Jesus and the Canaanite Woman

Kids’ Worship Service

August 14, 2011

Proper 15 Year A

I.            Welcome!

a.    Gathering – Children find a letter to sit on the gathering carpet. Recognize and welcome visitors.

b.    Opening Prayer: “Blessed Be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed be his kingdom now and forever. Amen”

Children’s Collect for the Day:

“Heavenly Father, we are here to worship and praise you. Open our hearts and minds so that we may hear your words spoken to us through the Bible story today. Give us strength that we may serve you through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

II.          Bible Lesson: Jesus and the Canaanite Woman

 (Proper 15, Year A)

a.    Introduction:  How many of you have a dog? What do you feed your dog? Canned dog food? Dry dog food? Do you ever feed him scraps from the table? Most veterinarians say that you should not feed your dog table scraps. Why? They say that table scraps are not intended for dogs and may not provide what a dog needs. That may be true, but just try to convince your dog of that as he sits by the table watching you enjoy a juicy steak. Maybe the meal was not intended for him, but that doesn't keep him from sitting by the table, begging for a little scrap, hoping that just one small bite might fall on the floor for him. I want you to keep that picture of the dog wanting table scraps in your mind as you listen to our Bible lesson today.

b.    Bible Story: Let us light the candles as we do in church when we read God’s word. (Read aloud from the Children’s Lectionary or Bible found on the children’s alter in Kids’ Worship room. You will also find the Gospel reading below.)

Matthew 15:21-28: Jesus left Gennesaret and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." So Jesus answered her saying, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He replied, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

c.    Lesson: When Jesus came to earth, he came to preach and teach to the Jews, but that does not mean that He didn't love the other people of the world. When other people saw Jesus healing the sick and lame, they followed him wherever he went. The Canaanite woman was not a Jew, but because she showed that she had great faith, Jesus healed her daughter. Who can tell me what faith is? Yes, faith is having complete trust in God. When the Canaanite woman’s request was not immediately granted by Jesus, she still showed that she had faith that Jesus would heal her child by remaining by his side just as a dog sits at the table waiting for scraps.  Jesus tested the woman with a test he knew she would pass. Jesus treated the people he healed as individuals, and dealt with each person differently based on their level of faith. Some people's requests were granted when they asked; some were healed without asking for it; some were asked if they believed Jesus could heal them before they were healed. Jesus may have done this to teach the woman and the disciples: the woman learned that she could always trust in God's love and mercy, even when her requests were not immediately answered, something Jesus taught the disciples, and the disciples learned that God's love and mercy were given to all people in the world even if they were not Jewish.

d.    Prayer: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the lesson of Jesus and the Canaanite Woman. Help us to have a strong faith in you just as the Canaanite woman had in Jesus. Amen.

III.       Response Activity:  Today you will all decorate a cross with the word faith and other decorations as a reminder of God’s love for you and as a reminder that you can always come to God in faith and prayer. (Children will decorate a pre-made cross with glitter stickers).

IV.         Closing Prayer and Benediction

a.    “Our Father” Say the Our Father aloud and ask children to join in if they know the prayer.

b.    Benediction: “Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. (all together) Thanks be to God.”

a.    Return to Church services: Children line up behind the acolyte and follow silently to return to church.

Jesus Walks on the Water

Kids’ Worship Service

August 7, 2011

Proper 14 Year A

I.            Welcome!

a.    Gathering – Children find a letter to sit on the gathering carpet. Recognize and welcome visitors

b.    Opening Prayer: “Blessed Be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed be his kingdom now and forever. Amen”

Children’s Collect for the Day:

“Heavenly Father, we are here to worship and praise you. Open our hearts and minds so that we may hear your words spoken to us through the Bible story today. Give us strength that we may serve you through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

II.          Bible Lesson: The Miracle of Jesus Walking on the Water

 (Proper 14, Year A)

a.    Introduction:  While Jesus lived here among us, he performed miracles. Who can tell me what a miracle is? Yes, a miracle is a marvelous and wonderful act that only Jesus who is God can do. Last week we talked about the miracle Jesus performed of feeding the crowd of 5000 with only two fish and five loaves. Today we’re going to hear about another miracle that Jesus performed.  First, I want to show you something. As you can see, I have a tub of water and several other things with me this morning. Some of the items that I have with me will float in water and some of them will sink. I am going to show you an item and ask you to vote as to whether you think it will float or sink. Then we will put it in the water to see if you were right or not. Are you ready? Here is a wooden building block. How many of you think it will float in the water? How many think it will sink? Let's try it and see. Great! Most of you were right. The block is floating in the water. Here is the second item. A metal spoon. How many of you think it will float? How many think it will sink? Well, let's try it and see. You were right again! It sank! Here is another item. A piece of heavy duty foil. How many of you think it will float? How many think it will sink? Okay, let's see. You were right again! It floats! Here is another piece of foil. It is exactly the same as the other one. (Wad it up into a ball.) Now how many of you think it will still float? How many think it will sink? Right again! Do you think if you were put in the water, feet first that you would sink or float. Yep, we would sink, but then we could float by swimming, right. But people cannot walk on water, right? No, we would sink. Remember the story we just talked about in the Bible when Jesus fed five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish? After he had finished feeding the five thousand, Jesus told his disciples to get into their boat and go to the other side of the lake while he went up into the mountains to be alone and to pray. Let’s listen to the next miracle Jesus performed.

b.    Bible Story: Let us light the candles as we do in church when we read God’s word. (Read aloud from the Children’s Lectionary or Bible found on the children’s alter in Kids’ Worship room. You will also find the Gospel reading below.)

Matthew 14:22-33

 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.
And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.
 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me you to come to you on the water."
He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.
But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

c.    Lesson: Who can tell me the miracle that Jesus performed in this story from the Bible? Yes, Jesus walked on the water and allowed Peter to walk on the water too. How do you think Peter walked on the water too? Yes, He had faith that Jesus would let him walk on the water and he was able to do so. Faith, what does that mean? It means that we trust God and know that he loves us and takes care of us in good times and bad, even though we can’t see him. What happened when Peter looked away from Jesus and got scared? “Yes, he sank!” But when he called out to Jesus to help him, Jesus did. We can always remember that Jesus will always be there to help us, even when we are really scared. All we have to do is to have faith and ask, like Peter did, and Jesus is always there to help.

d.    Let’s pray. Dear God, thank you for Jesus and for showing us that we can always trust you to help us even in hard and scary times.   Amen.

III.       Response Activity :  Today we are going to make a sea shell boat to remind us of Jesus’ miracle of walking on the water and to have faith in him even in times when we are scared. You will color the sail to place on your boat.

Sea Shell Boat Bible Craft

From  http://christiangamesandcrafts.com/items/view/195

***Boats will already be assembled. Children will just be coloring their sails. All materials will be ready for you on Sunday.***

Children will be able to take these boats home with them.  

IV.         Closing Prayer and Benediction

a.    “Our Father” Say the Our Father aloud and ask children to join in if they know the prayer.

b.    Benediction: “Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. (all together) Thanks be to God.”

a.    Return to Church services: Children line up behind the acolyte and follow silently to return to church.

The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes

Kids’ Worship Service

July 31, 2011

Proper 13 Year A

I.            Welcome!

a.    Gathering – Children find a letter to sit on the gathering carpet. Recognize and welcome visitors

b.    Opening Prayer: “Blessed Be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed be his kingdom now and forever. Amen”

Children’s Collect for the Day:

“Heavenly Father, we are here to worship and praise you. Open our hearts and minds so that we may hear your words spoken to us through the Bible story today. Give us strength that we may serve you through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

II.          Bible Lesson: The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes

 (Proper 13, Year A)

a.    Introduction:  While Jesus lived here among us, he performed miracles. Who can tell me what a miracle is? Yes, a miracle is a marvelous and wonderful act that only Jesus could do. Today we’re going to hear about a miracle that Jesus did with a small amount of fish and bread to feed a large crowd.

b.    Bible Story: Let us light the candles as we do in church when we read God’s word. (Read aloud from the Children’s Lectionary or Bible found on the children’s alter in Kids’ Worship room. You will also find the Gospel reading below.)

Matthew 14:15-21

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

c.    Lesson:  From Catechesis Lesson and Props (Defer to Sabra Martin for Catechesis Lesson on Feeding the 5000 or The Loaves and Fishes)

d.    Let’s pray. Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to teach us how to live in your abundance—generously receiving from you and giving to others. Help us to be aware of his loving presence in Holy Communion and to allow ourselves to be transformed into his presence in the world.   Amen.

III.        Response Activity : Let’s make banners that celebrate the miracle of the loaves and fish. These banners will remind us of how God always gives us what we need.

ACTIVITY: Loaves and Fishes Craft
MATERIALS

• 5” x 7” or 9” x 12” pieces of felt, craft foam, or construction paper (for the background, one for each banner)
• small pieces of felt, craft foam, or construction paper in bright and contrasting colors (for the loaves and fish and/or the figures of the boy and Jesus)
• scissors
• glue stick
• fish patterns (or have students make their own patterns)

PROCEDURE

1.     Trace patterns of loaves and fish on small pieces of felt, craft foam, or construction paper. Cut them out.

2.     Arrange loaves and fish on the background piece.

3.     Glue pieces in place and let dry.

4. Children may take these banners home with them. Send pre-printed parent note with children to inform parents that banners may be picked up after church services.

IV.          Closing Prayer and Benediction

a.    “Our Father” Say the Our Father aloud and ask children to join in if they know the prayer.

b.    Benediction: “Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. (all together) Thanks be to God.”

V.            Return to Church services: Children line up behind the acolyte and follow silently to return to church.

Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

Kids’ Worship Service

July 24, 2011

Proper 12 Year A

I.            Welcome!

a.    Gathering – Children find a letter to sit on the gathering carpet. Recognize and welcome visitors

b.    Opening Prayer: “Blessed Be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed be his kingdom now and forever. Amen”

Children’s Collect for the Day:

“Heavenly Father, we are here to worship and praise you. Open our hearts and minds so that we may hear your words spoken to us through the Bible story today. Give us strength that we may serve you through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

II.          Bible Lesson: (adapted from http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/a-or17cs.php) The Parable of the Mustard Seed and The Parable of the Yeast

 (Proper 12, Year A)

a.    Introduction:  Jesus really liked to tell parables. Who remembers what a parable is? Yes, a parable is a story Jesus used to help us understand what God’s Kingdom is like and to teach us about how we should live our life here on earth. Today we’re going to hear another parable Jesus told.

b.    Bible Story: Let us light the candles as we do in church when we read God’s word. (Read aloud from the Children’s Lectionary found on the children’s alter in Kids’ Worship room. You will also find the Gospel reading below.) (Matthew 13: 31-33)

Jesus put before them another parable: "The kingdom

of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed

in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when

it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a

tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in

its branches."  He told them another parable: "The kingdom

of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with

three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."

c.    Lesson:  Today I brought with me two little bags with some something in each one.  Can anyone tell me what is in this bag?  And this one?  Yes, we have here some mustard seeds and some yeast. Can anyone think of some things that the mustard seeds and the yeast share that are the same? The two most important things today about this mustard seed and this yeast is that they are both very small and that they are both used by Jesus to describe to us what God's Kingdom is like – that kingdom to which we all belong. Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."  (Show the photo of the mustard seed tree. Pass it around so all children have a chance to see the photo up close.)The kingdom of God is like the tree in this photo - if one person hears God’s Word and embraces it – God’s word spreads everywhere!

And this yeast - do you know what happens when you mix it with water and flour and a little salt and sugar?  It spreads and grows all through that mixture and gives us big loaves of bread – with softness and a wonderful taste that the flour and water and sugar and salt just can't achieve by itself. (Show the loaf of homemade bread.  Then take flour mixture and add some of the yeast to it so the children may see the reaction of the yeast with the mixture. Allow children to see the mixture up close and smell it) The yeast has an effect on everything - just from a few tiny particles of it.  Jesus said: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."  God’s word is like the yeast. When we hear it and embrace, God’s love expands our love for His Kingdom and effects all those around us in a loving way.

d.    Let’s pray. Dear God, we thank you for mustard seed  and for the wonders of yeast and for how these things teach us about your love.  Lord - plant your seed into our lives, help us work your yeast into our hearts, that wonderful things may happen.   Amen.

III.       Response Activity :

 Today we are going to celebrate the good in God’s Kingdom and God’s love for each of us. Remember that I told you that this little small bit of yeast made the dough in this bread rise and become fluffy and delicious. Today you will all receive a special bread recipe and a packet of yeast you can take home and make with your mom or dad’s help. When you make your bread at home you can remember how God’s love in your heart can grow and expand. I am also going to give each of you a piece of this homemade bread, if you would like it, to celebrate God’s goodness, the good in the world, and God’s love for us. (Call each child who is sitting quietly to choose a seat to have a slice of breasd.)

IV.         Closing Prayer and Benediction (2mins.)

a.    “Our Father” Say the Our Father aloud and ask children to join in if they know the prayer.

b.    Benediction: “Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. (all together) Thanks be to God.”

V.            Return to Church services: Children line up behind the acolyte and follow silently to return to church.

The Weeds Among the Wheat

Kids’ Worship Service

July 17, 2011

Proper 11 Year A

I.            Welcome!

a.    Gathering – Children find a letter to sit on the gathering carpet. Recognize and welcome visitors (3mins.)

b.    Opening Prayer: “Blessed Be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed be his kingdom now and forever. Amen”

Children’s Collect for the Day:

“Heavenly Father, we are here to worship and praise you. Open our hearts and minds so that we may hear your words spoken to us through the Bible story today. Give us strength that we may serve you through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

II.          Bible Lesson: The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Weeds)

 (Proper 11, Year A)

a.    Introduction (3mins.):  Last week we heard one of Jesus’ parables. Who remembers what a parable is? Yes, I parable is a story Jesus used to help us understand what God’s Kingdom is like and to teach us about how we should live our life here on earth. Today we’re going to look at another parable Jesus told.

b.    Bible Story: Let us light the candles as we do in church when we read God’s word. (Read aloud from the Children’s Lectionary found on the children’s alter in Kids’ Worship room. You will also find the Gospel reading below.) (Matthew 13: 24-30)

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ He replied, ‘An enemy did this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”

c.    Lesson:  Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed wheat in his field. Wheat is a good plant; it’s what flour is made of. We use flour to bake bread, cookies, cakes and all sorts of good-tasting things. But when this farmer’s wheat sprouted, there were bunches of weeds mixed in with it. I brought a good plant with me today. This is a [state name of plant]. But I also brought a weed. It’s not good for weeds to grow with the plants. They use up the water and nutrients in the soil so the plants can’t get as much. The weeds might even get taller than the plants and get more of the sunshine. And they make the space crowded, so the good plants don’t have enough room to grow. You may have seen your mom or your grandpa or someone else pulling weeds out of a garden or flowerbed to try to get rid of them. As soon as the man in the story saw the weeds, he said, “An enemy has done this!” And sure enough, that’s what Jesus said. An enemy had come creeping in during the night while everyone else was asleep and had planted the weeds in with the good wheat. The farmer’s servants asked, “Do you want us to pull up the weeds?” But he said, “No.” The word for weeds in this parable, “tares,” describes a particular kind of weed that looks a lot like wheat. Sometimes you really can’t tell the difference between weeds and good plants. Other times you can, but it’s still easy to pull the good plants up by mistake when pulling weeds. The weeds may have roots that have tangled themselves with the roots of the plants underground. So if you yank a weed out of the dirt, you may pull out a good plant by mistake. That’s what the man was afraid would happen if they tried to pull the weeds. He said, “Let them grow together until the harvest. Then we’ll separate them and burn up the weeds. ”Now remember, Jesus used this story to teach us about the kingdom of God. So what was he telling us?  One thing Jesus is telling us is that good & bad exist together in the world — even in the same people. We can’t look at people like we do plants, and say, “Oh, this is a good one and that’s a bad one.” Actually, we may do that sometimes, though we shouldn’t. But God sees both the good and the bad in all of us. Jesus also told us that God’s kingdom lives and grows even though there are bad things all around it. We remember, though, that God is always in control. And God promises He will deal with that bad that is all around someday. We don’t have to worry about it because at the end of time He will make everything right. We may not understand how He’s going to do this, but we can trust that He will.

d.    Let’s pray. Thank you God for the parable of the wheat and tares. Help us to hear your word so that we may be come strong like the wheat in the field. Help us to also remember that even though there may be bad in the world around us, that you are in control and will remove the weeds. Amen.

III.       Response Activity

Introduction of Craft or Activity: “Today boys and girls, we are going to celebrate the good in God’s Kingdom and God’s love for each of us. Remember that I told you that the good plant, wheat, is what we make all sorts of yummy things like bread and even cookies. Each of you will receive a cookie if you would like it to celebrate God’s goodness, the good in the world, and God’s love for us. (Call each child who is sitting quietly to choose a seat to have a cookie.)

IV.         Closing Prayer and Benediction (2mins.)

a.    “Our Father” Say the Our Father aloud and ask children to join in if they know the prayer.

b.    Benediction: “Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. (all together) Thanks be to God.”

V.            Return to Church services: Children line up behind the acolyte and follow silently to return to church.

The Parable of the Sower

Kids’ Worship Service

July 10, 2011

Proper 10 Year A

I.            Welcome!

a.    Gathering – Children find a letter to sit on the gathering carpet. Recognize and welcome and visitors (3mins.)

b.    Opening Prayer: “Blessed Be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed be his kingdom now and forever. Amen”

Children’s Collect for the Day:

“Heavenly Father, we are here to worship and praise you. Open our hearts and minds so that we may hear your words spoken to us through the Bible story today. Give us strength that we may serve you through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

II.          Bible Lesson: The Parable of the Sower (Proper 10, Year A)

a.    Introduction (3mins.): “Today Girls and Boys we are going to read from the Gospel of Matthew. Before we read from the Bible, we will light the candles just as we do in big church. Now we are ready to hear God’s Word.

 Many years ago, Jesus sat his friends down like you are sitting here today and told them stories called Parables. Does anyone know what a parable is? (Allow answers from several students). Yes, that is right! A parable is a story Jesus used to tell others about the Kingdom of God. Today we are going to hear a story about “The Sower” Sower. I wonder what that word sower means. A sower is someone who plants seeds to grow into a plant.

b.    Bible Story (6-10mins)

Read aloud from the Children’s Lectionary (found on the children’s alter in Kids’ Worship room. You will also find the Gospel reading below.)

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23The Parable of the Sower 13That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. ²Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. ⁴And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. ⁵Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. ⁶But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹Let anyone with ears^* listen!’ The Parable of the Sower Explained18 ‘Hear then the parable of the sower. ¹⁹When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. ²⁰As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.^{* 22}As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. ²³But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’

As you read, stop and ask some or all of the following questions:

1.     How many of you have ever planted a seed?

2.    What kind of soil did you plant it in?

3.    I wonder what will happen to the seeds that are planted in rocks and thorns?

c.    Recap (2mins.) Who can remind us of what Jesus was really talking about when he told the parable of the sower? Yes! He was talking about God’s word being like planted seeds. When God speaks to us it is like he is planting seeds in our hearts and mind. What do you think would happen if we treated God’s word like the seeds planted in the rocks or in the thorns. Right! We may not be able to live and grow into the beautiful person God has planned for us to be. But when we do hear God’s word and we really listen to him, the seeds he has planted in our hearts and mind help us to grow in love and to become the wonderful person God intended us to be. Isn’t that awesome! Let’s pray. Oh God, please let us hear your word and let us accept your words like seeds in good soil so that we may grow into the beautiful people you planned for us to be. In your name we pray, Amen.

III.       Response Activity (6-10mins.)

a.                    Introduction of Craft or Activity: “Today boys and girls, we are going to plant seeds. Let’s look at the different types of soil we could plant our seeds in (Show sandy soil, rocky soil, and good black soil.) Which one of these three types of soil do you think will be the best for planting our seeds so that they will grow into healthy plants? What else do our seeds need to grow? Light, Water. Each of you will get to plant your own seed. Then you can decorate your pot and take it home to watch it grow. As it grows into a beautiful plant, let it remind you to really listen to God’s word so that you can grow in his love for you into the person he has planned for you to be.

b.    Wrap-Up. When it is time to return to the Church Service, allow children to take their flower pots with them.

IV.         Closing Prayer and Benediction (2mins.)

a.    “Our Father” Say the Our Father aloud and ask children to join in if they know the prayer.

b.    Benediction: “Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. (all together) Thanks be to God.”

V.            Return to Church services: Children line up behind the acolyte and follow silently to return to church.