Jonah--Arcade

Scripture: Book of Jonah

Memory Verse for this rotation: “But you, O Lord, are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Psalm 86:15

Concepts to be learned by children:
* Even when we don’t understand God’s plan, we should still obey.
* God will not give up on you even if you disobey.
* God has power over all of nature.
* Jonah was a reluctant prophet and had trouble accepting God’s mercy and love for his enemies.
* God wants all people to turn to Him and know Him.

Materials:
• Doughnuts & water for participants (found in the kitchen)
• Memory verse prompts
• Journals (Shepherds have)
• Pencils for journals (Shepherds have)
• Crayons for journaling
• Black yarn/cord 10 inch piece for each child.
• Red beads (one per student)
• Yellow beads (one per student)
• Green beads (one per student)
• Black piece of paper
• Red circle
• Yellow Circle
• Green Circle
• Sticky tack for circles

Objectives:
* Students will review the story of Jonah
* Students will create a stoplight bracelet illustrating forgiveness.
* Students will participate in a reflection/closing prayer time.

Presenter Preparation:
Prior to Sunday Morning:
1. Read the scripture passage and do the Leader’s Bible Study
2. Read through the lesson plan provided and ask Stacy about any questions you have.
3. Plan your opening and closing prayers, if you decide not to use those provided.
4. Consider the age group you’ll be working with each week and any adjustments you’d like to make to the lesson.

Sunday Morning:
1. Retrieve doughnuts, a pitcher of water, cups, and napkins from the kitchen
2. Be sure the room is set up as you desire
3. Feel free to try a project o familiarize yourself with the process.
4. Look through supply box to familiarize yourself with its contents
5. Do any other preparations you feel necessary.
6. Know that we are thankful you are teaching!

Procedure:
A. Welcome & Introductions at approximately 9:50 a.m.
1. Have the appropriate number of snacks available for each of the participants prepared before they arrive.
2. Greet the children and introduce yourself, wear a name tag if possible. Shepherds have name tags for the children in their bags. If necessary, ask the shepherd to supply children without tags with a temporary badge.
3. Open with a brief prayer. An example might be: God, we thank you for your son, Jesus, who became like us and lived on the earth. Please help us to learn more about Jesus today. Amen.
4. Give the students their snack

B. Story Review/Telling/Application at approximately 10:00 a.m.

1. Have any of you ever had to say you were sorry to someone? Allow answers. Did anyone ever have to ask someone else to forgive them? If no one shares, be prepared to give a personal example of either situation. How does it feel when you have to apologize to someone? How does it feel when you get to forgive someone?

2. We all do and say things that we need to ask God’s forgiveness for. God sent Jesus to die on the cross so that all of the bad things we do can be forgiven. Even though God promises us forgiveness, we still should do three important things when we do something bad. In today’s Bible story about Jonah, we will learn about those three things. I want you to listen as we hear the story and make stoplight bracelets to remind us of God’s forgiveness.

3. Read the story:
God spoke to Jonah. God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and warn the people that they were doing all kinds of bad things that were not making God happy. Did Jonah obey God? No, Jonah ran away, trying to hide from God. He ran and hid in a dark place on a boat. Tape the black poster board to the wall and hand each child a piece of black yarn or cord…this black of the cord reminds us of Jonah running to hide from God…usually darkness can hide us; but not from God! He always knows where we are and what we are doing. Jonah tried to hide from God, but God always knows where we are. The boat set sail. During the night God sent a terrible storm and the boat began to toss back and forth, scaring the sailors. The sailors were afraid and so was Jonah. Jonah began to think that he had caused this trouble for the sailors, so he told them what he had done and that they should throw him over board. The sailors did not want to throw Jonah in, but they were afraid of the storm, so KERSPLASH! They threw Jonah over the railing into the raging sea. As Jonah began to sink a huge fish came and swallowed Jonah!

There was Jonah alone in the belly of a fish. He was afraid. He thought he might die. Stop and add the RED light to the stop sign and have each child add a red bead to their yarn. The red light reminds us that Jonah had to STOP and realize he had done something wrong. Jonah knew he had done something wrong and he knew he had disobeyed God. He felt sorry for himself. Jonah knew he had to ask God for help and forgiveness. He prayed to God to forgive him. Stop and add the YELLOW light and have the children add a yellow bead to the yarn bracelet. Jonah prayed for three days and nights. Even though Jonah thought he was alone in the huge fish, God was with him and heard his prayers. God forgave Jonah. God made this fish spit Jonah up on the shore. When Jonah’s feet hit the sand he jumped up and ran to Nineveh to do what God had told him to do! Stop and add the GREEN light to the stoplight and the green beads to the bracelet. Jonah learned that when we need forgiveness we first must stop and admit that we have made a mistake. Point to the red light. Once we admit we are wrong, we yield to God, or pause to pray and ask for forgiveness. Point to the yellow light. And finally, we go and do what we know is right and what God wants us to do. Point to the green light.
3. Let’s review what God wants us to do.
We stop and admit that we’ve been wrong.
We make sure we ask for forgiveness
We go and do what is right.
We know that because Jesus died on the cross, we will be forgiven! Isn’t that
great news?!
4. Now that we know the three steps, let’s continue to create a bracelet that has red, yellow, and green beads that will remind us to stop, pray. and do what is right.
5. Assist students in tying their bracelets on. And have them assist you in putting items away.

D. Reflection/Closing beginning no later than 10:18 a.m.:
1. Let’s try saying the memory verse together: You may use the prompt cards provided in your box. : “But you, O Lord, are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Psalm 86:15 You may repeat as many times as you like, stopping to have the repeat pieces of the verse as you see fit. You may also ask them how God was merciful and slow to anger with Jonah and discuss the application of the verse to the story.

OPTIONAL: If time, you may utilize the children’s journals to reflect on what they’ve learned. Journals are carried by the shepherds; they also have pencils. Have the students create their own stop light on the page using crayons and pencils. Older students may write the three steps next to their stop light.

4. Close with a prayer.
Encourage children to offer petitions, if they’d like. It is helpful that with younger children you give them a prompt to go off of: Example: “Is there any person you’d like to ask God to bless” or “What is something you’re happy God created?” Using the last prompt, here is an example of a closing prayer: Lord, thank you for your love and care for the world and everything in it. Help us to be kind and obedient. We especially thank you for these things you’ve made ___kids can name things they are thankful for ____ Amen.

E. Tidy and Dismissal:
Be sure that they find a responsible person and that everyone has found one such person before you depart. Please take all supplies and put them in the box and return the box to the white cart found in the hallway. If you have any questions, concerns, or need additional supplies, please contact Stacy during the week or put a note in her mailbox, which is located by the office. Thanks!