Kirk of Kildaire

Welcome to Faith Quest

Zacchaeus

Nobody liked Zacchaeus.  He was a tax collector and often took extra money and kept it for himself.  As a result, Zacchaeus was very rich, but nobody liked him, because he was dishonest.

One day Jesus came to town and everyone wanted to see him.   Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus too, but he had a problem, he was short.  So Zacchaeus climbed a tree, so that he could see Jesus.  As Jesus walked down the street, he saw Zacchaeus in the tree. He called to him and told him that he wanted to have lunch with him at his house.  Everyone was surprised.  They grumbled, "Why would Jesus want to eat with Zacchaeus!  Zacchaeus is a sinner!  He steals!"  During lunch, Jesus and Zacchaeus talked about living in God's way.  As they talked Zacchaeus realized that only thinking of himself and stealing from others was wrong.  He told Jesus that he would give half of his property to the poor, and that he would give back four times the amount he stole from others.  Jesus told Zacchaeus that today he and his family were followers of God.

Our Memory Verse is Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not relay on your own insight.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."  (NRSV)

What we will learn:

FaithQuest Workshops

Interview Zacchaeus in Good News.

Praising Puppets discover what being a Christian means.

In Holywood, watch a video on Zacchaeus and make a weaving mat.

Play a game on cheating and see what it was like to be Zacchaeus in Antioch Arcade.

Finger-paint a picture of Zacchaeus, up in a tree, looking down at Jesus in Creation Station.

Tell the story of Zacchaeus with clothespin characters and scenery that you make in Apostle's Playhouse.

Family Time and Prayer:

Read:  Luke 19:1-10

Reflection:  Are you lost?  No, of course not.  You are right where you are supposed to be.  You are with your family.  That is not being lost is it?  Yet Jesus came to save the lost.  But who are the lost?  What did Jesus mean?  Zacchaeus loved money and he took more then he should have when he collected the taxes and he kept the extra money.    Zacchaeus only thought of himself.  But Zacchaeus was also curious about Jesus.  When Zacchaeus talked with Jesus, Zacchaeus realized that his money meant nothing without love and kindness.  Zacchaeus changed his ways and he paid back what he took from others.  How do we change when Jesus lives in our hearts?

Prayer:   Dear God,  Please help us to keep you in our heart and in our actions.  In your name we pray. Amen.

Offering:  Your offering will go to One Great Hour of Sharing.  Presbyterians all over the country give to this offering every year, and the money is used to help people all over the world who are in situations that aren't fair, like people who don't have enough to eat or a way to earn a living, or people who have been in disasters like floods and earthquakes.  Please bring your offering to the jar in the Great Hall.

Thank-you to our Zacchaeus Workshop Leaders:

Holywood - Mary Hill

Creation Station - Liz Railton

Praising Puppets - Barry Harmon

Good News - Karen Fleischhauer

Apostle's Playhouse - Angela Farthing

Antioch Arcade - Laura Heintschel and John Leonard

Thank you to our Curriculum Design Team:  Carole Rhodes, Lee Smith, Allison Connors, Angela Farthing, Robin Morris, Catherine Devins, Amy Woynicz, Lori Houck and Marcia Hale, Interim Director of Children's Ministry.