GOOD FRIDAY 2022

WELCOME: Everyone is welcome here.

While designed to be used during a Sunday service at church or by zoom, these readings can also be used during the week to help you remember and build on what you experienced on Sundays. My objective is for faith to be a lived experience and for children to learn how to worship and explore the Bible and pray by participating in Worship. The goal here is not for them to learn names or facts though they may want to do that for themselves, but rather to find ways of connecting with the text and sharing that with others. The ideal is to form alife long love of Christ and for the Word of God.

GOOD FRIDAY has arrived. The Liturgical colour is BLACK or RED.

If you are worshipping from home you may like to set up a worship area

You can do this by setting up a candle, then add the things that remind YOU of God, a Cross, a Bible that everyone likes to read from, a special object, even something from one of the readings.

If able to worship in the Church buildings pack a special backpack, as well as filling, it with your Covid Safe equipment, add the books or materials required to help your young ones relate to today’s readings.

For adults and older students, you might like to use a journal with which to record anything that grabs your attention during the service. This could be a special, bound book or use your ipad or iphone. You could write a precis of the message (traditional words or pictures), draw, keep a record of emotions and hymns that you did or did not like. You could use a template like this free download. Remember, this is for you, you do not have to show anyone what is in it unless you want to, and you feel safe to do so.

CONGREGATIONAL USE: Though parents are the best at sharing their faith with their children. If you are a small congregation where children are a very small, or rare part of your congregational life, please feel free to make these suggestions available to your congregation. I am very happy for you to copy and paste ideas from here into your own Order of Service or for you to supply a link to this page. An acknoledgement though is always appreciated.

LET’S BEGIN:

LISTEN Good Friday The End on Liturgical Folks Album, Lent

For general craft ideas for Good Friday try these ideas from Sun Hats and Wellie Boots

THE LORD’S PRAYER:

You might like to start with the Lord’s Prayer if at home, or say the Lord’s Prayer within a set place if following along in a service.

A more contemplative version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NuUo-igXDU&fbclid=IwAR2FasYCU-9mP1PaLQDjweXyhyUnJutt4J28KycjzeUEttWSesipX2jmJxE

Or for a more Intergenerational approach try Number 1 on the Table Settings album by Liturgical Folks

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY

If you are in Australia and attending a Uniting Church in Australia, in many cases an Acknowledgment of Country will be said. You can teach your young ones to do this too.

FIRST READING: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

READ: The Velvetten Bunny by Margery Williams

WATCH

I chose this book as I saw some parallels between the Isaiah reading and the Velveteen Bunny who, learns what he has to do to become human and that it is not easy or pretty. in the same way the suffering servant’s life is not easy or appreciated the true value of it is not seen or appreciated by everyone.

PLAY: Roll out a play mat, or get a lego city project and look at how many people, going around their ordinary lives are doing wonderful things for others, ie the street cleaner, the nurse. How many can you think off.

PRAY

You are faithful God

Help me to listen to you

Amen

PSALM 22

Psalm 22: Don’t leave me!

My God, my God, how could you leave me? (clench your fists)
Just when I needed you most, you are gone! (point your finger from one of the clenched fists)
I am eaten up by pain, (wrap you arms around your body)
my life is pouring down the drain (hang your head)
Around and around rage the forces of hate. (look all around you)
Is this the end? Is this my fate? (point your hands palm upwards)

A shortened version of Rev Purdie’s Psalm 22 Don’t leave me. Actions in Italics by me

DRAW: how this Psalm makes you feel?

How does the second part of the Psalm make yoSECOND READING: Hebre

SECOND READINGS: HEBREWS 10:16-25

READ I will Love You Anyway by Mick Inpen

WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eBTrEDQWPc

A beautiful story of being loved and forgiven. Just like today’s reading

SING: Seeds Family Worship, He is Faithful

PRAY (get a piece of tissue paper or a sponge, cut out a heart shape and drop food dye onto it as you pray)

OR Hebrews 4:14-16 and 5:7-9

READ: Kitten for a Day by Ezra Jake Keats

WATCH

See Why it was suggested

SING Jesus You are my Hope by Soverign Grace Kids” album To be Like Jesus

PRAY

Jesus was a boy,

He played and grew

and knows

what it is like to be

a child like me

(tell God something about yourself)

Amen

GOSPEL READING: John 18:1-19:42

READ: The Way of the Cross by Andrew McDonough

WATCH

SING He died upon a Cross by Colin Buchanan on his album Practice Being Godly

Colouring -IN free colouring in page or you can purchase an activity book ($Aus 4.95) with so many things to do it will keep everyone occupied.

Blessings

Wendy L.

Please check local guidlines before using items that are not mine especially if you are using this page for congregational use. Please acknowedge this page if you find it useful. Thank you.

I am writing this on Wurundjeri land and wish to pay respect to all Elders, past, present and emerging.

I have qualifications in Education, Theology and Children’s Spirituality, and have worked as a Children and Families Worker in a city church. I use simple and easily found ideas to help you share the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) readings. This is a ONE STOP SHOP where I have done the sifting for you to find theologically and developmentally appropriate material for your congregation or family, saving you time from sifting through many websites, facebook , pinterest, instagram, and blog posts.

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