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3rd Sunday after the Epiphany Adapted from “Scolding the Snakes” Artwork by Elsa Ingulsrud Scripture Reference: 1 Cor. 12:12-27
What do you think is the most important part of your body? (Let children share ideas; challenge their choices.) If you had strong muscles but no nerves to send signals to your brain, would you be able to do anything with those muscles? No! If you had good eyes and could see the tiniest thing from far away, but your eyelids wouldn’t stay open, would you be
Continue reading The Body of Christ
Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday From “Barefoot in the Snow” Artwork by Elsa Ingulsrud Scripture Reference: Rom. 10:12-13 & Eph. 4:4-6
Preparation: Bring enough treats to hand out to all the children.
It’s nice to see you this morning. I notice that you are all dressed differently with clothing of different colors, styles, and sizes. I like to see the different colors people wear.
This morning, we’re going to try something. We’re going to pay close attention to the differences in the clothes you’re wearing. I
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First Sunday after the Epiphany Adapted from “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference: Luke 3:15-17
Preparation: Bring a pan with clean popsicle sticks in the bottom covered by a fine layer of flour or other fine meal that can be blown away. You may print the following statements on the popsicle sticks: “Listen to God” and “Obey God.”
Today is the first Sunday after the special day we call Epiphany. The season of Christmas has come to an end. On Epiphany we remember how the wise men
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Sunday of the Epiphany Adapted from “Barefoot in the Snow” Scripture Reference: Matt. 2:1-2; 9-12
How many of you have seen a searchlight shining in the night sky? (Let children respond.) Those lights are meant to lead people to a certain spot in the city. If a store is having a grand opening or if there is a big sale on cars at a dealership, a searchlight might be set up in the parking lot. The bright light can be seen all over town. People can
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First Sunday after Christmas Day From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference: Luke 2:41-52
Do any of you have a favorite teacher, a teacher at school or Sunday school whom you really like a lot? (If they wish, children can name some of their teachers.) Teachers are wonderful, aren’t they? They make learning fun and exciting. They make us happy to go to school. (You may tell about one of your favorite teachers and what made that teacher special.)
Jesus was a teacher. People often called him
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Christmas Eve From “Scolding the Snakes” Artwork by Elsa Ingulsrud Scripture Reference: Isa. 9:2-7 and Luke 2:6-14
Preparation: Bring a strong flashlight and, if possible, arrange ahead of time to have an adult volunteer darken the church at one point during the sermon. (Agree on a signal to cue the volunteer.)
We have come to the end of Advent. The time of waiting is over. We stand at the beginning of Christmas. Tonight is a wonderful night: it is Christmas Eve. As the sun comes up
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Fourth Sunday of Advent From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference: Luke 1:39-55
Preparation: You may have a song queued up to play at the end of the children’s time.
Today, how many candles are lit on the Advent wreath? (Children may respond.) It’s the fourth Sunday in Advent, isn’t it? It’s almost – almost – time for Christmas! We want to be ready for Christmas and we want to be ready when Jesus comes to earth again.
Is everyone ready? The Gospel lesson for today shows us two
Continue reading Leap for Joy
Third Sunday of Advent From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference: Luke 3:7-18
Photo by Kamalnv/Creative Commons via Wikimedia
Preparation: If possible, bring a rubber snake or a picture of a snake to illustrate the sermon.
Can you count the lighted candles on the Advent wreath? (That’s right: three. This is the third week of Advent.) You remember that we said Advent is a time of getting ready. Who remembers what we are getting ready for? (Let children answer.) We want to be ready for Christmas,
Continue reading Scolding the Snakes
Second Sunday of Advent From “Scolding the Snakes” Artwork by Elsa Ingulsrud Scripture Reference: Mal. 3:2-3 and Phil. 1:6-11
Preparation: Cover a piece of smooth jewelry (a gold or silver heart would be perfect) with mud or clay so that it is hidden inside the lump. Also bring a towel and bowl of water for cleaning the jewelry.
How many candles are lit on the Advent wreath now? (Let kids count.) Two candles! It’s the second Sunday in Advent. This is a time of getting ready,
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First Sunday of Advent From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference: Luke 21:34
Preparation: Bring a doll’s crib or a small manger filled with crumpled papers on which you’ve printed “worry and bad-attitude statements” (“Why can’t I have that toy?” “What if she doesn’t like me?” “I want my own way,” “He makes me so mad,” “I need to buy new clothes,” “What if those kids pick on me?” etc.). Also bring a doll, representing the baby Jesus, wrapped in “swaddling cloths” and a blanket.
Today is
Continue reading Making Room for Jesus
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