Rotation.org Writing Team

JESUS’ ASCENSION
PRAYER WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Story: Acts 1:2-11

Key/Memory Verse: Acts 1:9b “As they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” NRSV

PURPOSE

Objectives for Rotation

Students will be able to:

locate the story of Jesus' Ascension in the New Testament books of Luke and Acts;
(Older students will learn that Luke and Acts were written by the same author.)

realize that Jesus' Ascension into heaven took place after forty days of appearances by the risen Christ to his disciples and followers;

learn that Jesus gave a promise to His followers that the Holy Spirit would come to empower them;

understand that Jesus' Ascension is a departure of the physically resurrected Jesus, but it prepares us for Christ's presence in a new way, in and through us;

know that God's mission to tell everyone about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection was entrusted to Christ's followers -- the disciples then and to us now;

realize that we are still waiting for Jesus' return, known as the Second Coming.

Objective for Prayer Workshop

Students will explore various types of prayer, while reflecting on the mystery of Jesus' ascension.

PREPARATION

Read Bible Background.

Materials List

Baskets or containers for supplies

Copy machine or printer

Paper for copier or printer

For Opening:

Basket

Crayons markers, or pens

Poster board, white

Scissors

For Praying the Bible Station:

Bibles

Copy of Instruction Sheet

For Walking with God Station:

Copy of Instruction Sheet

For Prayer Partners Station:

Basket of cloud shapes from the Opening

Copy of Instruction Sheet

For Adoration through Art Station:

Copy of Instruction Sheet

Picture(s) – Copy of Ascension Icon (like the one at

http://orthodoxwiki.org/Ascension_icon) or a painting of the Ascension (like the one at http://adtelevavi.files.wordpr...008/05/ascension.jpg)

For Breath Prayers Station:

Copy of Instruction Sheet

Feathers, small craft-type (should be fluffy enough to move as students breathe in and out)

For Ascending Prayers Station:

Balloons

Copy of Instruction Sheet

Helium tank

Markers, permanent

Scissors

String or tape (Optional)

For Praying with Music Station:

CD player or MP3 Player (preferably with headphones – you may need a “Y” adapter to hook in multiple head phones)

CD with song “Every Move I Make” (sung by David Crowder Band, Hillsong Kids, Point of Grace, and many others)

Copy of Instruction Sheet

Copy of Lyrics from http://www.sing365.com/music/l...0D5B482570460051DD30

For Journaling Station:

Copy of Instruction Sheet

Paper

Markers or pens

Stickers (Optional)

Advance Preparation

Set up a large room with an area or a center for each prayer station.

Duplicate a copy of the instruction sheet for each prayer station and place it in the respective center.

For the Adoration through Art Station, duplicate a copy of the selected artwork or find an icon or a picture in a book to represent Jesus’ Ascension.

For the Ascending Prayers Station, fill balloons with helium and tie a piece of string to each one. Display the balloons at a level the students can reach to write on them.

For the Opening, cut white poster board into cloud shapes.

For the Praying with Music Station, print a copy of the lyrics to the song “Every Move I Make.”

Journals???

Place prepared materials and additional supplies in each station.

PRESENTATION

Open – Introduction

Have the students introduce themselves and write their name on a cloud. Be sure and introduce yourself.

Open by saying the Lord's Prayer together.

Dig – Main Content

Does anyone know what Bible story we are studying this rotation?

We're talking about the Ascension.

What is the story of the Ascension? (Let the students tell you the story, prompting them with questions if necessary.)

Today we're going to do a prayer workshop. The room is setup in centers. At each center there are specific instructions on what to do. You can do the centers in any order. It is possible that you will not be able to do all of the centers.

Point out the location of each center.

Put the basket of cloud cutouts in the Prayer Partner Station.

Tell the students that they will be given a signal ten minutes before the conclusion of the class. When five minutes remain, they will be asked to come together for the conclusion of the workshop.

Send the students out to the various stations.

PRAYING THE BIBLE STATION

Prayerfully open the Bible.

Read Luke 6:47-49

How can we build our house on God's foundation while waiting for Jesus to return?

Read just verses 47-48 again, using your name instead of "a man."

Think about how it would feel to have a well-built life for God.

Prayerfully close the Bible.

WALKING WITH GOD STATION

Did you know that you could pray when you're moving?

Paul told us that we're to pray all ways, so you can definitely pray when moving.

In our story, Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days after Easter. Then, 10 days later the Holy Spirit came on the disciples.

Today, we're going think about how Jesus walked with the disciples on earth after the resurrection. Think of what it would feel like to walk around with your best friend. Walk around the room (or march in place if that's better) 40 steps while thinking about having Jesus with you.

Stop and think about watching Jesus leaving you to go to heaven.

Take 10 confused steps as you wait for the Holy Spirit.

Take 10 more normal steps as you celebrate the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives as we wait for Jesus to come again.

PRAYER PARTNERS STATION

Reach into the basket and draw a cloud.

Read the name of the person on the cloud.

Pray for that person. It can be a simple "Dear God, please bless ______."

Take the cloud home with you to remind you to pray for that person every day this week.

ADORATION THROUGH ART STATION

Kneel and look at the picture of the Ascension.

Can you see Jesus?

How do you think you would have felt if you had been there?

Quietly look more at the picture and think of all the amazing things God has done.

BREATH PRAYERS STATION

Take one of the feathers and hold it in front of your mouth as you breathe in and out through your mouth.

Do you see the feather moving?

Breath prayers are short prayers that you say to yourself as you breathe in and out.

As you breathe in, pray “Lord Jesus.”

As you breathe out, pray “Come again.”

Repeat as you breathe slowly in and out for at least a minute.

ASCENDING PRAYERS STATION

In our story, we talked about Jesus ascending to heaven.

People have long thought about sending prayers up in the sky to heaven.

Today, we're going to let our prayers raise upwards by writing them on a balloon filled with helium.

Think of a concern you want to share with God. Write it on the balloon using a marker.

Then, let go of the balloon and let it float upwards.

PRAYING WITH MUSIC STATION

Start the music player.

Follow along with the printed lyrics.

After the song ends consider:

How can we make every move with Jesus when he's ascended to heaven?

What can we do to breathe in Jesus with every breath?

JOURNALING STATION

John 14:2-3 says: “In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”

Write a letter to Jesus asking him any questions you may have about the ascension, the second coming, and all the dwelling places in heaven with God.

Reflect – Closure

Gather the students for the conclusion of the Prayer Workshop.

Review memory verse.

Go around the room and give the children time to share Joys (happy
things) and Concerns (sad things).

Close with prayer. If you wish, you may pray like this:

Thank you God, for the opportunity to be here today and to learn more about you. Help us to remember that you are with us and we can talk to you always and in many ways. In your name we pray. Amen.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

This workshop should be one of the last in the rotation so most students are knowledgeable of the story.

Adaptations - Younger Children

This workshop works better with children who can read. If you have children who can't read, you can go from station to station as a large group so the adult can do the reading.

The younger kids can draw a picture rather than write the letter in the Journaling station.

Helpers can write on the balloons for them.

CONTRIBUTOR: Jo Oehrlein