Gathering Song

Song: ‘I am going to follow Jesus’. Words: © Sharon Moughtin-Mumby

Tune: ‘Bobby Shaftoe’ (traditional).

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Our song [for Lent] is all about following Jesus.

Let’s get ready to follow Jesus.

Let’s get up and march on the spot!

Lead the children in march in time to the beat:

1, 2, 3, 4! 1, 2, 3, 4!

 

Continue marching as you sing:

I am going to follow Jesus,

I am going to follow Jesus,

I am going to follow Jesus,

follow, follow Jesus!

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Distribute imaginative aids if you have them.

Let’s practise following Jesus!

Invite one of the children to stand in the centre of the circle or at the front.

Name is going to be Jesus!

To the child: ‘Jesus!’ Can you show us an action?

Let’s all copy what ‘Jesus’ does.

Let’s ‘follow Jesus’.

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Continue ‘following’ the child’s action as you sing:

I am going to follow Jesus,

I am going to follow Jesus,

I am going to follow Jesus,

follow, follow Jesus!

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Invite another child to be ‘Jesus’ and repeat as appropriate.

When the group is ready to finish:

In Lent, we follow Jesus!

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Week 1:

The place we start is the ‘wilderness’

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If you’re using a wilderness tray (see p. 86) place this in the centre of the circle.

This is the ‘wilderness’:

sand, rocks and sky and nothing else.

Jesus went to the wilderness!

Place Jesus figure in the wilderness.

 

It’s time to follow Jesus into the wilderness!

Lead the children in marching on the spot.

1, 2, 3, 4 . . . 1, 2, 3, 4 . . .

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I am going to follow Jesus,

I am going to follow Jesus,

I am going to follow Jesus,

follow, follow Jesus!

 

Weeks 2+:

We follow Jesus all the way to the cross.

If you’re using a cross, show the cross to the group.

Lead the children in crossing arms on your chest.

Let’s show the way of love –

the cross – on our chest as we follow Jesus.

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Cross and uncross your arms across your chest as you sing:

I am going to follow Jesus,

I am going to follow Jesus,

I am going to follow Jesus,

follow, follow Jesus!