5/2/12  Epiphany  5

Bible Reading

Take time to pray and reflect

Preparation

You need a noisy crowd to set the scene http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW9qexFi2G8 is appropriate, or the street scenes on your Wannkam video (Indian pack sent to schools in Cambridgeshire September 2011) or even http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZiYzze6qwE&playnext=1&list=PLDFD0EB64D92DA6AC and the Beatles.

You may need to be sensitive if there are children in your school who are never alone - who share bedrooms for example.

If you have it - a recording of Gymnopedie No.1 by Erik Satie, or similar.

Introduction

What is it like to be always stuck in crowds or in a noisy place? Share some of your videos and talk about how you would like or not like to be in the middle of such scenes. How would you feel? How long would you be able to "stick it"?

The Message

Whenever we think of Jesus we always assume that he didn't get upset or tired or fed up with people - he was always nice and kind - BUT if you read the Bible carefully you will realise that Jesus did get all of those things. He had to rest when he walked many miles; he had to sleep rough sometimes; he got tired when people were constantly following him, wanting him to do a miracle or teach them, or just listen to them. How would you feel if your life was like that all the time? Well that's how Jesus felt too!

So what did Jesus do when he was exhausted and under stress because of the crowds?

Read Mark chp 1 vss 33-35

For Jesus he needed time alone to "recharge his batteies" and the best way to do that was to spend time alone with God, praying and reflecting. This gave him the strength to carry on with his ministry.

Prayer

We need time to reflect and pray too - to have quiet moments with God. Play your reflective music and tell the children this is a time for them to talk with God if they wish about any issues in their busy lives, or, if they don't want to do that, just to listen quietly to the music.

At the end of the music, offer a short prayer bringing all the concerns that people have been thinking about to God.

Also this week: why not look at some of Jesus' teaching on prayer e.g: Luke chp 11 vss 1-13, chp 18 vss 1-14