Hiking

Hiking with the Good Samaritan

Introduction

Today we are going to find out what happened when the only person to help an injured man was somebody considered to be an ‘outsider’. Though he was from Samaria, and Samaritans were not liked or trusted, he was the one to tend the injured man’s wounds and take him somewhere he could heal.

Story

Our story is told by Liz and her fruitbowl. If you would prefer to read it, you can find it in Luke 10: 25-37.

I wonder how the injured man felt when each different person passed him by?

I wonder if there’s a time when you’ve been able to help someone who was in need?

Who is our neighbour? It is anyone who needs our help and anyone who wants to help us too. Our differences do not separate us but our common humanity calls us to be kind, compassionate and loving towards each other.

Activity

This is to remind you about the special things that God has made you able to do to help or serve the people around you (aka your neighbours as Jesus calls them!). It could be a member of your family, some friends, an actual real house neighbour or someone who lives near to you, or people you might see when you’re out and about. God has made you unique and wants to use you and your skills/gifts to bless others too.

Step 1: Fold the card in half, draw around your hand and cut it (so that you cut two). These will be the covers of your 'Helping hands booklet'

Step 2: Use one hand cut out as a template to draw and cut out lots of hands from the paper.

Step 3: Think of people you want to help and how you could help them. Write or draw a person and idea on each paper hand.

Step 4: When you have finished, line stack them up with the card hands at the top and bottom. Hole punch through the base of the palm and tie them together with string.

Step 5: Keep looking at the booklet and tick them off when you have done something.

You will need:

Your hands
Scissors
Pencil
Card or thick paper
Coloured paper
Pens/crayons
Hole punch
String/keyring (to hold the hands together)

Extra: Perhaps you could use your booklet as a focus for your prayer time this week and pray for your chosen ‘neighbours’ this week too?

Prayer

Have you ever had a day when you are feeling a bit sad? I think a lot of us can relate to that, especially during lockdown! Today we are going to use our prayer time to make some special happy notes that you can leave for people to find to cheer them up.

Put some quiet worship music on and have a think about some nice things that you could write for people to come across whilst they’re out and about on walks or running errands.
On your piece of paper, write down your happy message.
Decorate it so it looks bright and cheery!
Can you cut your paper into a different shape? What about a heart or a star?
When you have finished and have made as many happy notes as you would like, say this simple prayer over your notes. ’Dear Jesus, please bless anyone who reads these notes and let them feel your love today. Amen.’

Ask your grown up to take you into your front garden. Tie or stick your happy notes onto your front garden where passers by will see them!

Worship song

We want to see Jesus lifted high is our song today, with St. Giles, Exhall. Join in the actions, sing at the top of your voice or find somewhere cosy to listen to the words.

Passport reflection

Colour in the first aid kit. As you do, think about the ways in which you can care for others, no matter who they are or how different you may think they are to you.

Meal chatter

Later on take time to sit together and ask and answer these questions together. Make sure everyone in the family has the opportunity to share:

Who are our neighbours?
Does it matter that people are different?
Are we helping other people in need?
In what ways can we do that as a family?
Are we allowing ourselves to be a neighbour to others and be helped by them?

Venture out

Go out for a walk somewhere you can collect petals and leaves ready to make your own nature paints. You will need to gather quite a few of each colour to make it. Please do not pick flowers from gardens without permission and check with an adult before picking anything.

Make your paint:

Put each colour of flower/leaf into its own small jar or pot. E.g. all the yellow daisy centres in one pot, all the purple petals in another.
Boil the kettle and fill each with boiling water (ask an adult to help). If the jar isn't full don't fill it too much otherwise the colour will be very weak.
Add a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of vinegar. Give it a mix or prod.
Put the lid on or cover them and wait 24-48 hours depending on your level of patience. You might give it a squash once it has cooled a couple of times.
Put them in a food processor or blender for a more vibrant colour - this is very important for leaves and when the colour hasn't come out much. If you don't have a blender then put it in a small bowl and squeeze and squash as much as you can.
Put a sieve over a bowl and pour the water and petal mix into it. Use a spoon or your fingers to press as much water out as you can.
Now you are ready to paint.

I wonder what God's love would look like on a page? Use the paint to paint what comes to mind.