CREATIVE DRAMA LEADER GUIDE Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11) Age-Level Overview Age-Level Overview Open the Bible Activate Faith Lower Elementary WORKSHOP FOCUS: Jesus cares about our lives. WEDDING GIFTS: Kids retell the story with gift-wrapped props. Upper Elementary WORKSHOP FOCUS: Jesus surprises us with grace! A WEDDING TO REMEMBER: Kids interview wedding guests as they leave the wedding. All Kids WORKSHOP FOCUS: Jesus is in control. WEDDING PHOTOS: Kids freeze while acting out the story to create freeze-frame photos. SPARK RESOURCES: Spark Story Bibles SUPPLIES: None SPARK RESOURCES: Spark Bibles, Spark Bible Stickers SUPPLIES: Pencils SPARK RESOURCES: Spark Story Bibles, Spark Bibles, Spark Bible Stickers SUPPLIES: View-Master, View- Master Reels SPARK RESOURCES: Spark Story Bible SUPPLIES: Wedding invitation, empty jar, blue cloth, water bottle, wine goblet, musical instrument, assorted boxes, wrapping paper, tissue or newspaper, ribbon, gift bows, kid-safe scissors, tape, gift tags, pen, table (optional), wedding tablecloth (optional) SPARK RESOURCES: Spark Bibles, Spark Bible Stickers SUPPLIES: Long red fabric or carpet, fabric pieces, Christmas tree lights, artificial plants and flowers, Bible-time costumes, bridal veil, bowties, microphone prop, jars, wine goblet, bedsheet, A Wedding to Remember Character Questions (page 101), A Wedding to Remember Skit Script (page 103), pencils, garden arch (optional), digital camera (optional), SPARK RESOURCES: Spark Story Bibles SUPPLIES: Fabric pieces, Bible-time costumes, costume jewelry, bridal veil, bowties, dish towels, jars, goblets, baskets, artificial food, musical instruments, artificial plants and flowers, assorted pillows, ornate drapes or bed covering, Wedding Photos Scene Descriptions (page 105), digital camera, photo-viewing equipment, tripod (optional) Visit www.sparksundayschool.org for more Spark content. Watch a short Lesson Prep Video that will prepare you and give you confidence to explore this Bible story with the kids you are leading. You will also find a downloadable Family Page for this rotation s story filled with ideas for families to use to explore this story and live out their faith at home. Wedding at Cana 87
CREATIVE DRAMA LEADER GUIDE Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11) Lower Elementary Workshop Focus: Jesus cares about our lives. Keep these tips in mind as you welcome kids to the workshop and explore the story together. Each week, remember to welcome kids to the rotation. Keep in mind that for some kids it may be the first time they are visiting your workshop! If kids have heard the story several times during previous weeks, read it again! Kids learn through repetition, and every workshop will explore the Bible story in a slightly different way. Remember that the Shepherds are there to support you as they accompany kids each week. Be sure to visit www.sparksundayschool.org to download the Family Page for this story. Make copies of it and ask Shepherds to distribute it during the Wrap Up. Open the Bible (10 minutes) Wedding at Cana Storytelling Welcome to Creative Drama! How many of you have ever been to a wedding? Allow kids to respond to this and the following questions. What kinds of things happen at weddings? Weddings are supposed to be fun celebrations, but something happens at a wedding in our story that almost ruins the fun. Let s see what happens! Pass out Spark Story Bibles to the kids. Help them find Wedding at Cana on pages 410 415. Encourage the kids to follow along as you read the story. Pause at the end of each page and invite kids to guess what happens next in the story. Let s talk about the story. Where did Jesus go? (to a wedding) Point to the picture on page 411. What did the people run out of at the wedding? (wine) What did Jesus do? (had the servers fill jars with water and turned it into wine) Would you like to go to a party with Jesus? Why? Allow kids to respond. Jesus went to the wedding to help the people celebrate. Jesus made more wine when it ran out. Jesus cares about our lives! Pretend we re going to the same wedding Jesus went to. Let s bring some gifts that will help us tell this story! Spark Resources Spark Story Bibles Supplies None CREATIVE DRAMA Wedding at Cana 89
Activate Faith (25 minutes) Wedding Gifts Set Up: Place the boxes and wrapping supplies in an area where kids can use them. Number the fronts of the gift tags from one to six. Write the corresponding story phrase on the back of each tag: (1) Wedding invitation Jesus was at a wedding. (2) Empty jar The wine ran out. (3) Blue cloth Mary knew Jesus could do something. (4) Water bottle Fill these jars with cold water. (5) Wine goblet The man in charge took a cup of wine to the groom. (6) Musical instrument Everyone sang and danced. Match the gift tags to the story props and set them aside. (Optional) Cover the table with the wedding tablecloth to create a gift table in the area of the room where the story will be told. Activity Instructions Before the story: Divide the kids into six groups. (If you have fewer kids, divide into fewer groups and have each group wrap more than one prop.) When people go to a wedding, they often bring gifts. Pretend you are going to the wedding Jesus was at. Each group will wrap a story prop to bring as a gift to the wedding. 1. Give each group a story prop along with the corresponding gift tag. Look at your prop. Think about what part of the story Wedding at Cana someone could tell using this prop. Spark Resources Spark Story Bible Supplies Wedding invitation Empty jar Blue cloth Water bottle Wine goblet Musical instrument Assorted boxes (large enough to hold one of the six story props, listed above) Wrapping paper Tissue or newspaper Ribbon Gift bows Kid-safe scissors Tape Gift tags, 6 Pen Table (optional) Wedding tablecloth (optional) 2. Show kids the wrapping station. Each prop will fit into one of these boxes. Find a box to put your prop inside; then wrap your box like a beautiful wedding present. Tape your gift tag on the outside of your present so we can see the number on it. Assist kids with the wrapping process if necessary. 3. Invite kids to stack their presents in an open area of the room once they have been wrapped. (Optional: Invite kids to stack their presents on the gift table.) Be sure to put the large boxes on the bottom of the stack. Turn your gift so everyone can see the number on the gift tag. Remember what gift you wrapped! Tell the story: 1. Gather the kids in an open area of the room near the gifts. Look at this wonderful pile of presents. I m sure this is going to be an exciting wedding celebration! Let s open the gifts as we tell the story! 2. Invite each group forward to open a gift and tell or act out part of the story using the prop inside of the box. Open the gifts in order, reading each tag as the gift is opened. Be sure groups do not open the gifts they wrapped. 90 Workshop Leader Guides
After the story: Have kids help with cleaning up the area, and then gather in a group to review the activity. Which present was the most surprising to you? Allow kids to respond to this and the following questions. Who told Jesus the wine had run out? (Mary) Point to the picture on page 414 in the Spark Story Bible. What did the man say to the groom when the new wine was served? (You have saved the best for last.) Why do you think Jesus made more wine? Accept all answers. Jesus cared about the wedding and the people who were there. Jesus wanted the people to be happy. Jesus wants us to be happy, too. Jesus cares about our lives! Send (5 minutes) Wrap Up Remind the Shepherds to distribute the Family Page for this story if the kids haven t already received it, and come together for Wrap Up. Thanks for coming to Creative Drama! We had fun reading about a wedding and using presents to retell the story. What did Jesus do for the people at the wedding? (turned water into wine) We learned Jesus cares about our lives. The people in our story invited Jesus to a wedding. Where would you like Jesus to go with you? Allow kids to respond. Spark Resources Family Pages Supplies None Prayer Time Invite kids to form a circle. During our prayer, we ll invite Jesus to be with us. I ll pause and we ll go around the circle naming the places we want Jesus to be. Dear Jesus, I m happy you care about my life! I would like you to be with me all of the time, but especially... Pause to allow kids to name places. Thank you! Amen. CREATIVE DRAMA Wedding at Cana 91
CREATIVE DRAMA LEADER GUIDE Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11) Upper Elementary Workshop Focus: Jesus surprises us with grace! Keep these tips in mind as you welcome kids to the workshop and explore the story together. Each week, remember to welcome kids to the rotation. Keep in mind that for some kids it may be the first time they are visiting your workshop! If kids have heard the story several times during previous weeks, read it again! Kids learn through repetition, and every workshop will explore the Bible story in a slightly different way. Remember that the Shepherds are there to support you as they accompany kids each week. Be sure to visit www.sparksundayschool.org to download the Family Page for this story. Make copies of it and ask Shepherds to distribute it during the Wrap Up. Open the Bible (10 minutes) Wedding at Cana Storytelling Welcome to Creative Drama! Has anyone here ever gotten something free from a vending machine or a better grade because of a curve? Allow kids to respond to this and the following questions. How does it feel to get something good that you didn t earn? That s what happens to some people in our story today. Pass out Spark Bibles, and invite kids to turn to John 2:1 11 on pages 1172 1173. Have volunteers read the following parts in character as the leader reads the rest of the passage yourself. Mary John 2:3, 5 Jesus John 2:4, 7 8 Steward John 2:10 Spark Resources Spark Bibles Spark Bible Stickers Supplies Pencils CREATIVE DRAMA Talk about the passage. Where was Jesus? (at a wedding) What did Jesus have the servants do? (fill the jars with water and take some to the steward) Direct kids to read John 2:9 10 on page 1173. Encourage kids to mark the passage with a Spark Bible Sticker of their choice, using a pencil to write their responses in the margin. Who knew where the wine came from? (the servants) If you were one of the servants, what would you say about the wedding? Accept all answers. Jesus provided wine for the wedding when there was none. The steward was surprised Wedding at Cana 93
by the wine. Giving someone a gift they didn t earn is called grace. Jesus surprises us with grace! Today we are going to hear about this wedding as if it were the social event of the year! Activate Faith (25 minutes) A Wedding to Remember Set Up: Designate a stage area by hanging a bedsheet as a backdrop. Place the garden arch toward the center rear of the stage (optional). Place the costumes and props in an area of the room where kids can choose among them. Make six or more copies of the A Wedding to Remember Character Questions and A Wedding to Remember Skit Script pages. Activity Instructions Before the skit: Describe the skit to the kids. Imagine there is a very famous wedding that has just taken place in a very chic location. Reporters line the red carpet, waiting for the guests to leave so they can ask about the wedding. We ll be acting out what takes place on the red carpet. 1. Ask a volunteer to play the part of the reporter. Give the reporter a copy of the script to review. Read through the script and ask if you have any questions. Be sure to look through the costumes and props and decide what looks good for your character! 2. Invite groups of kids to help develop the following characters: Jesus, Mary, servant, steward, bride, groom, and disciple. Give each group of kids a Character Questions sheet to fill out. Think about your characters. Why were they at the wedding? How did they dress? How did they act? Direct kids to review the Bible passage and answer the questions on the sheet. Choose one person from your group to act as the character during the skit. These are the answers you ll give during the skit. Encourage the other group members to help create a costume for the character. Spark Resources Spark Bibles Spark Bible Stickers Supplies Long red fabric or carpet Fabric pieces Christmas tree lights Artificial plants and flowers Bible-time costumes Bridal veil Bowties Microphone prop Jars Wine goblet Bedsheet A Wedding to Remember Character Questions (page 101), 6 or more copies A Wedding to Remember Skit Script (page 103), 6 or more copies Pencils Garden arch (optional) Digital camera (optional) 3. Have a few volunteers set the stage to look like the outside of a fancy venue. Have the red carpet run down the middle of the stage. Use the lights, plants, flowers, and other fabric to make the stage look like a wedding has just taken place. 4. Ask a volunteer to play the role of a photographer taking pictures of the guests as they walk along the red carpet (optional). 94 Workshop Leader Guides
Perform the skit: Gather the kids near the designated stage area. Have the reporter stand toward the end of the red carpet nearest the audience. Have the other characters stand offstage near the beginning of the red carpet in the order they appear. Invite the rest of the kids to sit in the audience. Lucky us! The most important wedding of the season has just taken place and we have seats along the red carpet. Let s hear what the guests have to say about the event as they are leaving! After the skit: Gather the kids to debrief the activity. (Optional: View the photographs taken by the photographer.) Which character had the most surprising answers to the questions? Allow kids to respond to this and the following questions. Pass out Spark Bibles and direct kids to read John 2:4 5 on page 1173. Encourage kids to mark the passage with a Makes Me Wonder or I Don t Get It sticker, using a pencil to write their responses in the margin. Who told Jesus the wine was gone? (Mary) What did Jesus say to Mary? (My hour has not yet come.) Do you think Mary was surprised by what Jesus did? It was not Jesus responsibility to provide wine for the wedding, yet he did it anyway. Just as the bride and groom received gifts at the wedding, Jesus gives us gifts, not because he has to, because he wants to. Some of the best gifts Jesus gives us are forgiveness and eternal life! We did nothing to earn them. Jesus surprises us with grace! Send (5 minutes) Wrap Up Remind the Shepherds to distribute the Family Page for this story if the kids haven t already received it, and come together for Wrap Up. Thanks for coming to Creative Drama! Today we read about how Jesus turned water into wine as a gift at a wedding he attended. We interviewed guests from the wedding to learn how they felt about the wedding. Who got something they didn t earn or deserve in this story? Allow kids to respond. Jesus gives us undeserved gifts, just like the wedding guests got an undeserved gift. Jesus surprises us with grace! Spark Resources Family Pages Supplies None CREATIVE DRAMA Prayer Time We ll pause during our prayer so you can thank Jesus for the gift of grace in your own way. Dear Jesus, Thank you for providing a gift of wine at the wedding. Thank you for loving me and giving me your undeserved gift of grace. Pause for kids responses. Amen. Wedding at Cana 95
CREATIVE DRAMA LEADER GUIDE Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11) All Kids Workshop Focus: Jesus is in control. Keep these tips in mind as you welcome kids to the workshop and explore the story together. Each week, remember to welcome kids to the rotation. Keep in mind that for some kids it may be the first time they are visiting your workshop! If kids have heard the story several times during previous weeks, read it again! Kids learn through repetition, and every workshop will explore the Bible story in a slightly different way. Remember that the Shepherds are there to support you as they accompany kids each week. Be sure to visit www.sparksundayschool.org to download the Family Page for this story. Make copies of it and ask Shepherds to distribute it during the Wrap Up. Open the Bible (10 minutes) Wedding at Cana Storytelling Prepare to demonstrate how the View-Master works. Welcome to Creative Drama! Show kids the View-Master, allowing them to take turns using it. When you look through the View-Master, you can only see one part of the story. In life, we can only see things as they happen, but Jesus knows the whole story! Hand out Spark Story Bibles to the younger kids. Help kids find Wedding at Cana on pages 410 415. Encourage kids to follow along as you read the story. This story is about a wedding. Pretend you are a guest at the wedding. Use your body to show how you feel during the story. Spark Resources Spark Story Bibles Spark Bibles Spark Bible Stickers Supplies View-Master View-Master Reels CREATIVE DRAMA Pass out Spark Bibles, direct the older kids to find John 2:1 11 on pages 1172 1173 and to follow along as best they can. Encourage kids to mark the passage with a Spark Bible Sticker of their choice. Let s review. Where were Jesus and Mary? (at a wedding) Point to the picture on page 411. What happened at the wedding? (The wine ran out.) What did Jesus do? (turned water into wine) Do you think Jesus was worried about the wine? Allow Wedding at Cana 97
kids to respond. The steward was concerned when the wine ran out. He didn t know what would happen next. Jesus knew. Jesus wasn t worried. Jesus is in control. Today we re going to create pictures to tell this story one scene at a time, as if we were seeing it on a View-Master! Activate Faith (25 minutes) Wedding Photos Set Up: Designate a stage area by hanging drapes or bed covering as a backdrop. Place all costumes and props in an area where kids can choose among them. Make 1 2 copies of the Wedding Photos Scene Descriptions. Set up the photography and viewing equipment in the room. Activity Instructions Plan the photo story: The stories on View-Master Reels are told one piece at a time. Each part of the story is told with words and a matching picture. We re going to tell the story Wedding at Cana by making our own version of a View-Master Reel. 1. Invite kids to play one of the following characters from the story: Jesus, disciple(s), Mary, servant(s), steward, bride, groom, and wedding guest(s). Look among the costumes and props and create something for your character to wear! Encourage kids to look at the pictures in the Spark Story Bible for inspiration. 2. Ask a few volunteers to set the scene for the wedding. Look at the stage area. What kinds of things would make this place look like a wedding reception? Where might you put some pillows or plants? Where should the jars be? 3. Recruit one or two kids to be the directors. Give each a copy of the Wedding Photos Scene Descriptions. Read the Wedding Photos Scene Descriptions. What might a picture of each scene look like? Where would everyone be in the room? What would each person be doing? Spark Resources Spark Story Bibles Supplies Fabric pieces Bible-time costumes Costume jewelry Bridal veil Bowties Dish towels Jars Goblets Baskets Artificial food Musical instruments Artificial plants and flowers Assorted pillows Ornate drapes or bed covering Wedding Photos Scene Descriptions, (page 105), 1 2 copies Digital camera Photo-viewing equipment Tripod (optional) 4. Invite an older kid or Shepherd to be the photographer. Allow the photographer to become familiar with the equipment. Try to include as many people as you can in each picture. You may wish to take more than one picture of each scene. 98 Workshop Leader Guides
Photograph the story: 1. Invite all of the characters to gather near the stage. 2. Have the directors set the scene for the first photograph. The directors will read the scene description and tell you where to stand and what to do. Encourage the directors to include as many characters as possible in each scene. 3. Photograph the scene. When everyone is ready, the directors will say action. You will begin acting out the scene. The directors will then say freeze. You will stop and hold your pose so the photographer can take the picture. 4. Continue in the same manner until all of the scenes have been photographed. View the photo story: 1. Direct the kids to help clean up the area while assisting with the selection and loading of the photos onto the viewing screen. 2. Gather the kids. Let s see our story! Read the Wedding Photos Scene Descriptions while viewing the photos. 3. Review the activity. Which photo is your favorite? Allow kids to respond to this and the following questions. Who told Jesus the wine had run out? (Mary) Who else knew the wine was gone? (the servants) Do you think Mary and the servants were worried? What did Jesus do? (turned the water into wine) Just like viewing a story on a View-Master, we can only see one part of life at a time. Sometimes we worry about what might happen next. Jesus tells us not to worry. Jesus knows the whole story. Jesus is in control! Send (5 minutes) Wrap Up CREATIVE DRAMA Remind the Shepherds to distribute the Family Page for this story if the kids haven t already received it, and come together for Wrap Up. Thank you for coming to Creative Drama! We heard a story about a wedding. The wine ran out and Jesus turned the water into wine! We took pictures of what that story might have looked like. We only see one part of life, but Jesus sees the whole thing. Jesus is in control! What are some things about your life that Jesus already knows? Allow the kids to respond. Spark Resources Family Pages Supplies None Wedding at Cana 99
Prayer Time Let s pray! After each line of the prayer, you say, Jesus is in control! Dear God, Thank you for weddings. Thank you for life! Remind me not to worry. Amen. (Jesus is in control!) (Jesus is in control!) (Jesus is in control!) 100 Workshop Leader Guides
A Wedding to Remember Character Questions Who is your character? How do you know the bride and groom? What did you personally see happen at the wedding? Describe it from your point of view. Did anything surprise you? What are your final wishes for the wedding couple? Wedding at Cana 101
A Wedding to Remember Skit Script Reporter: Welcome to A Wedding to Remember! Tonight we re standing outside the beautiful Jordan House, where inside, I m told, the wedding reception has just ended. According to my sources, something unbelievable occurred during the reception. I hope we can get some of the guests to comment on what happened! (The first guest begins walking down the red carpet. The guest smiles and waves while the photographer takes pictures and the reporter tries to get the guest s attention. The guest stops near the reporter and answers the following questions.) Reporter: Thank you for stopping! Please answer a few questions for the folks at home! First of all, what is your name and how do you know the happy couple? (Guest responds) Reporter: Great, great. Now tell me, can you confirm the reports we ve had that something unusual happened during the reception this evening? (Guest responds) Reporter: Thanks, thanks so much. Any parting words for the couple? (Guest responds) Reporter: Now that s what I call a wedding to remember! Wait I see someone else coming! (Reporter continues questioning the guests and wedding couple until the last one is through and then concludes with the following.) Reporter: Well, there you have it folks live from the Jordan House, A Wedding to Remember! Be sure to tune in to the morning show tomorrow when Mary and Mary will be critiquing the red carpet fashions! So long for now! Wedding at Cana 103
Wedding Photos Scene Descriptions 1. Jesus, Mary, and the disciples were at a wedding. Mary heard the servants say, The wine has run out! 2. Mary told Jesus about the wine. Then Mary told the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them. 3. Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water. The servants filled a cup from one of the jars and gave it to the steward. 4. The steward said to the groom, You have saved the best wine until last! 5. Jesus had turned the water into wine! Everyone had a good time at the wedding and the disciples believed even more that Jesus was God s Son! Wedding at Cana 105