PACT for the 3rd week of January

January 20 - 26 Mercy A Place of Refuge Play an old-fashioned game of Hide and Seek. Designate a spot as the safe place or home base. Remind the kids that if they can get to that spot, they are safe from the finder. Choose one person to be the finder who will count to 50 while the rest are hiding. (Play this in the dark if you are really adventurous and have older kids.) After several rounds of hiding and seeking, talk about it. What did you like about playing this game? How did you feel when the finder was chasing you? How did it feel to make it to the safe place, home base? God told the Israelites to make six cities of refuge—six "safe" places where people could run to when they had accidentally committed murder. They could go to these cities and no one would hurt them; they could receive mercy. What is mercy? (Mercy is when someone shows compassion or kindness toward someone who needs help or has done wrong.) We all need mercy!  Free Mercy Act out some of the following situations where a person might need mercy. Write each of the situations on an index card or slip of paper. Pair kids up to act out their situation where mercy is needed. Situations:  little sister accidentally broke older sister's toy forgot  to bring lunch money need help completing a big assignment accidentally spilled milk on the carpet lost temper and yelled at friend How do you feel when someone gives you mercy? (Happy, relieved, etc.) We have been given mercy, so we should give mercy to others. When your child does something wrong and breaks a rule, show him/her mercy. Instead of punishment, sit down together and talk about God's mercy. He forgives us even when we don't deserve it.     Rich in Mercy Item needed: Band-aids (the colorful ones would be great) Give each kid a band-aid. Ask: When do we need band-aids? (When we have been hurt) When you are hurt, would you like for someone to give you a lecture or hurt you more?(No, of course, not. You would like them to give you mercy, not their judgment or harshness.) What are some other words for mercy? (Kindness, helpfulness, goodness, sympathy, and gentleness) When others are hurting what do they need? (Kindness, help, mercy) Ephesians 2:4 says that God is RICH in mercy. We can be full of mercy toward others. On this journey with you, Pastor Beau