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Exchange Volunteer modified title to fit naming conventions & has significantly modified the post.

Hi Pam,
We are rotationg both on Wednesday evenings and Sundays. One of our Easter rotations focuses on Christ in the Garden. Here are our planned activities:

DRAMA
Objectives: The children will learn that before Jesus went to the cross, he spent the night praying to God. They will understand that God sometimes requires us to do difficult things, but that we can rely on him for strength.

Materials: light, sheet, bible, marked where the garden story is told, scripture signs

Key Scripture: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done”. Luke 22:42
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Philippians 4:13
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not” Isaiah 53:3

Introduction: Open in prayer. Tell the kids they will be acting out what Jesus did in the Garden before he died on the cross. Tell them that Jesus prayed for a long time before he went to the cross, and God gave him strength. Tell the kids God wants to help them be strong too. Tell them you want to teach them some scripture that will help them when they feel worried and weak. Read the key scriptures to them. Hold up the scripture signs and ask them to recite the verses with you. (If this is the last class in the rotation, ask if anyone has memorized a verse. Reward with a ticket).

Tell the class this is a very serious part of the bible, so there can be no talking! They will be doing a shadow play. One at a time, have each child go behind the sheet and act out in shadow as you read the passage from the bible that describes what Jesus did in the garden. (If you want, you can send disciples to "sleep" as the disciples did ). Read from each of the gospel accounts so the kids are not each doing exactly the same thing. The last ten minutes before music is shepherd time.

ART:
Objectives: The children will learn that before Jesus went to the cross, he spent the night praying to God. They will understand that God sometimes requires us to do difficult things, but that we can rely on him for strength.

Materials: glue, felt, scissors, markers, scripture signs

Key Scriptures:
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done”. Luke 22:42
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Philippians 4:13
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not” Isaiah 53:3


Introduction: Open in prayer. Tell the children they will be learning about how even Jesus depended on God when things were hard. Tell them you want to teach them some verses that will help them remember God helps us when we have faith in him. Hold up the scripture signs and read them. Ask the kids to read them also. (If this is the last class in the rotation, ask if anyone has memorized the verses. Give tickets to those who have memorized the verse). Have the children open their bibles to Luke 22. Many of them will have just experienced the Last Supper rotation in body building. Tell them that Jesus had been to the Last supper just before he went to the garden. Ask if they know what the garden was called? (Garden of Gethsemene). They may remember from a previous Wed class. Read verses 39-46. They will do this in each workshop and may complain if they have done it before, but do it anyway. If you would rather, they can read it. Remind them that this is what Jesus did just before he was put on trial and crucified. Tell them they will be making a banner that will tell the story of Christ in the garden, and the Easter story in pictures. Take the bag of symbol words and ask each child to draw one out. This will be the symbol they are responsible for. After they are finished, have them glue the symbol on the banner. Remind them to do their very best work because the banner will be a gift to our daughter church, Fall Creek Fellowship.

Symbols
Mountain

Olive
Clock
Lips (kiss of Judas)
Rock
Mary Magdalene
Sleeping Disciple
Cross
Sword
Ear
Cave
Cup
Soldier
Coins
Scroll (represents the writings of the prophets)
Tree
The number 3
Jesus
Praying hands
Angel
Tears
Drops of blood
Sleeping disciple
Flower
Handcuffs
Crown of thorns
Robe

GAMES:
Objectives: The children will learn that before Jesus went to the cross, he spent the night praying to God. They will understand that God sometimes requires us to do difficult things, but that we can rely on him for strength.

Materials: True or False cards and box, scripture signs, bible.

Key Scripture: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done”. Luke 22:42
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Philippians 4:13
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not” Isaiah 53:3

Introduction: Open in prayer.
Ask the children if they know what Jesus did before he went to the cross. Do they pray before they get ready to do something hard? Tell them you want to help them learn some scripture that will help them to rely on God. Read the key scriptures. Hold up the scripture signs and ask the kids to recite the verses with you. (If this is the last class in the rotation, ask if anyone has memorized the verses. Reward with ticket).

Tell the kids they are going to play “True or False”. Have them sit in a circle. Each child will have a chance to draw a card and read the statement (if you have a non reader, read it for them). Have the class vote on whether it is true of false, then reveal the answer. (if it was a false statement, give the correction as well). Alternatives: split the kids into two groups. Have the teams take turns answering the questions. If the team gives the correct answer, one team member may spin the wheel. Keep track of the points on the dry erase board. Or, have the teams play giant tic tac toe. (The X’s and O’s are in the cabinet). They lay the X or O down when they answer correctly.

True/False statements
Matthew 26:36-55
Mark 14:32-51
Luke 22:39-52
John 18:1-11



Jesus went to the Beautiful Garden to pray. (False, it was the Garden of Gethsemene. Do they remember what Gethsemene means? “Oil press”)


Jesus asked the disciples to pray with him. (False. Jesus asked the disciples to pray for him)


Jesus sweated drops of blood as he prayed. (True… see attached medical explanation for this)


Jesus asked God to “take this cup from me”. (True… make sure they understand what this meant)


Jesus told the disciples to pray so they wouldn’t be tempted. (True)


An angel appeared from heaven to strengthen Jesus. (True)


Jesus sat on a rock and prayed. (False)


Jesus took a cup of water with him to the garden. (False)


Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray. (True. The Garden of Gethsemene was at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Be sure they understand what this means)


Jesus found the disciples asleep. (True. Ask how many times? 3… see Mark)


The disciples ate dinner while they waited for Jesus to finish praying. (False)

There were olive trees in the garden where Jesus prayed. (True)


Jesus told some of the disciples to sit down, but he took Peter, John and James along a little further with him. (True)


Peter, James and John fell asleep 3 times. (True)


Jesus was very sad. (True)


Jesus cut down the tree that was made into his cross. (False)


Jesus took his mother Mary with him to the garden. (False)


Jesus picked flowers in the garden. (False)


Jesus climbed into a tree. (False)


Jesus was willing to do what his Father wanted. (True)


Jesus cried “Abba, Father” when he prayed. (True)

Extras

Jesus died on the cross. (True. Ask why? Be prepared to answer)


Jesus was in the tomb for a week. (False. Be prepared to tell them about how Jesus rose from the grave in victory)


Jesus spoke to his disciples after he rose. (True. Jesus appeared numerous times)


Thomas didn’t believe Jesus rose again. (True. See John 20:24-31)

Jesus first appeared to a woman. (True… Mary Magdalene)


The following was taken from “The Case For Christ” by Lee Strobel, pages 195-6….
Mr. Strobel interviewed Alexander Metherrell, MD, PhD to discuss medical facts about Jesus and the crucifixion. Regarding Christ sweating drops of blood, Dr. Metherrell explains that “it is a known medical condition called hematidrosis. It’s not very common, but it is associated with a high degree of psychological stress. What happens is that severe anxiety causes the release of chemicals that break down the capillaries in sweat glands. As a result, there is a small amount of bleeding into these glands, and sweat comes out tinged with blood.”

Post moved to consolidate topic:

Originally posted
March 13, 2004, 12:33 AM
by Neil MacQueen

Gethsemane -Jesus praying, Betrayal, Arrest, Pilate.

If there's a better video than Jesus Christ Superstar that covers Gethsemane, Jesus' anguish, and the character of Judas, I haven't seen it.

I've used JCS the movie (the 1973 version with Ted Neeley as Jesus) 20 times over the last 25 years with both children, youth and adults.

The scene of Jesus crying his prayer to God in the Garden is one of the best in the movie, if not ever on film. Great Andrew Lloyd Weber music too.

I've posted my complete outline and discussion guide to Jesus Christ Superstar at sundaysoftware.com/superstar.pdf

I hope it helps you teach with one of the best Jesus movies for young people ever made. It leaves an impression.

<>< Neil

During Lent, our PreS-6th youth went around our church, taking photos of every cross they could find. We seperated the youth into groups, and gave each group a digital camera with instructions for each person to sharing in taking pictures. The kids have great eyes for finding "hidden" crosses! They even used their bodies to create crosses, just so they could be in the photos. Afterwards, I uploaded all the photos, and sorted out the best (the duplicates and the blurry ones!) for developing. Then I used a large piece of foam board, and cut it into a cross. I cropped and taped as many photos to the board as could fit into the shape. When finished, it was used by our Pastor for one of his lenten sermons, and then placed on display. The youth were very excited to see the final creation, and the congregation was amazed at how many crosses were found throughout our church. The cross is now on the art room wall for all to see.