Grandparents' Day

Martyn Payne

Footmarks

Spend time with the Bible story by presenting it using three-dimensional materials. This is a reflective approach to the Bible, based on the method known as Godly Play.

1. Gather the group in a semicircle, using a back row of benches or chairs if necessary, so that all the children can see the following presentation of the story clearly.
2. Tell the story using some carefully chosen items that you draw out of a golden box, in the style of Godly Play. Start with a piece of blue felt about 75cms long and 15cms wide. You will also need the following items (try to find the most beautiful and attractive examples you can for each of these).
A gold-coloured box large enough to contain:

the blue cloth
a baby Jesus figure from a crib set
two small grey birds, cut from grey felt or card
a gold-painted wooden block to represent the temple
a small white dove outline, cut from white felt or card
a wooden figure to represent Simeon
a tea light in an attractive holder
another wooden figure to represent Anna
the figure of Mary from a crib set
a wooden heart shape or template

Carefully place all these items into the box in reverse order, ending with the felt. Sit the children in a circle and quieten them for the story by using the golden box as a focus. Tell the story simply, using the words below and focusing on the story rather than the children. Unroll the cloth first from right to left (from your perspective) and then place the items slowly on it as indicated, from right to left so that children 'read' the story from their left to their right.

Storyteller: This box is the colour gold. Gold is a precious and valuable colour. The story of Jesus is precious and valuable, even more valuable than gold. I wonder if this is a story about Jesus? Shall we see what is inside the box?

(Unroll the blue felt slowly.) This material is very blue. Blue is a special colour. It's the colour for the mother Mary. I wonder if this is a story about the mother Mary as well as about Jesus? I wonder what story it could be?

(Take out the figure of baby Jesus.) God chose Mary to become the mother of Jesus. Mary kept the baby safe. Mary loved baby Jesus (plant a kiss on two fingers and then touch the baby with that kiss). She kept the baby warm and the baby grew.

(Take out the two grey pigeons.) When the baby was eight days old, Mary and Joseph bought two pigeons to offer as a gift at the great temple in Jerusalem. In those days, this was the way to say ‘thank you’ to God for the baby.

(Put down the golden wood block for the temple.) Mary and Joseph travelled to Jerusalem. It was such a big city. They went through its dark streets to the great temple and climbed up the steps to its courts. The temple was crowded with people. They were there to worship God.

(Bring out the wooden figure for Simeon next.) One of the people who worshiped God was called Simeon. He loved God and prayed every day that God would send a special king to rescue his people.

(Place the dove figure down next to Simeon.) God had promised Simeon that he would not die before he saw God's rescuer. One day God came so close to Simeon and Simeon came so close to God that he knew that he must go into the temple to see something special. He saw Mary and Joseph and Jesus among the crowds. The Spirit of God told him that this baby was God's special rescuer. He went over and took the baby in his arms and began to sing a special prayer about the baby.

(Put down the tea light in its holder and light it at the end of the next section.) He sang: Now I can go in peace and my long waiting cease. God’s rescuer has come; a light for everyone.

(Place down the wooden figure representing Anna). Just then, Anna came into the temple. Anna had spent her life praying and waiting for God's rescuer to come. She heard Simeon singing and she ran to see the baby. Immediately she knew who Jesus really was. She started to run around the temple telling everyone she met the good news that God had sent a king to rescue them.

(Place down the figure of Mary from a crib set and then finally the heart shape next to her.) Afterwards, Mary and Joseph took Jesus back to Nazareth where they lived. They did not understand what had happened in the temple but they never forgot. Mary kept all these memories safe in her heart.

Sit back and look around at the children. Follow the presentation of the story by some wondering questions in the style of Godly Play:

I wonder which part of this story you like the best?
I wonder which part of this story is most important?
I wonder where you are in this story or which part of this story is most about you?
I wonder if there is any part of this story we can leave out and still have all the story we need?