For alternative actions that can be used during any unit at any time of year, see Saying Sorry Actions: Options 2, 3 and 4 on pp. 40–2 of Book 1.

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Saying Sorry Action: Option 1

For small groups

Action: taking some ‘rubbish’ and giving it to God the Maker to be transformed into blossom.

You will need:

• a ‘sorry tree’
  either: a large tree branch held in a Christmas tree holder or in a bucket filled with stones and sticky tack; or: bare tree template (see Option 2), p. 106;

• white and/or pink crumpled tissue/crepe/coloured paper in a box or wastepaper basket. If you’re using a printed tree on white paper, pink tissue paper will help to create a contrast.

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Tip white and/or pink crumpled tissue paper on the floor in the centre of the circle, to look like rubbish.

Here’s some rubbish.

When we do things that make God or other people sad,

it can make US feel like rubbish:

If you like, you could tear a little piece of paper off this rubbish

and crumple it up.

Let’s show how we feel when we’re feeling rubbish!

 

While this is taking place, lead the group in either:

Option 1: singing the ‘I’m sorry’ refrain, or:

Option 2: humming the first two lines of the ‘We need a new start’ song, followed by singing the refrain ‘We’re sorry, we’re sorry. We need a new start’.

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When everyone who wishes to take some paper has done so:

The Good News is:

when we feel like rubbish . . . God LOVES rubbish!

It’s time to give our rubbish to God the Maker.

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Place your tree in the centre of the circle.

Either (real tree): Let’s take our rubbish paper

and stick it on our sorry tree.

Or (printed tree): Let’s place our rubbish paper on our sorry tree.

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While this takes place, lead the group in humming/singing again.

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When the group is ready:

What looked like rubbish becomes beautiful blossom,

a sign of new life!

God can make amazing things with rubbish!

After 3, let’s say, ‘God gives us a new start!’

1, 2, 3 . . . God gives us a new start!

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Expect some of the blossom to end up looking as if it’s blown from the tree or fallen to the floor. This is what blossom does!

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Saying Sorry Action: Option 2

For large groups

Action: crumpling a piece of tissue/crepe paper to show how you feel when you’re feeling ‘rubbish’ and giving it to God the Maker to be transformed into blossom.

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You will need:

• ‘sorry trees’: at St Peter’s, Walworth, we print three copies of the bare tree template onto three A4 sheets of bright blue paper and glue these next to each other on a landscape piece of cardboard from an old box that looks like ‘rubbish’ from the back;

• white and/or pink tissue/crepe/coloured paper cut into squares that will look like blossom when crumpled up into a ball (not too big). If you’ve printed your tree outline on white paper, pink tissue paper will help to create a contrast.

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When we do things that make God or other people sad,

it can make us feel ‘rubbish’:

Like we’re ruined everything!

​

Name and Name are going to bring some paper around now.

If you like, take a piece and crumple it up.

Let’s make our paper into rubbish!

Let’s show how we feel when we’re feeling rubbish!

​

While this takes place, lead the group in either:

Option 1: singing the ‘I’m sorry’ refrain, or

Option 2: humming the first two lines of the ‘We need a new start’ song, followed by singing the refrain ‘We’re sorry, we’re sorry. We need a new start’.

​

When the group is ready:

The Good News is:

when we feel like rubbish . . . God LOVES rubbish!

It’s time to give our rubbish to God the Maker.

​

Place your trees in the centre of the circle upside down to show the ‘rubbish’ back.

Here’s another piece of rubbish!

Turn it over to show the trees.

But look, this rubbish has been made into saying sorry trees!

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Either:

As we sing, let’s give our rubbish to God.

Let’s put our crumpled up paper on our sorry trees.

Or:

Name and Name are going to come around now

and collect our rubbish to give to God.

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While this takes place, lead the group in humming/singing again. If the paper has been collected by children, ask them to gently tip it out over the pictures of the bare trees so they look like blossom.

​

When the group is ready:

What looked like rubbish becomes beautiful blossom,

a sign of new life!

God can make amazing things with rubbish!

After 3, let’s say, ‘God gives us a new start!’

1, 2, 3 . . . God gives us a new start!

​

Expect some of the blossom to end up looking as if it’s blown from the tree or fallen to the floor. This is what blossom does!

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Saying Sorry Action 3

Action: dipping finger in water and drawing a cross on forehead.

This option is particularly appropriate for churches that use sprinkling with water (‘asperges’) during Lent.

If relevant, it’s particularly appropriate to use the same water that will be used in your main church service.

If there is an older child present who is unlikely to spill the water you could invite him or her to take the water around the circle. You may wish to ask more than one child to take a bowl around the circle, going opposite ways or starting at different points in the circle. Alternatively take a bowl around yourself and/or ask adults to help.

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One of the ways we get ready in Lent

is by making sure our hearts are clean and ready.

In Lent, we’re sprinkled with water action like rain falling

and we ask God to make us clean

Not just on the OUTside rub arm

but on the INside. Trace circle around heart

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If appropriate (adapt accordingly):

Did you see the water being sprinkled in church?

Or: Right now the adults are being sprinkled with water!

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Name is going to bring this bowl of water around.

If you like, you can dip your finger into it Show finger

and draw a cross on your forehead. Demonstrate

Let’s ask God to wash our hearts clean.

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While this takes place, lead the group in either:

Option 1: singing the ‘I’m sorry’ refrain, or

Option 2: humming the first two lines of the ‘We need a new start’ song, followed by singing the refrain ‘We’re sorry, we’re sorry. We need a new start’.

​

When the group is ready:

The Good News is:

God always wants to give us a new start!

After 3, let’s shout, ‘God gives us a new start!’

1, 2, 3: God gives us a new start!