A time to grieve, a time to celebrate

1. Get active

Grab the tail

Everyone wears a scarf or small towel as a 'tail' tucked in at the back of their pants. The goal is to collect as many tails as you can while protecting your own. If you lose your tail, do three push-ups and continue the game. Have fun.

2. Rest and talk

·Why are celebrations important? What makes a celebration memorable?

The building project is complete. The people who were scattered have returned to live safely in Jerusalem again. To mark the occasion, Ezra the priest is asked to read the Scriptures to the people. He invites them to honor God and celebrate.

3. Read the Bible passage

Read Nehemiah 8: 9-14, 16-17

4. Discuss

• As Ezra read from the Scriptures, how were the people affected (verse 9)?
• Why do you think they responded in this way?

Nehemiah tells the people that it is not a time for grieving.

• What does he instruct them to do instead (verse 10)?
• What are some of the different ways we can respond to reading God’s Word today?

Invitations are sent far and wide to enjoy a feast of celebration. This feast will not only celebrate the rebuilding of the wall but the rebuilding of the nation of Israel.

Now it’s your turn to make a temporary shelter – inside or outside. Be creative! Play some of your favorite music to celebrate the ‘great rejoicing’ (verse 17). Share some celebration food and drink together. As you sit in the shelter, choose someone to read something from the Scriptures as Ezra did.

Chat to God: While you are in your shelter, name some of the ways you want to celebrate what God is doing in your community and beyond. Pray for these together.

Tomorrow we’ll see how Israel starts to see all their time in captivity from God’s perspective. They realize important things about God’s unchanging character.