Hello everyone – Katharine here! How are you all? I hope you’re well, keeping cool in the heat (which might have gone by the time you read this on Sunday!) and having fun. Did you enjoy last week’s story and activities about Zacchaeus that Niamh shared with us? I’m sure Niamh knows exactly how Zacchaeus felt when he couldn’t see Jesus as she is an expert at being short! Taliah went leaf collecting and made a Zacchaeus picture to show where he was sat when Jesus found him and said he wanted to be his friend. She chose to write on it “We can always be part of God’s family!”
We’re going to be thinking about promises today. Before we do, let’s sing a song together to remind ourselves how much God loves us. His love is big, great, fab and strong! Don’t forget the actions!
When was the last time you made a promise?
“I promise to tidy my room!”
“I promise I’ll help you tomorrow!”
“I promise I’ll be your friend forever!”
“I promise I’ll keep your secret!”
Did you keep that promise?
Taliah says that sometimes the promises we make are just too hard or impossible to keep and that means they get broken.
When I was younger I sometimes used to say, “I promeeeeeeeeeeese” in a silly voice so that I could then say that it didn’t count because I didn’t say “I promise”! I don’t suggest you do that as it isn’t a good idea but it does show us how easily and how often we break our promises. We are not great at keeping our promises, are we?
Watch the video of today’s story. It’s from the Old Testament and a very well known story which I’m sure you know.
Listen closely right to the end so that you don’t miss the part about the promise!
God made a covenant with Noah – a covenant is a very special promise. He promised to never destroy the earth again. The rainbow is a reminder of that promise. And the amazing thing about God is – He never breaks a promise. He keeps every single promise he makes! How many promises do you think God made in the Bible? I haven’t counted them but the internet tells me there are over 8,000 of them! And he keeps every single one! He always has and He always will. His promises are the same for adults as they are for children.
Here are 7 of my favourites:
1) God will love you forever!
2) God will never leave you!
3) God will comfort you!
4) God will help you!
5) God is always faithful!
6) God will keep you safe!
7) God keeps His promises!
Look at those 7 promises on this picture and read the Bible verse that goes with each of them.
Choose your favourite promise and try to learn the verse off by heart!
Next time you make a promise, and whenever you see a rainbow, think about God and the promises He makes to you. Remember that God never breaks a promise to us! Thank Him for that and keep remembering the promises He has made to you – they will really help you as you grow up and will always be true however old you are!
Choose from these activities:
1) Draw or paint a picture of Noah, the ark or the rainbow in the sky. You could print and colour this one if you wanted.
2) Ask an adult to help you use a Bible or the internet and see if you can find some of the other promises that God has made to us.
3) Print and try this activity sheet.
4) Print and solve these Noah anagrams.
5) Find lots of things around the house that are red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue and purple. Find a big space (maybe outside) and arrange them into a rainbow shape. Look at this amazing one for ideas!
Finish by listening to this song called ‘Rainbow’. It reminds us that the rainbow is in the sky to show us that God’s promises are all true. And the rainbow is in the sky to show the world that He is the only way for every day of our lives. Try to remember that this week whatever you are doing.
Have a good week everyone and I PROMISE (not promeeeeeeeeeeeese!) to be here again next Sunday!
Katharine