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Growing the Good Stuff

Week 1 - LOVE

Part 1    

Lead-in Session DRAMA

Outline for Leaders

Week 1 key phrase - Download PowerPoint from the bottom of this page.

Week 1 key phrase - Download PowerPoint from the bottom of this page.

Week 1 Props.JPG

One of the neighbours at number 5 in Orchard Street, has a broken arm and is unable to cook. Lloyd, the Community Policeman, lets Jane, the neighbour at number 9, know about the situation. Jane responds by providing meals on wheels. An act of love. The neighbour is overjoyed at this act of love and kindness.

Characters: Lloyd (Community Policeman), Mrs Jones, Jane, narrator.     

Props:  Tray, dinner plate and cover, apron for Jane, sling for Mrs Jones' arm, casual police outfit, including a helmet.

Orchard Street stage set: Same for each week comprising - cardboard doors, green patch of grass, flowers in flower pots, Orchard Street road sign, house brick back drop. 

Sketch - Mrs Jones' Broken Arm

Narrator: Let me introduce you to Orchard Street. It’s a quiet street but sometimes things need sorting out and Lloyd, the friendly Community Policeman, keeps his eye on the neighbourhood so that everyone helps each other out when needed but often he has to remind them, like the time when Mrs Jones broke her arm (Mrs Jones at number 9 makes her entrance from behind the screen wearing a sling and looking a bit sorry for herself). Lloyd went and knocked on number 5s door.

Jane: Hi Lloyd, what can I do for you?

Lloyd: Did you know that Mrs Jones has broken her arm? 

Jane: No I didn't know I bet that's painful.

Lloyd: Yes it is but I was wondering if you could give her a helping hand as she's finding it difficult to cook.

Jane: No problem I'll take her a meal round tonight and keep my eye on her.

Lloyd: That would be brilliant, thanks Jane.

Narrator: That evening Jane knocked on Mrs Jones’ door and gave her a delicious meal. Mrs Jones was overwhelmed and couldn’t thank Jane enough. It wasn’t long before her arm was well again and she never forgot what her neighbour had done for her.

Part 2

Bible CHAT

Dorcas’ acts of love and kindness - Acts chapter 9 verses 36 - 42

This Bible story is presented using a fully illustrated PowerPoint (download from the bottom of this page).

PowerPoint preview. Click on images below to enlarge.

Featured
Slide 1 In the Bible there is a wonderful account of a very special lady. She loved Jesus and wanted to share His love with those around her. She lived in a seaside town called Joppa, which is about 2000 miles from here in the country of Israel.

Slide 1
In the Bible there is a wonderful account of a very special lady. She loved Jesus and wanted to share His love with those around her. She lived in a seaside town called Joppa, which is about 2000 miles from here in the country of Israel.

Slide 2 The woman we’re talking about was called Dorcas and she was a great lady. A guy called Luke wrote an account of Dorcas’ story found in the Bible and here it is.

Slide 2
The woman we’re talking about was called Dorcas and she was a great lady. A guy called Luke wrote an account of Dorcas’ story found in the Bible and here it is.

Slide 3 Dorcas was a follower of Jesus and she wanted to do the things that Jesus taught us to do. One of the things that Dorcas knew Jesus wanted her to do was to love other people. So Dorcas spent all of her time doing good and helping the poor.

Slide 3
Dorcas was a follower of Jesus and she wanted to do the things that Jesus taught us to do. One of the things that Dorcas knew Jesus wanted her to do was to love other people. So Dorcas spent all of her time doing good and helping the poor. In her little home Dorcas made lots of clothes.

Slide 4 She would then take them to women and children in and around Joppa who needed them. The families were so grateful.

Slide 4
She would then take them to women and children in and around Joppa who needed them. The families were so grateful.

Slide 5 Dorcas so loved Jesus and wanted to show His love to other people that she went all over the place helping people out. .

Slide 5
Dorcas so loved Jesus and wanted to show His love to other people that she went all over the place helping people out. .

Slide 6 She would share the cakes she baked. Her neighbours were so grateful.

Slide 6
She would share the cakes she baked. Her neighbours were so grateful.

Slide 7 But top of her list in helping people out, was making clothes for those who couldn’t afford to buy them. She made such a difference to everyone around her.

Slide 7
But top of her list in helping people out, was making clothes for those who couldn’t afford to buy them. She made such a difference to everyone around her.

Slide 8 But one day something terrible happened, Dorcas became ill, so ill that she sadly died. Everyone in the town was so sad. They missed her so much.

Slide 8
But one day something terrible happened, Dorcas became ill, so ill that she sadly died. Everyone in the town was so sad. They missed her so much.

Slide 9 Other followers of Jesus in Joppa took her body and laid it in the little upstairs room where Dorcas lived. The people were so upset, what could they do?

Slide 9
Other followers of Jesus in Joppa took her body and laid it in the little upstairs room where Dorcas lived. The people were so upset, what could they do?

Slide 10 Her friends decided that two of them should go to the nearby town where Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, was staying. They quickly set off to find Peter and tell him that Dorcas had died.

Slide 10
Her friends decided that two of them should go to the nearby town where Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, was staying. They quickly set off to find Peter and tell him that Dorcas had died.

Slide 11 They found Peter and told him what had happened. Wasting no time Peter set off with them to go to Joppa.

Slide 11
They found Peter and told him what had happened. Wasting no time Peter set off with them to go to Joppa.

Slide 12 When Peter arrived at the house he climbed the stairs to Dorcas’ room.

Slide 12
When Peter arrived at the house he climbed the stairs to Dorcas’ room.

Slide 13 Peter entered the room, to be greeted by a group of women who were all very upset that this dear kind lady had died.

Slide 13
Peter entered the room, to be greeted by a group of women who were all very upset that this dear kind lady had died.

Slide 14 The women were crying and showed Peter the clothes that Dorcas had made for them and their families, whilst she was alive.

Slide 14
The women were crying and showed Peter the clothes that Dorcas had made for them and their families, whilst she was alive.

Slide 15 Peter asked the women to leave the room. They left to join other neighbours outside. Dorcas had shown the people of Joppa so much of Jesus’ love, they were all going to miss her.

Slide 15
Peter asked the women to leave the room. They left to join other neighbours outside. Dorcas had shown the people of Joppa so much of Jesus’ love, they were all going to miss her.

Slide 16 The people waited outside, wondering. Meanwhile, Peter knelt down by Dorcas’ bed and prayed to Jesus. Then he turned to Dorcas’ body and said, “Dorcas, get up!” Dorcas opened her eyes and seeing Peter immediately sat up!

Slide 16
The people waited outside, wondering. Meanwhile, Peter knelt down by Dorcas’ bed and prayed to Jesus. Then he turned to Dorcas’ body and said, “Dorcas, get up!” Dorcas opened her eyes and seeing Peter immediately sat up!

Slide 17 Dorcas was alive! The news spread all over Joppa of what had happened that day. Many people came to believe in Jesus because of the miracle of Dorcas coming back to life. This dear lady showed the love of Jesus to those around her by doin

Slide 17
Dorcas was alive! The news spread all over Joppa of what had happened that day. Many people came to believe in Jesus because of the miracle of Dorcas coming back to life. This dear lady showed the love of Jesus to those around her by doing acts of kindness. Remember that little acts of kindness each day helps to change the world for the better. Dorcas certainly knew that!

Dorcas showed great love to those around her because she loved Jesus. We can show Jesus’ love to those around us too!

PART 3 - RESPONSE TIME

For this you will need the outline of a coat drawn on a large piece of paper or whiteboard and a cup. Ask the children whether they have shown love and kindness to anyone this week. Give an example of one of your own acts of kindness. Write in the coat outline their examples of acts of love and kindness.

Remind the children that little acts of love and kindness, no matter how small, help change the world for the better. Take the cup and explain that Jesus said when we give even just a cup of water to someone who needs it in His name, it is as if we were giving it to Him. Jesus smiles every time we show love and care towards others. If we are following Jesus those around us should see the fruit of love in our lives.

WEEK 1 DOWNLOADS

Week 1 Lead-in drama script, Bible Chat and response time leaders’ notes.
PowerPoint Week 1 - Key phrase slide
PowerPoint Dorcas of Joppa to accompany Bible chat notes