Reenactment of the Last Supper I (2018)

Another favorite of the children is reenacting the Last Supper.  This year I lengthened the play to include the Garden of Gethsemane as the children do not want the play to end.  In the past they have  asked to wear their costumes until the end of class.  I also added Scenes 1-6 to the play so there would be action as well.  I use a Raspberry Lemonade for the wine and Peta bread for the unleavened bread.

I didn't have many good readers as they are mostly 2nd graders.  There are a few who have English as their second language, so I simplified the vocabulary in the script.  The person who plays Jesus has to be the best reader as there is so much for that child to read.  This year Jesus just happened to be a girl.

I look forward to the Easter season.  By this time they have heard the Last Supper and the Tomb presentations before we do this little play.   We have also been through the entire liturgy of the Eucharist and the children have a pretty good grasp of what the mass is all about.  So this is the culmination of all that work.

 The costumes aren't elaborate as you can see - just some earth and sky tone materials with white cording to hold the scarves on their heads that I bought at Walmart.  I have 16 script parts to include the Blessed Mother and Mary Magdalene, if everyone is present that day.  Each have one or two narrator parts to read.  It is by far their favorite day in the atrium when I ask them.

I keep all the materials I use for Easter Season in this old desk I bought at our church bazaar.  That includes the Scripts, costumes, and apostle name cards on ribbons for the Reenactment of the Last Supper along with the Meditation of the Passion Booklets.  I also keep the True Vine and the grapes I use on the prayer table which decorate a large cross.  I've decided that next year I'm going to let the children wear the costumes for the Meditations as it will allow them to feel a part of the Passion and they love wearing them.  There is also a Crucifix, two candles and a silver plated plate used for the Peta bread kept here. 

The Leaven and the Kingdom of God Parables

At the end of the school year I save one of the children's favorite materials to work with in the Parable of the Leaven usually around Pentecost.

After reading the parable I do a little experiment making the recipe of 3 Tbsp of flour, 1 tsp yeast and 2 Tbsp of warm water in one glass bowl.  You stir the mixture until it clumps and all liquid is gone, then you make a ball out of it.  The wooden cutting board is so you can knead the dough.

In the other small glass bowl I do the recipe again but without the yeast.  I pass each one around to see if the children notice the difference in smell.  Then I cover the two bowls with a white cloth and say to them that we will check on them at the end of class to see if the yeast helps it to rise.  As you can see in the photo below, there is a significant difference.

Notice it triples in size.  Of course, the Scripture message is that we can't see our faith growing inside us but it does as we grow in grace through prayer, receiving the sacraments, and growing in love with God and serving others with love.

 A thermos filled with hot water is necessary for this work.  I used the kitchen electric pot, cooled it down, and poured it into the small metal pitcher for the children to handle.  I let two children work on this at the same time and so each had a plastic tablespoon, plastic teaspoon and a small spatula for stirring.   I usually have 15 children in each class and this makes it go more quickly.  It takes the entire class, for them to finish.  Our classes are 1-1/2 hrs. long.  Usually the presentations take 20-30 minutes and then they have the remainder of the class to do their work.  Often two children like to sit and watch the others while they wait their turn.  Every child wants to do this work.

I used clear plastic cups for the children to keep their dough to take home and bake.  I usually go through nine packets of yeast for each class and keep them refrigerated.  I generally buy the fast-acting yeast.  I also bring in an extra canister of whole wheat flour (as shown above in the materials) as we easily go through two of those small glass canisters for each class.  I haven't tried to bake one of these but the children do and some have been successful they tell me.  I think this year I'll experiment baking it so I can give them instructions for success.  They love to taste their yeast and are so proud and excited to try it.

(left photo) The Kingdom of God Parables are kept on two bookcases.  Here you see "The Mustard Seed" on the top shelf.  The seeds from Israel are kept in the wooden box.  The second shelf has "The Pearl of Great Price" and the bottom shelf is where "The Leaven" is kept.

In the above photo "The Kingdom of God and the Seed" is on the first shelf.  There are tracing packets for all the Bible stories of the Kingdom shared by both Levels.  "The Sower" is the second shelf and on the bottom is "The Mystery of Life and Death" or "The Grain of Wheat".  These Bible stories are very deep and thought provoking and bring out all sorts of interesting discussions.  They force me to study a lot before presenting them, especially "The Mystery of Life and Death."   When you only do the presentations once a year, you do forget things and really need to study your album page and make notes on changes.  None of my album pages are the same as they were when I started this work 15 years ago.  It is also with this work that we plant seeds with the children for the last three or four days at the end of the year.  They love this work and I cover the floor with clear plastic trash bags (shown above).

  I always save "The Grain of Wheat"  and "The Leaven" at the end of the year for the last three or four classes in case some were absent and, of course, everyone wants to do them that day.  It's a nice way to end the year.