Prepared by the Cuban WDP Committee

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER Prepared by the Cuban WDP Committee March 4th, 2016 “Receive children. Receive me.” Children’s Program

Room preparation: Decorate it with blue, white and red balloons (the colors of the Cuban flag).

For the worship center, use pieces of fabric of the same colors as above. Put a gift box with a Bible and some toys inside (a ball, a kite, dolls, etc.) and pieces of the green puzzle in the shape of the Cuban island.

You can prepare a name tag with the Cuban flag, the World Day of Prayer logo, and the theme for this year. Then write the names of the children as they arrive.

Prelude

Welcome Leader: “We work for children because they know how to love, because they are the hope of the world”. This was said by a Cuban hero, José Martí. He wrote a lot for children in Cuba as well as for all the children of the world.

Child: May all the children be alert! (Yelling as if it was a public announcement done in the streets of Cuba). Affection is something we receive, and have learned to give since childhood. The Cuban children greet us today and invite us to greet each other as they do in their country: shaking hands, hugging or kissing on the cheeks while saying:

Good morning! Good afternoon! Good evening

Introduction: Prepare a cardboard map of Cuba and cut it into pieces to make a puzzle. Divide the group into two or three teams. A participant of each team takes turns with the puzzle pieces trying to put it together until the map is done. After completing the map, ask the children to identify the image. End the activity commenting: It is said that the shape of the Cuban island resembles a green crocodile. The people of this Cuban island invite us to pray with them and for all the children of the world. As you show photos of Cuba, adapt the information about the country and its people. See the summary below.

1 Cuba is an indigenous word that means ‘cultivated land’. As a country, its official name is “Republic of Cuba.” It is the largest island of the Greater Antilles, it is located south of Florida, USA; north of Jamaica, east of the Yucatan Peninsula and west of The Bahamas. The Admiral Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492 in Cuba from Spain. Cuba was inhabited by Aboriginals and, in 1512, the Spaniards began to found the first villages. Spain and the United States were the countries that, for many years, ruled the island until the revolution triumphed in 1959. Many women and men fought for the country to be led by its own people. The official language is Spanish. Cuba is organized into fifteen provinces. The island is divided into three zones: eastern, central and western. Havana, which is the capital, is located in the latter. The Cuban climate is humid and its land is very fertile. Fruits and vegetables can be grown the whole year. The Jasmine Butterfly is the national flower. Other national symbols are the Royal Palm and the Tocororo bird whose feathers are blue, white and red like the national flag. Some artists, such as Teresita Fernández, Dora Alonso, Ada Elba Pérez, Liuba María Hevia, and Juan Padrón, have dedicated themselves to writing, singing and painting for children of the island. Cuba has an everlasting summer. The most important children’s festival is called ‘Singing to the sun’. Not all the Cuban children have computers or video games; however, many of them ride bicycles, skate and enjoy playing in the children’s parks. Those who live near rivers or the beaches spend their vacations in July and August swimming and playing in the water. In Cuba all the children go to school because education is mandatory. They have the right to play, to recreation and to participate freely in the cultural life. Their rights are protected by many laws. They have medical care even before they are born through the attention given to their pregnant mothers. As a child, they are vaccinated against childhood diseases. Together with them, let’s celebrate this World Day of Prayer. Is everybody ready to travel?

Call to Worship Leader: When the guitar, the maracas and the claves (Cuban musical instruments) are mentioned, each of them can be played and taken to the altar center.

Little friends, let us sing because we have a happy heart.

Let us sing to the Lord; from the children’s mouths the songs to God are beautiful.

Let us thank our Lord with the sound of guitar, let us sing with maracas and claves, let us sing a new song, and with joy let us sing to praise the Lord!

The Lord always tells the truth in the Word; what has been done for us shows how much God loves us.

The Lord loves the truth and what is good. God’s love fills up the whole earth!

Let us thank the Lord, all the children of the world, we trust God! (Paraphrase of Psalm 33)

2 Song: Vengan, vengan todos (Letra y Música: Lois Kroehler, World day of Prayer music CD) or other song.

Prayer of Invocation Child: God, we thank you for this new day you have given us. We ask you, like the sun that rises and shines in Cuba, to come to be with us in this meeting and to unite us in love. As a Cuban song says, may we walk together with all the flags interwoven in such a way that loneliness disappears. In your name we pray, Amen.

Biblical study (If space is available) Some children can open the gift box, which is in the altar center, and place the Bible on the worship table. Explain that the story to be told comes from the Bible.

Prepare a group of children in advance to dramatize the story in Mark 10:13-16 (See below the script for the dramatization. It is recommended to perform each gesture and action indicated in the text and the story).

Characters of the story: Narrator, Jesus and his disciples, children with people or families (could be the mother or the father).

Script Narrator: Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples scolded the people. When Jesus noticed this, he was angry and said to his disciples:

Jesus: “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a child will never enter it.”

Narrator: Then he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on each of them, and blessed them.

(Focus on the actions described in the text and that were performed. Write them down: “Let the children come to me”; “He took the children in his arms; he placed his hands on each of them, he blessed them.” Encourage the conversation about the theme with a few questions, for example:

• What would we do if we were the ones who were following Jesus and were prevented from getting closer to him? • In what situations of our lives have we wanted to be received/welcomed? When have we not felt welcomed? How did we feel? • Is Jesus a role model? • What could indicate to us that somebody needs to be welcomed? What would we do for them?

Wrap up this session with a gesture of receiving/welcoming that suits your group. For example, you can suggest writing letters to other children or to people who are sad or sick and need to 3 feel welcome. Talk about the situations identified by the group and how they would like to express what they learned with Jesus’ behavior.

Another gesture would be to make a mural that illustrates the different ways in which we have been received by Jesus, and how can we receive or be received by other children (including the ones present). They can use pictures from magazines, posters, or drawings. Then display the mural and explain the actions represented.)

Song: Encendiendo sueños (Gerardo Oberman y Horacio Vivares. See music on page 12 of this guide) or other song

Prayer of Intercession Leader: Our meeting cannot just remain as beautiful words. It has to have commitment to benefit not only children but also people in the whole world. We invite you to pray to the Lord in order to come closer to children and to all the people who need him. Let us share our prayer concerns and take into special consideration all the children and people who live in Cuba who are received by Jesus but need their neighbors to receive them.

(Prepare with the children their own prayer request; and then let them present it. Close the moment with the prayer below)

Prayer (ALL): Dear Lord, we now remember all the children of the world, and we ask that you bless and protect them. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

4 Activity Each child, without knowing what the others are writing, writes a phrase or verse expressing his commitment to accept other children. In this way we are receiving Jesus. Finally, the children can put their phrases together to compose a poem whose title is ‘Receiving children’.

Song: Padre al irnos hoy de tu casa (See music on page 12 of this guide) or other song.

Prayer of Sending and Blessing

Child: God of love, we thank you for this time we have shared. We ask you in whatever we do, to always be full of our love for you. Use us to find and receive friends with joy, and may we continue to serve you as we care for our neighbors, communities, families, friends from school, and also the animals and the whole of nature. Send us now with the desire to open the doors of our heart and life to you and give us your blessing in the name of your son Jesus. Amen.

You can finish singing the traditional Cuba song called Guantanamera.

Instructions for a Cuban yarn doll

Supplies • scissors • a ball of yarn • a small piece of cardboard

Method 1. Wrap the yarn around the cardboard many times (the more times you wrap, the more solid your doll will be.) 2. When you are finished wrapping, cut the yarn, then cut a piece of yarn long enough to tie. 3. Slide the tying yarn between the wrapped yarn and the cardboard, at the top edge of the cardboard and tie a tight knot around the yarn. 4. At the bottom edge of the cardboard, cut through all the wraps of yarn. 5. Form the neck of your doll by tying another piece of yarn near the top, around all the strands of yarn. 6. Lie your doll flat and take some strands of yarn from either side to be the doll’s arms. Tie a piece of yarn around each of your doll’s wrists. 7. Tie a piece of yarn around the middle all the strands left to form your doll’s waist. Decide if you want your doll to have legs or a skirt. If you want it to have legs, split the yarn below the waist into two groups and tie pieces of yarn around your doll’s ankles. Enjoy your completed Cuban yarn doll!