You will need: A4 card; at wooden sticks cut a little wider than the card; pens; glue; photocopies of verses from Luke 4 (choose the text appropriate to the age of the group); ribbon.

• Before the session, make a scroll. Show it to the children and explain that inside the scroll there are important words from God. Open the scroll and recall how Jesus opened the scroll in the synagogue. Read from the scroll or invite one of the group to. Remind the group of how Jesus did this as he called people to action.
• Show everyone how to make a scroll. Take a piece of card and stick the Bible verses on it. Decorate the card.
• Glue the sticks at either end of the card. (Flat sticks are better than round).
• Carefully roll up either end of the card around the sticks until they meet in the middle, and tie with ribbon.

Talk and make

Box of treats (C+YP 5-15 mins)

An opportunity to put faith into action

You will need: a large sheet of paper; pens; a large box; items to decorate the box with.

• Before the session, speak to a local nursing home, lunch club or project with the elderly and suggest that your group provides a box of treats, items their group might appreciate.
• Explain to your group that you are going to create a box of treats for elderly people in your area. Encourage them to think of things to put in the box. Create a request letter for the youngsters to take home, asking for items.
• Invite the youngsters to decorate the cardboard box and create a label saying ‘box of treats’. Collect the items in next week and, at a later date, arrange to deliver it to the recipients you identified.

Pray

Light box (C+YP 10 mins)

Make a visual aid to prayer

You will need: four A5 sheets of thick acetate; permanent markers; a battery candle or small torch.

• Think together about those who are poor, hurting or in need today.
• Ask the youngsters to write on the four A5 sheets of acetate the names of some of these people or some of the Isaiah words in the passage, using permanent markers. Fix the four sheets together with tape to create a box shape. Read the words on the box. Say ‘Lord these and many more people are in need. They need to know your good news’.
• Remind the children that Jesus came to bring good news to people. Place the candle or small torch inside the box so that the light shines through. Say ‘Jesus you came to bring good news to the poor’. Alternatively, this could be done using a heatproof glass or candle holder and permanent markers.

Talk

Taking action (C+YP 10 mins)

Create a calendar for action

You will need: sheets of paper with seven boxes drawn on; pens.

• Help the youngsters to understand that ‘Bringing good news to the poor’ is not just about helping with big issues and campaigns. It is also about the kind words and thoughtful gestures that we do for others.
• Encourage them to act on this by creating a ‘Taking action’ chart. Give everyone a chart with seven squares on. Write the seven days of the next week in each of the squares.
• Ask the youngsters to think of some simple acts of kindness they could try to do each day over the next week, such as playing with someone new at school, making cakes for an elderly neighbour, tidying their room or sharing a favourite toy. Write some of these in the ‘day’ boxes. Leave some blank for things they may add later in the week.
• Challenge everyone to mark off each day as they achieve an act of kindness.

Pray

Anointing prayer (C+YP 5 mins)

An opportunity for reflection

You will need: a small bowl of oil with a drop of aftershave in it.

• This anointing prayer can be used at the end of Light box, Taking action or Box of treats as a way of affirming the youngsters in their calls to action. The simple action helps people engage with their personal commitment.
• Place a bowl of oil on a table and, around it, place the action charts, light box or box of treats.
• Mention the particular call to actions you have done. Say ‘Jesus calls each of us to action. He calls each of us in different ways. Be sure that God calls YOU to action.’ Walk around the group anointing each person in turn with oil on the palm of their hands, saying ‘Jesus calls [name] to action’.