David C Cook COVID-19 Response

High Five the Pastor

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Materials Needed:

  • Internet access

There have been a number of stories in the news lately about the ways that people come together to support others. Some set up GoFundMe pages online. Some get involved by giving assistance through time and energy.

Students in a school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa wore eye patches to support a peer when the classmate returned to class after an eye injury. Students in Bellmawr, New Jersey dressed in green to honor a peer with a rare disease. And, students at a school in Southport, Indiana offered a song of cheer to a classmate with cancer.

Show this video to your students [2:19]:
5th graders spread ‘problem free philosophy’ by singing to classmate with cancer
https://cbs4indy.com/2019/05/08/5th-graders-spread-problem-free-philosophy-by-singing-to-classmate-with-cancer/

Savannah McHale’s classmates not only sang for her, but they also raised money through the sale of bracelets and buttons.

  • How do you think it affects someone like Savannah when another person reaches out in support during a challenging time? (Answers will vary; the person might not feel as alone; the person might feel cheered up; the person might feel loved; the person might feel motivated to keep fighting the battle, etc.)
  • Do you think it would be especially encouraging if a group of people got together to do something special to honor that person? Why or why not? (Answers will vary; it takes time and effort to get everyone organized to do something special like the students at Savannah’s school did—they got the police band to join them, they all learned the song, they wore Lion King shirts if they had them, they called a news team to film it. That means they thought about the person a lot—not just in passing. Through that, the person might feel strength; the person might feel that even though the situation is difficult, there is comfort in knowing so many others are staying by his or her side; the person might feel empowered; the person might feel valued or needed, etc.)

When someone has an obvious need, something that involves pain and suffering, we notice and respond through acts of love and support because we care about other people. We want people to know there is hope and that we care. When a group expresses support, it is like we give the person one gigantic “high five.”

  • In what other situations do people reach out to offer a super “high five”-type of support for others? (Answers will vary but might include when they want to honor someone for doing something well, if they are celebrating something special, if they just need a little encouragement.)
  • What if we took this beyond people who are in special situations, to people who are in jobs that require a lot out of them? What are some jobs where the workers could use some encouragement, specifically from those whom they serve? (Answers will vary; parents; law enforcement; fire department; medical community; sanitation; military; etc.)
  • What are some of their duties that might go unnoticed that require a lot of energy, time, emotion, and dedication? (Answers will vary depending on the answer to the previous question.)

We celebrate various people in our lives that serve us in some way, but we often forget about the leaders in our church who spend so much time and energy to help us. It is both admirable and wonderful that people honor those who are struggling—a child recovering from eye surgery, someone with a rare illness, or a classmate with cancer. It is also our Christian responsibility to honor our godly leaders with a similar enthusiasm. Let’s see what Scripture tells us about that.

Looking for Steps 2 & 3?

You can find Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher’s guide. To purchase a teacher’s guide, please visit: Bible-in-Life or Echoes.

Materials Needed:

  • Internet access
  • Colored paper
  • Markers
  • Poster board
  • Glue stick
  • Scissors
  • Whiteboard and marker
  • Optional: Church directory/website for names of multiple pastors

Spread the word

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