P.O.P.S. - JESUS HEALED JAIRUS' DAUGHTER
Story-within-a-story - Jesus healed a woman of hemorrhaging while on his way to cure a synagogue official's daughter.

COMPUTER WORKSHOP:
Crossword Puzzles Software - Older Children
Writing Blaster Software - Younger Children
GAME WORKSHOP: Try to Touch Jesus
VIDEO WORKSHOP: “Jesus” Film
MUSIC WORKSHOP:: “When Jesus the Healer Passed Through Galilee,” United Methodist Hymnal


BIBLE REFERENCE: Mark 5:22-43

MEMORY VERSES:

"And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’" (Mark 5:34)

THEME: Jesus Christ holds the power to cure diseases and the power to restore life after death.

OBJECTIVES:
1. To teach the children the story of Jesus’ healing Jairus’ daughter.
2. To teach the children what "healing" means and what "miracle" means.
3. To lead the children toward greater faith in Jesus Christ and his power to heal people today.

DEFINITIONS:
Healing - recovery of health or wholeness - Human health encompasses all dimensions of human being, i.e., body, mind, spirit. Human wholeness encompasses the soul, i.e., a person’s soul may experience healing (being made whole in eternity), even as the person’s body passes through the experience of death. Jesus’ power to heal came from God.

Miracle - a wonderful event which shows us the power of God; Older children - "an especially vivid moment when as a result of an unexpected and surprising event one becomes aware of the presence and power of God at work." (From Jacqueline Nowak, Memorial Presbyterian Church, Xenia, OH, 9/98)

REFLECTIONS:
Mark 5:22-43 (RSV)

22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he fell at his feet,
23 and besought him, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live."
24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.
*How it may have humbled Jairus to seek help from Jesus!
*Desperate situations call for desperate measures.

25 And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years,
26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.
27 She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.
28 For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well."
29 And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.
30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, "Who touched my garments?"
31 And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, 'Who touched me?'"
32 And he looked around to see who had done it.
33 But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.
34 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."
*The care of doctors, nurses, and hospitals is expensive today, too.
*Jesus knew when the power to heal flowed through himself.
*The woman’s belief was rewarded; she was made well.
*Jesus insisted on praising the woman publicly.

35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?"
36 But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."
37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.
38 When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly.
39 And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping."
40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was.
41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi"; which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."
42 And immediately the girl got up and walked (she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.
43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
*Some had given Jairus’ daughter up for dead.
*Jesus encouraged Jairus’ faith.
*He allowed no doubters to enter Jairus’ house, and he dismissed the doubters who were already inside.
*People were not allowed to touch the dead in Jesus culture, unless the living person washed and prayed afterward.
*Jesus held power over doubt, power over near death experiences, and as he later proved, power over death itself.


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CORNERSTONE COMPUTERS WORKSHOP PRESENTATION

Start on time!
WELCOME: Welcome the children and introduce yourself. Call the children by name. Use name tags if needed.

ATTENDANCE: Make sure that attendance is recorded and that “We miss you” cards will be sent to those absent.
OPENING PRAYER: (Make it brief and understandable for the age group.)
MEMORY VERSES: Begin by repeating the memory verses and by having the children repeat memory verses. Use this exercise to focus attention and to “set up” your telling or reading the Biblical story.
BIBLE PASSAGE: Read or tell the story from your choice of Bibles. Always tell the children where in the Bible the story is found. If the children bring their own Bibles, help them find the story you are reading.
DIGITAL LEARNING EXERCISES:

Materials
1. Crossword Puzzles Software - Older Children
2. Writing Blaster Software - Younger Children

Procedure
Older Children
1. Have the children make lists of words from the story of Jesus’ healing Jairus’ daughter, e.g., rabbi, touch, crowd, sick, etc.
2. Let the children construct and print crossword puzzles, using the lists of words.
3. Discuss the relationships of the words selected to the story.
4. Let children select and play their favorite game software.

Younger Children
1. Using “Writing Blaster” Software, have the children make “get well” cards to be sent to sick friends and sick church members.
2. Point out that Jesus helps folks recover from sickness today.
3. Be sure that children know that their “get well” cards and prayers are important to the health of those who are sick.

CLOSING:
1. Summarize discussion and what children have learned.
2. Go over the memory verses again.
3. Encourage the children to come back next week for another workshop, and to invite their friends.
4. Offer an age-appropriate prayer and/or involve children in the prayer.

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ROCK, PAPER, AND SCISSORS RECREATION
GAMES WORKSHOP PRESENTATION

Start on time!

WELCOME: Welcome the children and introduce yourself. Call the children by name. Use name tags if needed.

ATTENDANCE: Make sure that attendance is recorded and that “We miss you” cards will be sent to those absent.

OPENING PRAYER: (Make it brief and understandable for the age group.)

MEMORY VERSES: Begin by repeating the memory verses and by having the children repeat memory verses. Use this exercise to focus attention and to “set up” your telling or reading the Biblical story.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Read or tell the story from your choice of Bibles. Always tell the children where in the Bible the story is found. If the children bring their own Bibles, help them find the story you are reading.

GAME: “Try to Touch Jesus”

Materials
1. Open space
2. Lots of chairs (if few students are involved)

Procedure
1. Let the children take turns being “Jesus,” “members of the crowd,” and “the sick woman.”
2. Instruct “members of the crowd” to huddle around “Jesus.”
3. “The sick woman” tries to touch “Jesus” by working her/his way through “members of the crowd.”
4. “Members of the crowd” try to prevent “the sick woman” from touching “Jesus” by getting in “the sick woman’s” way.
5. “Members of the crowd” may not use their hands, and they shouldn’t play too roughly.
6. “Jesus” should not try to elude “the sick woman,” but may move slowly about the open space while the game is played.
7. If there aren’t enough children to surround “Jesus,” scatter chairs about the room in order to simulate a crowd of people.
8. Be careful! This game won’t be fun, if a child is injured.
9. Discuss questions below while playing the game.


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
*Why did Jesus’ going to Jairus’ house gather a crowd of people?
*What made the woman want to touch Jesus?
*What made it difficult for the woman to touch Jesus?
*Which was more difficult—Jairus’ asking for Jesus’ help or the sick woman’s trying to touch Jesus?
*How can Jesus help sick people today?
*How can we help Jesus to heal sick people today?
CLOSING:

1. Summarize discussion and what children have learned.
2. Go over the memory verses again.
3. Encourage the children to come back next week for another workshop, and to invite their friends.
4. Offer an age-appropriate prayer and/or involve children in the prayer.

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“ROCKSY” THEATER
VIDEO WORKSHOP PRESENTATION

Start on time!

WELCOME: Welcome the children and introduce yourself. Call the children by name. Use name tags if needed.

ATTENDANCE: Make sure that attendance is recorded and that “We miss you” cards will be sent to those absent.

OPENING PRAYER: (Make it brief and understandable for the age group.)

MEMORY VERSES: Begin by repeating the memory verses and by having the children repeat memory verses. Use this exercise to focus attention and to “set up” your telling or reading the Biblical story.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Read or tell the story from your choice of Bibles. Always tell the children where in the Bible the story is found. If the children bring their own Bibles, help them find the story you are reading.

SNACK: Serve the popcorn before the video and drinks after the video.

VIDEO PRESENTATION: “Jesus”

Materials
1. Video: “Jesus” Inspirational Films, Inc., 1979.
2. Popcorn and drinks.
3. VCR and TV

Procedure
1. Start the video at its beginning, asking the children to help watch for the Jairus story.
2. Stop the video after the Jairus’ segment (or after the call of the apostles) to discuss the questions below. (about 10 minutes from the start of the video)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
*Ask the children if they know someone who is sick. How might that person feel?
*How do the children feel when they are sick?
*What makes children feel better when they have been sick?
*How did Jairus’ daughter feel when she was sick?
*How did Jairus’ daughter feel after Jesus talked with her?
*How do the children feel when they are made well?


CLOSING:
1. Summarize discussion and what children have learned.
2. Go over the memory verses again.
3. Encourage the children to come back next week for another workshop, and to invite their friends.
4. Offer an age-appropriate prayer and/or involve children in the prayer.

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THE STONES’ SOUND STAGE
MUSIC WORKSHOP PRESENTATION

Start on time!

WELCOME: Welcome the children and introduce yourself. Call the children by name. Use name tags if needed.

ATTENDANCE: Make sure that attendance is recorded and that “We miss you” cards will be sent to those absent.

OPENING PRAYER: (Make it brief and understandable for the age group.)

MEMORY VERSES: Begin by repeating the memory verses and by having the children repeat memory verses. Use this exercise to focus attention and to “set up” your telling or reading the Biblical story.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Read or tell the story from your choice of Bibles. Always tell the children where in the Bible the story is found. If the children bring their own Bibles, help them find the story you are reading.

SING TO LEARN: “When Jesus the Healer Passed Through Galilee,” United Methodist Hymnal, # 263

Materials
1. Recording (or accompanist) to play the song
2. Rhythm instruments
3. Hymnals (for children who can read)

Procedure
1. “Talk through” the lyrics to the song.
2. Play the song.
3. Sing the song.
4. Repeat and play rhythm instruments while singing.
5. Half the group can sing the stanzas, and half can sing the echoes: “Heal us, heal us today!” and “Heal us, Lord Jesus!” Switch halves after singing a few times.
6. Tell some of the “healing” stories represented in stanzas 1, 2, 4, 5, & 6. Ask the children to act out those stories, as they sing the corresponding stanzas.
7. Discuss during the activity:


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
*Which verse or verses of the song pertain to the story of Jesus’ healing of Jairus’ daughter?
*Is there anything about music that tends to heal people or to make them feel better? If so, what? If not, why not?
*Consider the song’s last verse. What does it have to say about healing in the world of today and among the people of today?
*What about prayers for healing that don’t seem to be answered?
*Can a person be healed and still be sick? If so, how? If not, why not?


CLOSING:

1. Summarize discussion and what children have learned.
2. Go over the memory verses again.
3. Sing the songs again, time permitting.
4. Encourage the children to come back next week for another workshop, and to invite their friends.
5. Offer an age-appropriate prayer and/or involve children in the prayer.

Exchange Volunteers modified title of post and included workshop descriptions for clarity.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jan Napa,