Today's selected readings: – Acts 7: 55-60

Kid's Church talk: -

• Have you ever been called names (Discuss)
• Have you ever received a nasty letter (Discuss)
• Have you ever seen graffiti? What sort of things have you seen written (Discuss)
• In the middle east where there is a lot of hatred between the Jews and the Palestinians it is not unusual to find walls, shop fronts, windows and the like graffitied with things like "We hate Jews" " "Get rid of Palestinians" etc
• The sad thing is that there is always someone that hates another person for all sorts of reasons (Name then - jealousies, better clothes or home, swimming pool etc, )
• Stephen in today's story was a Christian who believed it was important to stand up for things that were right.
• Sadly not everyone will like the truth being told, and like we read in the papers every day, people hurt and in some cases kill people that say or do things they don't like
• Stephen was standing up for Jesus and telling people they had to change their ways
• As a result he was grabbed by people who disagreed with him, taken out to the city walls and stoned to death.
• Next time someone rubbish's God or the church here, he wants you to stand up for him (Discuss what they might do)

Kids Church Activity:
To tile fruit cans with tiles, These are written on with words that can also kill – Eg: Fat Boy, Stupid, I hate you etc. A winch is added to the top with a little bucket on a string to make a wishing well. Slogan – "Jesus' wish if for us to stand up for him" - This to be put on the struts (Popsicle sticks) or around the base.

What you need to get ready:
Fruit cans or similar, Small mosaic tiles, glue, texta pens, grout, winch top for cans,popsicle sticks, mini watering bucket or could be made from cardboard or polystyrene foam. Maybe even plasticine or play dough. Instead of cans, the tiles could be glued together in the shape of the well and look like rocks.