D/G CIRCUS SPECTACULAR: A DESIGN
SESSION 54: “THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCUS” (a tableau on prayer and friendship)
BIBLICAL BASIS: Proverbs 18:24 – “There are friends who pretend to be friends, but
there is a friend who stands closer than a
brother.”
Isaiah 41:8 – Yahweh God says: “…Abraham, my friend….”
Matthew 11:19 – “…a friend (philos) of tax collectors and sinners.”
Luke 11:1 – “Teach us to pray.”
Matthew 5:11 – “Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you.”
MEMORY VERSE: John 15:15b – (and Jesus said to his disciples): “…I have called
you friends….”
RESOURCES: “Pockets,” v.30, no.7, Aug, 2010, pp. 10, 21, 28-9, 39, 47; IDB, v.2,
p. 325.
PROJECT: Friends Hand-print Mobile with kids handprints and copy that reads: Lord,
teach us to pray, for our friends everyday; learn/make friendship with
special circus guest from Chile.
AVAILABLE TIME: @30 minutes.
PURPOSE: to see that being a friend of Jesus is being a friend (ie “philos,” “lover”) of
all people, including our enemies, for whom we pray too (cf Matthew 5:
11).
1. Calliope plays 1 verse of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” G#439.
2. Dismissal to the circus room with the “big Ticket,”
3. All kids welcomed and admitted.
4. 3-ring action including:
RING 1 CENTER RING RING 2
D/G VIDEO PLAYING: ASK: What is a friend?
“The Greatest”
[KIDS RESPOND]
SAY: Yes, a friend is all of that:
…a buddy,
…a chum,
…a pal,
…someone you “hang out” with,
…a “soul mate,”
…a kindred spirit.
A friend is someone who:
…sticks by you,
…likes you no matter what,
…supports you,
…encourages you,
…cares for you,
…listens to you,
…understands you,
…accepts you,
…helps you do stuff,
…someone you wanna do things
together with.
[cf “Pockets,” p.39]
ASK: How can you be a good friend?
[KIDS RESPOND, refer to “Pockets,”
p. 10]
…and as a friend, (no.10 on p.10)
pray for and with your “friends.”
[DO: have each kid identify at least
1 things about themselves that
identifies themselves as “friend;
…have each kid say what their
friends like most about them,
…have each kid think about their
“bestest” friend and what it is
about them that makes them your
“bestest” friend.
(refer to “Pockets,” p.15)]
ASK: And how can each of us have more
“bestest” friends?
[KIDS RESPOND]
SAY: Yes, by finding out things about them.
And we’re lucky to be able to do that
today with our special guest.
She’s going to tell us more things about
Chile: a long country in South America
(cf “Pockets,” p. 28-29).
Recently there were 2 earthquakes in Chile,
and we, as a church sent money to help the
people there…because we’re “friends,”
…”lovers of people,”
…and that’s what friends do.
[INTRODUCE GUEST WITH
CHILEAN ANCESTRY]
Everyone, say hi to _____________ .
[KIDS RESPOND]
[GUEST SHARES BRIEFLY THINGS
ABOUT CHILE; THEN ALL MOVE
TO RING 2]
[PLAY A CHILEAN GAME;
MOVE BACK TO CENTER
RING]
SAY: Because of our friendship, one with
another, each of us will make our
very own, special friends hand-print
mobile.
[EXPLAIN/DO PROJECT LEAVING
BLANK AREAS FOR ADULT
HANDPRINTS TO BE ADDED LATER]
SAY: And above all, Jesus is our friend (ie “lover”)
…and we are his friends,
…and as friends, we pray:
[SAY ECHO PRAYER]
Loving God, thank you for being my friend.
Help me to be a good friend
to you and others too.
Amen.
[GO TO CHURCH WELCOME AREA
WHERE ADULTS WILL BE ASKED TO
PUT THEIR HANDPRINTS ON A CHILD’S
MOBILE]