Saint Valentine
AGE: Primary |
THEME: Saint Valentine |
AIM: |
| To explore the ways in which love can be shared. |
RESOURCES: |
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DEVELOPMENT: |
| To start with, prepare an OHP transparency of a Valentine card and use this to display at the start of the worship. Alternatively, you could display one or two very large Valentine cards. Choose a popular piece of music on the theme of love to play at the start of the act of worship, and use this to create a cheerful, happy atmosphere. The facts about St Valentine's life are uncertain. He is thought to have been a Christian martyr of the 3rd century, either at the time when Claudius was emperor in Rome, or perhaps later in the century. It is thought he was martyred because he refused to worship an idol. Over the centuries, 14 February, St Valentine's feast day, has become a day when lovers send greetings cards to each other, and St Valentine has become regarded as the patron saint of lovers. For the Christian it is an opportunity to remember God's love for us all, which is shown in many ways. Show some examples of Valentine cards received. You could ask the children for some examples, or perhaps ask them to say whether they have sent any themselves! Notice the tradition that the cards are often sent without a signature. Develop the idea that it can be a mystery where love comes from. Using the OHP, play a word game with children building longer words around the word 'love', e.g. 'gLOVE', 'pulLOVEr', 'cLOVE', 'pLOVEr', 'cLOVEr leaf'. With some of these words, you can draw out a connection to love itself, e.g. a glove or a pullover can be associated with warmth and therefore with caring. Help the children to think about the meanings of any words that they do not know and through this encourage them to see that we sometimes need to think about the deeper meaning of love, and about why we give and receive it. Ask the children what they think love is. You could use an OHP and invite them to write or share their answers and suggestions. When you have considered the list the children have made, use the following reading. |
BIBLE READING: |
| 'Love is...': 1 Corinthians 13.4-8a, ending at 'Love never fails.' Briefly compare the two lists. |
MUSIC: |
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REFLECTION: |
Use this prayer: |
FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES: |
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