Gospel of Mark: Holy Week Part 1

PRAYER POSTURES: (10 minutes)

During Confirmation Camp this summer, we will be transitioning from the third year of Deep Roots Confirmation, the Gospel of Mark, to the fourth year:  Small Catechism and Creative Prayer.  We will begin each session praying with our bodies by using yoga poses, Bible verses, and silent prayer to mark a change between the busyness of summer camp and the sense of “time out of time” during our confirmation time.

You can learn more about how to do this here:  https://goodgodideas.wordpress.com/2018/07/19/postures-of-prayer/

You can find the Prayer Postures Card here:  Postures of Prayer Mat Card

HIGHS AND LOWS: (10 minutes)
We will share highs and lows from the past 24 hours as a prayer practice.  We will respond to highs with “Thanks be to God,” and lows with “Lord, have mercy.”

INTRODUCTION: (1 minute)

During Confirmation Camp this summer, we will be studying the events of Holy Week in chapters 14-16 in the Gospel of Mark.  I plan to do a Holy Week timeline on butcher paper on the wall using Janelle Thompson’s images that grows as the week goes on.  YYou can find these images in poster form here: Mark Posters Chapter 14-16

EXPERIENCE THE WORD: (15 minutes)
Today, we will watch the first eleven verses in the fourteenth chapter from “The Gospel of Mark,” a movie released by Lionsgate in 2016.  I suggest the settings that have the audio as “English NIV” and the subtitles as “English NIV.”  This will be the most similar to the students’ NRSV Bibles.  You can purchase the movie here:  https://smile.amazon.com/Gospel-Mark/dp/B06XCXZXWH/

Questions to think about as you watch (introduce before showing the movie, so they know what to look for)

1. Tell me the story you just saw.
2. What is different/the same about the story that you remember learning in the past?
3. What was your favorite part?
4. What is God doing in this part of the story?

Take a few minutes after watching the movie to let the students ask any questions that they might have.  If possible, turn the questions back to the group for their wisdom.

DWELLING IN THE WORD (20 minutes)

Today, we will focus on only three of the images from Janelle Thompson’s “Gospel of Mark:  The Never Ending Story.”  Take some time with your Bible to discover the verses that each of these three images depict, as well as the titles of the sections.  Choose your favorite image of the three to fill out as a journal page (you may do this on your own or in pairs).  Report back to the group and record other’s answers when you are finished.

Sample journal page:  Gospel of Mark Journal Page Example

Images for journal pages:  Mark Postcards Chapter 14

Slide show of images:  Mark ch 14

PORTABLE PRAYER STATION CONSTRUCTION (10 minutes)

In anticipation of our creative prayer year, we will be constructing Portable Prayer Stations with lots of materials to help us to pray, no matter where we are.  Included in this year’s kit are a prayer journal, a Prayer Starters bookmark, a labyrinth, a drawing pad, a prayer coloring book (from Etsy), a pencil, a pen, a pencil sharpener, a set of colored pencils, a pencil pouch, an LED tea light, a wooden cross with a stand, a set of prayer beads, a clear glass stone, a small container of Play-Doh, a small pouch for the beads, stone, and tealight, and a plain cotton drawstring backpack.  They will also be able to keep their Bible and Small Catechism in the backpack.  Today, we will decorate our own new backpack with fabric markers.

Conclude your time together with the Lord’s Prayer.