Children's session
The two disciples have returned to Jerusalem after their walk to Emmaus and back. Their conversation with Jesus on the Emmaus road has brought some comfort but may have raised yet more questions. Their maelstrom of emotions includes shock and grief at Jesus’ death and confusion and disbelief at the disappearance of his body. However, as Jesus eats with them, these feelings give way to an expression of pure joy and, when Jesus explains the Scriptures to them, understanding of the truth about who he is.
This week we explore feelings in faith.
Share the Word
Read the story and pause at the  to share these points with the children
- Discuss with the children some of the reasons why the disciples were so afraid. Explain this happened after Jesus’ death.
- Talk together about what the word ‘Messiah’ means – the ‘anointed one’, someone chosen by God to save the Jewish people, also a title used for Jesus.
Make a ‘Feelometer’
Explore how you feel today
You will need: ruler, pencils/pens, plain paper plate for each child, coloured card, scissors, split pins.
- Invite the children to use a ruler to divide the plate into eight equal sections.
- Ask them to think of eight different feelings and write one in each section (image).
- Encourage the children to write one word of the following sentence in each section, around the edge of the ‘feelometer’: ‘Jesus appeared and said peace be with you’.
- Next, help them make a small arrow out of coloured card and attach it to the centre of the plate using a split pin so that it resembles a clock face.
- Ask the children to point the arrow to how they feel today, on a Monday morning, and on a Friday afternoon. Talk about the way Jesus brings peace no matter what emotion we are experiencing.
Talk to God: Pray for peace
Use emojis to pray about feelings
You will need: four different emojis, four large sheets of paper, pens.
- Select four emojis and print or draw them onto large sheets of paper. Put them in the four corners of the room.
- Invite the children to walk slowly round the room. Encourage them to stop at the different emotions and to draw or write associations with the emoji on the paper, e.g. by a sad face, they might write ‘falling out with a friend’.
 
A prayer for forgiveness (for children)
Invite everyone to tighten their hands into fists as you pray:
God, sometimes we are angry.
Now invite everyone to jump in the air.
Sometimes we are joyful.
Invite everyone to turn their hands palm up.
Help us to remember you are with us, however we feel. Amen.
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