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7th Sunday of Easter From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference: Acts 16:16-34
Preparation: Find or draw a large picture of a jailer standing outside a jail cell with a prisoner inside behind bars.
Can anyone tell me which of these two persons is in prison and which one is free? (Hold up picture so children and congregation can see it. Let child point out the prisoner and the jailer.) That was pretty easy to tell, wasn’t it? Do you think the one who is outside the
Continue reading Freedom for the Jailer
6th Sunday of Easter From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference: John 14:26 Preparation: Tie colored yarn around three of your fingers as visual reminders. You may cut extra lengths of yarn and bring these to hand out to children at the end of the sermon.
Why do you suppose I have these colored strings tied around my fingers? (Hold your hand up and let children guess.) Sometimes people tie strings around their fingers to remind them of something. Let’s say you have to bring your turtle
Continue reading The Reminder
5th Sunday of Easter From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference: John 13:31-35 Preparation: Bring along an example of a talent you possess or a special piece of art you’ve made or an unusual object that you own. For example, you could bring balls to juggle or a painting, a sculpture, or a piece of stitchery you’ve made.
Have any of you ever heard the expression, “The proof is in the pudding” or “The proof of the pudding is in the eating”? Let’s say that your friend
Continue reading Proving It to the World
3rd Sunday in Lent From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference: Isa. 55:1-9
Snow Monkeys; photo by Kiyoshi Ookawa
Preparation: Bring brief, favorite Bible verses printed on cards or bookmarks—enough to give one to each child. If possible, also bring a flipchart and marker to jot down kids’ responses.
What do all people and animals need to survive? (Let children share thoughts. If you have a marker and chart, note their answers.) We need food and water. We also need to stay warm. Animals have fur
Continue reading Food for the Soul
2nd Sunday in Lent From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference: Luke 13:31-35
Preparation: Bring pictures of a fox and/or a hen and baby chicks to illustrate talk.
In today’s Gospel lesson from Luke, we are told that some leaders of the Jewish people (called Pharisees) came to Jesus after he had finished preaching to a crowd of people. They told him, “You’d better get out of here if you want to live, because Herod Antipas wants to kill you.” Herod was the ruler of the
Continue reading The Fox and the Hen
4th Sunday after the Epiphany Adapted from “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference: 1 Cor. 13:1-13
Preparation (Optional): Bring a stuffed dog and cat or a picture to illustrate the story.
Would you like to hear a love story? Don’t worry; there’s no kissing in this one. This is a story about an old dog and a little kitten. (If you brought the stuffed animals, use them to help you tell the story.)
Once upon a time, there was an old dog who really knew what it
Continue reading A Love Story
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
Continue reading Color Split
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
Continue reading Light in the Dark
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
Pentecost Proper 27 From “Sitting on the Rainbow” Artwork by Elsa Ingulsrud Scripture Reference: Psalm 127
Preparation: Place a mirror in a fancy box that can be opened easily. Put a big beautiful bow on top of the box.
Would you like to see a very precious gift? If you look inside this gift box, you will see something so valuable it could never be replaced. It is something priceless; something that all the money in the world cannot buy. You’ll notice that I am being
Continue reading The Gift of Children
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