Rotation.org Writing Team

Mary Accepts, Ponders and Magnifies

and you should too!

Cooking Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activity 

Students will prepare three unique food items, taste and eat them as part of an interactive "Mary Seder." It features "Pondering Pudding", "Mary's Song Spices", and "After the Shepherds Mints."  Ingredients are connected to specific verses in Mary's story and the lesson has a strong sense of life application.

What's a "Seder"?
Seders are ritual meals with special foods eaten in a specific order to remember a story. The Passover is a Seder. The Lord's Supper is a very short version of a Seder. From a teaching point of view, a Seder is a scripted, hands-on, sensory-rich object lesson.

Scripture 

Luke 1:26-56 and 2:19  Mary's Song of Joy and pondering.

Key/Memory Verse: 

Mary Accepts: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord." (Luke 1:38a NRSV) 

Mary Magnifies: "My soul magnifies the Lord."  (Luke 1:46 NRSV)

Mary Ponders: "But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19 NRSV)

The scriptures will be introduced in the preparation step, represented by various food items, and spoken aloud and interpreted by the Seder participants.

Objectives

See Bible Background for this set's complete list of objectives, and an important discussion about the example of Mary which you can use with your students.

Preparation

• Read Bible Background, scripture and this lesson.
• Enlist 2 extra leaders, for two of the stations (if required).
• Gather the food ingredients and table decoration supplies.
• Print an extra four copies of the Mary Seder Script found below in this lesson plan.
• LABEL each Pondering Pudding ingredient before class with its fanciful name (see Prep Station 1 below for names).  Could simply write name, on both sides, of a folded card (created from cardstock paper).
• Preset Seder table with tablecloth and candles.
• Set out required supplies at each station.

Supply List 

• Bibles
• Markers
• Cardstock Paper
• Pondering Pudding:  Plastic cups, angel food cake, vanilla pudding, berries, cool whip, jam.
• Spices: Red Pepper Flakes, Garlic, Diced Onion, Cinnamon sticks.
• Shepherd's Mints: Powdered sugar, gum, peppermint oil, rolling pins, plastic knives, and tin foil.
• Spoons, paper plates.
• Table candles (could use battery operated for safety) and tablecloth.
• Extra helpers, to lead teams at two stations, teacher can lead one station (not required if you have a small group rotating together).

Set Up and Teaching Suggestions

• Assign each of the 3 food prep station set ups and ingredient lists to volunteer helpers.
• If possible, have the Mary Seder table set apart from the prep stations.
• If you only have a few students, rotate to each station as a group. If you have two groups, rotate between stations 2 and 3, and then join together for station 1 (which will take a bit longer than the other stations).
• If you are short on time, prepare some items in advance. Preparation time is meant to introduce the Bible verse and concepts, which will be reinforced, in the Mary Seder when the foods are eaten.

Lesson Plan

Remember the ritual of Christmas dinner? The smells and tastes that evoke memory? Remember how the table setting helped you sense the importance of gathering? Remember the smells, sight and tastes of Passover Seder or Holy Communion? This lesson taps how our brains love the sight, smell, taste and practice of ritual special meals to form memory and excite discussion around Mary's story.

You will begin to introduce ideas from today's scriptures in the Prep Stations. Readings are part of the Mary's Seder script.

Open

Gather around a table set with a tablecloth and candles and introduce how today's lesson will unfold. 

Ask:

Say: The Lord's Supper was originally a special full meal call a Passover Seder. Jesus used the bread and cup from that meal to teach his disciples and us about his sacrifice. Seders are ritual meals in which each food reminds us of certain part of the Exodus Passover story, just like the bread and cup remind us of Jesus. Today, we are going to prepare and eat several food items that remind us of Mary's story. One of the foods is a type of layered dessert called a "TRIFLE." that reminds us of Mary's story in the Bible waiting for Jesus to be born. Let's get started making our Mary Seder.

(Split into groups if you need to do that.)

Prep Station 1:  Make "Pondering Pudding" Dessert

This station will take a little longer than the other two. When you celebrate the Mary Seder, you will add scripture to the experience. Importantly, we are making this "Trifle" upside down. The "Here I Am Jam" goes into the cup first, and the Angel Food Cake goes on top because Gabriel is first part of the story and thus will be eaten first. In other words, students will be eating down through the story. 

What to Do and Say at Station 1:  

LABEL each food item before class with its fanciful name (listed below). Give each student a plastic cup, place all the ingredients before them, and tell them you will be describing each item prior to having them put it in their cup. Have students add ingredients one at a time, not rushing. As they take turns getting the ingredient into their cup, reference the item's fun name and a little bit about what it means, starting with ingredient #1 above. The meaning will become more clear in the Seder meal when they eat it.

Prep Station 2:  Mary, the Original Spice Girl, Sings Boldly!

Younger students probably don't know what the "Spice Girls" were, so that's just a joke for the adults. But they'll gain a spicy taste and take on Mary's BOLD SONG of Joy. The point of some of these spices isn't that the kids will like them, in fact, we hope they'll cringe when trying a few — as it will make the content memorable. The plate with the circles on it for the spices is intentionally reminiscent of a traditional Seder plate with Exodus story foods.

What to do:  Hand out bibles. Give students a paper plate and some markers. Tell them to draw 4 circles on the plate which will hold four spicy things they'll be given. Each student will receive just a small amount of the ingredient. For example, a few pieces of minced garlic, a few pieces of the cinnamon bark, a few pieces of cut onion. The four spices and circles correspond to verses in Mary's Song. As you give them the spicy item, have them write the name of the spice around or in the circle, and write their name on their plate. Have them write key words from Mary's song that you share with them during the preparation. Let them smell the spices but save the tasting for the Seder!  To enhance the smell, have them roll it in their fingers.

What to give and (briefly) say at Prep Station 2:

Say and Ask: When Mary was pregnant with the baby Jesus, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Can anyone tell me what happened when the two of them met? (Luke 1:44, John jumped for joy in Elizabeth's tummy and Elizabeth blessed Mary and the baby). Elizabeth's praise confirmed to Mary what Gabriel had announced –that Jesus would be the savior of the world. 

Ask: How would you have reacted to this great news?  How did Mary react?

How do we as Christians act this time of year? (excited or calm?)

Say: Mary sang a very BOLD song with very exciting ideas. I want you to take turns reading Mary's Song aloud very slowly from Luke 1:46-55, and I'm going to stop you at certain verses and give you a spice to go on your plate for that verse. You can smell it, but don't taste it.

Spice 1:  Red Pepper Flakes "My soul magnifies the Lord." Luke 1:46
I'm giving you red pepper flakes because the word "magnify" means to make big and bold and these flakes certainly do that to things like pizza.

Spice 2:  Garlic "The Mighty One has done great things for me" Luke 1:49
I'm giving you garlic, because it is known as the "King" of all spices, used the world around in cooking and even medicines.

Spice 3:  Diced Onion "He brings down the powerful from their thrones" Luke 1:52
I'm giving you onions because they can make you cry when you cut them. Mary cried out in her song that God would bring down the bad, and raise up those in need.

Spice 4:  Cinnamon sticks  "He lifted up the lowly and filled the hungry" Luke 1:52b-53
I'm giving you a piece of cinnamon stick, everyone's favorite spice! –because when you smell it burning in candles or baking in the oven –it pleases everyone who smells it. Jesus said we are like salt in the world. Today we also say we are like God's cinnamon in the world, sharing the great smelling good news that God's gift has come into the world.

Prep Station 3: The "After Shepherds Mint"

Students will quickly mix, roll out and cut their own "altoid" breath mints. The recipe is very simple and the ingredients can be found in the baking/cake supply aisle of stores like JoAnne or Hobby Lobby.

Homemade "Altoids" Recipe:

Ingredients per batch:

- 16 oz Powdered Sugar + more for dusting 
- 2 oz Gum Arabic, Gum Tragacanth or Tylose (more common in modern baking)
- Peppermint Oil (12 to 15 drops per batch)
- a few drops of food coloring

- Tin Foil for taking extra mints home 

Supplies:

- rolling pins (1 per child)

- plastic knives (1 per child)

- Tin Foil for taking extra mints home

What to Do and Say at Prep Station 3:

At this station you will make breath mints –which you will definitely need after tasting some of the BOLD spices at Mary's Seder. The question we're asking here is "how is your life supposed to be different after Christmas?" Are you supposed to continue your life the same way? Or does the advent of Christ in your life give you a fresh perspective, get rid of some of your stinky sin breath, and make you more confident to talk to others up close and personal about God.  We'll talk more about this in the Seder. Right now, let's get started making breath mints. 

- Take an egg size piece of gum from bag.  It will be hard and you will need to knead it with your hands to soften it up. 

- Once softened add drop(s) of essential oil and knead into ball.

- Add a drop of food coloring and knead into ball.

- Dust rolling surface with powdered sugar, place gum ball on surface and roll out.

- Then cut with a knife, across and down, to create small square peppermints.

- Dust squares lightly with powdered sugar to keep them from sticking together.

(Prep the dough ahead if you're short on time.)

Place some on a plate for use at Mary's Seder, and wrap others in foil to go home.

Feast & Reflect

The following is your script for hosting the "Mary Seder" with your 3 food items:

Print the following script and assign the 4 parts. Remind everyone to follow along (just like in a real Seder) and be ready to do and say what the script calls for. Remind students that a "Seder" is a sacred ritual meal, a sort of worship service. The script has been designed to take no longer than 15 minutes of class time. Add additional questions and discussion as needed. 

This script has four parts, but can be divided further. Leader 1 should be an adult.

Mary Seder Script

 

Opening

 

Leader 1:  
Welcome to our Mary Seder. As I share some words and you read some scriptures, you will get to taste and eat the foods you have prepared. 

 

There are two special things we are adding to our Mary Seder, and they come from the Passover Seder Meal celebrated by Jews at their Passover Seders today.

 

Leader 2:

First, we must set a special place for our guest of honor. At the Passover Seder, they set a place for Elijah the Prophet, who they expected would return to announce the coming of the Messiah.  But today, let's set two empty places for our two special guests: The Angel Gabriel who came to announce Christ's birth, and Mary the Mother of Jesus, to whom Gabriel appeared.  

 

(Make room for them at the table, placing a plate and cup and chair for them.) 

 

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for sending Gabriel and Mary into our world with the wonderful news that Jesus was coming to save. Amen

 

Leader 3:
Second, we light candles to signify that God is with us. And we remember that Jesus was described by Isaiah and by John as the light coming into the world. 

 

(Light candles)

 

Prayer:  Lord, we remember the words of the Prophet Isaiah who announced that "The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light, on them has the light shined."  Thank you for shining your forgiving Jesus light on us. Amen.

 

1. Pondering Pudding

 

 

Leader 1:

I will now read from Luke 1:26-38, Gabriel's Good News to Mary. As I read it, you will get to eat your Pondering Pudding. Spoons ready to eat each part as directed!

 

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  

 

So we eat our angel food cake to thank God for his messengers and wonderful messages to us.

 

The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”   

 

Leader 2:

But Mary was much perplexed by Gabriel's greeting and pondered why an angel would bother coming to her, since she was a nobody from nowhere. 

 

So now we scoop out some of our pondering pudding, and as we do, we wonder if maybe angels have been giving us messages, and wonder how God has chosen us to help the world, because you know, he has!

 

Leader 3:

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."

 

As you eat the sweet berries, remember that, like Mary, you have been favored by God, which means "chosen" by God and therefore you have nothing to be afraid of, ever, because God came into the world to save you. You are forgiven, favored, and flavored. How sweet is that?

 

Leader 4:

"And you, Mary, shall bear a son and name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 

 

So now we enjoy our Jesus is Cool Whip, because Jesus is the coolest gift the world could ever receive:  an awesome king who will take care of us forever.

 

Leader 1:

Mary had questions, but Gabriel convinced her that nothing is impossible with God. So this young nobody girl from nowhere's-ville, but picked by God, said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let your will be done through me.” 

 

So we now finish our Pondering Pudding by eating the "Here I Am Jam," and as we taste its goodness, we slyly look to the left, and then to the right, and back to the left again, thinking, "maybe I'm in the presence of God's angels, and its my turn to be counted as one of God's servants. Yep, Here I am too, Lord!

 

 

2. Mary "the Original Spice Girl's" Song: 

Place the spice plates in front of each student and use this script.

 

Leader 1:

So I tell you what I want, what I really really want.  I want.... 

 

Leader 2:

...I want my faith that feels alive and on fire like Mary's did when she sang her song in Luke 2: My soul magnifies, can be seen by the whole world, my soul is as big as a house on fire for the Lord!   O Taste and See that my soul has some real heat and is not cold. 

 

Go ahead and taste your red pepper flakes and realize that God wants your soul to burn bright and strong for him, just like Mary's did. Pictures of her make her look quiet, but inside, her faith was as strong as a red hot chili pepper!

 

Leader 1:

I need a Mighty One like Mary praised in her song, a Holy King to follow who will never fail me. Somebody I can trust with my life, my thoughts, my very soul. 

 

Leader 3:

You mean like God himself?  God with us? Emmanuel? Jesus? The Babe of Bethlehem?

 

Now go ahead and taste the garlic. People everywhere use garlic to spice all sorts of food. Jesus wants to be part of everything you got cookin' in your life too. He wants to be the King of your friendships, King of your time, King of your heart.

 

 

Leader 1:  

What can this onion possibly mean?  Jesus is an onion?

 

Leader 3:

Have you ever cut an onion? Its juices make you cry. In Mary's Song, she said God was coming to make us cry out for justice, to cry out against the proud and the rulers of this world who didn't care about the lowly. 

 

So go ahead and eat a little bit of onion to remember that Mary and Jesus want you to cry out against injustice, and shed tears of compassion.

 

Leader 1: 

Mary says in her song that God will raise the lowly and feed the hungry. So why do we eat cinnamon at our Mary Seder?

 

Leader 4:

We eat cinnamon to remember that God wants us to share his tasty good news with the world as Mary did through her song. Cinnamon on our toast, on our buns, cinnamon in our candles and in our gum. God in our hearts, in our words, God in how we treat everyone,

 

God is great. God is good. Now let's share him through our food by tasting the cinnamon. 

 

3. Seder Closing 

The After Shepherd Mints

 

Leader 1:

Who knows the next part of Mary's Story?  Let me start it and then you can chime in with what you know comes next.

 

So according to Luke Chapter 2, there were these shepherds out watching their flocks one night, when suddenly what?  (angels appeared singing "Glory to God and Peace on Earth")

 

And the angels told the shepherds to go to Bethlehem where they would find what? (a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger)

 

So they found the Baby Jesus there with Mary and Joseph, and they told them all that the angels had said.  Do you think this surprised Mary?  (Probably a little, but both she and Joseph had already been visited by God's messengers.)

 

Leader 2:

Luke's Gospel says Mary treasured and pondered everything the shepherds had said. So here's my question:

 

What have YOU been doing to store up, remember and think about all that you have been hearing?  (coming to Sunday School, going to Advent services)

 

Leader 3:
When we leave here today, are we the same or changed? Do we go back and act like we have not heard Mary's song and the Angel's announcements? Or do we have a minty-fresh new outlook on life because we believe God has done something amazing. 

 

Leader 4:  

What's that candy that they call "The Fresh-Maker" ? (Mentos)  
That's what Jesus is for us. Jesus makes God fresh in our hearts, not scary.
Jesus gives the world a fresh new look at God — a God who so loved the world that he sent his only son to save it.

 

Leader 1:
Now enjoy your "After Shepherd Mints," and let us all remember to share the fresh news of Jesus birth, just like the shepherds did after visiting Jesus, and like Mary did her whole life.  Speak up, sing out, and spread the news.

 

Close with prayer and clean up.

 
Additional Suggestions  

Younger Students in the Seder can be told "repeat after me" so that they can say the words.

Make foil gift packets of your "After the Shepherd Mints" for the children to give out. Attach a card with a handwritten message and verse.

Intergenerational or Advent Celebrations can turn this into a full meal by adding an entree before the eating of the Pondering Pudding Dessert.

Authors:   This lesson is based on a concept by Writing Team member Kirsten Freitag and Rotation.org member "MomSusan" that was turned into a lesson by Neil MacQueen.

Copyright © 2015 by Rotation.org 

Printed from https://www.rotation.org

 Pondering Pudding photo copyright iowagirleats.com, used as an educational reference.
Altoid mint photo copyright onegoodthingbyjillee.com, used as an educational reference.