Children's Sunday School Activities

Breaking Bread

by Len

By participating in a Passover feast, the children will be able to appreciate
various customs during the time of Jesus.

Materials:
Large flat sheet or picnic blanket
Small bucket to wash feet or hands
Several Towels to dry feet or hands

Napkins, paper plates and cups
Juice (white grape or apple)
Loaf of un-sliced bread
Fruit, cheese & crackers (optional)
Hand wipes (optional)
Pillows (optional)

Duration:
From 30 to 40 minutes

Topics:
Communion, Easter, Relationships, Sacrifice

Target Age:
Grades 2 3 4 5

Preparation:
This activity may cost more than what you have to spend. As a suggestion, you can involve the children by assigning certain items to them the previous week to bring from home. The feast can be as elaborate as you want, but be sure to have the juice and bread to represent communion. Make sure none of the children is allergic to any food items you will be serving. Be sure to have all items available, but not lay them out before the start of the class. If doing part A, have the bucket filled up with warm water before beginning the activity. As an option for part A, you can use a towel and an empty bucket and have the kids, pretend to wash each other's feet.

What you will do: (Part A):
Tell the kids that today, they will celebrate a Passover feast, in much the same way people did during the time of Jesus. First have the kids take off their shoes and lay them neatly along one wall. Then explain to the children that during Jesus time, it was customary to wash one's feet before sitting down to eat. You can have children pair up to wash and dry each other’s feet, do it yourself, or ask for volunteers, whatever seems best for your class. (Also, one foot per child is fine to save time.) While doing this activity, explain that during Jesus' time, household servants usually washed the feet of visitors and friends before coming in because people normally walked on dirt roads. Although the rest of their body would be clean, their feet were dusty. Who likes to see dusty feet while eating? Jesus washed the apostles' feet to demonstrate how we should be servants to one another. He told Peter "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." (John 13:8) Jesus was a true servant of God. Jesus knew he would wash our sins away with his own blood.

Scripture Reading: John 13:1-17 (Jesus washes His Disciples' feet)

What you will do: (Part B):
Ask several volunteers to help set up the Passover feast. Move tables and chairs out of the way if needed and place a large sheet or blanket on the floor for everyone to sit on. Have the children sit in a large circle while other volunteers set out plates, napkins and cups for each child. Place the food items in the middle, then read the following Bible passage.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 26: 17-30 (The Lord's Supper)

After reading the scripture, break off a piece of the bread, then pass the bread around for each child to break off a piece for themselves. Explain that after Jesus broke bread in much the same way and gave thanks for it, He said "Take and eat, this is my body." Give thanks to God for the bread. Then pour some juice in each cup, and explain that after Jesus gave thanks and drank from his cup, He said, "Drink from it, all of you. This is the blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Give thanks to God for the juice. Then have a feast, eating and enjoying the food while discussing the relationship between the Passover celebration and the sacrifice Jesus made for our salvation.