Choose from these two ways of telling the story:

Foot washing/massage 
Sit in a circle on cushions on the floor, and invite the children to take off their shoes and socks. Provide a bowl of warm water in which to wash each other’s feet, in pairs, and then dry them with a towel, as you tell the story. Alternatively, pass round a tube of nice-smelling hand cream, and let everyone rub a little bit into the palm of the person sitting on their left.

Parts of the body 
Beforehand, teach the children the following actions to go with these words: feet (touch feet); kiss/ed (blow a kiss); tears (trace tears down cheeks); hair (touch hair); love (hand on heart).

As you read the story, encourage them to listen out for the words and do the appropriate action.

 

Talk together

• How does it feel when you go somewhere and people won’t speak to you?
• Why might the woman in the story be crying?
• Why do you think that Jesus and Simon react differently to the woman anointing Jesus’ feet?