Week 2: God’s Love Remembered – Last Supper

(Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-22)
Story Station

Storytelling adapted from the “Jesus’ Last Passover” story from Young Children and Worship by Sonja M. Stewart and Jerome W. Berryman. (Copywrite issues preclude sharing the text of the story.)

Figures for storytelling were purchased for other purposes from Beulah Enterprises (note link removed as product no longer available on that site - see new suggestions below), but seemed too perfect to pass up for use in this storytelling situation. We loved the various shades of stain used on the wood, and the way wood (vs. plastic, metal etc.) feels when manipulating it. We used the “church play set” with 2 extra families so there would be 12 disciples. Changes to set: We didn’t use the baptismal font, communion table or the lectern, added a rectangular wooden unit block for a larger table (so all the people would fit around it), a square of green felt and a small plastic communion cup and a Ritz cracker. The “wall” and felt square were enough to suggest an inside and outside while still allowing enough open space for children to move figures around.

Read the text as presented in the book. Present the figures as directed, but involve children in the telling – ie. children move figures, children may be prompted in dialogue by 2nd storyteller, children break the “bread” and share the cup with all of the figures etc.

With a large group of children/families, it is possible to do this “life-sized” – having people instead of figures, real bread instead of a Ritz cracker, a real table instead of a block etc. It can be a pre-rehearsed “performance” by youth/adults, or it can be a spontaneous thing with children, though that is more difficult.

May 4/2016 - Moderator update:   there are a couple of playsets that would work for this story currently available they are:

• "Last Supper Set" by Trinity Toyz!.  Blocks very similar to Lego.  286 pieces, plus 13 figures, that you can use to recreate the Last Supper.
  
  
• Galilean Boat Play Set (Tales of Glory Series)  by Cactus Game Design.  Includes ship with sale and 13 figures (Jesus & the 12 Disciples).