Skip to main content

W&W Story: The Writing on the Wall

The Writing on the Wall: God’s Power[i]
Using Children’s Worship and Wonder format open with:
·         Welcoming the children
·         Explain the space
·         Sing “Father we Adore You” and “Be Still and Know”

Story[ii]

Once there was a king named Belshazzar. He threw a party, at this palace. The people who he ruled over did not follow the 10 Best Ways to Live. Belshazzar’s father had taken items from God’s temple, in Jerusalem. Belshazzar decided that the gold and silver cups should be used, at his party. So all of the people there started to drink from the temple’s cups.

All of the sudden a hand appeared and started writing on the wall “Mene, Mene, Tekal, Parsin!” None of the king’s wise men or advisors knew what it meant. The king called in Daniel. He translated the words for the king. Mene: God has numbered your kingdom and finished it. Tekel: you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting. Parsin: your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians. All of this was because King Belshazzar did not honor God and follow the 10 best ways to live.

Wonder Questions:
·         I wonder what it would have been like to attend the king’s party?
·         I wonder what it would have been like to see a hand start writing on the wall?
·         I wonder what it would have been like to listen as Daniel translated the words?
·         I wonder how the people and king felt about the meaning of the words?
·         I wonder what the king thought about was going to happen?

Activity

Have the children find a chair around the table.
Explain to them that they are going to color their own walls.
Using the color change markers, have the children start coloring in their walls. (Before the children arrive, use the clear marker and write “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin” on the sheets.)
Talk with the children about what it was like to have their walls change colors?
Have the children clean up their supplies.
Gather the children back in the circle. Continue with Children’s Worship and Wonder format and light the Christ candle, read scripture, pray, and sing the goodbye song.

Scripture Reading: Daniel 5: 1-6


[i] From Bible Story Activities; volume 2 edited by Terry P. Rothermich, Christian Board of Publication St. Louis, Missouri, 1999.
[ii] Story and Wonder Questions by Kate West, 2005.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I'm a Pastor and I'm Fat

For new readers and those who don't know me, I'm fat. Medically labeled "morbidly obese." I have always been fat since I can remember. It's a multifaceted part of my reality: it's part my choice, part genetics. I am well aware that I need to work on this. I'm reminded every time I go to the doctor: need a flu shot - you're fat. Have an ear infection - you're fat. Cat bite - discharge instructions start with you're morbidly obese (I'm not kidding). You lost weight and still think something's off - loose more weight. I have been working on addressing my weight and have managed to loose and keep off just under 80 pounds. Do I still have a lot more weight to loose? Yup. I didn't become this size overnight and taking this off won't happen overnight either. A few weeks ago, a friend stopped by to visit me on their journey to vacation. As they were preparing to leave, I get stopped and asked to sit. I was told that they're concerne...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Pastor's Take on Project 2025

It's getting close to the 2024 elections and I'm tired. American society seems to be crumbling, and I feel that regardless of how things play out, it's going "to get real." But nevertheless, it's time for me to speak out on Project 2025. I have tried for months to read the document because I want to be informed. But there is not enough blood pressure medicine in the world to allow me to read it all. It boils my blood, and I argue it should most Christian's as well. When you go to the Project 2025 website it opens with "Project 2025 is a historic movement, brought together by over 100 respected organizations from across the conservative movement, to take down the Deep State and return the government to the people." What is the Deep State? As far as I know there is no Deep State but let's scare people into thinking there is. Who are these 100 respected organizations? They are organizations like the American Family Association, Family Policy All...
Post a Comment
Read more

10 Commandments in Classrooms

In June 2024. Louisiana Governor, Jeff Landry, signed a bill that requires the 10 Commandments, along with other historical documents, be displayed in all state funded K-12 and university classrooms by 2025. While this seems like a harmless thing and a way to strengthen or bring back the "moral fabric" of America, I stand in opposition to this law and the similar bills that are floating around several states. First - I have a hard time claiming the Protestant, Christian bible as a historical document. While some of the stories contained in the bible can be found in other accounts, that are in fact historical documents, the bible as a whole is not historical. As we know the Protestant, Christian bible - it is not in chronical order. There are multiple accounts of several stories within the bible. And from what scholars have found, the authors of the Protestant, Christian bible never claimed to be documenting history. They are sharing their experiences and trying to answer ques...
Post a Comment
Read more