Colors in God’s World: The Yellow Sun
“God made the two great lights – the brighter light to rule the day and the dimmer light to rule the night.” Genesis 1:16
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 you like to do outdoors on a sunny day? (swimming, playing on the playground, etc.)
Listening
Begin by holding up the Bible. Ask: What book is this? (The Bible.)
Say: We learn a lot about God’s world in the Bible. In the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis, we learn how God created the world. These verses tell of God creating the sun and the moon and the stars. “14 And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, 15and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so. 16God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, 18to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.19And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. Genesis 1:14-19” On the fourth day of creation, God made the sun. The sun gives energy and warmth to the world; causes plants to grow; and gives light. Without light, we would not be able to see any color in God’s world. Ask the children to each name one or two things in God’s world that they especially like to see.
Exploring
Sun weather mobile: Take a paper plate and have the children draw a sun on both sides of the plate. Have them glue streamers to the bottom and a string on top so they can hang them up.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, thank you so much for the yellow sun. Amen.
Showing posts with label lesson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lesson. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
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.
“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.
“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.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Colors in God’s World: Rainbow in the Clouds
“I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13
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: Have you ever seen a rainbow? Where? (At the beach, in a book, etc.)
Listeningjavascript:void(0)
Tape down colored paper on the floor ordered: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
Say: A long time ago God told a good man named Noah that a huge storm was coming. Noah built a big boat that kept his family and a lot of animals safe. When the storm was over God told him to bring his family and the animals outside and look at the sky. God set a rainbow in the clouds as a promise that the whole world would never be destroyed again by a flood.
Ask: In the story of Noah and the Ark, what appears in the sky when the flood is over? (A rainbow)
Say: When we see a rainbow in the sky we are to remember God’s promise. We also remember that God has filled our world with beautiful colors.
A color wheel shows us these colors in this order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. Today I made a color when on the floor. You’re each going to get a turn to hop from color to color as we say the colors together.
Let the children take turns hopping from color to color as you lead the group in repeating the colors with each hop.
Exploring
The children will make color wheels on white paper plates. They will have six sections on them and a dot of each color to help the children remember where the colors go.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, Thank you for all of the beautiful colors in your world. Amen.
More Exploring
Play a game of categories that requires naming the color of the object in that category. Example: if you call out animals the children should say grey elephant or orange tiger.
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: Have you ever seen a rainbow? Where? (At the beach, in a book, etc.)
Listeningjavascript:void(0)
Tape down colored paper on the floor ordered: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
Say: A long time ago God told a good man named Noah that a huge storm was coming. Noah built a big boat that kept his family and a lot of animals safe. When the storm was over God told him to bring his family and the animals outside and look at the sky. God set a rainbow in the clouds as a promise that the whole world would never be destroyed again by a flood.
Ask: In the story of Noah and the Ark, what appears in the sky when the flood is over? (A rainbow)
Say: When we see a rainbow in the sky we are to remember God’s promise. We also remember that God has filled our world with beautiful colors.
A color wheel shows us these colors in this order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. Today I made a color when on the floor. You’re each going to get a turn to hop from color to color as we say the colors together.
Let the children take turns hopping from color to color as you lead the group in repeating the colors with each hop.
Exploring
The children will make color wheels on white paper plates. They will have six sections on them and a dot of each color to help the children remember where the colors go.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, Thank you for all of the beautiful colors in your world. Amen.
More Exploring
Play a game of categories that requires naming the color of the object in that category. Example: if you call out animals the children should say grey elephant or orange tiger.
Colors in God’s World: Purple Cloth
Colors in God’s World: Purple Cloth
“A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer of purple cloth.” Acts 16:14
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 your favorite color? (Blue, yellow, silver, etc.)
Listening
For the story each child will need a strip of purple to wave.
Say: This is your Purple Story Strip. Every time you hear the word purple in the story, wave your Purple Story Strip three times then stop.
Colors are mentioned in many stories in the Bible. In one story we learn about a woman named Lydia. Purple (Pause) is important to her story. Paul, another person in the Bible, was a missionary who told everyone about Jesus.
One day, Paul traveld to Macedonia in Europe to tell the people there about Jesus. He noticed that the mountains of Macedonia looked purple (Pause) in the distance. And he saw purple (Pause) grapes growing on vines. At the market he noticed fish whose scales shimmered with purple (Pause) scales. The he spotted a woman who was selling fancy purple (Pause) cloth. The woman selling the fancy purple (Pause) cloth was Lydia. She sold the purple (Pause) cloth to rich people.
Paul spoke to Lydia. He told her about Jesus. Lydia believed what Paul told her about Jesus and became a Christian. She invited Paul to stay in her home. Lydia was the first person in Europe to become a Christian. Some of the church services in Europe were held in her home. Today, we remember Lydia because she helped build the Christian Church in a new place. Hooray for Lydia and her purple (Pause) cloth!
Exploring
Play the “I Spy” game around church. Make sure everyone gets a chance!
Benediction
Say: Loving God, Thank you for all of the beautiful colors in your world. Amen.
“A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer of purple cloth.” Acts 16:14
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 your favorite color? (Blue, yellow, silver, etc.)
Listening
For the story each child will need a strip of purple to wave.
Say: This is your Purple Story Strip. Every time you hear the word purple in the story, wave your Purple Story Strip three times then stop.
Colors are mentioned in many stories in the Bible. In one story we learn about a woman named Lydia. Purple (Pause) is important to her story. Paul, another person in the Bible, was a missionary who told everyone about Jesus.
One day, Paul traveld to Macedonia in Europe to tell the people there about Jesus. He noticed that the mountains of Macedonia looked purple (Pause) in the distance. And he saw purple (Pause) grapes growing on vines. At the market he noticed fish whose scales shimmered with purple (Pause) scales. The he spotted a woman who was selling fancy purple (Pause) cloth. The woman selling the fancy purple (Pause) cloth was Lydia. She sold the purple (Pause) cloth to rich people.
Paul spoke to Lydia. He told her about Jesus. Lydia believed what Paul told her about Jesus and became a Christian. She invited Paul to stay in her home. Lydia was the first person in Europe to become a Christian. Some of the church services in Europe were held in her home. Today, we remember Lydia because she helped build the Christian Church in a new place. Hooray for Lydia and her purple (Pause) cloth!
Exploring
Play the “I Spy” game around church. Make sure everyone gets a chance!
Benediction
Say: Loving God, Thank you for all of the beautiful colors in your world. Amen.
Colors in God’s World: Coat of Many Colors
Colors in God’s World: Coat of Many Colors
“Now, Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children because he was the son of his old age, so Israel made Joseph a long robe with sleeve.” Genesis 37:3
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 color of your favorite jacket or coat? (Red, purple, etc.)
Listening:
Use a male puppet.
Say: Hi everybody! Don’t you just love my coat made with so many colors? (Pause encouraging the children to answer.) Do you have coats as beautiful as mine? (Pause encouraging the children to answer.) My dad gave me mine. I am a character from the Bible. My name is Joseph. I have lots of brothers. My dad loves me the most. That’s why he bought me this beautiful coat of many colors. Do you think it’s fair for my dad to give me a beautiful coat because he loves me best? (Pause encouraging the children to answer.) Well it made my brothers very mad. They were so jealous. In fact they were so jealous that they ripped off my beautiful coat and threw me into a pit. Do you think that was very nice? (Pause encouraging the children to answer.)
Well that is how my story started. I don’t have to time to tell you everything but I ended up bringing peace to my entire family. Is it god to bring peace to your family? (Pause encouraging the children to answer.)
Today I want to you to remember something happy about my coat, My beautiful coat of many colors reminds us that God gave us wonderful colors. When we wear these colors we are celebrating the colors of God’s world. Now you are going to get to color and design your very own coat of many colors!
Exploring
Pass out the coat papers and the crayons. Let the children design their own coat of many colors.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, Thank you for all of the beautiful colors in your world. Amen.
“Now, Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children because he was the son of his old age, so Israel made Joseph a long robe with sleeve.” Genesis 37:3
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 color of your favorite jacket or coat? (Red, purple, etc.)
Listening:
Use a male puppet.
Say: Hi everybody! Don’t you just love my coat made with so many colors? (Pause encouraging the children to answer.) Do you have coats as beautiful as mine? (Pause encouraging the children to answer.) My dad gave me mine. I am a character from the Bible. My name is Joseph. I have lots of brothers. My dad loves me the most. That’s why he bought me this beautiful coat of many colors. Do you think it’s fair for my dad to give me a beautiful coat because he loves me best? (Pause encouraging the children to answer.) Well it made my brothers very mad. They were so jealous. In fact they were so jealous that they ripped off my beautiful coat and threw me into a pit. Do you think that was very nice? (Pause encouraging the children to answer.)
Well that is how my story started. I don’t have to time to tell you everything but I ended up bringing peace to my entire family. Is it god to bring peace to your family? (Pause encouraging the children to answer.)
Today I want to you to remember something happy about my coat, My beautiful coat of many colors reminds us that God gave us wonderful colors. When we wear these colors we are celebrating the colors of God’s world. Now you are going to get to color and design your very own coat of many colors!
Exploring
Pass out the coat papers and the crayons. Let the children design their own coat of many colors.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, Thank you for all of the beautiful colors in your world. Amen.
Colors in God’s World: Green Pastures
Colors in God’s World
“He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Psalm 23:2
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 name something green in God’s world? (Leaves, grass, herbs, etc.)
Listening
Plan on ending the story by leading the children outside to a green pasture, aka the playground area.
Say: There is a Psalm in the Bible that speaks of the color green. Listen carefully as I read to you the 23rd Psalm.
1The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
Ask: Does anyone remember the line that mentions the color green? (He makes me lie down in green pastures.)
Say: This Psalm is told through the eyes of a shepherd. A shepherd must find green pastures. The sheep need fresh, green grass for grazing. The green grass makes the sheep happy. For us, this verse helps us understand that God will take is to green places too. Green places are the good things in life, such as food and friends, rest and play, homes and happy times. Let’s pretend we are shepherds leading our flock to a green pasture.
As you walk around outside point out pretend streams, shady trees, and dangerous rocky ledges. Keep a lookout for sheep straying from the flock and wolves lurking in the distance. Wave to the other shepherds. When you reach the green pasture invite the children to lie down a relax a few minutes.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, Thank you for all of the beautiful colors in your world. Amen.
More Exploring
Have each child color a green pasture with any details they wish to add, rocks, sheep, wolves, etc, and then tape them out side of the classroom with the words “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
“He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Psalm 23:2
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 name something green in God’s world? (Leaves, grass, herbs, etc.)
Listening
Plan on ending the story by leading the children outside to a green pasture, aka the playground area.
Say: There is a Psalm in the Bible that speaks of the color green. Listen carefully as I read to you the 23rd Psalm.
1The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
Ask: Does anyone remember the line that mentions the color green? (He makes me lie down in green pastures.)
Say: This Psalm is told through the eyes of a shepherd. A shepherd must find green pastures. The sheep need fresh, green grass for grazing. The green grass makes the sheep happy. For us, this verse helps us understand that God will take is to green places too. Green places are the good things in life, such as food and friends, rest and play, homes and happy times. Let’s pretend we are shepherds leading our flock to a green pasture.
As you walk around outside point out pretend streams, shady trees, and dangerous rocky ledges. Keep a lookout for sheep straying from the flock and wolves lurking in the distance. Wave to the other shepherds. When you reach the green pasture invite the children to lie down a relax a few minutes.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, Thank you for all of the beautiful colors in your world. Amen.
More Exploring
Have each child color a green pasture with any details they wish to add, rocks, sheep, wolves, etc, and then tape them out side of the classroom with the words “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Pentecost
Pentecost
“And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting” Acts 2:2
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: Did anyone notice anything different in the church today? (The decorations changed, everything was red, etc.)
Listening
Say: Today is the start of a new church season. We were celebrating the Easter season and today we will begin celebrating something called Pentecost. I am going to tell you a story about Pentecost so we have a better idea about what it is.
After Jesus died on the cross, most of his friends ran away to hide. They were afraid that the soldiers who had hurt Jesus would hurt them too.
When the women came back from Jesus’ empty grave saying that Jesus was alive again, his friends were surprised and happy, but mostly they were confused. They just did not understand what was happening.
Then for forty days Jesus kept surprising them, Jesus came through a locked door to talk to them on night. He walked on a road with two of them one day. He fixed breakfast on the beach with some of the others. Every time he was with them, Jesus talked. He talked about how much God loved them, and he talked about sharing God’s love with others. When Jesus was with them, his friends felt brave, strong, and happy. Something new and exciting was happening, and they were going to b e a part of it. But when Jesus was not with them, they would remember the soldiers and feel sacred, weak, and uncertain.
When Jesus left them the last time, he said two things. First he said, “Go into all the world. Tell everyone about God’s love and teach them to be my disciples.” Then he said, “Wait in Jerusalem. God has a special gift for you.” Well the first job sounded big and important and scary! So they were glad to wait for the gift.
What do you think they did while they waited? Well, they hid together. Every day each one would come by a secret route to the hideout. They would knock quietly on the door. Someone inside woyld open it just a crack to see who was knocking. Theyn, the firend would be let in fast and would be asked, “Did anyone follow you?” All day they stayed in that room and remembered what Jesus said and did. And they prayed. They prayed and prayed and prayed. Do you know what happened? Nothing.
So they all went home by their secret paths and came back the next day and they prayed all day. And do you know what happened? Nothing.
So they all went home by their secret paths and came back the next day and they prayed all day. And do you know what happened? Nothing.
So they all went home by their secret paths and came back the next day and they prayed all day. And do you know what happened? Nothing.
On the tenth day, they were beginning to wonder whether God was ever going to give them that special gift. But they carefully came to the hideout using their secret paths and they began praying again. And that day something did happen!
They had hardly started praying when a strong wind came through the hideout. The wind wrapped itself around each person there, and it felt like the wind was God’s loving arms holding them close, hugging them tight. They felt happy and loved and loving. The bright fire came through the sir and little flames of fire licked each one of them on the head. It felt as if God’s courage and bravery were burning in their hearts, and they knew that with God’s courage they could do things they couldn’t do before.
God’s love was in the wind and God’s courage in the fire were the special gifts they had been waiting for. They were so excited about their gifts that they could not keep them a secret. They ran out of their hideout and started telling everyone they met. Their hiding days were over.
Exploring
Wind socks
Wind and Fire Relay - Before class cut crepe paper into two feet lengths. Divide your children up into teams and give them each a straw and a piece of crepe paper. Have them use the straw to blow the crepe across the room and back. If you don't want them to get on the floor you can have them blow the crepe across a table.
Wind and Fire
Written by Carolyn Warvel
(Sing to the tune of Frère Jacques)
Tongues of fire,
Tongues of fire,
Mighty wind,
Mighty wind,
The Holy Ghost is coming,
The Holy Ghost is coming,
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Before class cut pieces of crepe paper into 3 feet lengths. Use red and orange to make the fire sticks and white and blue to make the wind sticks. Staple 4 or 5 pieces of crepe paper to jumbo craft sticks and then cover the staples with tape. Make one fire and one wind pompom for each child. As you sing "tongues of fire" have your children wave their fire pompoms up and down. As you sing "mighty wind" have your children wave their wind pompoms side to side.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, Thank you for sending us your Holy Spirit to be with us always, to give us courage, and to show us your love. Amen.
“And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting” Acts 2:2
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: Did anyone notice anything different in the church today? (The decorations changed, everything was red, etc.)
Listening
Say: Today is the start of a new church season. We were celebrating the Easter season and today we will begin celebrating something called Pentecost. I am going to tell you a story about Pentecost so we have a better idea about what it is.
After Jesus died on the cross, most of his friends ran away to hide. They were afraid that the soldiers who had hurt Jesus would hurt them too.
When the women came back from Jesus’ empty grave saying that Jesus was alive again, his friends were surprised and happy, but mostly they were confused. They just did not understand what was happening.
Then for forty days Jesus kept surprising them, Jesus came through a locked door to talk to them on night. He walked on a road with two of them one day. He fixed breakfast on the beach with some of the others. Every time he was with them, Jesus talked. He talked about how much God loved them, and he talked about sharing God’s love with others. When Jesus was with them, his friends felt brave, strong, and happy. Something new and exciting was happening, and they were going to b e a part of it. But when Jesus was not with them, they would remember the soldiers and feel sacred, weak, and uncertain.
When Jesus left them the last time, he said two things. First he said, “Go into all the world. Tell everyone about God’s love and teach them to be my disciples.” Then he said, “Wait in Jerusalem. God has a special gift for you.” Well the first job sounded big and important and scary! So they were glad to wait for the gift.
What do you think they did while they waited? Well, they hid together. Every day each one would come by a secret route to the hideout. They would knock quietly on the door. Someone inside woyld open it just a crack to see who was knocking. Theyn, the firend would be let in fast and would be asked, “Did anyone follow you?” All day they stayed in that room and remembered what Jesus said and did. And they prayed. They prayed and prayed and prayed. Do you know what happened? Nothing.
So they all went home by their secret paths and came back the next day and they prayed all day. And do you know what happened? Nothing.
So they all went home by their secret paths and came back the next day and they prayed all day. And do you know what happened? Nothing.
So they all went home by their secret paths and came back the next day and they prayed all day. And do you know what happened? Nothing.
On the tenth day, they were beginning to wonder whether God was ever going to give them that special gift. But they carefully came to the hideout using their secret paths and they began praying again. And that day something did happen!
They had hardly started praying when a strong wind came through the hideout. The wind wrapped itself around each person there, and it felt like the wind was God’s loving arms holding them close, hugging them tight. They felt happy and loved and loving. The bright fire came through the sir and little flames of fire licked each one of them on the head. It felt as if God’s courage and bravery were burning in their hearts, and they knew that with God’s courage they could do things they couldn’t do before.
God’s love was in the wind and God’s courage in the fire were the special gifts they had been waiting for. They were so excited about their gifts that they could not keep them a secret. They ran out of their hideout and started telling everyone they met. Their hiding days were over.
Exploring
Wind socks
Wind and Fire Relay - Before class cut crepe paper into two feet lengths. Divide your children up into teams and give them each a straw and a piece of crepe paper. Have them use the straw to blow the crepe across the room and back. If you don't want them to get on the floor you can have them blow the crepe across a table.
Wind and Fire
Written by Carolyn Warvel
(Sing to the tune of Frère Jacques)
Tongues of fire,
Tongues of fire,
Mighty wind,
Mighty wind,
The Holy Ghost is coming,
The Holy Ghost is coming,
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Before class cut pieces of crepe paper into 3 feet lengths. Use red and orange to make the fire sticks and white and blue to make the wind sticks. Staple 4 or 5 pieces of crepe paper to jumbo craft sticks and then cover the staples with tape. Make one fire and one wind pompom for each child. As you sing "tongues of fire" have your children wave their fire pompoms up and down. As you sing "mighty wind" have your children wave their wind pompoms side to side.
Benediction
Say: Loving God, Thank you for sending us your Holy Spirit to be with us always, to give us courage, and to show us your love. Amen.
People in God’s World: Father’s Day
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.
“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.
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.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
People in God’s World: Big Kids
“And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.” Luke 2:42
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 do you look forward to doing when you are a bigger kid? (Playing baseball, being a ballerina, etc.)
Listening
As a cue card, make a large question mark on a sheet of paper.
Hold up the question mark. Ask: What is this?
Say: This is a question mark. Every time a reader sees a question mark at the end of a sentence it means that sentence is a question. Every time I hold up the question mark you are to ask: What happened next? Practice this a few times, and then begin.
In the Bible, we read about Jesus as a baby, and then we don’t hear about Jesus again until he is a bigger kid. When Jesus was twelve years old, he went with his parents, Mary and Joseph, to a festival in Jerusalem. (Hold up question mark.) When the festival was over, they started to return home, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. (Hold up question mark.) His parents thought he was with the other travelers in their group. They didn’t realize that Jesus was missing until the end of a day’s journey. (Hold up question mark.) They looked for Jesus among their relatives and friends but did not find him. (Hold up question mark.) They went back to Jerusalem to look for him. (Hold up question mark.) They looked for him for three days and finally found him in the Temple. Jesus was sitting among the teachers there, listening to them and asking questions. (Hold up question mark.) All who heard him were amazed at his understanding. (Hold up question mark.) Jesus went home with his parents. Jesus increased his wisdom as he grew. Asking questions helps all of us to increase in wisdom.
Exploring
Invite 3 bigger kids from the congregation to come to Children’s Church. Invite these bigger kids to share a skill they have such as playing a musical instrument, drawing, dancing, or speaking another language. Explain that they will be demonstrating their skills for the children, then the children will be encouraged to ask them questions. Introduce your visitors by asking them a few general questions such as their names, ages, and where they go to school. Then ask them to demonstrate their skills. When they are finished guide your children in asking questions, like why did you decide to play the flute or where do you take dance class. Tell your visitors thank you. Have the children draw a picture of what they want to do when they grow bigger.
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.
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 do you look forward to doing when you are a bigger kid? (Playing baseball, being a ballerina, etc.)
Listening
As a cue card, make a large question mark on a sheet of paper.
Hold up the question mark. Ask: What is this?
Say: This is a question mark. Every time a reader sees a question mark at the end of a sentence it means that sentence is a question. Every time I hold up the question mark you are to ask: What happened next? Practice this a few times, and then begin.
In the Bible, we read about Jesus as a baby, and then we don’t hear about Jesus again until he is a bigger kid. When Jesus was twelve years old, he went with his parents, Mary and Joseph, to a festival in Jerusalem. (Hold up question mark.) When the festival was over, they started to return home, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. (Hold up question mark.) His parents thought he was with the other travelers in their group. They didn’t realize that Jesus was missing until the end of a day’s journey. (Hold up question mark.) They looked for Jesus among their relatives and friends but did not find him. (Hold up question mark.) They went back to Jerusalem to look for him. (Hold up question mark.) They looked for him for three days and finally found him in the Temple. Jesus was sitting among the teachers there, listening to them and asking questions. (Hold up question mark.) All who heard him were amazed at his understanding. (Hold up question mark.) Jesus went home with his parents. Jesus increased his wisdom as he grew. Asking questions helps all of us to increase in wisdom.
Exploring
Invite 3 bigger kids from the congregation to come to Children’s Church. Invite these bigger kids to share a skill they have such as playing a musical instrument, drawing, dancing, or speaking another language. Explain that they will be demonstrating their skills for the children, then the children will be encouraged to ask them questions. Introduce your visitors by asking them a few general questions such as their names, ages, and where they go to school. Then ask them to demonstrate their skills. When they are finished guide your children in asking questions, like why did you decide to play the flute or where do you take dance class. Tell your visitors thank you. Have the children draw a picture of what they want to do when they grow bigger.
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.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Mother’s Day
Here is a sweet Mother's Day lesson.
“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 moms. For our moms.
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 Moms!) Yes! Today is Mother’s Day. We are celebrating the women who are special to us. Does anyone have a special mom, grandma, aunt, or friend that they want to share about with us?
Listening
Say: I have a story about a mommy and her son. It’s called Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.
A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, "this kid is driving me CRAZY!"
But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
The little boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was nine years old. And he never wanted to come in for dinner, he never wanted to take a bath, and when grandma visited he always said bad words. Sometimes his mother wanted to sell him to the zoo!
But at night time, when he was asleep, the mother quietly opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep, she picked up that nine-year-old boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
The boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a teenager. He had strange friends and he wore strange clothes and he listened to strange music. Sometimes the mother felt like she was in a zoo!
But at night time, when that teenager was asleep, the mother opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep she picked up that great big boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
That teenager grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a grown-up man. He left home and got a house across town. But sometimes on dark nights the mother got into her car and drove across town. If all the lights in her son's house were out, she opened his bedroom window, crawled across the floor, and looked up over the side of his bed. If that great big man was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
Well, that mother, she got older. She got older and older and older. One day she called up her son and said, "You'd better come see me because I'm very old and sick." So her son came to see her. When he came in the door she tried to sing the song. She sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always...
But she couldn't finish because she was too old and sick. The son went to his mother. He picked her up and rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And he sang this song:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my Mommy you'll be.
When the son came home that night, he stood for a long time at the top of the stairs. Then he went into the room where his very new baby daughter was sleeping. He picked her up in his arms and very slowly rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while he rocked her he sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
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 women in our congregation, whether it’s their mom, their grandma, their aunt, or their friend. We want them to celebrate the female role models they have. After they have written/drawn, have the children give their papers to the woman they wrote about as a great Mother’s Day present.
Benediction
Say: God has blessed us with wonderful women role models! Today let us celebrate their beauty by blessing them! Amen.
“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 moms. For our moms.
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 Moms!) Yes! Today is Mother’s Day. We are celebrating the women who are special to us. Does anyone have a special mom, grandma, aunt, or friend that they want to share about with us?
Listening
Say: I have a story about a mommy and her son. It’s called Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.
A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, "this kid is driving me CRAZY!"
But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
The little boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was nine years old. And he never wanted to come in for dinner, he never wanted to take a bath, and when grandma visited he always said bad words. Sometimes his mother wanted to sell him to the zoo!
But at night time, when he was asleep, the mother quietly opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep, she picked up that nine-year-old boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
The boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a teenager. He had strange friends and he wore strange clothes and he listened to strange music. Sometimes the mother felt like she was in a zoo!
But at night time, when that teenager was asleep, the mother opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep she picked up that great big boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
That teenager grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a grown-up man. He left home and got a house across town. But sometimes on dark nights the mother got into her car and drove across town. If all the lights in her son's house were out, she opened his bedroom window, crawled across the floor, and looked up over the side of his bed. If that great big man was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
Well, that mother, she got older. She got older and older and older. One day she called up her son and said, "You'd better come see me because I'm very old and sick." So her son came to see her. When he came in the door she tried to sing the song. She sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always...
But she couldn't finish because she was too old and sick. The son went to his mother. He picked her up and rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And he sang this song:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my Mommy you'll be.
When the son came home that night, he stood for a long time at the top of the stairs. Then he went into the room where his very new baby daughter was sleeping. He picked her up in his arms and very slowly rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while he rocked her he sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
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 women in our congregation, whether it’s their mom, their grandma, their aunt, or their friend. We want them to celebrate the female role models they have. After they have written/drawn, have the children give their papers to the woman they wrote about as a great Mother’s Day present.
Benediction
Say: God has blessed us with wonderful women role models! Today let us celebrate their beauty by blessing them! Amen.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
People in God’s World: Little Babies
“And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7
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: We have been talking about Communion and sharing God’s love with our friends. Today I want to talk about some different kinds of friends, babies! Have you ever helped take care of a baby? (I helped give my baby brother a bath, etc)
Listening
To introduce the story, wrap a baby doll in a baby blanket. Show the baby doll to the children.
Say: I brought a baby with me this morning! I’ve fed the baby, and talked to the baby and given the baby a bath and played with the baby and changed the baby abd finally, the baby is asleep. Babies need so much love and care! Let’s listen to a verse in the Bible about a mother taking care of a baby. “And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 Does anyone know that the name of the baby from the Bible verse is? (Jesus) And what is the name of the babies mommy? (Mary) Mary loved baby Jesus, and she took good care of him. God wants us to love and care for babies too.
Exploring
Make a We Love Babies Collage. Explain to the children that since babies love to look at pictures of other babies, your group will create a We Love Babies Collage for the church nursery. Have the children work together to fill the banner paper with pictures. Remind them that in a collage it is ok if the pictures overlap each other. Add a label that says, “We Love Babies!”
Benediction
Say: Loving God, let us show our love for you. Help us to show our love for other people, for our families, for out teachers and for our friends. Thank you for being our guide. Amen.
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: We have been talking about Communion and sharing God’s love with our friends. Today I want to talk about some different kinds of friends, babies! Have you ever helped take care of a baby? (I helped give my baby brother a bath, etc)
Listening
To introduce the story, wrap a baby doll in a baby blanket. Show the baby doll to the children.
Say: I brought a baby with me this morning! I’ve fed the baby, and talked to the baby and given the baby a bath and played with the baby and changed the baby abd finally, the baby is asleep. Babies need so much love and care! Let’s listen to a verse in the Bible about a mother taking care of a baby. “And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 Does anyone know that the name of the baby from the Bible verse is? (Jesus) And what is the name of the babies mommy? (Mary) Mary loved baby Jesus, and she took good care of him. God wants us to love and care for babies too.
Exploring
Make a We Love Babies Collage. Explain to the children that since babies love to look at pictures of other babies, your group will create a We Love Babies Collage for the church nursery. Have the children work together to fill the banner paper with pictures. Remind them that in a collage it is ok if the pictures overlap each other. Add a label that says, “We Love Babies!”
Benediction
Say: Loving God, let us show our love for you. Help us to show our love for other people, for our families, for out teachers and for our friends. Thank you for being our guide. Amen.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A Meal with Jesus
“And Jesus said, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you…’”
Luke 22:15
Call to Worship
(Sung to “Michael Roll Your Boat Ashore”)
We will break this bread together, Alleluia.
We will break this bread together, Alleluia.
We will drink this juice together, Alleluia.
We will drink this juice together, Alleluia.
We’ll remember Christ’s love, Alleluia.
We’ll remember Christ’s love, Alleluia.
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: Last week we talked about Jesus eating with his friends. Can anyone tell me why we eat? (Because we are hungry, etc.)
Listening
Say: You’re right! We eat because our bodies need something. Have you all heard of Communion? It is the meal we eat together with your church family and with God. Communion is God’s way of nourishing us with God’s love. We are given bread and juice just like Jesus ate with his disciples. Communion is an invitation for everyone to have a chance to be with God. There is a story in our Bible about this meal that Jesus ate with his friends.
It had been a busy, exciting week for Jesus and his friends. Everyone in Jerusalem was talking about Jesus. Jesus and his friends were tired and excited about what was going on.
One night they got together in a quiet room away from the crowds. They ate dinner together. As they ate they talked about what they had been doing together. They remembered what Jesus had done and some of the stories Jesus had told them. They remembered how Jesus had been teaching them. At the end of the dinner, while they were still sitting at the table, Jesus picked up a loaf of bread. He broke it and gave it to his friends, asking them to each eat a piece. Then he passed around a cup and asked everyone to drink from it. Then he looked straight at them and told them to eat bread and drink grape wine together to remember him.
Exploring
Have a play Communion. Allow the children to share bread with their friends like Jesus did. Let them have a small glass of grape juice like Jesus shared with his friends. Allow them to feel the elements of Communion and become better acquainted with the celebration of Eucharist.
Benediction
Say: God, thank you for sharing such a special meal with us. Help us to always remember you when we take Communion. Amen.
Luke 22:15
Call to Worship
(Sung to “Michael Roll Your Boat Ashore”)
We will break this bread together, Alleluia.
We will break this bread together, Alleluia.
We will drink this juice together, Alleluia.
We will drink this juice together, Alleluia.
We’ll remember Christ’s love, Alleluia.
We’ll remember Christ’s love, Alleluia.
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: Last week we talked about Jesus eating with his friends. Can anyone tell me why we eat? (Because we are hungry, etc.)
Listening
Say: You’re right! We eat because our bodies need something. Have you all heard of Communion? It is the meal we eat together with your church family and with God. Communion is God’s way of nourishing us with God’s love. We are given bread and juice just like Jesus ate with his disciples. Communion is an invitation for everyone to have a chance to be with God. There is a story in our Bible about this meal that Jesus ate with his friends.
It had been a busy, exciting week for Jesus and his friends. Everyone in Jerusalem was talking about Jesus. Jesus and his friends were tired and excited about what was going on.
One night they got together in a quiet room away from the crowds. They ate dinner together. As they ate they talked about what they had been doing together. They remembered what Jesus had done and some of the stories Jesus had told them. They remembered how Jesus had been teaching them. At the end of the dinner, while they were still sitting at the table, Jesus picked up a loaf of bread. He broke it and gave it to his friends, asking them to each eat a piece. Then he passed around a cup and asked everyone to drink from it. Then he looked straight at them and told them to eat bread and drink grape wine together to remember him.
Exploring
Have a play Communion. Allow the children to share bread with their friends like Jesus did. Let them have a small glass of grape juice like Jesus shared with his friends. Allow them to feel the elements of Communion and become better acquainted with the celebration of Eucharist.
Benediction
Say: God, thank you for sharing such a special meal with us. Help us to always remember you when we take Communion. Amen.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Feminists Theology: Genesis 2-3
Genesis 2-3 is known as “The Fall Story.” It is called this because historically it has been seen as humanities fall from God’s grace. It has been used to show “when” human sin began. In this story God creates Adam and decides he needs a partner and creates Eve from Adam’s rib. In the end of this story, after they eat a piece of fruit of the tree of wisdom, God bans Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. God also punishes the man by forcing him to till his own land and giving the woman pain during child birth, and punishes the serpent by cursing him to travel on his belly and be wacked by the woman. We have all heard this story. We all know that Eve is this awful woman and since her time women have been seen as the evil bearers of her unfaithfulness. I have a different theory.
Let’s spend some time writing down words that we usually think of when we think of Eve.
(Evil, Sin, Seductive, Bad… etc.)
Let’s review the creation story in Genesis 2. What is going on in this story?
I would like to call attention to when God said not to eat from the tree of knowledge. Who was God speaking to? Was God speaking to Adam AND Eve? No. God was talking to Adam alone. God had not yet made Eve in this story.
I would also like to talk about why God chose to make Eve out of Adam’s rib. Where is the rib located on the body? The side. God specifically chose a part from the side of Adam’s body. God did not choose something from Adam’s head. God did not choose something from Adam’s foot. God is saying that Eve is not above you, Eve is not below you. Eve is equal with you. You two will be partners, side by side in everything you do. God does not punish Adam because he didn’t take care of his property. God punished Adam because he played a part in the disobedience. They are partners in crime.
I would also like to call attention to verse 3:6. “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.” (NRSV) Eve was not alone here. Adam was there with her. She did not force him to eat. She handed it to him and he ate. If we see that Eve is not a temptress herself and her husband had a part in this whole story, how does that change our perception of her?
If our perceptions of Eve change, how does our perception of all women change?
Women are no longer seen as subservient to men. They are equal players in their relationships.
Let’s spend some time writing down words that we usually think of when we think of Eve.
(Evil, Sin, Seductive, Bad… etc.)
Let’s review the creation story in Genesis 2. What is going on in this story?
I would like to call attention to when God said not to eat from the tree of knowledge. Who was God speaking to? Was God speaking to Adam AND Eve? No. God was talking to Adam alone. God had not yet made Eve in this story.
I would also like to talk about why God chose to make Eve out of Adam’s rib. Where is the rib located on the body? The side. God specifically chose a part from the side of Adam’s body. God did not choose something from Adam’s head. God did not choose something from Adam’s foot. God is saying that Eve is not above you, Eve is not below you. Eve is equal with you. You two will be partners, side by side in everything you do. God does not punish Adam because he didn’t take care of his property. God punished Adam because he played a part in the disobedience. They are partners in crime.
I would also like to call attention to verse 3:6. “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.” (NRSV) Eve was not alone here. Adam was there with her. She did not force him to eat. She handed it to him and he ate. If we see that Eve is not a temptress herself and her husband had a part in this whole story, how does that change our perception of her?
If our perceptions of Eve change, how does our perception of all women change?
Women are no longer seen as subservient to men. They are equal players in their relationships.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Sharing Jesus’ Stories
Here is a lesson I have put together for the Sunday after Easter about the travelers on the road to Emmaus.
“He is not here; for he has been raised’ as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6
Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Sing a song of praise! Sing a song of praise!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
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 can you remember from the Easter story about Jesus?
(New life, Jesus was raised up, etc.)
Listening
Say: I have another story about after Jesus was given new life by God. On Easter Sunday, two friends walked home from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were sad. Their friend Jesus had died on Friday. As they walked along, a stranger caught up with them and asked what they were talking about.
“Are you the only person in Jerusalem who has not heard about Jesus?” asked on of the travelers.
“What about Jesus?” the stranger asked.
So the travelers told the stranger all about Jesus. They told how Jesus had been born. They told how kind and good he had been. They told him some of the wonderful stories Jesus had told them and some of the important things Jesus had taught them. They told about the way Jesus healed sick people and made friends with lonely people. They told about the last supper with Jesus, when he took a loaf of bread, broke it and gave it to his friends, asking they to share bread to remember him. They told how Jesus had died on a cross and buried in a cave. The stranger listened. Somehow the travelers knew the stranger understood.
Soon it was dinner time. The travelers invited the stranger to have dinner with them, and he did. As they sat down to supper, the stranger picked up the bread and said the blessing. Then he broke the bread and gave it to them. Suddenly the travelers recognized the stranger. He wasn’t a stranger at all! He was Jesus! Jesus was not dead! He was alive! He was with the- or he had bee, As soon as they recognized him, Jesus disappeared. The surprised travelers were amazed and happy and excited. They hurried all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the others, “Jesus is alive! We have seen him. He gave us bread to eat. We are not alone anymore.”
Exploring
Have the children sit in a circle. Give them each a piece of Hawaiian bread. While they are sharing the bread ask them what stories they know about God and Jesus.
Benediction
Say: God, what wonderful news we have heard this morning! Christ has risen and lives forever! Alleluia! Amen!
“He is not here; for he has been raised’ as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6
Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Sing a song of praise! Sing a song of praise!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
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 can you remember from the Easter story about Jesus?
(New life, Jesus was raised up, etc.)
Listening
Say: I have another story about after Jesus was given new life by God. On Easter Sunday, two friends walked home from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were sad. Their friend Jesus had died on Friday. As they walked along, a stranger caught up with them and asked what they were talking about.
“Are you the only person in Jerusalem who has not heard about Jesus?” asked on of the travelers.
“What about Jesus?” the stranger asked.
So the travelers told the stranger all about Jesus. They told how Jesus had been born. They told how kind and good he had been. They told him some of the wonderful stories Jesus had told them and some of the important things Jesus had taught them. They told about the way Jesus healed sick people and made friends with lonely people. They told about the last supper with Jesus, when he took a loaf of bread, broke it and gave it to his friends, asking they to share bread to remember him. They told how Jesus had died on a cross and buried in a cave. The stranger listened. Somehow the travelers knew the stranger understood.
Soon it was dinner time. The travelers invited the stranger to have dinner with them, and he did. As they sat down to supper, the stranger picked up the bread and said the blessing. Then he broke the bread and gave it to them. Suddenly the travelers recognized the stranger. He wasn’t a stranger at all! He was Jesus! Jesus was not dead! He was alive! He was with the- or he had bee, As soon as they recognized him, Jesus disappeared. The surprised travelers were amazed and happy and excited. They hurried all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the others, “Jesus is alive! We have seen him. He gave us bread to eat. We are not alone anymore.”
Exploring
Have the children sit in a circle. Give them each a piece of Hawaiian bread. While they are sharing the bread ask them what stories they know about God and Jesus.
Benediction
Say: God, what wonderful news we have heard this morning! Christ has risen and lives forever! Alleluia! Amen!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
New Life at Easter
Here is a lesson for Easter!
“He is not here; for he has been raised’ as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6
Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
It is Easter! It is Easter! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Sing a song of praise! Sing a song of praise!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
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: In God’s world of plants and animals, have you ever seen any signs of new life this spring? (Trees are getting new leaves, etc.)
Listening
Ask the children to join in the story by saying “New Life!” every time you point at them.
Say: After Jesus dies, he was laid into a small room cut into a rock wall. This room was called a “tomb.” A large rock was rolled over the opening of the tomb, just like a door. Jesus’ tomb was in a garden.
Springtime had come to the garden. Signs of the season were everywhere. Baby birds were hatching in their nests. (Point) Bright green leaves were starting to grow on tree branches. (Point) Baby rabbits hopped behind their mother. (Point) Flower blossoms of yellow, pink, and orange opened under the warm sun. (Point) Seeds pushed up through the ground. (Point) Honeybees hatched and flew outside the beehive for the first time. (Point) And tadpoles swam in the water trough. (Point)
Night fell and the garden was dark, until an angel came shining bright as lightening. The angel rolled away the stone, and God game Jesus new life. (Point) Jesus stood and walked out of the tomb and into the garden full of (Point) light.
As the sun came up, the people who loved Jesus went to the garden to visit his grave. They were surprised to see that the stone was rolled away from the tomb and even more amazed when the angel told them that Jesus was raised from the dead. As the people turned to leave, they met Jesus! God had given him (Point)!
Exploring
There will be plastic eggs hidden around the room with chick stickers inside.
Say: Since eggs and chicks are a symbol of new life, let’s play some games using eggs that children have played for hundreds of years!
Egg Hunt: Invite the children to find one egg each from around the room. If the eggs are opened ask the children to put the sticker back inside of the egg until the end of the games.
Egg Balance: Have children form a circle. Give each child a spoon and an egg. Have them try to carry their eggs on their spoons as everyone asks around in a circle.
When the games are finished, they can put their stickers on their eggs.
Benediction
Say: God, what wonderful news we have heard this morning! Christ has risen and lives forever! Alleluia! Amen!
If there is extra time have the children imitate sounds of new life.
Babies (waa waa)
Chicks (cheep cheep)
Duckling (quack quack)
Lamb (baa baa)
Donkey Colt (hee-haw)
Puppy (yip yip)
Kitten (mew mew)
Piglet (oink oink)
Goat Kid (naa naa)
If you would like you could also ask the children to invent some sounds of new life, like what it sounds like for a seed to grow, tree leaves to unfold, or grass growing.
“He is not here; for he has been raised’ as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6
Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
It is Easter! It is Easter! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Sing a song of praise! Sing a song of praise!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
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: In God’s world of plants and animals, have you ever seen any signs of new life this spring? (Trees are getting new leaves, etc.)
Listening
Ask the children to join in the story by saying “New Life!” every time you point at them.
Say: After Jesus dies, he was laid into a small room cut into a rock wall. This room was called a “tomb.” A large rock was rolled over the opening of the tomb, just like a door. Jesus’ tomb was in a garden.
Springtime had come to the garden. Signs of the season were everywhere. Baby birds were hatching in their nests. (Point) Bright green leaves were starting to grow on tree branches. (Point) Baby rabbits hopped behind their mother. (Point) Flower blossoms of yellow, pink, and orange opened under the warm sun. (Point) Seeds pushed up through the ground. (Point) Honeybees hatched and flew outside the beehive for the first time. (Point) And tadpoles swam in the water trough. (Point)
Night fell and the garden was dark, until an angel came shining bright as lightening. The angel rolled away the stone, and God game Jesus new life. (Point) Jesus stood and walked out of the tomb and into the garden full of (Point) light.
As the sun came up, the people who loved Jesus went to the garden to visit his grave. They were surprised to see that the stone was rolled away from the tomb and even more amazed when the angel told them that Jesus was raised from the dead. As the people turned to leave, they met Jesus! God had given him (Point)!
Exploring
There will be plastic eggs hidden around the room with chick stickers inside.
Say: Since eggs and chicks are a symbol of new life, let’s play some games using eggs that children have played for hundreds of years!
Egg Hunt: Invite the children to find one egg each from around the room. If the eggs are opened ask the children to put the sticker back inside of the egg until the end of the games.
Egg Balance: Have children form a circle. Give each child a spoon and an egg. Have them try to carry their eggs on their spoons as everyone asks around in a circle.
When the games are finished, they can put their stickers on their eggs.
Benediction
Say: God, what wonderful news we have heard this morning! Christ has risen and lives forever! Alleluia! Amen!
If there is extra time have the children imitate sounds of new life.
Babies (waa waa)
Chicks (cheep cheep)
Duckling (quack quack)
Lamb (baa baa)
Donkey Colt (hee-haw)
Puppy (yip yip)
Kitten (mew mew)
Piglet (oink oink)
Goat Kid (naa naa)
If you would like you could also ask the children to invent some sounds of new life, like what it sounds like for a seed to grow, tree leaves to unfold, or grass growing.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Three Cheers: Palm Sunday
Here is a lesson idea for Palm Sunday.
“Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Mark 11:9
Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Here Comes Jesus! Here Comes Jesus!
Riding on a donkey! Riding on a donkey!
Wave your palms! Wave your palms!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
In the highest! In the highest!
Blessed is Jesus! Blessed is Jesus!
Who comes in the name of the Lord!
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: Have you ever cheered for someone or something?
(I cheer for my favorite football team, etc.)
Listening
Use the donkey puppet as you tell the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
Say: Hee-haw, he-haw. I’m Dina the Donkey, and I’m the one who gave Jesus a ride into Jerusalem before Passover. I love outside the city, but I do go to the big city to do errands with my owner. On that day, I was quietly munching hay, when a very interesting man and his followers came near. His followers led me over to the man, who spoke softly to me and patted my nose. I liked him right away. You know, we donkeys can be stubborn and mean if we want to, but I decided I wanted to be nice to this man.
The man got on my back, and we began to walk toward the city. One of his followers called him “Jesus.” As we went along the road, people came out from their houses to walk with us. Workers left the fields too and shoppers on their way to market joined us. Everyone was happy and excited to see Jesus. They talked about the wonderful things he had said and done. They all agreed that Jesus was their savior and king.
Soon there was a crowd as far as you could see. The people began cheering for Jesus as they took off their cloaks and cut palm branches to lay in the road. My hoofs clopped over the most beautiful and the most ragged coats, because there were very rich and very poor people in the crowd. Jesus sat calmly on my back, and as the crowds began to press in closer and closer to see and touch him, he spoke gentle words to me; and I was not afraid of all those people.
Finally, he slid from my back and gave me to a kind person who served me water and a bit of food before taking me home. That was the most amazing day because I carried Jesus, the Savior, into Jerusalem. Hee-haw!
Exploring
Make some streamer sticks to help celebrate Jesus! Take the crepe paper and allow the children to glue two strips onto the Popsicle sticks. Have a celebration parade outside if the weather permits or around the room saying, “Hosanna!” as you go.
Benediction
Say: Hosanna! Let us tell the world about Christ and what he has done for us! Amen.
“Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Mark 11:9
Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Here Comes Jesus! Here Comes Jesus!
Riding on a donkey! Riding on a donkey!
Wave your palms! Wave your palms!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
In the highest! In the highest!
Blessed is Jesus! Blessed is Jesus!
Who comes in the name of the Lord!
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: Have you ever cheered for someone or something?
(I cheer for my favorite football team, etc.)
Listening
Use the donkey puppet as you tell the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
Say: Hee-haw, he-haw. I’m Dina the Donkey, and I’m the one who gave Jesus a ride into Jerusalem before Passover. I love outside the city, but I do go to the big city to do errands with my owner. On that day, I was quietly munching hay, when a very interesting man and his followers came near. His followers led me over to the man, who spoke softly to me and patted my nose. I liked him right away. You know, we donkeys can be stubborn and mean if we want to, but I decided I wanted to be nice to this man.
The man got on my back, and we began to walk toward the city. One of his followers called him “Jesus.” As we went along the road, people came out from their houses to walk with us. Workers left the fields too and shoppers on their way to market joined us. Everyone was happy and excited to see Jesus. They talked about the wonderful things he had said and done. They all agreed that Jesus was their savior and king.
Soon there was a crowd as far as you could see. The people began cheering for Jesus as they took off their cloaks and cut palm branches to lay in the road. My hoofs clopped over the most beautiful and the most ragged coats, because there were very rich and very poor people in the crowd. Jesus sat calmly on my back, and as the crowds began to press in closer and closer to see and touch him, he spoke gentle words to me; and I was not afraid of all those people.
Finally, he slid from my back and gave me to a kind person who served me water and a bit of food before taking me home. That was the most amazing day because I carried Jesus, the Savior, into Jerusalem. Hee-haw!
Exploring
Make some streamer sticks to help celebrate Jesus! Take the crepe paper and allow the children to glue two strips onto the Popsicle sticks. Have a celebration parade outside if the weather permits or around the room saying, “Hosanna!” as you go.
Benediction
Say: Hosanna! Let us tell the world about Christ and what he has done for us! Amen.
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