Session 5: The Gift Of Invitation

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

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Part of Wonderful Welcome

In This Section

Introduction
From Wonderful Welcome

Come, come, whoever you are, Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving…. — Rumi This session’s intangible gift is “invitation.” Children explore multiple ways to communicate that someone is invited. The story focuses on the Jewish custom of welcoming Elijah with a place at the Seder table and an…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Wonderful Welcome

ACTIVITY MINUTES Opening 5 Activity 1: Wonder Box 5 Activity 2: Story — Grandmother’s Lesson 10 Activity 3: Words of Welcome 10 Activity 4: Singing “Peace, Salaam, Shalom” 5 Activity 5: Invitation Collage 20 Faith in Action: Being Greeters at Our Congregation varies Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1…
Spiritual Preparation
From Wonderful Welcome

Take a quiet moment to yourself. Think about some invitations you have extended. A formal invitation to a meal you have prepared? A suggestion that a new colleague join a conversation you are having with others whom they do not know? Now think about invitations you have not extended….
Opening
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Print the opening words on newsprint and post where the children will be able to see it when they gather in…
Activity 1: The Wonder Box
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Wonder Box (See instructions for Wonder Box in Session 1.) A drinking goblet or wine glass Preparation for Activity Place a goblet inside the Welcome Box. Description of Activity While children are still in a circle around the chalice, show them the…
Activity 2: Story - Grandmother's Lesson
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, Grandmother’s Lesson Goblet or wine glass from the Wonder Box Optional: A shawl and/or reading glasses for storytelling props Optional: “Grandmother’s Lesson” coloring sheet, and crayons Preparation for Activity Read the story….
Activity 3: Words Of Welcome
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Posters or print-outs showing words of welcome in multiple languages Optional: Drawing paper and art materials Preparation for Activity Be ready to present words of invitation and welcome from languages other t…
Activity 4: Singing "Peace, Selam, Shalom"
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Recording of “Peace, Selam, Shalom” and appropriate music player Optional: Percussion instruments for all participants Preparation for Activity If you do not know the song,”Peace, Selam, Shalom,” liste…
Activity 5: Invitation Collage
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Magazines for participants to cut up Plain paper for all participants Scissors (including left-handed scissors) and glue sticks to share Optional: Leader Resource 1, Images of Invitation Preparation for Activity Set out all materials on worktables.
Closing
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Wonder Box poster (Instructions included in Session 1) Image of an open door from Leader Resource 1 Tape or glue stick Copies of Taking It Home for all participants Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Print out Leader Resource 1,…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Wonderful Welcome

Reflect on these questions and discuss them with your co-leaders: How do we feel about today’s session? What parts of the session worked well? What can we learn from the experience of this session? What preparations do we need to make for the next session?
Faith In Action: Being Greeters At Our Congregation
From Wonderful Welcome

Preparation for Activity Arrange with worship leaders or volunteer coordinators for the children to be ushers or greeters. Decide together what tasks the children can do. If you will need to gather children at a different time or place than your usual meeting place, give parents advance notice.
Taking It Home: The Gift Of Invitation
From Wonderful Welcome

Come, come, whoever you are, Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving…. — Rumi IN TODAY’S SESSION… When children opened the Wonder Box today, they found a goblet, symbolizing the cup for Elijah that is part of the table setting at a Jewish Passover Seder. We talked about the intangible gift of…
Grandmother's Lesson

Elisa Davy Pearmain

From Wonderful Welcome

A contemporary story by Elisa Davy Pearmain, based on the Jewish tradition of the Passover Seder. Before telling the story, set out a goblet for Elijah and invite a child to go and open the meeting room’s door. These actions are customary during a Passover Seder. Once upon a time a there lived a…
Leader Resource 1: Images Of Invitation
From Wonderful Welcome

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More About Session 5
From Wonderful Welcome

Stories about Elijah Elijah the Prophet from Hebrew scripture appears in many apocryphal stories. Typically, Elijah, disguised as a poor beggar, visits people to test their compassion and generosity; those who welcome and help this stranger are often materially rewarded. Here are some sources for…