Download pdf - THANKFULNESS - imaginor.co.uk · Many schools using Roots and Fruits will also be following the Church calendar and on one week of the term will be celebrating the appropriate Christian

L I V I N G F R U I T F U L L I V E S

• 3candlesandaBibleopenattoday’sdrama,Mark4.3-9

• Worshipclothortablerunner,colourcorresponding totheChurchseason(forfurtherinformationsee www.imaginor.co.uk/obw)

• Thankfulnessposterfrompage135(laminatedandon astand)

• Someseeds

PREPARATIONANDRESOURCES

WORSHIPTABLE

• Childrentoexplainhowtheypreparedthesoilandfedtheirplantstoproduceagoodharvest.Ideallyanexampleoftheircropifnot,aphototogoonthescreen

• Sixchildrentorehearseandtakepartinthedrama

• PosterofTheFruitoftheSpirit(Galatians5:22-26)

THANKFULNESS

TRADITIONALHARVESTHYMNS

• Weploughthefieldsandscatter

• Allthingsbrightandbeautiful

Celebrating the SeasonManyschoolsusingRoots and FruitswillalsobefollowingtheChurchcalendarand ononeweekofthetermwillbecelebratingtheappropriateChristianfestival.Oneoftheacts ofworshipineachunitisthereforewrittentoprovideaframeworkforCelebrating the Season.

YearBTerm1takesasitsfocustheChristianvalueofThankfulnessandwillincludethecelebrationofHarvestFestival.

PreparationwillbeneededtoenabletheCelebrating the Seasonactsofworshiptobeasinteractiveaspossible.

Introduction to Harvest FestivalThemodernBritishtraditionofcelebratingHarvestFestivalinchurchesbeganin1843,whentheReverendRobertHawkerinvitedparishionerstoaspecialthanksgivingserviceatthevillageofMorwentstowinCornwall.Victorianhymnssuchas‘Weploughthefieldsandscatter’and‘Allthingsbrightandbeautiful’helpedtopopularisehisideaofHarvestFestivalandspreadtheannualcustomofdecoratingchurcheswithhome-grownproducefortheHarvestFestivalservice.

HARVEST FESTIVAL

Blacktext-Leader’sscript/Red text - Instructions and guidance for leader

CELEBRATING THE SEASON

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EXAMPLE

Learning

Welcome

Fade the assembly music and light the three candles on the Worship Table, as the following words are spoken:

The Sower and The Seed

Adapted from Mark 4:3-9

Narrator1: Oncetherewasamanwhowentouttosowsomeseeds.

Man: (humming)Today’sagreatdayforplantingtheseseeds!

Narrator2: Ashescatteredtheseedssomefellalongthepath.

Seed1: Yipee!Whatanimpressive,widepath.Everyonewillseemeshootingup.

Thiswillbeagreatplacetogrow!

Narrator1: But,itwasn’tagreatplacetogrow.

Seed1: (looks around)Hey,whataretheseshadows?Thesun’sout,butthere’snothing

tomakeashadow.There’ssomethingwronghere.(pause) Ohno,birds!

Narrator1: Andthebirdscameandgobbledupalltheseedsalongthepath.

Seed1: He..e..e..lp!(drops head)

Narrator2: Someseedsfellonrockygroundwheretherewasn’tmuchsoil.

Seed2: Hey,lookatme!I’msprouting!Ha,ha!Ievenhavelittleroots!Aren’ttheycute?

Whatagreatplacetogrow!

Narrator1: Butitwasn’tagreatplacetogrow.

Seed2: Boy,thatsunishot!Whew!I’mfeelingfaint.Iwishthereweren’tsomanyrocks.

ThenIcouldgetmyrootsdowndeeper.(pants)Water!Water!

Narrator1: Becausethesunwassohotandtherootssosmall,theplantdriedup.

WelcoMe Words 1

Wecometogetherinthenameof: GodtheFatherwhogivesusallthingstoenjoy, GodtheSonwholovestheworldandallthepeopleinit,and GodtheHolySpiritwhogivesusthespiritofthankfulness.

WelcoMe Words 2

Wehavegatheredinthenameof GodtheFather,SonandHolySpirit,toworshiptogetherandthinkaboutourvaluethankfulness.

Ask children who have been growing plants in the school garden to come to the front.

Thesechildrenhavebroughtsomeofthebestcropsthatourschoolgardenhasproducedthisyear.Theyaregoingtoexplainhowtheypreparedandnourishedthesoilandtendedtheirplantstomakesurethatthefruitandvegwashealthy.

Children explain.

Jesuswantedhisfollowerstoknowthatforahealthylifetheyneededtobe“rooting”themselvesinhisteaching.Heoftenusedstoriestohelppeopleunderstandimportantthings.Thisisoneofthosestories.

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EXAMPLE

Responding

Thisprayerhasactionstoaccompanythelastthreelines.

Go through the actions with the children, before reading the prayer.

FruiTs oF The spiriT prAyerLordoftheHarvest wewelcomeyourSpirittoworkinourlives. LetyourWordtakerootsothat, Yourlovemaygrowup,(reach up) Yourjoymayspreadout,(reach out) andyourpeacebecomedeeperinuseachday.(reach down) Amen

Reflecting

IntheBiblethereisabookcalledtheBookofPsalms. Thesearepoemsandsongsthatwerewrittenthousandsofyearsago.

Psalm1includesthesewords:

Happyarethose…. whofindjoyinobeyingtheLawoftheLord…. Theyareliketreesthatgrowbesideastream, thatbearfruitattherighttime, andwhoseleavesdonotdryup.

Iwonderwhatthe‘fruit’isthatthePsalmistiswritingabout.

Seed2: (small voice)He..e..e..lp!(drops head)

Narrator2: Someseedsfellamongthethorns.

Seed3: (looks around)Wow!Thisisn’tbadatall.Theneighbourslookalittlestrange,

butthat’sokay.Icandealwiththat.Whatagreatplacetogrow!

Narrators: But,itwasn’tagreatplacetogrow.

Seed3: (looks around suspiciously)I’mgrowing,(pause)buttheseneighboursdon’t

lookveryfriendly.Infact,theylookmeanereveryday.Iwonderwhotheyare…

Narrator1: Theseed’sneighbourswerethethorns.Andsoonthethornsgotsomeanthey

chokedtheyoungplantbeforeitsrootscouldgetdowndeepintothesoil.

Seed3: He..e..e..lp!(drops head)

Narrator2: Butsomeoftheseedsfellongoodsoil!

Seed4: Lookatthisplace!Thisisamazing!There’splentyofgoodsoilandwater,

andnottoomuchsun.(looks around)Theneighbourslookfriendly(looks up)

andIdon’tseeanybirds.Whatagreatplacetogrow!

Narrators: Anditwasagreatplacetogrowbecausethatplanthadallitneededtoproduce

allthefruitthatthefarmerhadhopedfor.

Show the Fruit of the Spirit picture.

Lookattheposterfor30seconds.Itiscalled‘TheFruitoftheSpirit’.Trytorememberasmanyofthefruitsasyoucan.

After 30 seconds take the image off the screen and ask who can remember at least four. Begin to compile a list on a wipe board until all the ‘Fruit’ is recalled.

TheFruitoftheSpiritisthegoodthingsthatgrowinourliveswhentheyarerootedinGod’sword.

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EXAMPLE

Welcome


BEING TRUST WORTHY, NOT GOSSIPING

• 3candlesandaBibleopenattoday’sverses, Proverbs11.13


• Trustposterfrompage155(laminatedandonastand)

• Ananti-gossipposter,createdbyoneofthechildren


WORSHIPTABLE

• Agirlandboypuppet(BellaandBarney)

• Aboxofmatches

TRUST

Welcome Words 1

Welightthreecandlesinthenameof: GodtheFatherwhosepromisesaretrue, GodtheSonwhotrustedhisFather’spromisesand GodtheHolySpiritwhogivesusfaithtotrustGodtoday.

Welcome Words 2

Wehavegatheredinthenameof GodtheFather,SonandHolySpirit,toworshiptogetherandthinkaboutourvaluetrust.

or

IntheBiblethereisabookofwisesayingscalledProverbs.Here’soneofthem.

“No one who gossips can be trusted with a secret, but you can put confidence in someone who is trustworthy.” Proverbs 11:13

Areyousomeonewhocanbetrusted?

Let’shearwhatBarneyandBellahavebeenupto.

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EXAMPLE

Barney: HiBella!You’relookingexcited.What’shappened?

Bella: Barney,you’llneverguesswhat!

Barney: What?

Bella: YouknowMiainYear5?

Barney: Yes.

Bella: ShewasreallyrudeandnowMrsHardinghasphonedherMumtotake

herhomefortherestoftheday.Oh..(pause)..Iwasn’tsupposedtotell

anyone.(pause)Ohno.IpromisedMrsHardingI’dkeepittomyself.

Barney: Whatdoyoumean?

Bella: IpromisedMrsHardingIwouldn’tgoaroundspreadinggossip.

Oh,Ifeelreallybadnow.

Barney: Howdidyouknowaboutitinthefirstplace?

Bella: IwentintothecorridorbytheofficetolookformycoatandIheard

MrsHardingphoningMia’sMum.SheknewI’doverheardandtoldme

nottospreaditroundtheschoolasitwasnoneofmybusiness.

Andshesaid,“Bella,canItrustyou?”Thosewereherverywords!

AndIsaid,“Yesyoucantrustme!”Butshecan’t,becausenowitwillbe

allovertheschoolandshe’llknowwhotoldeveryone,and…ohdear!

(begins to sob)

Barney: It’salright,Bella,don’tcry!You’veonlytoldonepersonandthat’sme.

Bella: Iknow,butnowitwillgetouttoeverybody!

Barney: Noitwon’t!Iwon’ttellanyone,andyou’llmakesureyoudon’ttell

anyoneelse,OK?

Bella: OK,butcanIreallytrustyouBarney,nottotellanyone?

Barney: Imightgetlotsofthingswrong,butIdoknowthatIcanbetrusted!

Reflecting

Beingtrustworthycanbedifficult.Itisalwaystemptingtopassongossip,especiallywhenwethinkotherswillwanttohearit.

Butweneedtobepeoplethatotherscantrust.

Howtrustworthyareyou?

Learning

Two puppeteers operate puppets Barney and Bella from behind a screen or table covered with a cloth.

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EXAMPLE

PrAYer To sTAmP oUT GossIP

Letuspray.

Light a match and hold it up for a moment.

Gossipissomeoneelse’snewsthatwehavenotbeengivenpermissiontopass

on.Ifwedothenitcanbelikeatinyflamethatbeginsafirethatspreadsfarand

wide.Gossipislikefire,ithurtspeople.

Blow out the match and all respond.

sorry lord, for the times we gossip.

Light another match.

Gossipisnewsthathasnothingtodowithus.Itspreadsbadthingsaboutpeople.



Light another match.

Gossipcangetoutofcontrolandsoonitcanturnintolies.



Lord,weknowweshouldneverplaywithmatches.Helpusnottoplaywith

gossipeither,sothatwecanbe trustworthyfriendsandpeoplewon’tgethurt.

Amen

Responding

Wecanshowthatwearetrustworthyfriendsbynotgossiping.Iwonderhowwedecidewhatisnewsandwhat’sjustgossip?

Onewayofdecidingistoaskyourself4questionsbeforeyouspeak.

Is it true? Is it kind? Is it helpful? Is it anything to do with me? Ifyou’renotsureofthesethings,thenperhapsthe‘news’isreallygossipandyoushouldn’tspreadit.

Some teachers will prefer not to use matches. If so, substitute an alternative prayer.

STAMP OUT GOSSIP. DON’T LET IT SPREAD.Designananti-gossipposterforyourclassroom.

Fruits from the Roots

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EXAMPLE

Welcome


U S I N G O U R T A L E N T S T O S E R V E

• 3candlesandaBibleopenattoday’sverse,Galatians5.13


• Serviceposterfrompage219(laminatedandonastand)

• Largebucket/boxsetupforaTalentTub,containingplasticcubes,driedpasta,Legobricks,stripsoftext (seebelow)etc


WORSHIPTABLE

• 7cards,oneforeachletterofthewordSERVICE.Onthebackofeachcardthelinefromtheacrosticpoemthatbeginswiththeletter

• Talkpartnerswillbeneeded

SERVICE

Welcome Words 1

Thisdaymayweknow:theloveofGodourFather,thegiftofGod’sSon,theServantKing,andthefreedomofGod’sownSpirit.

Welcome Words 2

Wehavegatheredinthenameof GodtheFather,SonandHolySpirit,toworshiptogetherandthinkaboutourvalueservice.

or

OurWordsofWisdomforthevalueserviceare

‘Serve one another in love.’ Galatians 5.13

Weallhavetalentsthatwecanusetoserve othersorbrightenuptheirlives.

Perhapsyouhaveahiddentalentwaitingtobediscovered!

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EXAMPLE

• Icansingreallywell…Icouldjointheschoolchoir• Ilikebeingorganised…Icouldhelpmoretokeepthehousetidy• Ilikesport…Icouldhelporganizeagamestournamentinschool• Iamareallygoodlistener…maybeIcouldtakemoretimetolisten toafriend’sworriesorvolunteertobeapeermediator• Ilovemakingpeoplelaughandhavingfun…Icouldserveothersby cheeringthemupandencouragingthemwhenthey’redown

Allofthesearewaysofusingyourtalentstoserveothersandmakeadifference.

Choose a group of children to stand up at the front, each holding a card with a different letter of the value word and with the corresponding acrostic line from the value poem on the back. Ask the children in turn to read the line then flip over the card to show the corresponding line of the poem to everyone.

Someoftoday’shelpershavethelettersthatspell‘service’.Theyaregoingtoreadanacrosticpoemthatdescribesservice.Thelettersofthewordbegineachlineofthepoem.

Learning

InamomentIamgoingtoasksomehelperstousethisTalentTubtofindstatementsthataretrueofchildreninourschool.Maybeoneofthemdescribesyou.

Bring out the Talent Tub. Have the following statements (or others that are more relevant to your school) written on strips of card. Invite children to come up, dip into the tub, find statements and read them out.

SERVICEIS….spendingtimeonothers

enjoyinggivinghelpresponsibilityinaction

Volunteeringwillingly

Isecond,youfirstcommittingtoatask

everyoneofferingtheirtalentsandgifts

It would be helpful to display the poem on a screen so that children can read through it again.

Talkwithapartneraboutwhichlineyouthinkisthebestwayofdescribingserviceandwhy.

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EXAMPLE

serVIng others PrayerFatherGod

Thankyouforthemanydifferentskills,giftsandqualitiesyouhavegivenus,

Helpustoserveotherswithwillinghands(lift hands in front of you),

withgeneroushearts(put hand on heart)

andwithkindwords(move hand away from mouth).

Useoureyesandearstonoticehowothersserveus(point to eyes and ears)

andremindustoshowourgratitudeandthanks

toourteachers(point towards a teacher),

helpersinschool(point towards the playground),

ourparents(point towards the school gates)

andourfriends(sweeping gesture).

Inservingothersinlove,maywealsoserveyou.

Amen

Reflecting

Thinkaboutwhatyouaregoodatorsomethingyouenjoydoing.Itcouldbeapracticalskill(sport,music,mathsetc)oravalueyouthinkisimportantsuchasbeingtrustworthy,generous,orfriendly.Howcouldyouserve othersbyusingoneofthem?Maybeyoucoulddevelopahiddentalentthatnooneyetknowsabout!

WhatwouldyouwriteifyouhadastripofcardintheTalentTub?

Responding

Canyouspotagood server?

Someofthebestserversarepeoplewhoquietlyhelpotherswithoutanyfuss,soyouwillneedtobeagooddetective!

SIgnSofSERVICEPutatall,transparentcontainerontheworshiptableandatubofmarblescloseby.Whenchildrennoticesomeoneperforminganactofservicethisweek,askthemtoputamarbleinthejar.Askthemtobereadytosharewhattheyhaveobservedinthecelebrationassemblylaterintheweek.

Theleaderoftheworshipcanholdupthejarandshowhowmanysignsofservicehavebeenseen.

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EXAMPLE