Serving the Body of Christ

To help the children acknowledge their gifts and the contributions they can make as part of the Body of Christ

By acknowledging one of the ways that they can serve the Body of Christ, the children will express an understanding that God has created us to live in community, sharing our gifts with one another.

• Large ball of yarn
• Tape
• An open space on which to create with yarn a larger-than-life outline of the human body

• Ask for a volunteer (preferably one of the taller children) to lie on the floor while other children use the yarn to create a larger-than-life outline of the human body.
• Tape the yarn to the floor in significant places to keep the outline securely in place.
• Ask the children to think of at least one way that they can use their gifts and talents to be of service to the community.
• When everyone has thought of a way, ask them one at a time to move to the outline of the human body and stand near that part of the body that represents the service they give.
• Each person should then express out loud what service he or she can give the community; for example,

I am standing near the mouth, because I try to greet each person I meet everyday.

I am like a hand because I try to help out whenever I see something that needs to be done.

I chose to stand near a foot because people often call on me to go places and get things for others.

• After each person has moved to a place around the outline, ask the children to pray the Lord's Prayer together.

Body Smart, People Smart, Self Smart

If there are children in your group with special needs (physical, visual, hearing, language, or behavioral disabilities), adapt the activity accordingly.