Skip to main content

 In addition to these publicly available Elijah, Ravens, and the Widow lessons and ideas, you'll also want to check out The Elijah and Elisha Super Set of lessons. It teaches three major Elijah & Elisha stories in one super series -including the Widow's story. Written by our Writing Team for Supporting Members with an extra level of detail and creativity. Set lesson summaries and Bible background are open to all. The following Sunday School lessons and ideas are organized by teaching medium: arts and crafts, video, drama, puppets, software, cooking (foods), games, music, and more. Glean what you need, share what you can. 

Cooking, Game, and Art Lessons, Ideas, Activities, and Resources for Elijah and the Widow and Elijah Fed by Ravens

Post your Sunday School cooking, game, and art lessons, ideas, activities, and resources for the Elijah and the Widow.

  • Please include a scripture reference, supply lists, sources, suggested age range. age modification, etc. 
  • Photos are much appreciated!  Click "attachments" and upload to your post.
  • Please be careful not to post copyrighted materials. Excerpting and paraphrasing is okay. Include attribution.

     

Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath, 1 Kings 17, oil, jar, son, etc.
Elijah fed by ravens, 1 Kings 17, birds, food, Kerith Brook

Bible lessons and ideas about the Elijah and the Widow -with Art, craft, painting, construction, drawing, Cooking, Food, Bible Foods, Recipes, Baking, Preparation, Games, Bible memory, Games that teach the Bible, Bible Activities, Bible Books, etc.

In addition to the ideas below,  Supporting Members can also access the Writing Team's Elijah Super Set here
Last edited by Luanne Payne
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Muffins in a Jar

Our church did a cooking rotation with this lesson plan. We had the children assemble muffins in a jar. The children made several extra jars of the muffin mixture and shared these with the members of our congregation who had lost a spouse. Their discussion was also geared around what it means to lose a spouse and how we should keep them in our prayers.
I found the recipe after googling cookies in a jar. I suggest using wide mouth jars for this project to decrease the amount of spillage.

Last edited by Rotation.org Lesson Forma-teer

The Widow at Zarephath's Kitchen

Storytelling and Cooking Workshop Script

Summary of Lesson Activities:

The children will assist the widow in baking unleavened bread.

Here is a script for a STORYTELLING + COOKING lessons that was salvaged from the old board and adapted by Neil MacQueen to make it into a story-cooking workshop. It's incomplete but rather simple, and demonstrates combining storytelling with cooking to make a yummy workshop.


Leader Preparation:

  • Read the story ahead of time.
  • Gather the materials.

Supplies List:

  • Bread Ingredients
  • Cooking supplies.
  • Biblical dress with an apron and head wrap
  • Jar of flour
  • Jug of oil


Presentation

Opening-Welcome and Lesson Introduction:

Greet the children and introduce yourself.

Open with a prayer.

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:

The Storyteller is the Widow of Zarephath.

As she tells her story she involves the children in helping her bake unleavened bread using oil and flour, and make jam using dates and figs.

Things Needed:
Biblical dress with an apron and head wrap. Ingredients for unleavened bread (from any one of a number of recipes you can easily find on the web, Flour, oil, dates, figs, bowls, spoons, baking trays, and a way to wash hands.

Script with cooking notes:

Come in! Welcome to my home. You’ll have to excuse the mess. (Wipe away flour on cheek) It’s baking day here. Is it cold outside? (Allow students to answer) Well, it is pretty toasty in here – the oven is working overtime. Come on in and make yourself at home. Sit here on the floor – we don’t always use chairs. (Have students sit in a circle at the foot of the Widow) I find it quite comfy – don’t you?

I haven’t seen you around town before. Are you travelers? new to the area? Have you been to Zarephath before? It’s such a small town, but I love living on the coast. Can you smell the salt air coming from The Great Sea? Sure our town is not as big as Tyre in the south or Sidon in the north - not even big enough for most maps, but we call it home.

I’m trying to get all the bread my family needs for the week prepared today. It’s been a bit more of a chore since my husband has been gone. You see, I’m a widow. Do you know what that means? My husband passed away a few years ago. We do miss him, so. (Pause to reflect) There are many widows in the land of Israel these days. I’m not an Israelite by birth, but my status helps me fit in bit more.

Invite children to help you make some bread.
First, everyone must wash their hands.
Second, pass out one bowl for every two children.
Then, have them come get ingredients from you to make unleaved bread.

Continue telling your story, stopping to show them how to make the bread and spread it on the baking sheet. You will be making UNLEAVENED bread using any one of a variety of recipes. You need one that bakes quickly. In a moment you'll also be making jam.

When the prophet Elijah first came to our house, it hadn't rained for two years. He said that it was a sign of God's displeasure, for we had worshipped other gods. Have you ever heard of Elijah? (Pause as younger students will want to share what they’ve learned).

I first met him one very bleak day. My son and I were at the town gate gathering sticks for my fire in preparation for making a final meal for my son and me. Yes. Our last meal. I only had a handful of flour left and little oil let at home – enough for one meal. We were starving. (sigh) Well, first, I see this holy man sitting there. And then Elijah asks me to bring him a little water, which I did even though I was weak. I didn't want to displease his god. And I understand travelers get very thirsty on the hot, dusty road. But then, he asked me for more – a piece of bread.

I couldn’t believe it! In times like these, did he really think I would have anything to spare? I could tell by looking at him that he was an Israelite, so I told him about the situation. I was ready to cry thinking about how this would be our last meal. My family was going to die – with or without it.

But then Elijah said something very special, which I will never forget: “Don’t be afraid.”

There was something very comforting about how he said that. And then he had further instructions:

“Go home and do as you have said. But, first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’” (vs. 13-14)

  • Teacher pauses to put children's unleavened bread in the oven. Now you will finish the story and give them some FRUIT TO MASH UP, which will create a jam to put on the bread when it is done. Choose DATES and FIGS which were traditional in the Middle East.==


Continuing with story...

At first I thought this was some trick. After all, there were some pretty evil people in Israel, those who were only looking out for themselves. We lived in Zarephath, a poor town just on the border of Israel. They didn't like us and we didn't like them!

Besides, what kind of person would take a family’s last meal? But, there was something holy and calm about this man. I could tell he was special. He showed me respect, and he was confident in his words. He inspired me, so I did exactly what I was told to do – made the cake for Elijah and then some for my son and myself.

And, you know what? Something extraordinary happened. The jar of flour and jar of oil I had...there was barely any left before Elijah came to my house. But as I made the bread, I noticed more flour and oil were there than before. And when I went to make more bread, there was MORE flour and oil! Here let me show you.

  • Pull out the jar of flour and jug of oil and show to students.--


This jar and jug have not been empty since! Can you believe it! I might not have been a believer before of this God of Elijah. But it sure caught my attention! Only God can cause a miracle to happen. I started to think he was a man of God, ----but then, just when things were looking good, something awful happened. My little boy died. He died of hunger.

And that's when I became a believer in Elijah's God.

Elijah took my son in his arms, and cried. He cried aloud to God, and my boy opened his eyes. Not only does my family have food, and not only did I have my son back, but now we also have God! I will never doubt again. I started asking Elijah all sorts of questions, and he taught me who the real God was, and how he wanted me and my son to live our lives... to follow the commandments, and worship him only. Do you remember the commandments?

Now let's prepare some fruit jam for our bread.... Because believing in Elijah's God is a sweet thing! and we need sweetness for our bread.

Closing:

I hope that this story has inspired you to believe in Elijah's God and make him your own as we have.

(this is a script outline)

End with a prayer.


A lesson written by Cathy Walz

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Last edited by CathyWalz

Making the widow's jar.

 

Wormy remembers an ART project from many moons ago about the Widow's Jar of Oil "which never ran out".   We found clay jars and painted them with a scene from the story.

 

We also modified the Widow's proclamation and wrote it on the pot:

 

"The word of the Lord is the truth.”

Last edited by Rotation.org Lesson Forma-teer

ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH

COOKING WORKSHOP
By Kim Trimboli (moved here to consolidate subject)


PASSAGE
Story: 1 Kings 17

Key/Memory Verse: 1 Kings 17:24 (NLT)

PURPOSE

In this cooking workshop, children will learn about sourdough starter. They will use some starter to make sourdough cookies. Just as the Widow of Zarephath shared from what seemed a tiny amount of food, sourdough starter can be shared from even a small amount of starter, and passed on for generations.

Objectives for Cooking Workshop

Participants will:

  • Find the story of Elijah in the Old Testament of the Bible.
  • Consider the widow’s generosity and also her willingness to trust that Elijah spoke for God.
  • Discuss how God provided for Elijah as well as how God provides for us.

Materials List

  • Bibles
  • Aprons
  • Bowl & mixing utensils (NON metallic!)
  • Cookie Ingredients (see recipe below)
  • Rolling pins
  • Cookie cutters
  • Cookie Sheets
  • Flour (preferably wheat or rye flour)
  • Large Bowls
  • Measuring utensils
  • Quart jar or plastic container w/ lid or baggie for each person
  • Water

Advance Preparation 

Prepare starter for the cookie recipe. Please note: preparing the sourdough starter will take a minimum of six days preparation, though only a very little bit of time in each day. If you prefer, sourdough starters which are already established are available by order from numerous places through the Internet. Some of these starters have been passed down for decades! You may need to make a double recipe so that there will be enough pieces of the starter to go home with each child at the end of class.

Prepare cards to send home with the children explaining how to refresh the starter (you can use the instructions below). 


PRESENTATION

Introduction
Say: Our Bible story today is about a miracle: a woman’s flour supply never runs out, so she is able to make bread for a prophet named Elijah.

Invite the children to share with each other what they already know about the story of Elijah. If this is the first week of the rotation, relate to the children a simple background regarding who Elijah was. Help the children to find 1 Kings 17 in their Bibles. Invite older children to take turns reading the story, or if they are unable to read, read the story to them.

Main Content

Ask: Who knows what makes bread rise? (yeast)
If we want to make bread we can buy yeast, but how do you suppose they made bread years ago, before there were stores where you could buy yeast? (allow all answers)

Say: The action of yeast has been used by bread bakers for thousands of years. It wasn’t until the invention of the microscope that yeast was discovered to be a living organism. These organisms are so small we can’t see them with our eyes; they exist in the air. But in order to have enough of these organisms to raise a loaf of bread we need to multiply them. If we couldn’t buy them already multiplied, in a store-bought package of yeast, we would have to grow them ourselves in what is called “leaven.” Leaven is even referred to in the Bible, especially when the Bible talks about unleavened bread, which was bread that wasn’t raised.
Ask: Do you recall a story from the Bible that talks about unleavened bread? (Passover)
Say: Leaven is a piece of dough that is kept over from a previous baking session. Today we will make cookies using a type of leaven called sourdough starter. We will make our cookies then talk about our story while they are cooking.

Have everyone put on aprons, wash their hands, and gather in the kitchen.

Say: When bakers are going to make sourdough bread they use a starter that has been made from “wild” yeast, yeast in the air. They grow this starter by regularly adding flour to the mixture and allowing it to expand. There is a bakery in San Francisco with sourdough starter that has been used there since 1849. We have some starter here today; it’s not nearly that old, but we are going to use it to make cookies.

Make a show of measuring out 1 cup of the starter and placing the rest aside. Encourage students to smell the starter. Say: We will set aside the extra starter so that later we can all share it and take some home.

Have part of the class work together to mix the wet ingredients for the cookies while the others mix the dry ingredients. Combine all the ingredients, allowing several children to take turns stirring. Divide the dough between the children to roll and shape/cut their cookies. Drinking glasses make good rolling pins for a small amount of dough.

While the cookies bake, divide the remaining starter and extra starter dough between the children, encouraging them to feel and smell the starter. Have them place their starter in their jar/container/baggie. Take note of how little starter is needed to begin a loaf of bread. Explain that if they maintain their starter, they can share it with other people, who can then also use it all the time to make bread and share with even more people. If the starter that is shared was acquired from an outside source, tell the children about the history of that starter.

Reflect 

[Begin this discussion while the cookies are baking. When the cookies are done, enjoy God’s provision together while finishing this discussion.]

Ask: What was Elijah’s job? (to be a prophet)
What is a prophet? (a messenger of God)

Say: Elijah had the job of telling the people that the Lord was the one and only true God.

Ask: How did God provide for Elijah at the brook? (ravens fed him)
Why did Elijah go to Zarephath (pronounced ZER-uh-fath)? (because God sent him there)

Say: The water had run out at the brook where Elijah had been staying, so God sent Elijah to Zarephath so that God could provide for Elijah through the widow. God sure uses strange ways to provide for Elijah.

I wonder how the Widow of Zarephath felt about using up her only supplies to feed someone else?

If this little piece of starter was all you had to feed your family this week, would you be willing to give it away?

I wonder why the woman was willing to trust Elijah?

How would it feel to be Elijah and ask someone to take care of you with their last amount of food?

What happened when the widow trusted God to provide?

Sourdough starter, if taken care of – fed and used regularly - can be used to make bread, pizza dough, cookies, and more for years. I wonder how the woman felt when she realized that God was making sure her bread-making supplies lasted for such a long time?

How does God provide for you?

How will taking home some of this sourdough starter remind you of how God provides?

Make sure each child has some of the starter in a container and instructions for keeping it going. (Starter will need to be placed in a non-airtight container at home.)

Close with Prayer.


Adaptation
If class time is too short to make cookies, have the children start the sourdough from scratch, and send a recipe or two home that they can use once the starter is ready.

SOURCES



SOURDOUGH STARTER RECIPE

Please note: this sourdough starter is a little different from many starters as it is more dough-like than soupy. If the alternative choice of purchasing a starter from someone else is used, different instructions for feeding and using the starter will also be needed.

Adapted From http://www.exploratorium.edu/c...ecipe-sourdough.html

Ingredients

  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup (a small handful) flour
  • 1 or 2 tablespoons of water
  • small non-metallic bowl
  • towel, napkin, or other piece of cloth
  • non-metallic spoon

Instructions

  1. In a mound of flour, make a small well and add the water.
  2. Slowly mix the flour and the water, bringing more flour into the center of the well. The mixture will gradually transform from a paste into a small piece of dough.
  3. Knead this small piece of dough with your fingers for about 5–8 minutes, until it becomes springy.
  4. Place the dough in a small container, cover it with a damp towel, and let it sit in a warm spot for 2 or 3 days.
  5. When it’s ready, the dough will be moist, wrinkled, and crusty. If you pull off a piece of the crust, you’ll find tiny bubbles and smell a sweet aroma.
  6. Throw away any hardened crust. “Refresh” the remaining piece by mixing it with twice the original amount of flour, about 2/3 cup, and enough water to make a firm dough. Set aside as before.
  7. After 1 or 2 days the starter will have a new, fresh look. Remove any dried dough and mix with about 1 cup of flour.
  8. Once again, cover the bowl with a damp cloth and leave it in a warm place for another 8–12 hours.
  9. When the starter is ready, it will appear fully risen, and a small indentation made with a finger won’t spring back.

Now the starter is ready to be used in virtually any sourdough recipe. Remember to save a small piece of the starter: You can put it in the refrigerator for several days, then refresh it again as above and use it to make another loaf. A good starter will serve you for years to come!


Sourdough Sugar Cookies

from http://www.recipezaar.com/50811
Makes 3 - 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Crisco shortening
    1 1/2 cups sugar
    3 large eggs
    1/2 cup sourdough starter
    1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice or almond extract
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    1 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

  1. Cream together shortening and sugar. Add eggs, sourdough starter, and flavorings; mix well.
  2. Stir flour mixture into starter mixture until well blended. Chill dough, if desired.
  3. Roll out dough 1/4-inch thick and cut with cookie cutters. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
  4. Bake at 350° until very lightly browned.
  5. Remove immediately from oven and transfer cookies to cooling rack.
Last edited by Luanne Payne

RE: ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH COOKING WORKSHOP by Kim Trimboli (sourdough starter/cookies activity) above:

Because we didn't want to roll the dough, we used the following recipe:

SOURDOUGH COOKIES [Adapted from http://www.cooks.com]

Ingredients

  • 1/2 c. shortening
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 c. starter
  • 1 3/4 c. flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. soda
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • Cinnamon and sugar (Mix 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon)

Instructions

  1. Cream the shortening and sugar.
  2. Beat in the egg and the starter.
  3. Measure out and mix dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture.
  4. Add the vanilla. Mix until smooth. (This does take mixing – you may wish to use your hands at the end of the mixing process.)
  5. Break off 1” balls of dough. Drop on greased (or parchment covered) cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with your hands.
  6. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on each cookie.
  7. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
    Makes 4-dozen cookies.
Last edited by Luanne Payne

Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath

Games Workshop

Summary

The children will play several games focused on the story of Elijah and on the relationship between obedience and provision. Children will also interact with the memory verse. (The obstacle course involves a lot of set up, but it is worth it!)

Scripture

Passage: 1 Kings 17
Key/Memory Verse: 1 Kings 17:24

Objectives

After this workshop, the children will:

  • Be able to find the story of Elijah in the Old Testament of the Bible.
  • Know that Elijah was a prophet of God; that prophets were God's chosen messengers.
  • Learn that when we are obedient, God provides.

Materials List

  • Attention-getting device to use as a signal: whistle, maracas, bell
  • Bowls filled with Easter basket grass or hay for Raven Relay
  • Butcher paper, chalk board, or newsprint
  • Chalk
  • Copy machine or printer
  • Feathers, black
  • Index cards, 3” x 5” – colored and white
  • Illustrations of bread and meat
  • Labels [Optional]
  • Markers
  • Paint pen, light color
  • Paper, black
  • Posterboard
  • Tape, masking
  • Tweezers, 2 pairs
  • Materials for the Challenge Course
    • Bandannas or cloths, blue and other colors
    • Blanket or comforter
    • Bowl
    • Bread or crackers, small piece for each participant
    • Cardboard or poster board for signs
    • Cloth or napkin to cover small crate or table
    • Compass [Optional]
    • Cups, 1 per person
    • Flour, enough to fill small bowl
    • Flour bags (empty) and other empty food containers
    • Jars, 2 small
    • Meat, small bite for each participant
    • Milk crate or small table
    • Plant or tree, very dead or dry [Optional]
    • Rope for each group
    • Oil, small amount
    • Refrigerator box
    • Scissors
    • Shoeboxes, 3
    • Spoon
    • Sticks, small
    • Trays, serving type
    • Water, enough for 1 cup per person

Advance Preparations:

  • Secure two helpers for the obstacle course. The helpers will give the clues to each team when they have completed each task. Give the helpers the instructions for their stations. They should read them ahead of time. You will be the Station 3 leader.

Note: In preparing for the games, it is helpful to keep in mind that information for each of the three stations includes Set Up, Instructions for the leader, and Cards for the participants.

Prepare index cards and signs for use with the lesson and games, as noted below:

  • Scripture Word Cards: Write each word of the memory verse, including the Scriptural reference (one card), on individual three-inch by five-inch index cards. Make two sets.
  • Write the memory verse on a piece of butcher paper, a chalkboard, or a sheet of newsprint. You will need to be able to cover it some of the time.
  • Prepare signs on cardboard or posterboard that say:
    • Station 1
    • Station 3
    • North
    • South
    • East
    • West
    • Welcome to Zarephath
    • Baal is the greatest in Zarephath
  • Write the following List of Key Points summary words on a piece of butcher paper and become very familiar with them to use throughout the Bible story. Consider adding some pictures to the words to help non-readers. One source for pictures is http://www.bibleforchildren.org/ --choose English from the list of languages, then scroll down and click on the “CB” next to “The Man of Fire.” Pictures used were pages 4, 5, 12, 7, 9-11 (10 & 11 were used together on one page).  You will need to cover the individual items with construction paper before class begins.
    • Confront Ahab!
    • Word from God: Go!
    • Hid by Stream
    • Fed by Ravens
    • No more Water!
    • Word from God: Go!
    • Miraculous Jars!
    • Fed by widow
    • Revive the Son
  • Make a poster for each team with a grid that that has seven columns (one for each day of the week) and two rows (Morning Meal and Evening Meal).  Make it big enough for one bread and one meat picture in each box.
  • Draw a river on a piece of paper. See Station 1 set up for size.
  • Make all of the cards for each station. Print the text from the station instructions and tape onto the cards. Use colored cards or labels to organize them according to Station 1, Station 2, and Station 3.
  • Prepare the Raven Card for Station 1. Cut out in the shape of a bird. Use black paper and a paint pen to write the message for the card.
  • Print or copy the bread and meat pictures to make 28 of each one and cut them out.

  • Tape black feathers on the tweezers to make them "look like" ravens.
  • Using masking tape, mark off starting lines for two teams to use in the relay and obstacle course.
  • Open up the refrigerator box and draw some simple illustrations to make it look like the widow’s home.

Directions for creating the three Stations:

Station 1: “Go hide!”

Station 1 Set-up: You will need a sign that says “Station 1.” Place the shoebox beside the Station 1 sign. In the shoebox, place Card A and a rope. Hang signs around the room that indicate north, south, east and west. For older children, you might hang only a north sign, and let them figure out east from there. Or, you could give them a compass to find east (if you can actually set up to the east). In the east, draw a river on a piece of paper that is an appropriate size for your groups. You might put a “parched-looking” tree or plant near by. Place a shoebox nearby with the raven card in it. Provide a tray of crackers and meat and cups of water covered by a blue cloth. If you have vegetarians in your church, you might use some frozen veg-based bacon. It is tasty and still looks like meat! Cover some other trays with different colored cloths and place Tray cards on each of them.

Instructions for Station 1 Leader: Tell the groups to look in the shoebox when they arrive at your station. You will need to read the cards for younger children. Stress that they follow the directions exactly. They may need help tying the rope (they don't have to really get tied up – they can just loop the rope around their wrists). Go with them to the river area. When they return to the river from the food station, give them Card B. When they are finished, say: “You have been obedient so far. Return to Station 1 to be provided with your next clue.” When they get there, tell them to put the rope back in the box. Give them Card C to move on.

Card A reads: After Elijah confronted evil King Ahab, the word of the Lord came to him, and told him to go east and hide. God said the ravens would feed Elijah while he was there. Elijah was obedient to God’s command, and God was faithful to the promise to provide him with food from the ravens every morning and evening. At this station, your group is Elijah. You must look around the room for a clue as to which way is east. When you figure out the right direction, make a blob of your group by tying everyone together. Then move to the marker in the east that displays the Wadi (or River) Cherith. Find a box there and look inside for another clue. Stay tied together until you are told to untie. When you’ve been obedient to the instructions, return here to be provided with your next clue.

Card B reads: Everyone in your group must have a foot on the masking tape line while each of you eats a piece of bread and a bite of meat. Then each of you should drink a cup of water.

Card C reads: You obeyed the commands and you have been provided with this next clue: There is no more water for you here. You must now go to Zarephath, in the heart of Baal country! A widow there will feed you.

Raven Card reads: Look for the blue cloth. Each member of your group takes but doesn’t eat one of each of the items under the cloth, just like I brought to Elijah every morning and evening. Then go back to the river.

Tray Cards read: You looked in the wrong place. As a group, you must hop back to Station 1, shout, “Obedience is key!” three times, and return to the river to start over.

Station 2: Zarephath

Station 2 Set-up: Hang a poster that says “Welcome to Zarephath” and another that says “Baal is the greatest in Zarephath!” Set up a house area with the refrigerator box. Use the empty bags of flour or other empty pantry items to show that there is no more food. Put a small table or milk crate in front of the cardboard and place a napkin or cloth over it. On the table, place a small jar with a little flour, and a small jar with a little oil. Scatter some small sticks around. Place the shoebox beside the jars, and place Card D inside the shoebox. You will need a spoon and a small bowl of flour, holding enough to fill the jar. Place the bowl of flour far enough away to make a bit of a challenge to carry the flour in the spoon to the jar. (Make the course shorter for younger children or add obstacles to the route for older children.)

Instructions for Station 2 Leader: Welcome the group to Zarephath. Tell them they are in the heart of “Baal country!” Offer them the card in the shoebox, and then start picking up the sticks slowly while they read. When they ask you for water and food, you reply, “As the Lord your God lives, I don’t have anything to offer you. I only have this bit of meal, and this oil. I’m gathering sticks now, and then I will go home and cook for my son and myself. We’re going to eat it for our last meal, and then we will die.” They should ask again. When they do, hand them Card E. When they tell you the jars won’t run out of meal or oil, agree to make a cake for them. Tell them their task for this station is to replenish the jar of flour one spoonful at a time. Every person on the team must participate. When the jar is full, give them their next Clue Card (Card F).

Card D reads: Hi Elijah! This is God. I have commanded this widow to feed you. I know that this widow is very poor and can hardly care for herself, let alone you, but don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. Go and ask her for a drink of water and a bite to eat. She will give you your next clue. If she doesn’t agree at first, tell her I, the Lord your God, will take care of it!

Card E reads: This is God again. You see those jars of flour and oil? Tell the widow that I say that I won’t let them run out of meal or oil until it rains!

Card F reads: Go to Station 3 to meet the widow’s son!

Station 3: The Widow’s Son

Station 3 Set-up: Lay a blanket or comforter in the floor and make a bed. Hold or display the station 3 sign.

Instructions for Station 3 Leader: Greet the children. Tell them that they have just jumped forward in time, and you are the son (or the son’s wife) of the widow they just met, but 20 or 30 years later. Tell the groups they will wait until everyone has finished the challenge course. Tell a brief story of how Elijah saved you from death. Use the Bible to help you prepare to tell this story. Close by quoting the memory verse.



Lesson Plan

Open

Begin with a word of welcome and offer a prayer. Remind the children that it is very important to listen and follow directions so that they can have fun playing games! They will play two or three games this morning that will help everyone learn more about Elijah.

The games will help the children learn specific parts of the Elijah story, so start with an overview of Elijah’s actions by reading 1 Kings 17. Each item on the List of Key Points should be covered with construction paper. Begin reading the story, or choose one or two strong readers to read the chapter. You will reveal the summary word/phrase as each part of the story is read. Later in the rotation, you may use the list as a review by challenging the children to remember what Elijah does next.

Main Content

Divide the children into two groups.

The first game is a short relay focusing on the feeding by the ravens. Teams will use their “beaks” (tweezers) to retrieve a week’s worth of food for Elijah, which is 14 pieces (morning and evening) each of bread and meat. The pictures of the bread and meat may be hidden in Easter basket grass, hay, or just placed in a bowl. Each team needs a chart labeled Sunday through Saturday across the top and Morning Meal and Evening Meal on the rows. On your signal, the first person in each line walks backward to the “nest,” chooses a piece of bread or meat, then hops back to the group. If the food drops, the child puts the food back and starts over from the line. The child tapes the bread or meat to the column for the morning meal on Sunday. The next person’s job is to complete the morning meal, and so on until each team of “ravens” feeds Elijah for a week.

Discuss: You can mention that we aren’t sure exactly how long the ravens fed Elijah! Just as the ravens brought food to Elijah, God sent his word to prophets like Elijah. Point out the places on the List of Key Points poster where God sent his word to Elijah.

The second game is an obstacle course that focuses on Elijah’s actions in the story. Teams are provided with a clue when they are obedient at each station!

Invite the children to look at their Bibles (older children) or the List of Key Points poster and identify places where someone was obedient to what God wanted them to do. Next, look for places that God provided specific help for someone. Help the children make the connection between their obedience and God’s provision.

Before starting the second game, make new teams. This will help the children to be less competitive, and won’t allow a single group to dominate every challenge!

Invite the children to participate in a challenge course that helps us experience how God provides for us in special ways when we are obedient to God. Tell the children about the obstacles you have set up based on the Advanced Preparation instructions. If you have a small group, they may all go together through the course, and you may only need one helper to run Station 2. If you have more children, send them through in groups of about five each.

Memory Verse Scramble. Divide the children into two new groups and sit in a circle. Reveal the words to the verse on butcher paper, chalkboard, or newsprint, and read the verse together. Give each group a set of Scripture Word Cards. It is fine if there are more cards than children in a group -- some children may have more than one word. Children pass the cards around the group until all the cards are passed out. On your signal, children read their word(s) in the correct order. That’s the easy version!

The second time, the group will mix up the Scripture Word cards while passing them around. Leave the butcher paper uncovered for this time. On your signal, the passing stops and the cards are read in the correct order. (When you think the group is ready, cover the butcher paper and repeat the “scrambled” Scripture!) Point out that Elijah was one of God's prophets and God spoke through Elijah.

Closing Discussion

Ask: How did God provide for Elijah at the brook? (ravens fed him)
Why did Elijah go to Zarephath? (because God sent him there)

Say: The water had run out at the brook where Elijah had been staying so God sent Elijah to Zarephath so that God could provide for Elijah through the widow. God sure uses strange ways to provide for Elijah.

Ask: How do you suppose the Widow of Zarephath felt about using up her only supplies to feed someone else?
What happened when the widow trusted God to provide?
How does God provide for you?
Does God ask you to help him provide for others?

Say: God usually takes care of children through their families, but sometimes the family can’t find a job. Sometimes God asks us to help other families that are in need. We can do that by helping at the homeless shelter or with other food collection agencies. We are called to help God in the task of providing for others. God provides for us all.


Adaptations - shorter time

For the Raven Relay, don’t make a poster, just collect the food from the bowls. Use 4 pictures of bread and 4 pictures of meat in each group's bowl. (That number allows everyone to have a chance to collect at least one piece as long as there are not more than 16 kids.) Limiting the time this game takes allows more time for the obstacle course.

In the obstacle course, just use 2 stations. 

Send the kids through the obstacle course in one big group.

Adaptations - Younger Children

For the Raven Relay  use  food tongs instead of tweezers – easier for little hands to work.

Younger children may take longer with the relay and challenge course games. 

Use repetition to learn the memory verse with them if they are not reading yet.

Adaptation - Older Children

Make the Raven Relay more difficult by mixing in pictures of other items in the food bowls.


 

Written for Rotation.org by Zola Griffin

Copyright 2009 Rotation.org

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability

Last edited by Luanne Payne

ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH

ART WORKSHOP

SUMMARY: Lesson emphasizes God’s unending faithfulness, love, and protection --represented by wrapping a Styrofoam[TM] figure with “unending” yarn.

PASSAGE

 Story: 1 Kings 17:1-24

Key/Memory Verse: 1 Kings 17:24

PURPOSE

Objectives in Bible Background at  https://www.rotation.org/topic/...ath-by-carol-hulbert

Additional Objectives for Art Workshop

  • Children will experience the image of “unending” related to God’s protection.
  • Children will recognize that God gives direction to people who protect us.

PREPARATION

Read Bible Background at  https://www.rotation.org/topic/...ath-by-carol-hulbert

Materials List

  • Adhesive for Styrofoam. One brand is QB300. It is a tube that fits a caulking gun. (Other adhesives will dissolve the Styrofoam. One tube should be enough.)
  • Bibles
  • Dowel, 2 pieces ¾” x 8” long
  • Drill and bit
  • Glue for wood
  • Knife or saw to cut Styrofoam
  • Markers
  • Newspaper
  • Paper
  • Plywood, ¾”, 1 piece 2’ square
  • Styrofoam insulation, the blue kind, 2 pieces each 3” x 4”
  • Yarn, any color, any thickness – lots and lots

Advance Preparation

Request yarn from the congregation.

On the newspaper trace around a child that is 4 feet tall. Don’t make the arms and legs too thin or they might break.

Make a stand for the figure with the two dowels. Lay the pattern on the plywood and mark the location for the dowel that will go up into the center of each of the figure’s legs.

Lay the pieces of dowel on the legs of the pattern and trace around them. If the dowel will not be completely inside the leg you will need to make the legs more straight up and down. (¾” of the dowel will be in the plywood, 7 1/4“ will extend into the Styrofoam.)

Cut out the figure on each piece of Styrofoam. (This is a job to do in the garage not the kitchen.)

Hollow out the area where the dowel will be in the Styrofoam, half on each piece.

Using the Styrofoam glue fasten the dowels to one of the figures; be sure to leave ¾” of the dowel out of the foot to be glued to the base.

Using the Styrofoam glue, make a strip of glue around the figure and in the center. Lay the second figure on top of the first. The glue will set quickly.

Double check the location of the dowels related to the holes you marked on the plywood before you drill a ¾” hole for each dowel. Fit the dowels into the holes before you add wood glue to the dowels. Put Styrofoam glue on the bottom of the feet of the figure. Stand the figure on the plywood base.

Brush off any Styrofoam crumbs. It will help control the crumbs as the children work if you give it a good coat of acrylic paint.

(NOTE: If Styrofoam person "prep" seems too involved, consider making the “person” out of cardboard or foam.)


PRESENTATION

Introduction

During this Art Workshop, you will explore God’s UNENDING love and protection. You will wrap a Styrofoam figure with “unending” yarn until the figure is completely covered.  This is an ongoing project: each week for the whole rotation each class will tie their yarn to the ends of the work of the previous week’s group.

Have the children read 1 Kings 17:3-6, 8-9, 13-16, 23-24. Read the verses for younger children.

Ask the participants the following questions:

 What did the people in the story do when God gave them directions?

 What directions has God given us?

Dig

Explain that the class will be protecting the figure by wrapping it with unending yarn. When they finish one piece of yarn they will tie another to the end of it because we often have a change in those who take care of us.

Four children can probably wrap at the same time. The figure will be “patchwork“ and uneven - just like us.

Have other children use markers and paper to draw pictures about helping and protecting to be displayed with the finished figure.

As the children work, review the story. Visit with them about protecting and helping.

Reflection

Make a sign explaining the figure in the children’s words (there will be one from each group).

Display the Figure, Signs, and Pictures in a place where the congregation can view them.


ADAPTATION:

If Styrofoam person "prep" seems too involved, considering making the “person” out of cardboard or foam.


 

Written by Carmen Peter for Rotation.org
Copyright 2006 Rotation.org

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Last edited by Luanne Payne

Mission Workshop Ideas for Elijah and the Widow

(moved here to consolidate topic)

Objectives for an Elijah Mission Workshop

Learn how God provides for our needs

As a congregation, learn about local and global hunger issues

Respond to hunger issues


IDEAS AND PROJECTS TO CONSIDER:

Look up hunger programs on the internet.

Obtain information about hunger programs in your community and denomination.

Arrange with the Mission Committee and/or pastor to have a day to dedicate the funds collected.

Make containers to collect money or food.

Organize a CROP WALK. For information see https://www.crophungerwalk.org

Write letters to your legislators. For information, see  http://www.bread.org/engage-your-church  for the "Offering of Letters" packet.

Support farmers in developing countries by offering Fair Trade products for sale.  https://www.presbyterianmissio...eace-justice/hunger/

Ask your church to host a "Celebrating Local Foods Potluck." Ask people to bring locally grown food (from home gardens) and recipes for their dish.

Ask an older member of your congregation to tell about "Victory Gardens." (If no one is available, look up the information in your library or online).

Host a farmers market on the church's parking lot.

Start a church, community, or school garden involving youth and elders.

Give the collected money to a local food pantry, buy animals from Heifer Project International, or another hunger project.


RESOURCE

Schrock, Jennifer Haltreman. Just Eating? Practicing Our Faith at the Table - Readings for Reflection and Action, pages 17, 19, 21, 23.


 

Written by Julie Burton for Rotation.org
Copyright 2006 Rotation.org

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Last edited by Luanne Payne

Add Reply

Post a New Topic
Lesson or Resource
Rotation.org Inc. is a volunteer-run, 100% member supported, 501(c)3 non-profit Sunday School lesson ministry. You are welcome to borrow and adapt content for non-commercial teaching purposes --as long as both the site and author are referenced. Rotation.org Inc reserves the right to manage, move, condense, delete, and otherwise improve all content posted to the site. Read our Terms of Service. Get a free Registered Membership or become a Supporting Member for full access to all site resources.
Rotation.org is rated 5 stars on Google based on 51 reviews. Serving a global community including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, S. Africa, and more!
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×