the lord is my shepherd - covenant presbyterian...

The Lord Is My Shepherd — 135

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Large Group

Openings

Large Group Openings, The Lord Is My Shepherd Rotation Leader Guide. Spark™ Sunday School © 2011 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only.


The Lord Is My Shepherd(Psalm 23)


Large Group

Opening 1LARGE GROUP

OPENINGS

Spark SongsUse one or more of the following Spark Songs during your Large Group Opening. Use them in the order that suits your group’s size, format, and time frame. Encourage kids to share the musical instruments.

Books of the Old Testament (Track 2, Songbook page 13): Before you sing the song, see how many books of the Old Testament kids can remember, writing down their answers on the chart paper. Pass out the cards with names of books written on them, and have kids hold up their card when you come to it in the song.

Hallelujah, Praise Ye the Lord! (Track 8, Songbook page 44): Choose a psalm between 146 and 150 to read aloud from the Spark Bible. Ancient Jews called this section of Psalms the Praise Collection. Remind kids that this song is like a modern-day psalm. Then pass out instruments to kids and encourage them to have fun singing praises to God!

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands (Track 7, Songbook page 39): Ask kids if they have friends or family living in other countries. Invite them to come up and place dot stickers on the globe or map where these people live. Help kids come up with new verses for this song using these places. (He’s got kids from Africa in his hands, he’s got our family in India in his hands.)

Introduce the StoryGood morning, kids, I’m so happy that you came to Sunday school today! In fact, I feel like singing and dancing. Shall we put on some music and dance to celebrate being together today? Let’s thank God for bringing us safely together to hear God’s word! Turn on the CD player, pass out instruments, and let the kids dance around for a few minutes.

Whew, that was fun! Music sure is a great way to sing praises to God, isn’t it? The ancient Hebrews of the Old Testament sure thought so! Has anyone heard of the book in the Bible called Psalms? The psalms were written by the Hebrews thousands of years ago to express emotion to God. They wrote happy songs and sad songs, songs of thanksgiving and songs to celebrate holidays. The psalms were so important to them. Today you’ll read one psalm that people have loved for a long time and still love today.

Welcome to Large Group Openings for The Lord Is My Shepherd Rotation! Enjoy your time (about 10 minutes) with kids as you sing, learn, and pray together. Choose a song or two to get things started, move into the object lesson that introduces kids to the story, invite kids to discuss a question with their Shepherds, and finish up your time with a prayer.

Spark ResourcesSpark Song CDSpark SongbookDownloadable Spark Song

Lyrics Sheets or SlidesSpark Bible

SuppliesCD playerChart paperMarkerCards with names of Old

Testament books written on them

InstrumentsWorld map or globeRemovable dot stickers

Spark ResourcesNone

SuppliesMusical instruments CD

playerCelebratory dance music


138 — Large Group Openings

Shepherd QuestionsPose one or more of these questions to the large group and invite the Shepherds to discuss them with the kids in their small groups. If your group is already small, choose one of the questions and ask the whole group to discuss it together.

• What is your favorite song to sing praises to God?

• What would David include in a psalm about our world today?

• How do you think the Hebrews felt when they sang psalms together?

Closing Prayer Sing to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

Oh, dear God we thank you forSongs of joy to praise your name.Never ending is your love,Coming down from heav’n above.Oh, dear God we thank you forSongs of joy to praise your name.Amen.

Visit www.sparksundayschool.org for more Spark content. Watch a short Lesson Prep Video that will prepare you and give you confidence to introduce this Bible story to the kids you are leading. You will also

find downloadable Spark Song Lyrics Sheets and Slides for all the Spark Songs!



Spark ResourcesSpark Bible

SuppliesKing David costume (long

robe and a crown)

Spark ResourcesSpark Song CDSpark SongbookSpark Song Lyrics Sheets or

Slides

SuppliesCD playerSheets of colored paper (red,

brown, yellow, black, and white)

Chart paperMarkerMap or pictures of familiar

places in your community


Large Group


OPENINGS

Spark SongsUse one or more of the following Spark Songs during your Large Group Opening. Use them in the order that suits your group’s size, format, and time frame.

Jesus Loves the Little Children (Track 11, Songbook page 62): Divide kids up by the colors of the clothing they’re wearing, red, brown, yellow, black, and white. Assign each group their clothing color to sing as you come to it in the song, and pass out sheets of the colored paper for them to raise in the air.

Deep and Wide (Track 12, Songbook page 66): What other objects besides a fountain help remind kids of God’s never-ending love and protection? Have kids make a list and use it to create new verses for this song. Examples could include: a river flowing great and strong, an ocean spreading infinite, etc.

This Little Light of Mine (Track 16, Songbook page 90): Talk to the kids about the importance of letting their own light shine. Bring in a map or pictures of familiar places in your community, asking kids for ideas on how and where they can go to share their faith. Use their ideas to create new verses for this song.

Introduce the StorySet Up: Before kids arrive, put on the robe and crown, and assume a regal posture.

Hi kids! My name is David. I’m the king of the great nation of Israel. You may have heard of me before. When I was just a boy, I fought against the giant Goliath and defeated him with just five small stones! God has been very good to me throughout my life, so I’m writing songs to show how much I love God. They’re called psalms, or “praises.” Shall I read you one? Read Psalm 150 aloud. I’ve written many more, and you can find them in the book of Psalms in the Bible. Some are happy, some are sad, but all of them call out to God for love and guidance.





• God showed David lots of love during his lifetime. How has God shown love to you in your own life?

• How can you show your love to God like David, who wrote psalms?

• Why do you think David wrote so many psalms?

Closing Prayer Dear God,We thank you for people like King David who spread the glory of your name through song. Help us to sing your praises to everyone we meet and remember you in our daily lives. Amen.





Spark ResourcesNone

SuppliesVarious toy sheep (stuffed

animals, plastic models, etc.)


Slides

SuppliesCD playerLetter cards for the word

Christian


Large Group


OPENINGS


I Am a C (H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N) (Track 9, Songbook page 50): Make and pass out letter cards to kids, encouraging them to raise them high in the air when you sing them in the song. Increase the tempo on subsequent verses. How fast can you go and still sing along?

Give Me Oil in My Lamp (Track 4, Songbook page 22): Have kids help you create actions to reinforce the message of this song. For example, as you sing “give me oil in my lamp,” kids could hold up a finger to symbolize their “inner lamp” and then touch fingertips with each other to share the burning light of their faith.

Spark My World (Track 1, Songbook page 4): Have kids spread out around your gathering space before singing this song. As you reach the point where you spell out “Spark,” have them use their whole bodies to form the letters!

Introduce the StoryPass out the sheep to groups of kids as they arrive.

Hi kids! How many of you have ever been to a farm or the zoo? Allow kids to respond. Have you seen the sheep that live there? They sure are cute, aren’t they? But just like us, sheep need help sometimes. Someone has to care for them and make sure they stay safe. Who gives the sheep their food? (zookeeper, farmer) What would happen to the sheep if these people didn’t feed and protect them? (get sick, go hungry, get hurt, maybe lonely) That’s right! The sheep need caretakers to watch out for them and protect them.

Well, the lesson for today will show you how people are like sheep. We need care and protection just like them. The good shepherd, is our protector and caretaker. God makes sure we stay safe and have everything we need. Isn’t that wonderful?





• When did God act like a shepherd to you or someone you know?

• Why does God always care for and protect us?

• How else do farmers and zookeepers care for sheep besides giving them food?

Closing Prayer We’ll pray a prayer litany today. I’ll start, and when you hear the words, “shepherd me, oh God,” respond back with “bah, bah, thank you Lord!”

Dear God,Great protector and creator, thank you for caring for us. We are like little lambs that need your protection. As I go out into the world this week, shepherd me, oh God. (bah, bah, thank you Lord!)Thank you for the ability to share your word with my friends and family. Shepherd me, oh God. (bah, bah, thank you Lord!)Help me always to find strength and comfort in your word. Shepherd me, oh God. (bah, bah, thank you Lord!)Amen.





Spark ResourcesSpark Song Lyrics Sheets

SuppliesLyrics sheets or song words

written on poster boardMarker


Slides

SuppliesCD player


Large Group


OPENINGS


Jesus Loves Me (Track 14, Songbook page 76): Replace the pronouns “I” and “me” with “us” and “we” in this familiar song. As you sing the chorus with the new words, encourage kids to come up with actions like pointing to friends or a broad sweep of the arm around the room to help them remember that Jesus loves everybody!

All Night, All Day (Track 13, Songbook page 70): Teach kids these new verses that remind them that someone is always watching out for them, wherever they go!

As I go each day to school,Angels watchin’ over me, my Lord.Help me Lord to keep your rule,Angels watchin’ over me.

In all places that I go,Angels watchin’ over me, my Lord.Teach me Lord your love to know,Angels watchin’ over me.

I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy (Track 10, Songbook page 55): Encourage kids to create their own actions to accompany the words in this song. For example, on the chorus they could squat low to the ground, rising higher and higher on the repeated word “joy,” then jumping into the air as they sing “down in my heart.”

Introduce the StoryBefore class, choose a popular hymn your kids might know, like “We Are Marching in the Light of God” or “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” Either print lyrics sheets or write the words out on the poster board for kids to see.

Hi kids. We’re going to learn a new song today. Some of you might know it from worship. It’s called [ name of chosen hymn]. It’s a great way to sing our praises to God. Here we go! Take some time to teach the kids the song and sing it through together once or twice. Very good! Now you’ll be ready next time we sing that song in worship.



Slides

SuppliesCD player



In our church, people sing hymns to honor God and give God their praise. People have been doing this for a long time! Back in the Old Testament, the Hebrew people sang psalms to give their thanks to God. Today we’ll read a psalm that talks about how much God loves us and will always protect us. Should we sing our song through one more time to praise God? Take a minute to do so.


• What is your favorite hymn to sing in church?

• How else can we praise God besides singing?

• Where else do songs appear in the Bible besides in Psalms?

Closing Prayer Let’s sing “Hallelujah! Praise Ye the Lord!” as our closing prayer today. (Track 8, Songbook page 44) Do so together.





Spark ResourcesNone

SuppliesPairs of pictures that contrast

Old Testament and New Testament ideas (such as Ten Commandments tablets and a cross, and Moses and Jesus)


Slides

SuppliesCD playerRhythm instruments

(optional)


Large Group


OPENINGS


The B-I-B-L-E (Track 5, Songbook page 28): If you have kids or teachers in your group familiar with other languages, invite them to teach everyone how to say the word “Bible” in that language. If not, here are pronunciations for French and Spanish:

French:B-bay, I-eee, L-elle, E-uh

Spanish:B-beh I-eee, L- ell-ay, E-eh

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands (Track 7, Songbook page 39): Teach kids these actions to accompany the song: point up to the sky on the word “He’s,” circle your arms around your head and down together on “got the whole world,” and present your hands forward in a cupped formation for “in his hands.” Invite kids to create their own actions on subsequent verses!

Hallelujah! Praise Ye the Lord! (Track 8, Songbook page 44): Split the group in two, assigning half to sing the “Hallelujahs” and half to sing “Praise ye . . .” Pass out instruments to kids and encourage them play them (or create percussive sounds, like clapping, with their bodies) when they’re not singing their word. After singing a few verses, pass the instruments around, so everybody has a chance to play!

Introduce the StoryHi everyone. See these pictures I’ve posted? Today we’re going to talk about contrasts. In the Old Testament, God showed Moses the Ten Commandments, which formed the laws the people followed. But in the New Testament, Jesus came and died for our sins on the cross. Following laws exactly right became less important. We still believe that the Ten Commandments are important, but we should also focus on loving Jesus and trying to share his love.

But this big message appears in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. God loves everyone, and God sent Jesus to share that love with the whole world. Today’s lesson comes from the Old Testament and tells us about


Spark ResourcesNone

SuppliesPicture of cross from

Introduce the Story



God’s love and care. But we can read that lesson as Christians and see the love of the New Testament Jesus shining through.


• What is God’s most important lesson for us throughout the Bible?

• Share a favorite Bible story that talks about Jesus’ love for people.

• What can you do to share the love of Jesus to people who don’t know it?

Closing Prayer Let’s look at this picture of the cross today and remember it when we close our eyes to pray.

Dear Jesus,Thank you for your sacrifice and showing your great love with the world. Help us to know that you will always protect us and your love will never end. Amen.





Spark ResourcesSpark Bible

SuppliesNone


Slides

SuppliesCD playerChart paperMarkerIndex cardsTape


Large Group


OPENINGS


Books of the Old Testament (Track 2, Songbook page 13): Make four headings on the chart paper: Pentateuch, Historical Books, Writings, and Prophets. (The Spark Bible organizes books into these categories.) Pass out cards to four kids with the names of one Old Testament books from each of these categories (Genesis, Joshua, Job, and Isaiah) and have them try to post their card in the correct category. Then sing the song, using your chart as a guide!

Deep and Wide (Track 12, Songbook page 66): Instead of humming, encourage kids to replace words by clapping their hands as you sing through this song. Increase the tempo throughout and see if kids can keep up!

Jesus Loves Me (Track 14, Songbook page 76): Review the ASL signs associated with this song on page 81 of the Spark Songbook. Encourage kids to sign the words/phrases they know (like “Jesus loves Me”), mouthing the words silently, and sing the phrases they don’t know signs for (like “this I know”).

Introduce the StoryOh boy, everyone. I really need to talk to someone. I’ve just had such a hard week. I was late for school, I flunked a test, my grandma is very sick in the hospital, and I feel like no one can help me feel better. Does anyone have any advice? (Pray, ask a parent or teacher for help, cry, etc.) Thanks guys, those are some good suggestions. Sometimes it’s just so hard to remember that someone is watching out for me.

I think I’ll open my Bible and take a look at this week’s lesson. Open the Spark Bible and pretend to read for a minute. Wow, this is wonderful. I can’t wait for you guys to read it in class today. I’ll let your teachers tell you more, but I’ll say this: God always protects us and watches out for us, even when times are tough. God never gives us more than we can handle. God will bring us peace.





• What are some ways that God works through our family and our church to bring us comfort?

• Can you think of any biblical characters that faced difficult times and who were helped by God?

• Who else can you turn to when life gets tough?

Closing Prayer Dear God,Life is often filled with difficulty, and we thank you for your constant presence. You will never leave us, even in the darkest times. We are grateful for that. Help us spread your love to others who are hurting, and help us to always seek peace from you. Amen.



the lord is my shepherd - covenant presbyterian...

Documents