Good Samaritan: Love your Neighbour Sensory Bottle

You will need: cooking or baby oil, food colouring and water, jam jars with labels removed or clear plastic bottles and lids/ tops

Mix food colouring into the water and fill each jar or bottle with a ratio of roughly 1/3 oil/  2/3 coloured water. 

The oil will settle on top of the water. Observe the fact that the water and the oil do not mix- just like the Jewish people and the Samaritans in the time of Jesus. 

Put the lid/top very tightly on the jar or bottle and gently shake it. Watch the oil and the water droplets create swirls and patterns as they separate out again. The two substances have worked together to create something quite mesmerising and beautiful. 

Think about what happens when the Samaritan reaches out to help someone he wouldn’t usually mix with. 

How might that work in our own lives and communities?

Pentecost Treasure Hunt

Pentecost is full of amazing imagery- fire, colour, wind, words- and it really lends itself to a treasure hunt outside. Where can you spot the things that remind you of the story? As usual this is a tried and tested idea, so take a look at some of the Pentecost related treasure we found!

Click here to download and print the Hunt Sheet

Flame shaped leaves

Red leaves

Red

Yellow

We even heard and saw the wind in action

Exodus Story Cloud-Spotting with Printable Activity Sheet

In the Bible, clouds are often a sign of God's Presence. When the people of God find themselves on their Exodus journey, they are led by a pillar of cloud during the day and Moses goes up the mountain and disappears into the clouds where God is.  This activity is an active way of exploring this story and thinking about how we each experience God's presence with us.

Download and print the cloud spotting sheet here.

Go outside to spot cloud types, maybe after hearing one of the stories about clouds in Exodus, and have a think about the discussion questions on your walk:

• What shapes and pictures can you see in the clouds
• Where do you feel that God is with you?
• What can you see that reminds you of God?

On our walk the clouds were fairly dramatic and rainy and we cut a viewing window out of the centre of the sheet. Fortunately, we didn't get too wet!

This activity could be adapted for the Ascension story or for any story that contains clouds!

Simeon and Anna (or angel!) Luminaries

This Sunday we are celebrating Candlemas or the presentation of Jesus in the temple. The story of Simeon and Anna is one of my absolute favourites and I love how this simple craft gives the impression of a person holding the light that Jesus represents, just as Simeon takes Jesus in his arms in the story. 

You will need: A copy of the templates, glue, scissors, paper (if patterned make sure the pattern is on both sides).

Use the templates to cut out a person shape. Glue along edge B and create a circle with edge A. You can colour the shape in as desired or even write the words of the Nunc Dimitis on it:

“Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant, die in peace as you said.
30 I have seen with my own eyes how you will save your people.
31     Now all people can see your plan.
32 He is a light to show your way to the other nations.
    And he will bring honor to your people Israel.” (Luke 2: 29-32).

You can also use the wings template to make an angel! 

If you want to be intricate, here's one I made with individually cut feathers for the wings :-)