Lesson Plans for Small Congregations

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Lesson Plans for Small Children, Pentecost 19
Year C, Proper 23 (BCP pg. 183 or pg. 234), Ruth 1:(1-7) 8-9a; Psalm 113; 2 Timothy 2:(3-7) 6-14; Luke 17:5-10

WAYS TO BEGIN: Greet your class. Talk briefly about any plans your church or diocese might have for celebrating Children's Sabbath which is in October. Share some refreshments. Be sure to say a simple Grace before eating. One I particularly like is printed here: "For the hands that feed us, for the heart that loves us, for the wisdom that guides us and for the Grace that forgives us, We give you thanks, O Lord."

THEME: The theme of today's lessons include the idea of unconventional people being welcomed into the Kingdom of God. For younger children, I would emphasize the Leper who returned to say "thank you" in this Gospel lesson.

THE STORY: Luke 17:11-19 Read or tell the story.

SOME QUESTIONS TO TALK ABOUT:

1. In Jesus day lepers were not allowed to mix with healthy people, but were cast off to live apart from society. Does anyone know anything about leprosy and how it affects someone who has it?
2. Why might the lepers ask Jesus to have mercy on them rather that to heal them?
3. How do you think the lepers felt when they realized they were healed?
4. Why do you think only one leper returned to thank Jesus?
5. The leper that returned was a Samaritan, a group of people who were scorned by the Jews because they had married people who were non-Jews. What do you think Jesus thought about this Samaritan?
6. Are you ever surprised when someone you least expect to do a good thing, turns out to be the kindest or most considerate person in the group?
7. Is it important to say thank you to God?
8. What are you thankful to God for? How do you thank God?

AN ACTIVITY TO DO: As a class, write your own Prayer of Thanksgiving listing all the things you are thankful for. Print it on a large sheet of paper and let the class decorate and illustrate the border around the prayer. Then display it somewhere in the room or in the church building. End the class by saying together your prayer of thanksgiving.

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