Welcome to the story of the Prophet Jeremiah.
The story of the prophet Jeremiah is another good one to share after The Exile and the Return. Be sure to help the children see where Jeremiah fits into this story, the time before and after the Babylonians came and took some of the people of Jerusalem (including Jeremiah) with them to Babylon.
There are several themes of the story that are particularly helpful to children.
1. God can help use even very young people to do his work.
2. God plans a hope and a future for each of us. ("For
I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 29:11)
3. When we turn away from God, God tries to woo us back.
4. God will be with us, even when we do the wrong thing.
5. God always offers hope for forgiveness.
One note: Because we want to emphasize God's role as a healer and forgiver, (which stands true to the scripture, even in Jeremiah itself) I would suggest that you add another part of the story immediately after you share the broken pottery (when God says God will smash this nation and this city.) After following the script in this part, I would share the part in Jeremiah (chapter 18)where God takes Jeremiah to a potter to watch him work. God shows Jeremiah that as the potter works, he often takes pottery that has a mistake in it and reworks it into a new piece that he finds good. God showed Jeremiah this to let the people know that if they want to change, he will remake them into something good.
Ideas for Give a Gift to God time:
1. This would be a great time to work with clay, considering all the references to pottery. Children could make elements of the story (lion, wolf, pyramid, cup) As they work, you might want to remind them of the verse from Jeremiah 18:6 :“As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand."I'll have clay to use available for all classes.
2. Here are a couple of sites where you can make your own shofar:
http://alphamom.com/family-fun/holidays/make-a-shofar-to-celebrate-the-jewish-new-year/
and
http://joyfuljewish.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/blow-your-own-paper-shofar/
and
http://ronypony.blogspot.com/2010/08/kind-of-fast-fun-easy-rosh-hashanah.html
*If you tell me by Wednesday evening that you'd like materials for these, I'll shop for you. Starting Thursday morning, though, you're on your own. :)
3. Celebrate special verses, like this one I found on pinterest: (Look! It's really pretty and simple.)
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/194428908884807271/
The children could copy the verse and then do watercolors to illustrate it. I have watercolor paper I'll put on the cart for you to use if you want.
Also, you could highlight this one. It's beautiful!
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/50454458296874513/
It goes with Jeremiah 17:7, 8a :
Happy are those who trust in the Lord, who rely on the Lord.
They will be like trees planted by the streams,
whose roots reach down to the water.
whose roots reach down to the water.
I also like this one, for Jeremiah 33:3
I hope these ideas are helpful to you!
Becky
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