You will need: blindfolds, a picture of a donkey, a separate tail to stick on, sticky tac.

• Blindfold all the children or ask them to close their eyes.
• Challenge them to try various activities, e.g. stand on one leg, touch their toes, write their name in the air, turn around on the spot, pin the tail on the donkey. They could do this individually or all together.
• Afterwards, talk together about what was difficult to do in the dark. What kind of things might stop us from seeing God? 

 

A crack of glory                   10 mins W E

Get a glimpse of God’s glory

You will need: a picture of a sunset over a mountain (use an online image search engine), a large sheet of paper with a crack or a peephole cut out of it.

• Explain to the children how the transfiguration was like a crack or peephole showing us a momentary glimpse of the glory of God.
• Use the sheet of paper to cover the sunset picture and invite the children, individually or in small groups, to look at what can be seen through the crack or peephole. Move the paper around so that each person/group sees something different.
• Ask people to describe what they have seen.
• Can the group guess what the whole picture is?

 

Transforming the darkness                     10 mins E S

Use bright materials to transform a dark place

You will need: black cloths/dark sheets, gold organza/brightly coloured cloths, battery candles, torches, holographic paper, old CDs, gold/silver wrapping paper, coloured tissue paper.

• Create a dark place by throwing the black cloths over a table. Invite the children to go in and experience the dark. How do they feel inside?
• Invite each person to choose something from the selection of materials to transform the dark space into a place of glory.
• The children can return to the transformed place. How does it feel now?
• You could say this week's Gathering prayer.
• Ask the children to think of someone they know who is sad at the moment or in a dark place. What can they do to bring God’s light to them?

 

Make

Cloud of glory                      15 mins E S

Create a ‘glory of God’ banner

You will need: an old white sheet, gold, silver, bronze ready-mixed paint, star shapes for printing (made from potato or sponge).

• Beforehand, cut out a large cloud shape from the sheet and write in pencil the outline letters of ‘Glory of God’ across it.
• Invite the children to paint the letters and decorate the cloud by printing with star shapes.
• They could parade the banner in church.

 

Pray

Prayer cards             10 mins W S A

Decorate a glorious Bible verse

You will need: small pieces of card, one per child, felt tips/gel pens/glitter, a selection of Bible verses about God’s glory (template), photocopied onto card, a large candle and matches.

• Lay out the different Bible verse cards and invite each child to choose one to decorate.
• Older children could look up the verses and write them out themselves.
• Finish by sitting in a circle, lighting a candle, and inviting the children to read their chosen Bible verse aloud.
• Encourage the children to take their card home. Suggest that they think of somewhere to leave it this week, e.g. at school, in a shop, at a bus stop, for someone else to pick up and take away.

More prayers are available via the Prayers page.

 

Sing

Key to abbreviations for hymn book titles

Under 5s
I love you Lord Jesus (BBP, CJP, JP,KS);
Always look on the bright side of life (Fischy Music)

Under 12s
I watch the sunrise lighting the sky;
You are the King of glory, you are the Prince of peace

12+
Dance, dance, ev’rybody dance (SoF4, TS3);
Glory and honour to you we bring (CJP, SoF4, TS4)

Spiritual styles abbreviations
W Word E Emotion S Symbol A Action
Read our Spiritual Styles articles