Today's selected readings: – John 20: 19-31

Kid's Church talk: -

• Has anyone every said bad things about you? (Discuss)
• Has any stolen anything from you? (Discuss)
• How do you feel when people turn against you - eg: a good friend suddenly turns on you (Explain)
• When you experience things like this you feel hurt and angry.
• Jesus tells us that the task of a Christian is to forgive.
• It may be that you don't remain friends with the person who was your friend, but forgiveness is about not getting even with that person.
• When you do this, you become like Jesus who even when he was crucified on the cross said about all those who had hurt him "Father, forgive them"
• It is not easy, but it is what is expected of a Christian.
• That way you can be civil to the person who was your friend, but know that they can no longer be classed as your special friend.

Kids Church Activity:
Children to design an A4 sheet using the words "Forgiveness is when….." They then complete the sentence and draw or cut out pictures to illustrate what they have written. This is then put into a book form and read out to the congregation at the end of the service.

ADULTS
Adults to have a little fun as well on the forgiveness theme. Fr Max moves around developing a story on forgiveness and has various people complete a sentence which builds into a story.

Eg: James was feeling sorry for him self because he......
(Here members of the congregation are asked to add the next section) Eg:..... ate the last of the chicken in the fridge. (The next member adds a little more) ....This caused a problem when visitors came around for dinner and...... (Have another 5 or so people add to this). Then start a new round.

What you need to get ready:
A4 paper to be photocopied with the message "Forgiveness is when....", coloured pencils, texta's, full colour magazines, scissors, glue.