JESUS MEETS Lazarus!

This page takes you through the various activities we had at Messy Church on 11 October 2014. Have a look and try a few!

Clock face

Add the numbers to the clock face and decorate it

When Jesus heard his friend was ill he waited two days before he went to visit him

What day will it be in two days time?  What will you be doing?

Smells

Can you work out what these different smells are?  Make a list and then find out if you’re answers are right

The people didn’t want to open the tomb because they thought it would smell

What is your favourite smell?  What is the worst smell?  What do you think Lazarus smelled like?

Loud hailer

Make a loud hailer and colour in the Bible verse on it

When the tomb had been opened, Jesus  said in a very loud voice ‘Lazarus come out’

How loud can you shout through the loud hailer?

Lollystick man

Wrap the lollystick man in tape like bandages, until he is completely wrapped up

Lazarus was wrapped up in strips of cloth when he was put in the tomb

It was the usual way to wrap dead bodies in cloths at this time 

Wrap up Liz

Wrap up Liz until she is completely covered.  See if she can walk around while she is wrapped up

Lazarus was wrapped up in strips of cloth when he was put in the tomb.  So when he came out he was still covered in this cloth

I wonder what Lazarus said when he came out of the tomb.  I wonder what his sisters said to him.

Bandaged gingerbread man

Put white icing on the gingerbread man to look like he is wrapped up in cloth

Lazarus was wrapped up in strips of cloth when he was put in the tomb

It was the usual way to wrap dead bodies in cloths at this time 

Clay tomb

Can you shape the clay to look like a cave in a rock?

Lazarus was buried in a cave in the rock with a stone covering the entrance over

What would it have been like in Lazarus tomb?  What would it have been like for Lazarus to wake up in there?

Tears

Have tears painted on your face

Mary and Martha were sad that their brother had died.  Jesus was sad too and he cried when he saw Mary crying

How do you feel when someone you know is sad?

Hankies

Decorate the handkerchief with fabric pens

Everyone was sad when Lazarus died.  Even Jesus cried.

What sort of things make you sad?

Pop out of tomb

Colour in the tomb and Lazarus.  Put it together so he pops out of the tomb

When Jesus called him, amazingly, Lazarus came out of the tomb, still wrapped in his bandages

Do you know any other amazing things that Jesus did?

Buried things

Dig in the foam and find what is buried

Lazarus had been buried but he came out of the tomb when Jesus called him

Everyone who saw it was amazed when they saw Lazarus walk out of the tomb

Family Crest coaster

Make up your own family crest and stick it on the coaster.  You could include things about your family.

Mary, Martha and Lazarus were brother and sisters.  Jesus was a good friend who often stayed with them

Who is there in your family?  Is it a big family or a small family?  What are the good things about being part of a family?

Miniature bulbs

Put some soil in a pot and plant a bulb

Lazarus  was buried, but then he came to life

You have buried this bulb, but it will come to life after a few weeks.  When you see it growing remember the story of Lazarus

Bookmarks

Decorate a bookmark

Many who saw this miracle with their own eyes, believed Jesus was God’s Son

What do you think it would be like to be there when Lazarus came out of the tomb?

Jesus meets a woman at a well!

This page takes you through the various activities we had at Messy Church on 13 September 2014. Have a look and try a few!

Clay Water Jar

Make a jar out of clay using your thumb to shape the middle.  Pinch the sides to make handles.

The people collected water from the well in big clay jars

They had to carry the water a long way back to the town.  Have you seen pictures of people carrying big jars on their heads.  Are you good at carrying heavy things?

Decorate a Mug

Decorate a mug with whatever pattern or words you like

Jesus asked the woman for a drink

This was a really hot country and Jesus had walked a long way.  Have you ever got hot and thirsty?

Peg Woman

Make a peg doll, drawing on the face, using a pipe cleaner for the arms and some cloth for the dress.  Attach it to the stand with glue.  Make a well by rolling a piece of card and sticking that on the stand

The woman came to the well to get water.  When Jesus asked her for water she was surprised

Has anything surprising happened to you recently?

Sundial

Put the numbers 1 to 12 in order around the base.  Then decorate with stickers and pens.

The woman came to get water on her own at the middle of the day when it was at its hottest

Do you know how to tell the time with a sundial?

Lolly Stick Well

Stick lolly sticks to a yogurt pot to make a well and add a roof.

Jesus was tired and thirsty.  He rested by a well while his friends went into town to buy some food

Do you ever feel tired?  What do you do so that you feel better?

Vol au Vent Well

Pipe blue icing into the vol au vent like water in the well.  Put a blob of icing on the plate and attach a twix bite to make the bucket.  Put one end of a sweet lace into the water and fix the other on the bucket with a blob of icing

People had to get all their water from the well,  to drink and wash and cook

What would it be like not to have a tap at home?

Water play

Enjoy playing with the water

Water can be used for many things.  It is very important to us

How many things can you think of that you can use water for?

3D Disc Story

The story is printed out on paper.  Put it together so that you can turn it round to tell the story

Look at the story sheet on the table and work out what the pictures on your disc show

What part of this story do you like best?

Mosaic Coasters

Stick the broken pieces of tile on to the coaster to make a picture or a pattern.  You can use it as a mat for a beaker to stand on.

Things in the woman’s life had been going wrong, as if they were broken.  When she talk to Jesus it’s as if the broken things were mended.  She changed and was a happier person.

Some times things go wrong for us too.  If there is something you are worried about tell Jesus about it.

Crowd Scene

Paint a person in the crowd

When the woman ran back to her town, many people gathered to hear her.  They were amazed and went to see Jesus for themselves.  Then they believed too.

Has anybody ever hurried to tell you something exciting?

Water painting

Paint a splash to make it look like water

Jesus told the woman that the water he would give would be ‘living water’ that would change her inside

Would you like  to meet Jesus like the woman did?

Invisible writing

Write or draw on the paper with a white crayon.  Paint over it with lots of colours and you will be able to see what you have drawn

Jesus  knew everything that the woman had done, things that she had not told him

What is it like to think that Jesus knows everything about you, the good things and the hidden things?

Prayer flowers

Write someone’s name or something you would like to pray for on one of the flowers.  Fold in the petals.  Then place it on the water and watch the petals open out.

Jesus said the water he had to offer was ‘living water’.  He meant that knowing him was as important to life as water, and it never runs out

Esther, a very brave Queen!

This page takes you through the various activities we had at Messy Church on 12 July 2014. Have a look and try a few!

Royal Mask

Colour in the mask to look like King Xerxes or Queen Esther, then thread elastic through the holes or put it on a stick

Xerxes, the king of Persia, chose Esther to be his Queen

What do you think it would be like to be a king or a queen?

Crowns

Make a crown out of card and decorate it with jewels

Xerxes, the king of Persia, was very rich and powerful. Whatever he said, that was the law

If you were king what would you make happen?

Bread crown

Cut out a crown from a slice of bread.  Spread on margarine and add sprinkles

Although Esther  was a Jew she was made the Queen of Persia

Would you like to be a queen?

Wooden spoon

Dress a wooden spoon with a cloak and a crown.  Add hair and a face.

Xerxes, the king of Persia, chose Esther to be his Queen

What sort of clothes do you think kings and queens should wear to look important?

Loom Bracelets

Thread the loops together to make a bracelet

King Xerxes gave Esther gifts when she became Queen to show her that he loved her

What would you give someone to show them that you loved them?

Pamper corner

Have your nails decorated or your hair braided

Esther had 12 months of beauty treatments before she went to see the king

What kinds of beauty treatments can you think of?

Musical instrument

Thread the bells onto the band to make a jangling instrument.

Haman persuaded the King to kill the Jews

When Jewish families tell the story of Esther they shake instruments to drown out the name of Haman, the King’s bad advisor

Rings

Paint a ring to decorate it

The king’s ring was very important.  He gave it to someone he trusted.  First he gave it to Haman, but when he realised he was bad, he gave it to Esther’s uncle

How would you show someone you trusted them?

Clay Stamp

Roll a cylinder of clay and make a pattern in it.  You will need to take it home to dry before you can use it.

Try using one of the stamps here by rolling it on the ink pad and then on the paper

When the king made a new law he stamped it with his own stamp to show that it was his

He made a law that the Jews could be killed

What law would you like to make if you were king?

Paint a Plate

Decorate a plate with the pens.  Take the sheet with you to tell you how to bake the plate when you get home

Esther made a feast for the king and his advisor Haman before she asked the king to save the Jews

What food would you choose if you wanted to make someone happy?

Gunge grab

Are you brave enough to put your hand in the gunge?  What can you find in there?

Esther was very brave.  She went to see the King without having been invited.  People didn’t do that.

Have you ever had to do something important?

Jonah and the big fish!

This page takes you through the various activities we had at Messy Church on 10 May 2014. Have a look and try a few!

Polystyrene boats

Make a boat out of this polystyrene tray.  See if it will sail on the water

Jonah set off in a boat which was going to Spain

Have you ever been on a boat?  What kind of boat was it?

Snakes and ladders

Play snakes and ladders but go up the snakes and down the ladders

Jonah went the opposite way from the way God told him to go

Do you every do the opposite from what you are asked to do?

Storm in a bottle

Put some blue water into your bottle. Now add some oil. Ask the helper for part of a tablet and put it in the bottle. Watch the storm erupt1

As the boat got further out a storm started and the sailors thought they would drown

Have you ever been frightened by a storm?  What was it like?

Fish scene


Put some fish, gravel and sea weed into the bag. Now add some gel. Remember to seal the bag up tightly.

Jonah knew it was his fault for disobeying God.  He told them to throw him into the sea and it calmed down at once.

Do you like swimming in the sea?  Jonah didn’t like it

Sewing fish

Sew the pieces of material together to make a fish. Remember to put some stuffing in.

God sent a large fish to swallow Jonah and he was inside the fish for three days and nights

How long would three days and nights be?  Would it seem a long time, or would it go quickly?

Lollystick fish

Make 4 lollysticks into a diamond shape and stick them together.  Then stick some paper to fill in the hole in the middle.  You can draw a man on the paper to be Jonah praying inside the fish

While Jonah was in the fish he prayed and God heard him.

What do you think Jonah would have said to God?

Gazebo fish

The gazebo is like a big fish.  Go in through the mouth and see what you find inside

While Jonah was in the fish he prayed and God heard him.

How big do you think the fish must have been to swallow Jonah?

Party blower whale

Attach Jonah to the party blower and put him behind the fish. When you blow the blower you will see Jonah being spewed out!!

God ordered the fish to spew Jonah up on the beach and it did

What do you think this was like for Jonah?  I expect he lay on the beach for a while to recover

Spitting Jonah

Colour in the picture

God ordered the fish to spew Jonah up on the beach and it did

It must have looked very strange if anyone was watching.  What would you have said to Jonah if you were on the beach?

Jellybaby in custard

Put the custard in a tray and add a jelly baby.

God ordered the fish to spew Jonah up on the beach and it did

Do you think this looks like Jonah on the beach?  How do you think he would have felt?



Build a shelter

Can you build a shelter out of construction sticks?

Jonah built a shelter and sat in its shade waiting to see what would happen to the city

Have you ever been camping?  Do you enjoy it?

Plants and plant pots

Decorate a plant pot and put a plant in it

 God made a plant grow over Jonah to give him some shade so that he would be more comfortable

What sort of plant might be good to sit under for shade?






Wafer picture

Put some blue icing on the wafer. Use the red lace to make the shape of a fish. Put Jonah inside. Decorate with some green seaweed.

 God sent a large fish to swallow Jonah and he was inside the fish for three days and nights

What kind of fish do you think it was?

Vine and worm

Colour in the picture and add the split pin.

A worm attacked the plant and it died.  Jonah was very cross

Ask an adult if they have ever had a plant that died.  Did it make them cross?