QUIZ
1. Which Canadian singer sang the words: ‘Please forgive me, I know not what I do.’
Bryan Adams
2. In the Bible, Jesus says we should forgive someone how many times?
77 times – Matthew 18:22 NIV or 70x7 Authorised
3. Which word beginning with the letter ‘A’ can be given and received in order to forgive or be forgiven?
Apology
4. Who said these words: ‘The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.’
Mahatma Gandhi
5. What words come next in this Adele song: ‘Hello from the other side, I must have called a thousand times to tell you …’
‘I’m sorry for everything I’ve done’
POEM
Easter joy
Jesus came to earth,
To show us how to live,
How to put others first,
How to love and how to give.
Then he set about his work
That God sent him to do;
He took our punishment on himself;
He made us clean and new.
He could have saved himself,
Calling angels from above,
But he chose to pay our price for sin;
He paid it out of love.
Our Lord died on Good Friday,
But the cross did not destroy
His resurrection on Easter morn
That fills our hearts with joy.
Now we know our earthly death,
Like his, is just a rest.
We’ll be forever with him
In Heaven, where life is best.
So we live our lives for Jesus,
Think of him in all we do.
Thank you, Saviour, thank you, Lord.
Help us love like you!
Joanna Fuchs
poemsource.com
GAME
Play a game of charades. Act out different types of jobs or activities that we use our hands for and see if others can guess what we are doing.
Spend some time afterwards sharing together the ways we use our hands around the home and in our everyday lives, eg washing up, holding things, pushing/pulling doors, hugging …
PRAYER
Give each member a cut-out hand and a pen. Explain to the group that we are going to write some ‘forgiving hands’ prayers. Say the following:
- Jesus’ hands were nailed to a cross to pay for the sins of everyone. Look at the handprint in front of you and write on the fingers something you could do to show love and compassion to others.
- On the thumb, write, ‘I forgive.’
- On the palm, write, ‘We love because he first loved us.’
- Colour the handprint and keep as a reminder to forgive others, just as Jesus forgives us.
- Pray for those whom we need to forgive, and for ourselves as we need to be forgiven.
