LESSON 6 GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR HOLY...

Summary of Today’s StoryAfter the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and finally escaped from the bondage of Egypt, they wander in the Sinai desert for many weeks before coming to the foot of the holy mountain of Sinai. This is where they see that God himself resides.

Moses goes up the mountain to pray to God. After three days, the mountain shakes and the voice of God calls Moses. God gives him what we know as the Ten Commandments, which God carves on two stone tablets, to give to the Israelites.

L E S S O N 6GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR HOLY LIVING

Where You’ll Find Today’s StoryIn the BibleWe recommend the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Exodus 20:1-21

In Children’s BiblesIf you plan to use a children’s Bible for storytelling, write the page numbers of today’s story in the space below.

In Our Sunday LectionaryToday’s story is told in church on the following Sunday:

Year A: Proper 22Year B: Third Sunday in Lent

© 2016 By Joanna Leiserson. Published by Morehouse Education Resources, www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

2 | LESSON 6 | GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR HOLY LIVING | WEAVING GOD’S BELOVED COMMUNITY, YEAR 3


Weaving Our Story with the Biblical StoryThe rule of law is essential to a community. In the Ten

Commandments, God gives the Israelites the Law that will help them to survive and flourish as they struggle, beginning in the wilderness, to forge a unique identity as God’s people.

God gives the commandments to a people in and surrounded by a culture with very different, even barbaric, practices, and so the Ten Commandments are a great civilizing influence. As simple as they may seem to us now, they are still guideposts for our own lives as we try to keep the more “barbaric” aspects of modern civilization from encroaching on our God’s values of love, mercy and justice.

The simple rules are obvious—we take them for granted now, at least their basic rightness. “Thou shalt not kill.” “Thou shalt not steal.” We continually try to find loopholes and legitimate exceptions. But our attempts to find such “loopholes” tell more about our basic acceptance of these rules than about their legitimacy. We never challenge their rightness or their relevance to our lives even now, over 3,000 years later!

In fact, in our affluent culture, two of the Ten Commandments are particular challenges for us. The tenth commandment, “You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor,” is a direct prohibition to refrain from greed and envy. The wealth of American society was built on what one theologian calls “acquisitive individualism,” which leads to a consumerism and materialism that threatens our sense of harmony with our neighbors. We are taught to accumulate, use and enjoy more and more of the available resources of the earth, to covet the earth as if it were our own rather than

to share with our global neighbors and our future neighbors.

Another challenge in our culture is the admonition to keep the Sabbath and to refrain from work one day a week—not just us but our children and servants and cattle and the strangers in our midst. We live in a busy society. This commandment calls for us to turn off our computers, our cell phones, our factories, our iPhones, our MP3 players, and focus on our Maker. It requires us to reject the addictiveness of work, just as the tenth commandment calls us to reject the covetousness of consumerism.

It may be easy for us to—unconsciously—think of the Ten Commandments as a bit “old-fashioned,” superseded by the Good News of Jesus Christ and by the two Great Commandments that he reminded us of: loving God and loving our neighbors. But Jesus said, “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets.”

In fact, the Ten Commandments and the two Great Commandments complement each other. The first four commandments deal with how we best love God. The second six deal with how we can love our neighbors. Two thousand years later—and over 3,000 years after the gift of the Ten Commandments—we still struggle with keeping these laws.

So the Ten Commandments still challenge us!



The Episcopal ThreadThe Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, is found at the beginning of the Penitential Order in our Book of Common Prayer, pages 317-318 (for

Rite I) and 350 (Rite II). We hear and respond to the Decalogue as part of our Sunday worship during Lent.

The Ten Commandments are summarized by Christ when he said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Here he quotes a passage from Deuteronomy and a passage from Leviticus. This saying of Jesus is read to us at the beginning of the Holy Eucharist. The two Great Commandments do not supersede the Ten Commandments but summarize them. Christ does not overturn the Jewish law; he fulfills it.

The foundation of the Ten Commandments can be found in our whole practice of worship as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer, and in our Baptismal Covenant, when we promise to love our neighbors and to respect the dignity of every human being. Look also in Eucharistic Prayer C, on page 370: “Through prophets and sages you revealed your righteous Law...”

A summary of the Ten Commandments’ role in the faith lives of Episcopalians may be found in the Catechism, pages 847-848, “The Ten Commandments.” Anglicans hold a reverence for holy living (which makes up part of the title of this lesson), for Christianity as an active, lived faith in the spirit of the Ten Commandments. Early on, Anglican thought and ethos in the 16th–17th centuries showed a marked emphasis away from right belief—which too often led to dissension—and toward right living and right relationships—just

as the Ten Commandments are rules not for right belief but for right living and right relationships.

Jeremy Taylor, a 17th century Anglican theologian and priest (one of the “Anglican Divines” or “Caroline Divines,” as they are called), wrote two classic devotional manuals called The Rule and Exercise of Holy Living and The Rule and Exercise of Holy Dying, better known as Holy Living and Holy Dying. These writings exemplify the principle of the Anglican faith as a practical, active faith to which all people are called. With his strong practical, ethical and moral bent that is so characteristic of Anglicanism even now, Taylor moved people toward changed lives and repentance, toward holy living and holy dying.

GatheringAs the children enter the room, welcome them and engage them in a simple

activity that relates to today’s lesson. On pages 10-13, you’ll find several Gathering Activity handouts to use if you wish. Below are other suggestions.

Give young children some simple gathering activity to do, while waiting for everybody to arrive. A story box of biblical costumes and props will appeal to them, as will play dough or clay or a page to color.

Older children can be asked to make greeting cards or get-well cards for members of your congregation. In addition, they will enjoy talking and visiting with each other. Encourage friendly conversation while making sure that the conversation is appropriate to the spirit of Christ’s church. (Discourage gossip and other uncharitable talk.)

After all the children have arrived and had a few minutes of activity or fellowship time, gather them together and say a simple opening prayer. You may use any prayer from the Prayer Book or from any book of prayers, make one up yourself or use this one:



■ We thank you, Lord, for our time together here, with you and with each other. Please bless all who are here today [you may name names], and send your blessings on those who are absent or sick [name names]. And as we spend this time learning about you and your love for your people, show us how we can know you more clearly and love you more dearly. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Telling the StoryRead aloud today’s story from a children’s Bible, showing the pictures, tell the story in your own

words, or read from the version of the story we provide, found on pages 8-9.

For a helpful story prop, cut out two tablet shapes from large poster board or foam board. Copy the Ten Commandments from the pages at the end of this lesson and cut them apart. You will need to do these things ahead of time. Then, at your storytelling time, tape or glue each commandment to the “tablet” as you read each one.

Then when you have finished with the storytelling time, move on to worship, letting the story sink into their hearts. Do not analyze the lesson or asking them to talk about the meaning of the lesson at this time. You can invite their reactions during Sharing.

PrayerSet up a small worship center in your room.

Materials:small table with a cloth to cover it2 candles or 1 large Christ candlematchesBiblecrossoptional: flowers (real, artificial or handmade by

the children)

Have the children set up a simple altar with the materials listed above. Invite them to place on the altar any drawings or crafts that they created during Gathering time. Then light the candles.

Read a verse or two of today’s scripture from a Bible so that the children connect the story they heard with the Bible, which is the word of God. If working mainly with older children, you might expand the reading to several verses.

Suggestions for the reading:

For younger children: Exodus 20:1-3

For older children: Exodus 20:1-3

Or have children read the summary of the Ten Commandments, the Decalogue, in the Prayer Book on page 350. This is the beginning of the Penitential Order, often used throughout Lent.



If you choose a scripture passage to read today, help the children become familiar with our liturgy by reading it as it is done in church. Read as follows:

Reader: A reading from the book of Exodus: (Read the selected passage.)

Reader: The word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Invite the children to sit in a circle and join in prayer. Say a brief prayer yourself then invite prayers from each child in the circle: ■ Invite prayers of thanks for God’s work in our lives

during the past week. They may share a time of learning a new sport or skill, a happy time with family, a special trip or even something ordinary.

■ Welcome any prayers of concern or petition for any children or their family members who are sick. Also pray for the hungry and the homeless and those in any need during this season.

■ Ask if anyone has had a birthday or celebrated a special day during the past week and give thanks for these special times.

■ End the prayer time by praying together the Lord’s Prayer.

Carefully extinguish the candles.

SharingPass out snacks and say a simple grace, such as this one

adapted from the Prayer Book: ■ For these and all your mercies, may God’s holy

Name be blessed and praised, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This is an excellent time, while sharing a snack, to begin talking about the story that the children have just heard. Invite children to share their feelings and thoughts about today’s lesson. ■ Where do we see God’s love in the making of the

Ten Commandments?

Refer to the commandments one by one. For example, you might ask: ■ What does the first commandment mean for us

today? Or the second? ■ What idols do we keep that move us away from

worshiping God? Material things, money, a certain lifestyle?

Jesus quoted two Bible verses (from Deuteronomy and Leviticus) and said that they are the heart of God’s Law, or commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” ■ Can you see these two commandments in the Ten

Commandments? ■ Which commandments tell us how to relate to

God? ■ Which ones guide our relationships with other

people? ■ What commandments are hardest to follow?

Why?



Activities: Arts, Crafts, Games, Drama, etc.

After Sharing, begin an activity to supplement and enhance today’s story. While the children are doing an activity, talk about the story so that they make the connection.

Suggested story-related activities are provided at the end of this lesson on pages 14-35.

Additional activity ideas can be found in the Appendix (also downloadable) where we’ve provided suggestions and directions for a variety of general activities that can be adapted to any lesson. Also included are outreach and service projects that can be done at any time.

MemorizationOlder intermediate children can begin to memorize the Ten Commandments.

Suggestions for ways to help the children with their memorization can be found on page 15 in the Appendix (also downloadable).

ACTIVITIES FOR THIS WEEK’S SESSION

Take-Home Paper

At the end of this lesson you will find a two-page take-home paper for families called Threads. Threads provides parents with a briefer version of the information on scripture and Episcopal faith found in the introduction to the lesson, as well as multiple suggestions for household activities and prayer. Parents can use Threads to continue each child’s classroom experience at home throughout the week. We suggest duplicating and distributing these two pages to children and/or their parents at the end of each lesson.



Weaving God’s Beloved CommunityGod’s beloved community is based on the kind of ethical

norms set forth in these tablets, which keep us in harmony with each other. So it is important that we know that story in order to incorporate it into our own stories.

As your time together draws to a close, take a few minutes to help the children summarize the story and say what they learned today by asking questions such as: ■ What are the most important things we talked

about today? ■ Who was given the Ten Commandments? ■ Can you name at least two of them?

Closing PrayerBefore the children leave, say a closing prayer to send them into the church worship service or

back to their homes with God’s love and blessing. Say a prayer of your own, ask a child to share a prayer, use a prayer from the Prayer Book or say the following: ■ Lord God, we give you thanks for the law that you

give to us in the Ten Commandments and for the law that you give us in our hearts. We thank you for letting us be your people, and for being our loving God. Now send us back to our families to give them the love that you give to us. Bless us now as we go, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

End with a dismissal used in church, such as: ■ Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

The children respond: ■ Thanks be to God!

Exodus 20:1-21The Israelites have crossed the Red Sea. Now they are free!

But that does not mean they can do whatever they want. They cannot hurt people. They cannot go after other gods. God wants them to be good people, to love God and to love one another. To help them, God gives them rules.

The people have been walking through the Sinai desert, following Moses. He takes them far away from Egypt, and far away from where they had crossed the sea to freedom. They will never go back to Egypt. They belong to God now.

After a few months, the people reach the wilderness of Sinai. There is a mountain in front of them that sometimes smokes and trembles—Mount Sinai. Moses stops, and the people set up camp in front of the mountain.

Then Moses hears God calling to him from the depths of the mountain. So Moses leaves the people and makes his way up Mount Sinai. There, God tells Moses what to tell the people: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. I brought you out of Egypt to be with me. You are my treasured people, and you will be a holy nation.”

Moses walks back down the mountain, where the people are waiting for him. He calls the people together, and then he tells the people what God has told him to say. Then the people make a promise to Moses and to God. They say, “Everything that God has told us to do, we will do.”

8 | LESSON 6 | GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR HOLY LIVING | WEAVING GOD’S BELOVED COMMUNITY, YEAR 3 | ACTIVITY© 2016 By Joanna Leiserson. Published by Morehouse Education Resources, www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved.

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.© 2016 By Joanna Leiserson. Published by Morehouse Education Resources, www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved.

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

The Ten CommandmentsThen Moses goes back up into the mountain to talk with God. When he

comes back down, he is carrying two large tablets of stone, with words written on them. They are the Ten Commandments that will help the people to be the holy people they promise to be.

Here are those Ten Commandments, as God speaks them:

1. I am God, says God, who brought you out of slavery. There are no other gods. I am the only God. Put God first.

2. Do not make for yourself any idol. That means, do not make any thing more important than God, whether it is some gold statue that you make, or anything else that you would worship. You are to worship only me.

3. Use the name of God with respect.4. Remember and honor the Lord’s Day.5. Respect your parents.6. Do not kill anyone.7. Be faithful in marriage.8. Do not steal.9. Do not lie.10. Do not be envious of other people.

And then the mountain shakes, and thunder and lightning come out of the sky. Smoke bellows out of the mountain. These are truly the commandments of God! The people are afraid, and again they promise, “Whatever the Lord tells us to do, we will do!”

9 | LESSON 6 | GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR HOLY LIVING | WEAVING GOD’S BELOVED COMMUNITY, YEAR 3 | ACTIVITY© 2016 By Joanna Leiserson. Published by Morehouse Education Resources, www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved.

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.© 2016 By Joanna Leiserson. Published by Morehouse Education Resources, www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved.

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.


G AT H E R I N G AC T I V I T Y:T H E STO N E S O N M O U N T S I N A I

There are words to one of the Ten Commandments written on the stones below. Unscramble the letters to make words, then put the words together in the right order to find out what commandment is written.

10 | LESSON 6 | GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR HOLY LIVING | WEAVING GOD’S BELOVED COMMUNITY, YEAR 3 | ACTIVITY


G AT H E R I N G AC T I V I T Y:T H E F I R ST CO M M A N D M E N T

Follow the string to find out what the God’s first commandment is for us. When you come to a letter, write it down in the spaces below to see the message.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.



G AT H E R I N G AC T I V I T Y:W H O I S G O D? W O R D S E A R C H

Who does God say he is? Find the words below, and the letters that are NOT used (in the first 3 lines—but not all of line 3) will tell you what God says about himself. Put these letters in the blank spaces at the bottom of the page.COMMANDMENTS

GODS

JEALOUS

RESTED

STEAL

COVET

HONOR

MOTHER

SABBATH DAY

FATHER

IDOL

NEIGHBOR

STEADFAST LOVE

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.


C I S R E H T A F L A S S M T

H O E A L O R D A Y U O T U R

T G M O B D F E E O M K E Q Y

D E S M H B T O L V L R A Z X

U P V L A S A A C X O E D B G

U R D O U N E T R N Y H F N I

L V O G C J D I H F P T A A X

C E S B P R S M M D S O S O O

F W E N H E V C E D A M T T T

L G N Z H G G Z O N G Y L V D

D E T S E R I G A B T C O S Z

H O N O R O T E P F Q S V L U

S U A B F M N E N E X N E P A

K I I P V W V D E G Q B Q F Q

I D O L K V K D E D X S H L I


G AT H E R I N G AC T I V I T Y:W H E R E A R E T H O S E TA B L E T S?

Help Moses find those Ten Commandments tablets on Mount Sinai! He needs to avoid the dangers on the mountain.



G O D’S CO M M A N D M E N T SPreschool

Children sing this song to “Ten Little Indians.” Let them use fingers to count out.

One and two and three commandments,Four and five and six commandments,Seven and eight and nine commandments,Ten of God’s commandments!



S E W I N G TA B L E T SPreschool

Children make tablets from cardboard and decorate them with pictures about the Ten Commandments.

Materials:thin cardboard or posterboardhole punchlong shoelaces, or string with tape at the edgesmarkers or crayons

Preparation:Cut the cardboard or posterboard into tablet shapes, one or two per child, around 6" high. Punch holes around the edges at regular 1" intervals.

Directions:Invite each child to make a tablet as follows:

1. Use markers or crayons to decorate your tablets with pictures about the Ten Commandments.

2. Use a shoelace or long piece of string to “sew” around the edges of the tablet.

15 | LESSON 6 | GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR HOLY LIVING | WEAVING GOD’S BELOVED COMMUNITY, YEAR 3 | CRAFT


T E N CO M M A N D M E N T S LO V E C U PPreschool

Children use hearts, stickers and paper cups to create love cups to fill up with their loving actions and words.

Materials:small plastic sandwich or snack bagsred construction paperscissorsplain white foam cups or paper cupsstickers of various picturesheart stickersnote to parent or guardian (p. 17)permanent marker (adult leader only)

Preparation:Cut a lot of hearts from the red paper. On each cup, write the words Love Cup. Cut out the note to the parents or guardians, on the next page.

Directions:1. Invite each child to decorate his or her own cup with stickers.

2. Put a lot of hearts in a small plastic bag for each child. There should be enough hearts in each bag to fill up the cup.

3. Read the note to the children and explain how they might use the cup at home. Then invite them to cut out the note. Put the note into the cup, along with the bag.




Note to parent or guardian:

Each time a child shows love,record it on one of the small hearts.

Drop the heart into the cup. See how long it takes for the cup to fill up.

My cup runneth over. Psalm 23




























17 | LESSON 6 | GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR HOLY LIVING | WEAVING GOD’S BELOVED COMMUNITY, YEAR 3 | CRAFT CONTINUED


M O S E S O N M O U N T S I N A IPreschool

Children make cutouts of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai and color them.

Materials:pictures of Mount Sinai, Moses, tablets (pp. 19-20)scissorscrayonsglueoptional: felt or other fabric

Preparation:Make a copy of the pictures on pages 19-20, one copy of each picture per child.

Directions:Invite each child to make a picture as follows:

1. Color the pictures of Moses and the tablets.

2. Color the picture of Mount Sinai and add other items too, like animals or people. Imagine what the scene might have been like when Moses received the commandments from God at the top of the mountain. Note: While children are coloring the mountain picture, cut out the Moses and tablet pictures for them.

3. Glue Moses and the tablets onto the Mount Sinai picture.

Variation:Cut small pieces of fabric or felt and have children glue this onto the Moses figure for his clothing.




T E N CO M M A N D M E N T S M AG N E T A N D N OT E PAD

Primary

Children color decorations on a paper tablet of the Ten Commandments, then add a sticky notepad and magnets for handing on their refrigerators at home.

Materials:magnetic strips or button magnetscardstock, poster board or other heavy paper stocktablet pattern (p. 22)square self-stick pads (such as Post-Its®), 1 whole pad per childgluecrayons

Preparation:Make a copy of the tablet pattern on page 22 for each child. Be sure to include the bottom part, on which the self-stick pads will be glued. If possible, copy on card stock paper or posterboard.

Directions:Invite each child to make a magnetic notepad as follows:

1. Cut out the tablet pattern. If you’d like, color and decorate the tablet with the commandments.

2. Glue the back of a sticky pad onto the bottom portion of your tablet, as indicated.

3. On the back of the tablet picture, glue two button magnets or a long strip of magnet.



I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods but me.

You shall not make for yourself any idol.

You shall not invoke with malice the Name of the Lord your God.

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not be a false witness.

You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.

(attach notepad here.)




T E N CO M M A N D M E N T S P L AC E M ATPrimary, Elementary

Children decorate paper tablets of the Ten Commandments and put them between adhesive shelf paper to make a placemat.

Materials:Ten Commandments (p. 24) construction paperclear shelf papermarkers or paintsgluescissors

Preparation:Make a copy of the Ten Commandments pattern on page 24 for each child.

Directions:Invite each child to make a placemat as follows:

1. Cut out the Ten Commandments. You can cut them out individually or cut out the whole thing as a whole.

2. Glue the Ten Commandments onto construction paper.

3. Decorate around the words.

4. Cut two pieces of shelf paper a little larger than the construction paper.

5. Lay one sheet of shelf paper sticky side up, and remove the backing.

6. Place the top side of the placemat on the sticky side of the shelf paper.

7. Pull the backing off the second piece of shelf paper and put the back side of the placemat on the sticky side of this piece.

8. Trim the edges.




I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods but me.

You shall not murder.

You shall not make for yourself any idol. You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not invoke with malice the Name of the Lord your God.

You shall not steal.

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. You shall not be a false witness.

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.




C L AY TA B L E T SPrimary, Elementary

Children write Hebrew words and phrases from the Ten Commandments on clay tablets.

Materials:clay, either self-drying or bakingtoothpicks or other stylus

Directions:1. Pass out a medium-sized lump of clay to each child.

2. Invite each child to divide the clay into two lumps and shape each lump into a tablet shape.

3. Children may use toothpicks or another stylus to copy words of the Ten Commandments onto each tablet.

4. Let dry.



TA B L E T P E N D A N T SPrimary, Elementary

Children use clay to make a tablet-shaped pendant and write words or phrases from the Ten Commandments on it.

Materials:self-drying clay, such as Crayola Model Magic®toothpicksribbon, leather thong or brown twinescissors

Directions:Invite each child to make their pendants as follows:

1. Form clay into a small tablet shape, roughly pendant sized.

2. Use a toothpick to scratch out several words from any of the Ten Commandments on one side of the tablet.

3. Poke a hole in the top center of the tablet and let dry.

4. Cut a length of string or ribbon and thread through the hole.



M O U N T S I N A IElementary, Intermediate

Children work together as a group or individually to make an erupting volcano from clay, baking soda and vinegar.

Materials:baking soda, 1 tsp. per childclear white vinegar, 3 tbs. per childred food coloringlarge lump or mound of clay (brown is ideal, non-drying is okay)small glass jar (such as a baby food jar), 1 per childplastic wrap or wax paper, or thin plastic chopping sheetnewspaper or old towels

Preparation:Experiment in advance with the proportions of baking soda to vinegar to make the “explosion” that you want.

Directions:Invite each child to make his/her mountain as follows:

1. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap, wax paper or the thin plastic chopping sheet on top of newspaper.

2. Put the vinegar and several drops of red food coloring into the jar. Do not cover the top.

3. Put the jar in the center of the plastic, without the lid.

4. Build a “mountain” made of clay around the jar. Cover the jar completely, leaving the top open.

5. To make the mountain erupt, pour the baking soda quickly into the hole at the top of the mountain. Watch out!

Younger children would enjoy this volcano but will need close supervision in making it and in making it “explode.”



K I D S’ CO M M A N D M E N T SElementary, Intermediate

Children beginning the third grade will start to have a strong sense of fairness and right. In this activity they brainstorm commandments relevant to their lives today.

Materials:paperlarge sheet of papermarkers

Directions:1. Review the Ten Commandments with the children.

2. Divide the group into teams, if you wish, to brainstorm some “Kids’ Commandments.”

3. Write these new commandments on a large sheet of paper posted on the wall. Discuss how they are important commandments and why. Ask whether any would fit into any of the original Ten Commandments. How?



T E N CO M M A N D M E N T S B O O KElementary

Children create their own book of the Ten Commandments from construction paper and use markers to decorate it.

Materials:large white construction paper, 12" x 18"scissorsgluevarious colors of construction papermarkers or colored pencils

Directions:Invite each child to make a book as follows:

1. Cut the white paper into 6" x 18" long strips.

2. Fold the strip in half lengthwise, then into thirds. This will make 12 divisions.

3. Refold the strip into accordion-style folds.

4. To make the cover, cut a piece of colored construction paper to be around 1" larger than the folded white paper when folded in half, about 7" x 10". Glue the first “page” of the book to the inside front cover. Make sure that the first fold is a “valley fold.” (See illustration.)

5. Label the first page “The Ten Commandments.”

6. Write the commandments on the next ten pages, in order.

7. If you want, on the twelfth page, write what you think might be an “eleventh commandment.”

8. Illustrate what you think these commandments mean.

9. Decorate the cover of your book.



T I L E C R E AT I O NElementary, Intermediate

Children paint tiles with images of each of the Ten Commandments and create a vertical hanging using ribbon.

Materials:tiles, 10 per child (may be small)ribbonstrong glueacrylic paints and paintbrushes

Directions:Invite each child to make Ten Commandment tiles as follows:

1. Use paint to put a small number on each tile, numbering 1 through 10.

2. On each tile, in order, paint a picture illustrating that commandment.

3. Arrange the tiles vertically in numerical order with the First Commandment at the top.

4. Cut a long length of ribbon, enough to glue the ribbon up the tiles from 10 to 1, leaving a loop around 4" long, then down the tiles from 1 to 10. See the illustration.

5. Let the glue dry completely before moving or picking up this creation.



T E N CO M M A N D M E N T S Q U I ZIntermediate

In this game, children find out how well they know the Ten Commandments from other commandments.

Materials:copy of “Ten Commandments—or Not” (pp. 32-33)scissorsenvelope or bag

Preparation:Make a copy of the “Ten Commandments—or Not” on pages 32-33. Cut out the squares and put them into a bag or envelope.

Directions:1. Divide the group into two teams and have each team sit together.

2. Take a piece of paper out of the bag and read it aloud. The first team that answers correctly whether it is one of the Tem Commandments or not, wins that round. Have them shout out “YES” or “NO” at each reading. Some “commandments” may be in the Bible and may be commendable commandments but not be one of the Ten Commandments!

3. The team with the most correct answers wins the game.

Variation:You may also play this as individuals rather than teams.


32 | LESSON 6 | GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR HOLY LIVING | WEAVING GOD’S BELOVED COMMUNITY, YEAR 3 | ACTIVITY CONTINUED

Ten Commandments—or Not?

You shall not cheat. Keep your hands and feet to yourself.

You shall keep your room clean and neat. You shall have no other gods before me.

Obey your teacher. You shall not make for yourself any idol.

You shall keep in shape.You shall not make wrongful use of the Name of the Lord your God.

You shall not do violence to any of my creatures. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

You shall go to church every Sunday. Honor your father and your mother.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and all your mind.

Honor your friends.

Love your neighbor as yourself. You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery. You shall not be a false witness.

You shall not steal.You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.



.


Do unto others as you would have them do to you. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Love your enemy. Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.

Do not store up treasures on earth, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

Remember the poor, the widows and the orphans, and care for them.

Eat what is set before you.Be faithful in prayer, and in the reading and study of the Holy Scriptures.

You shall strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.

Share your toys and your possessions.

You shall not ask questions about the Bible. You shall not bully or tease.

You shall eat your spinach and brussels sprouts without complaint.

You shall not take revenge on any person, even if they insult or hurt you.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.



CO N V E R S AT I O N J U M P STA R T:W H AT M A K E S A G O O D CO M M U N I T Y ?

Intermediate

What makes a good community? In this activity, older children brainstorm to create their perfect society. Try creating one that has only ten rules!

Materials:copies of the Brainstorm handout (p. 35), 1 per child

Directions:1. Distribute copies of the Brainstorm handout on page 35 to each child.

2. Divide into groups of 2-3 to complete the first part of the page.

3. Regather and together look in both the Bibles and Prayer Books to see what more they have to say about community.



Brainstorm

1. Divide into groups of 2-3 people each, or work as a single group if the group is small enough for productive discussion.

2. Have each group think of the top “commandments” that would help create a harmonious community.

3. Come together and share your ideas. What are the top ten rules that you have created? Write them up on a poster board or large piece of paper. Do these rules apply to your own class?

The Bible Has a Few Ideas...Look in: ■ John 13:12-15 ■ Colossians 3:12-17 ■ Ephesians 4:25—5:2

The Prayer Book Has Something to Say, Too...What do these prayers teach us about community? ■ 3. For the human family (page 815) ■ 27. For social justice (page 823) ■ 35. For the poor and the neglected (page 826) ■ 62. Prayer attributed to St. Francis (page 833)


© 2016 by Joanna Leiserson. Published by Morehouse Education Resources, www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

LESSON 6: GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR HOLY LIVING

We Believe . . .A summary of the Ten

Commandments’ role in the faith lives of Episcopalians may

be found in the Catechism, pages 847-848, “The Ten Commandments.” Anglicans hold a reverence for holy living (which makes up part of the title of this lesson), for Christianity as an active, lived faith in the spirit of the Ten Commandments. Early on, Anglican thought and ethos showed a marked emphasis away from right belief—which too often led to dissension—and toward right living and right relationships—just as the Ten Commandments are rules not for right belief but for right living and right relationships.

Today’s Story Numbers 22:1–24:25 In the Ten Commandments, God gives the Israelites the Law that will help them to survive and flourish as they

struggle, beginning in the wilderness, to forge a unique identity as God’s people. God gives the commandments to a people in and surrounded by a culture with very different—even barbaric—practices, and so the Ten Commandments are a great civilizing influence. As simple as they may seem to us now, they are still guideposts for our own lives as we try to keep the more “barbaric” aspects of modern civilization from encroaching on our God’s values of love, mercy and justice.The simple rules are obvious—we take them for granted now, at least their basic rightness. “Thou shalt not kill.” “Thou shalt not steal.” We continually try to find loopholes and legitimate

exceptions. But our attempts to find such “loopholes” tell more about our basic acceptance of these rules than

about their legitimacy. We never challenge their rightness or their relevance to our lives even now, over 3,000 years later!

Words to Remember Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you

out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slav-ery; you shall have no other gods before me…

—Exodus 10:1-3

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© 2016 by Joanna Leiserson. Published by Morehouse Education Resources, www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

LESSON 6 | GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR HOLY LIVING | WEAVING GOD’S PROMISES, YEAR 3

Sharing Read the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments from a children’s Bible, showing the pictures, or from your family Bible.

For a helpful story prop, cut out two tablet shapes from a large poster board or foam board. Copy each of the Ten Commandments from the Bible onto individual slips of paper, then, as you tell the story, invite family members to tape or glue each commandment to the “tablet’ as you read each one.

If you like, discuss: ■ Where do we God’s love in the

making of the Ten Commandments? ■ What does the first commandment

mean for us today? the second? (Continue for all commandments.)

Household Prayer

Lord God, thank you for the law that you give to us in the Ten Commandments and for the law that you give us in our hearts. Thank you for letting us be your people, and for being our loving God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This Week at Home ■ Translate the commandments into modern terms, relevant

to family members. Start with two “tablets” cut from poster board. Divide each tablet into five equal spaces; number these

spaces 1 to 10. In each space, let family members write their own versions of each commandment. Allow free expression, letting family members describe what each commandment means to them personally. For example, “Honor your father and mother” might become “Do my chores when mom asks me to” or “Listen to grandpa, even when I’ve heard the story a hundred times before.” Share and talk about what each person has written.

■ Brainstorm a list of rules and evaluate them. On a large sheet of paper, list rules that family members have to follow at home, at school, at work, in the neighborhood, etc. You won’t compile a comprehensive list, but together get a feel for how many rules we live under, day-by-day. Once you have a list, discuss: How do we feel about rules? Why do we have so many rules? Which rules are the most important? Why? Which rules seem unnecessary or arbitrary? What can we do to make living with rules more comfortable? more meaningful?

■ Create a family Eleventh Commandment. Talk about what rules or commands have been part of your house. They can range from the simplest, when the children were very young, like “Don’t pour oatmeal into the laptop” or “Don’t run in the house,” to more general rules about rightness and fairness. These last may include admonitions like “Treat each other with respect,” or “Keep your hands and feet to yourself,” or “Use your indoor voice,” or “Respect each other’s privacy/possessions/feelings.” What rules do you all agree might be the cardinal Eleventh Commandment for your family?

■ Pick a commandment and illustrate how you would follow it. Separately, have each family member pick one single commandment that he/she would like to illustrate. Then draw a picture of what that commandment means in your own life. For example, “Do not steal” may be illustrated as not sneaking cookies out of the cookie jar without permission. When everyone is finished drawing, share the pictures and let each other guess which commandment is illustrated by the picture.

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