)

11. Jesus is put on trial and sentenced to death. (Mark 14:53, Mark 14:60-64)

12. Peter says he doesn’t know Jesus. The rooster crows. (Mark 14:66-71)

13. Pilate lets the crowd decide whom to free from prison: Jesus or Barabbus. (Mark 15:6-15)

14. Jesus is crucified on a cross (Mark 15:22-25)

15. Jesus’ body is laid in a tomb (Mark 15:46)

16. Three days after Jesus dies, the women find an empty tomb and an angel tells them that Jesus is risen.(Mark 16:5-8)

17. Jesus appears to many people, including the disciples, after his death. He tells them to go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. (Mark 16:14-15)