Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Colors in God’s World: White Manna

Colors in God’s World: White Manna

“The house of Israel called it Manna, it was like coriander seed, white and the taste of it was like wafers made of honey.” Exodus 16:31

Call to Worship
(Sung to “The Bear Went over the Mountain”)
Let’s worship God, let’s worship God, let’s worship God,
With joyful hearts, with joyful hearts, with joyful hearts,
Let’s worship God with joyful hearts!

Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.

Sharing
Ask: Can you tell us one of your favorite foods? (pizza, candy, steak, etc.)
Listening
Tell the children the story of the Israelites and the manna.
Say: In the Bible, we hear about a man named Moses. Moses led his family and friends, they are called Israelites, out of Egypt into the Holy Land. To get to the Holy Land, they had to cross the desert. They got very hungry as they walked across the desert so God sent them a special food to eat. They found this food on the ground. Listen to our Bible verse again which tells us about this special food. “The house of Israel called it Manna, it was like coriander seed, white and the taste of it was like wafers made of honey.” This stuff called Manna is like saltine crackers and our Jewish friends still eat these crackers when they have celebrations.
God still gives us special foods. Our foods aren’t just white, like the manna, but it comes in many colors. Let’s go around and name a food, then tell what color it is. (Let the children take turns naming foods and telling their colors.)
Exploring
Have the children make a colorful table runner for your next church fellowship event. Roll out the paper and have the children watch you write “Thank you God for colorful foods.” Using butcher paper and markers, have the children decorate the runner with their favorite colorful foods. If the need ideas suggest grapes, pizza, cupcakes, bananas, etc.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, thank you so much for colorful foods. Amen.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Colors in God’s World: Red Mittens

Colors in God’s World: Red Mittens
“She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household is clothed in crimson.” Proverbs 31:21
Call to Worship
(Sung to “The Bear Went over the Mountain”)
Let’s worship God, let’s worship God, let’s worship God,
With joyful hearts, with joyful hearts, with joyful hearts,
Let’s worship God with joyful hearts!

Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.

Sharing
Ask: Can you tell us about a time when you enjoyed being in the snow? (I went sledding, skiing, etc)
Listening
To tell the story you will snip a cloud, a snow flake, a pair of mittens, and a snowman. Practice doing this. Use white paper for the cloud, the snowflake and the snowman, and red for the mittens.
Say: Even in Bible times, God sent beautiful snow! There’s a verse in the Bible that talks about a woman being ready for snow, because she had crimson clothing for her family to put on. This was probably a sort of wool which was a deep red in color. Listen to Jessica’s story:
Jessica looked up and saw a puffy (cut the cloud out and hold it up) cloud in the sky. “I hope it’s going to snow,“ she said to her friend. “I love it when God send us beautiful snow!” Just then, Jessica noticed a white (cut the snowflake out and hold it up) snowflake floating slowly to the ground. In a few minutes the snow was coming faster and faster. “Let’s make a cool (cut the snowman out and hold it up) snowman,” said Jessica. Just then her mother rushed out with two pairs of warm red (cut the mittens out and hold them up) mittens for Jessica and her friend. Before long, they had made a cool (hold up the snowman) snowman with the beautiful (hold up the snowflake)snowflakes that came from the puffy (hold up the cloud) cloud. “I’m glad God send us beautiful snow,” said Jessica. “Me too,” said her friend, “and I’m glad your mother brought us warm red (hold up the mittens) mittens.
Exploring
Lead the children through this action song, sung to the tune of “This is the Way We Wash Our Cloths.”
“This is the way we throw a snowball, throw a snowball, throw a snowball. This is the way we throw a snowball in God’s beautiful snow. (Pretend to pack then throw a snowball.)
This is the way we build a snowman, build a snowman, build a snowman. This is the way we build a snowman in God’s beautiful snow. (Pretend to roll a big snowball then lift it onto the snowman.)
This is the way we glide and slip, glide and slip, glide and slip. This is the way we glide and slip in God’s beautiful snow. (Pretend to glide and the slip.)
This is the way we twirl in the snow, twirl in the snow, twirl in the snow. This is the way we twirl in the snow in God’s beautiful snow. (Spread arms and twirl around.)
This is the way we taste the snowflakes taste the snowflakes, taste the snowflakes. This is the way we taste the snowflakes in God’s beautiful snow. (Tilt head back and stick out tongue.)
Encourage the children to help you create more snowy lyrics and motions.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, Thank you for all of the beautiful colors in your world. Amen.
More Exploring
Have the children color the mitten coloring sheet with the red mittens from the story.