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, 18-23 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!’ 18 ‘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.* 22As 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment