Aim

To help children understand the purpose of a funeral service.

Preparation

Before the lesson make collection of leaves. Read story of the widow's son.

Activity

Begin by giving each child a dead leaf. With their eyes fixed on their leaf, ask them to imagine a time when it was still alive.

• Where was the leaf growing?
• What events did the leaf 'see'?
• Whom did the leaf shelter from the rain or shade from the sun?
• Was the leaf a home for any mini beasts?
• Was the leaf a source of food?
• How did the leaf become separated from the tree on which it grew?
• What will happen to the leaf now?

Invite volunteers to share the life stories of their leaves. Hopefully, the class should begin to realize that each leaf is somehow 'precious' because of what it experienced and contributed. Does it seem right merely to throw the leaves away or should something be done to remember them? If so, what form should that 'something' take?

Inform the children that when Christians die, the Church to which they belonged, organizes a special ceremony to thank God for their lives. This special ceremony is called a funeral and is usually takes place within the church building.

Have the children ever attended a funeral in a church building? If so, discuss what happened. lf not, inform children that special prayers are said and hymns are sung. Passages from the Bible are also read aloud. A close friend or relation might talk about the person who has died.

Then the body is taken to be cremated or buried in a grave.