People in God’s World: Father’s Day
“My child, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them upon your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.” Proverbs 6:20-22
Call to Worship
(Sung to “Frere Jacques”)
Thank you, God. Thank you, God.
For our dads. For our dads.
They are very special. They are very special.
Thank you, God. Thank you, God.
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: Does anyone know what we are celebrating today? (Our Dads!) Yes! Today is Father’s Day. We are celebrating the men who are special to us. Does anyone have a special dad, grandpa, uncle, or friend that they want to share about with us?
Listening
Say: I have a story about a daddy and his son called “GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU” by Sam McBratney
Little Nutbrown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nutbrown Hare's very long ears. He wanted to be sure that Big Nutbrown Hare was listening. "Guess how much I love you," he said. "Oh, I don't think I could guess that," said Big Nutbrown Hare. "This much," said Little Nutbrown Hare, stretching out his arms as wide as they could go. Big Nutbrown Hare had even longer arms."But I love you this much," he said. Hmm, that is a lot, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. "I love you as high as I can reach," said Little Nutbrown Hare. "I love you as high as I can reach," said Big Nutbrown Hare. That is very high, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I had arms like that. Then Little Nutbrown Hare had a good idea. He tumbled upside down and reached up the tree trunk with his feet. "I love you all the way to my toe!" he said. "And I love you all that way up to your toes," said Big Nutbrown Hare, swinging him up over his head. "I love you as high as I can hop!" laughed Little Nutbrown Hare, bouncing up and down. "But I love you as high as I can hop," smiled Big Nutbrown Hare and he hopped so high that his ears touched the branches above. That's good hopping, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I could hop like that. "I love you all the way down the lane as far as the river," cried Little Nutbrown Hare. "I love you across the river and over the hills," said Big Nutbrown Hare. That's very far, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. He was almost too sleepy to think anymore. Then he looked beyond the thornbushes, out into the big dark night. Nothing could be farther than the sky. "I love you right up to the moon," he said, and closed his eyes. "Oh, that's far," said Big Nutbrown Hare. "That is very, very far." Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves. He leaned over and kissed him good night. Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile, "I love you right up to the moon and back."
Exploring
Have sheets of paper and pencils and markers available on the tables. Have the kids write and/or draw some of their favorite memories about the men in our congregation, whether it’s their dad, their grandpa, their uncle, or their friend. We want them to celebrate the male role models they have. After they have written/drawn, have the children give their papers to the man they wrote about as a great Father’s Day present.
Benediction
Say: God has blessed us with wonderful male role models! Today let us celebrate them by blessing them! Amen.
More Exploring
Play an Animal matching game. Have the children match the babies with their daddies.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
People in God’s World: Many Teachers
People in God’s World: Many Teachers
“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go.” Psalm 32:8
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: What is the name of one of your teachers? (Mrs. Smith, Mr. Rogers, etc.)
Listening
The following story takes the children on a pretend walk around town to see the many teachers at work.
Say: Teachers are very important people in God’s world. There are verses in the Bible that speak of teachers. Here’s one of them. “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go,” from Psalms 32:8. We have many teachers who help us learn. Some of those teachers are at school, but we have teachers in other places, too. Listen to this story as we take a pretend walk around town to see all of the teachers.
First, here is the Happy Hands Preschool. Ms. Pink is teaching the children the colors of the color when: red, orange, yellow… But now we are walking past the Delightful Days Daycare. Ms. Weeks is teaching the children the days of the week. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…
Now we’re at the Skip to My Lou Elementary School. In the kindergarten room, Mr. Melody is teaching the children to sing.: There was a farmer had a dog, and Bingo was his name… But let’s peek into the first grade class. Mrs. Seven is teaching the children to add: one plus one is two, two plus two is four… But look at the fifth graders! Ms. Microscope is demonstrating a science experiment. In ten seconds a volcano is going to erupt! Ten, nine, eight…
There’s the school bell! School is out but teachers are still teaching! At the Tippy Toes Dance Academy, Madame Pirouette is teaching the students their ballet positions: first position, second position, third position… And on the T-Ball Field, Coach Batterup is showing the kids the proper way to swing a bat: Keep your eye on the ball…
Look into the church window. Pastor Church is planning out her children’s sermon for Sunday: “Good morning boys and girls…” And look, Mrs. Craft has just arrived with a handful of supplies for her Sunday School lesson on Sunday: glitter glue, feathers, and play clay… And finally let’s peek into one of the houses in the neighborhood. Jason’s mother is showing him how to tie his shoes: look like bunny ears… And Claire’s father is teaching her how to juggle: one orange, two oranges, three oranges… There are teachers everywhere!
Exploring
To make Teacher Folders, you will need folders and stickers, and markers. Explain to the children that teachers have a lot of papers, so a pretty folder is a perfect present. Have the children use the stickers and markers to decorate the folders to give to their teachers.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, let us show our love for you. Help us to show our love for other people, for our families, for our teachers and for our friends. Thank you for being our guide. Amen.
More Exploring
Lead the children through an action game showing ways they can help their teachers: sharpening pencils, picking up blocks, cleaning the board, feeding the fish, sweeping the classroom, and washing the cafeteria table. Encourage the children to come up with other ways of helping their teachers.
“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go.” Psalm 32:8
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: What is the name of one of your teachers? (Mrs. Smith, Mr. Rogers, etc.)
Listening
The following story takes the children on a pretend walk around town to see the many teachers at work.
Say: Teachers are very important people in God’s world. There are verses in the Bible that speak of teachers. Here’s one of them. “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go,” from Psalms 32:8. We have many teachers who help us learn. Some of those teachers are at school, but we have teachers in other places, too. Listen to this story as we take a pretend walk around town to see all of the teachers.
First, here is the Happy Hands Preschool. Ms. Pink is teaching the children the colors of the color when: red, orange, yellow… But now we are walking past the Delightful Days Daycare. Ms. Weeks is teaching the children the days of the week. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…
Now we’re at the Skip to My Lou Elementary School. In the kindergarten room, Mr. Melody is teaching the children to sing.: There was a farmer had a dog, and Bingo was his name… But let’s peek into the first grade class. Mrs. Seven is teaching the children to add: one plus one is two, two plus two is four… But look at the fifth graders! Ms. Microscope is demonstrating a science experiment. In ten seconds a volcano is going to erupt! Ten, nine, eight…
There’s the school bell! School is out but teachers are still teaching! At the Tippy Toes Dance Academy, Madame Pirouette is teaching the students their ballet positions: first position, second position, third position… And on the T-Ball Field, Coach Batterup is showing the kids the proper way to swing a bat: Keep your eye on the ball…
Look into the church window. Pastor Church is planning out her children’s sermon for Sunday: “Good morning boys and girls…” And look, Mrs. Craft has just arrived with a handful of supplies for her Sunday School lesson on Sunday: glitter glue, feathers, and play clay… And finally let’s peek into one of the houses in the neighborhood. Jason’s mother is showing him how to tie his shoes: look like bunny ears… And Claire’s father is teaching her how to juggle: one orange, two oranges, three oranges… There are teachers everywhere!
Exploring
To make Teacher Folders, you will need folders and stickers, and markers. Explain to the children that teachers have a lot of papers, so a pretty folder is a perfect present. Have the children use the stickers and markers to decorate the folders to give to their teachers.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, let us show our love for you. Help us to show our love for other people, for our families, for our teachers and for our friends. Thank you for being our guide. Amen.
More Exploring
Lead the children through an action game showing ways they can help their teachers: sharpening pencils, picking up blocks, cleaning the board, feeding the fish, sweeping the classroom, and washing the cafeteria table. Encourage the children to come up with other ways of helping their teachers.
People in God’s World: Older People
People in God’s World: Older People
“Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years.” Genesis 5:27
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 me the name of someone you know is an adult? (My grandma, Mrs. Smith, etc.)
Listening
Tell the children that you are going to slowly begin to count. When they hear their age, they are to stand up. Begin counting until all of the children are standing.
Say: I didn’t need to count very long! That’s because even though you are growing up and having birthdays every year, you aren’t very old yet. (Invite the children to sit back down for the rest of the story.) There is a man in the Bible named Methuselah who was very, very old. (Say the name again and ask the children to repeat it with you.)Methuselah was the grandfather of Noah. He lived to be nine hundred and sixty-nine years old. If we played the stand up game with Methuselah we would have to count for a very long time before Methuselah stood up!
In God’s world many people live long lives. We gain wisdom as we live. Do you know what wisdom is? Wisdom is knowledge. Wisdom comes from learning. When you live a long life and grow to be old, you learn many things. At church, in our families, and our neighborhoods, it’s good to listen to the wisdom of older people.
Exploring
Invite an older member of your congregation to visit with the children, and to share some of their wisdom. Remind your guest that the children are young and may have a limited attention span, but they will love to hear lively stories and anecdotes. Encourage your guest to bring along any visual aids such as photographs, awards, or souvenirs. Begin by introducing your guest to the children. After the guest has finished speaking, invite the children to ask questions.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, let us show our love for you. Help us to show our love for other people, for our families, for our teachers and for our friends. Thank you for being our guide. Amen.
“Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years.” Genesis 5:27
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 me the name of someone you know is an adult? (My grandma, Mrs. Smith, etc.)
Listening
Tell the children that you are going to slowly begin to count. When they hear their age, they are to stand up. Begin counting until all of the children are standing.
Say: I didn’t need to count very long! That’s because even though you are growing up and having birthdays every year, you aren’t very old yet. (Invite the children to sit back down for the rest of the story.) There is a man in the Bible named Methuselah who was very, very old. (Say the name again and ask the children to repeat it with you.)Methuselah was the grandfather of Noah. He lived to be nine hundred and sixty-nine years old. If we played the stand up game with Methuselah we would have to count for a very long time before Methuselah stood up!
In God’s world many people live long lives. We gain wisdom as we live. Do you know what wisdom is? Wisdom is knowledge. Wisdom comes from learning. When you live a long life and grow to be old, you learn many things. At church, in our families, and our neighborhoods, it’s good to listen to the wisdom of older people.
Exploring
Invite an older member of your congregation to visit with the children, and to share some of their wisdom. Remind your guest that the children are young and may have a limited attention span, but they will love to hear lively stories and anecdotes. Encourage your guest to bring along any visual aids such as photographs, awards, or souvenirs. Begin by introducing your guest to the children. After the guest has finished speaking, invite the children to ask questions.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, let us show our love for you. Help us to show our love for other people, for our families, for our teachers and for our friends. Thank you for being our guide. Amen.
People in God’s World: Good Friends
People in God’s World: Good Friends
“A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17
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: What is something nice a friend has done for you? (Mary invited me to her birthday party.)
Listening
Begin by giving the children a thumbs up sign.
Say: Thumbs up to all of you! You are my friends, and I am so glad that you are here! Friendship is a wonderful part of God’s world. Here is a verse from the Bible that talks about friendship. “A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17. God wants us to be a good friend to others. As you listen to this story, make a thumbs up sign when you hear someone being a good friend. When you hear someone being a bad friend, make a thumbs down sign.
The kids were crowded onto the playground. Brandon was in a hurry to get down the slide so he pushed Liam. (Thumbs down) Sarah was mad that Brooke was using the sand sieve. She threw a handful of sand in Brooke’s face. (Thumbs down) Underneath the pine trees Lizzie invited Laura to help her build a pine needle fort. (Thumbs up) At the top of the jungle gym, Matt sang “Happy Birthday” to Martha, who was now seven. (Thumbs up)
At the bottom of the jungle gym, Jeb tripped Katherine as she was coming down the ladder. (Thumbs down) Meredith told Cliff that she thought his new shoes looked cool. (Thumbs up) Just for fun, Adam threw a rock really hard at Tyrone. (Thumbs down) Ricky was on crutches since he had broken his leg. When the whistle blew that recess was over, Ammar waited for Ricky and walked into school with him. (Thumbs up)
Exploring
We’re going to make friendship sticks! To make friendship sticks you will need large craft sticks, stickers, markers, tape, and ribbon.
Explain to the children that is some Native American tribes, it was the custom to present a friendship stick as a sign of friendship and peace. Tell the children that they are going to make a friendship stick to present to a special friend.
Have each child write their name down one side and their friends name on the other side. Have them decorate the sticks with stickers and markers. Help the children tie on and tape ribbon to the bottom of the stick. Explain to them that they will give their stick to the person they wrote on their friendship stick.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, let us show our love for you. Help us to show our love for other people, for our families, for our teachers and for our friends. Thank you for being our guide. Amen.
More Exploring
Children will love ringing the Friendship Gong in honor of their friends. A pot lid and a large metal spoon make an excellent gong. Invite the children to come forward one at a time and say “I’m ringing the Friendship Gong for my friend (friend’s name).” If time permits, go another round or two.
“A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17
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: What is something nice a friend has done for you? (Mary invited me to her birthday party.)
Listening
Begin by giving the children a thumbs up sign.
Say: Thumbs up to all of you! You are my friends, and I am so glad that you are here! Friendship is a wonderful part of God’s world. Here is a verse from the Bible that talks about friendship. “A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17. God wants us to be a good friend to others. As you listen to this story, make a thumbs up sign when you hear someone being a good friend. When you hear someone being a bad friend, make a thumbs down sign.
The kids were crowded onto the playground. Brandon was in a hurry to get down the slide so he pushed Liam. (Thumbs down) Sarah was mad that Brooke was using the sand sieve. She threw a handful of sand in Brooke’s face. (Thumbs down) Underneath the pine trees Lizzie invited Laura to help her build a pine needle fort. (Thumbs up) At the top of the jungle gym, Matt sang “Happy Birthday” to Martha, who was now seven. (Thumbs up)
At the bottom of the jungle gym, Jeb tripped Katherine as she was coming down the ladder. (Thumbs down) Meredith told Cliff that she thought his new shoes looked cool. (Thumbs up) Just for fun, Adam threw a rock really hard at Tyrone. (Thumbs down) Ricky was on crutches since he had broken his leg. When the whistle blew that recess was over, Ammar waited for Ricky and walked into school with him. (Thumbs up)
Exploring
We’re going to make friendship sticks! To make friendship sticks you will need large craft sticks, stickers, markers, tape, and ribbon.
Explain to the children that is some Native American tribes, it was the custom to present a friendship stick as a sign of friendship and peace. Tell the children that they are going to make a friendship stick to present to a special friend.
Have each child write their name down one side and their friends name on the other side. Have them decorate the sticks with stickers and markers. Help the children tie on and tape ribbon to the bottom of the stick. Explain to them that they will give their stick to the person they wrote on their friendship stick.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, let us show our love for you. Help us to show our love for other people, for our families, for our teachers and for our friends. Thank you for being our guide. Amen.
More Exploring
Children will love ringing the Friendship Gong in honor of their friends. A pot lid and a large metal spoon make an excellent gong. Invite the children to come forward one at a time and say “I’m ringing the Friendship Gong for my friend (friend’s name).” If time permits, go another round or two.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Summer Ministries
I have been so busy kicking off the summer! We're having field trips, day camps, movie days, and so much more! What exciting things does your church do over the summer break? Any new ideas for ministry?
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