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3rd Sunday after Pentecost
Pentecost Proper 8
From “Saving the Ants” (click at left to purchase ebook)
Scripture Reference: Matt. 10:40-42 Â Â 
Preparation: Make a large invitation card, inviting Jesus to have supper at your house.
I brought something with me this morning. Can you see what it is? (Show the card around.) It’s an invitation. Can someone read who the invitation is made out to? (Let one of the children read the card.) That’s right, I want to send this invitation to Jesus. And what is it an invitation for? (Have “invitation to supper” written on the card.) Yes! I want to invite Jesus to have supper at my house tonight at 6:00.
How do you think I should send this invitation to Jesus? How can I make sure that he’ll get it? (Let children come up with their own ideas.) It’s going to be pretty hard to deliver this invitation to heaven, but there is a way I can invite Jesus to dinner. The answer is in the Bible.
Jesus sent his disciples out into the world to tell everyone the good news about God’s love. But before they left, Jesus gathered them together to tell them some important things. In Matthew, chapter 10, Jesus said to his friends, “Anyone who welcomes you is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me” (v. 40 NLT). Jesus also said, “And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded” (v. 42 NLT).
Jesus told his disciples that whoever welcomes or invites them, welcomes Jesus. So how could I invite Jesus to my house? (A child may answer.) I can invite one of Jesus’ disciples, one of his friends, to my house. How many disciples or friends of Jesus do you see here? Raise your hand if you are a friend of Jesus!
There are a lot of disciples here, aren’t there? Do you think you would be able to invite Jesus to your house? (Let children respond.) Yes, you could. When you invite one of Jesus’ friends into your home, it’s as if you are inviting Jesus himself. So now we all know how to give an invitation to Jesus, and we don’t even have to travel all the way to heaven to get it to him!
Prayer: Â Jesus, we invite you into our hearts and lives. Help us to serve you by opening our hearts and homes to others.
1st Sunday after Pentecost
From “Saving the Ants”
Scripture Reference: Matt. 10:26-31Â Â 
Preparation: Arrange for one of the children to bring their father or mother up to the front to answer the questions. (This sermon could also work for Father’s Day.)
This morning, I would like to ask a parent some questions about one of his or her children sitting up here. I want to ask things like their name, age, favorite food. Are there any volunteers? (You may interview a volunteer or someone that you have previously arranged to help out.) This will be a fairly short interview.
Is your child a girl or a boy? How many fingers does she have? What is your daughter’s name? How old is she? When’s her birthday? What’s one of her favorite foods? Does she have a favorite color? What does she like to do? What time did she wake up this morning? Can you tell me what she dreamed last night? What is she thinking right now? Exactly how many hairs does she have growing on her head?
The questions started out being pretty easy to answer, didn’t they? Some of the questions could have been answered by someone who didn’t know this person very well, but other questions could only be answered by a good friend or a parent, someone who really knows this person.
What questions couldn’t be answered? (Let children respond.) She might have told someone what she dreamed last night, but it would be pretty difficult to know what someone was thinking without asking them. And it would take a long time to count how many hairs were growing on her head. Who do you think knows us even better than our parents or our best friends? (Wait for answer.) God knows everything about us, doesn’t he? Our Parent in Heaven knows even more about us than our parents here on earth.
In Matthew, chapter 10, it says, “The very hairs on your head are all numbered” (v. 30 NLT). God knows how many hairs each one of you have on your head. That’s a pretty small detail, isn’t it? Your family and friends know a lot about you, both good and bad, and they love you so much for who you are. There’s no one in the whole world like you. God knows even more about us; every thought, every wish; and he loves us more than we can imagine.
The next time you brush your hair, I want you to remember that God cares about every little detail in your life, right down to the number of hairs on your head.
Prayer: Â Lord God, you know us so well and still you love us. Help us to love others as you love us.
Holy Trinity Sunday
From “Sitting on the Rainbow”
Artwork by Elsa Ingulsrud
Scripture Reference:Â John 3:16 and Rom. 8:15-17
Preparation: Bring a little bag of treasures or treats to hand out at the end of your message, or you may have the gifts in your pockets.
Imagine that you are visiting at the home of a friend. Your friend’s father has been gone on a long trip, and the rest of the family is looking forward to his return. They tell you he’ll be coming home soon, and they can’t wait to see him again. He’s a wonderful father who loves his children very much. Whenever he returns from a trip, his pockets and suitcases are full of wonderful gifts for his children.
Suddenly the front door opens, and there he is. And, sure enough, his pockets are bulging with goodies. Your friend gives a happy shout. “Daddy! Daddy!†she yells and then launches herself in his direction. She lands right in his arms and gets a big bear hug. Her brothers and sisters pile on top of their daddy, too, and hugs and kisses are exchanged all around. Then you watch as he starts to pull from his pockets the marvelous treasures that he has brought home with him.
You are watching all of this from a distance. He’s not your daddy, so you’re not about to jump into his arms. And even though the pocket treasures look interesting, you are too polite to ask for something yourself. It’s an uncomfortable feeling to be left out of a family hug. At this point, you might feel like heading home so that this family can enjoy their time together.
Now imagine that the smiling father who has just returned from a long trip with his pockets full of treasures is not your friend’s father, and not even your own father, but your heavenly Father. What do you think you would do if your heavenly Father stepped through your front door? Would you hang back, too shy to say anything? Would you yell “Daddy†and jump into his arms? (Let children share their responses.)
Do you know what God would want you to do? The Bible tells us in Romans, chapter 8, that we should not be shy in front of God, but act like God’s own children. We are God’s family, and he even expects us to call him “Daddy!†(The word Abba in the original language of this verse is a word that means “Daddy†or “Papa.â€)
We really are God’s children. We have every right to call our heavenly Father “Daddy†and to leap joyfully into his arms. And the Bible says that, as God’s children, we will share in all the riches of his kingdom. Our heavenly Daddy’s pockets are filled with love, everlasting life, comfort, peace, and riches that we can’t even imagine. (Before the children return to their seats, share with them some of the “riches†in your pockets.)
Prayer: Â Thank you, God, for being our heavenly Daddy and for adopting us as your own children. Thank you that your arms are always open to us.
Day of Pentecost
From “Sitting on the Rainbow”
Artwork by Elsa Ingulsrud
Scripture Reference:Â Acts 2:1-21 and Psalm 104:25-30
Preparation: Bring puzzle pieces to give out at the end of the talk.
Today is Pentecost Sunday. Do you know what happened on the first Pentecost? (Children may offer answers.) After Jesus had gone back up to heaven, his disciples were gathered together in a room. Suddenly, there was a sound of rushing wind. It was a mighty sound, and it filled the room. Fire appeared above the heads of each of the disciples, and they began to speak in many different languages.
At Pentecost, the disciples were filled with God’s Holy Spirit. It’s hard to picture in our minds what the Holy Spirit is like. We can picture Jesus as he might have looked wearing a long robe just like other men did at that time. We may even be able to imagine what God the Father might look like seated on a throne in heaven. But it’s hard to get an image in our mind of what the Holy Spirit might be like.
At Pentecost, God’s Holy Spirit came as the sound of a rushing wind. The Spirit of God also is mentioned many times in the Old Testament. Verses 25 and 30 of Psalm 104 tell us that this Spirit is creative and life-giving. I’ll read a few verses of this psalm to you: “Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both great and small. . . . When you send your Spirit, new life is born to replenish all the living of the earth†(NLT).
Have we discovered all the creatures in the sea that God’s Spirit created? Do you know that scientists who study the oceans are still finding creatures no one has ever seen before? The Spirit of Pentecost is a great creative force that gives life and faith to us. When we are filled with God’s Holy Spirit, we become creative, too.
I have one piece of a puzzle with me today. You can’t tell from just this one piece what the whole puzzle looks like, can you? We can know a little bit of what it looks like, though. When you paint a picture, make up a song, play an instrument, or dance and sing to the glory of God, you are seeing a little bit of God’s Spirit. God made us to be creative and imaginative because God is creative and imaginative. As you discover the many wonderful things that God’s Spirit has created and breathed life into, you see parts of the Holy Spirit. It’s sort of like discovering pieces of a puzzle.
The more of God’s creation that we discover, the more we are able to see the wonderful creative power of the Holy Spirit. I encourage all of you to keep looking for pieces of the creation puzzle. Use the imagination that God has given you and keep exploring and learning. Before you go back to your seats, take a puzzle piece with you to remind you of God’s creative Spirit.
Prayer: Â We praise you, Creator and Holy Spirit, for the gift of imagination. Help us use this gift to your glory.
 From Saving the Ants, by Ruth Gilmore
For the 7th Sunday of Easter
Acts 1:6-14 “‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven, And someday, just as you saw him go, he will return!'”
Preparation: Bring one helium-filled balloon, preferably white. You may attach a long string to it if you wish to retrieve it after the service. Beware of obstacles, such as ceiling fans, during the sermon.
Today is the last Sunday of Easter in the church year. The white cloths on the altar will be taken down and replaced with red ones next Sunday. During this last week of Easter, the church celebrates the Ascension of Christ. Does anyone know what ascension means? (Child may answer correctly.) It means going up or rising. This balloon that I’m holding is trying to ascend. Continue reading What Goes Up… (Ascension Sunday)
6th Sunday of Easter
From “Saving the Ants”
Scripture Reference: Acts 17:22-31Â Â 
Preparation: (Optional) Bring pictures of several things that are far away from us, like the moon, the sun, planets, galaxies, etc.
If you could name something that is the farthest possible distance away from you, what would that thing be? What is something that is really far away from you? (Discuss distant objects with children, and, if desired, show them pictures of far away objects.) Now, if you could name something that is as close to you as is possible, what would that be? What are some things that are very, very close to you? (Discuss close objects with children.)
Some people think that God must live far away. If we could travel to go see God, how far do you think we’d have to go? If we thought that God lived somewhere in the “up” direction, and we got into a rocket ship to go and visit him, how far do you think our rocket would have to travel to finally get to where God is? (Let children speculate.)
But is God really far away from us? Does God live way out there in outer space? (Children may answer.) Our God is not a distant God. He wants to be right here with us. He sent his only son, Jesus, right here to our world to live with us and to die on the cross for us and to rise again to life. And when Jesus went up into heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit to fill every believer with the power of God.
God is close to us, isn’t he? Jesus is closer than your mommy or daddy when they’re hugging you tight; he’s closer than a hug. Jesus is closer than our shoes and socks. He’s closer than our skin. Acts, chapter 17, describes how close God is to us. The apostle Paul says, “He is not far from each one of us, for in him we live and move and have our being… ” (Acts 17:27-28 RSV). God is so close that he’s a part of us.
But Jesus only comes close to us if we allow him to. When we invite Jesus into our heart and accept him as our Savior and Lord, he does become a part of us. “In him we live and move and have our being.” So the next time you get a nice squooshy hug from someone, remember that Jesus is even closer than a hug! When you go back to your places, give someone a big hug and tell them how close Jesus is to them.
Prayer: Â Lord Jesus, when we feel like you are far away, help us to remember how close you really are.
5th Sunday of Easter
From “Saving the Ants”
Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 2:4-7 and Psalm 118:22Â Â 
Preparation: Bring some building blocks and a bucket of stones.
Rocks and stones turn up in both of the lessons this morning and in the psalm that we read together. Stones were very important to the people in Jesus’ time. Most of the buildings in the area where Jesus lived were made out of stone. In 1 Peter, the Bible talks about Jesus being the cornerstone. Does anyone know what a cornerstone is?(A child may answer correctly.)Â The cornerstone is usually the largest stone in the building. It is placed first and the building rises around it. The cornerstone has to be strong with no hidden weaknesses or cracks in it, so that it can support the tremendous weight of the building.
The Bible also says, “And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple” (1 Peter 2:5 NLT). So, if all of us in this congregation are living stones, making a spiritual temple or church, who do you suppose is our cornerstone? (Wait for an answer.) Yes, that’s right. Jesus is our cornerstone, the most important part.
I brought some blocks with me today, and I thought we’d try a little experiment. We’re going to construct a building. We can pretend these are stones, and this (choose a large, long block) is our cornerstone. We put the cornerstone down first, then start building around and on top of it. (Construct a small building, making sure that the cornerstone is the essential element of its structural integrity.)
Now, we’ve finished our building. What would happen, do you suppose, if we removed the cornerstone? (Children may respond.) Yes, it would probably fall down. Le’Ãs try it. (Pull out the cornerstone, collapsing building.) We need the cornerstone, don’t we? And just as the church needs Jesus as its firm foundation, we need Jesus as the cornerstone of our lives. Without Jesus, everything falls apart.
I have here a bucket full of stones, and I’d like everyone to take one before you go back to your seats. As you hold the stones in your hands, remember that Jesus is your cornerstone.
Prayer: Â Jesus, thank you for being the solid cornerstone in our lives. Your strength helps make us strong.
3rd Sunday of Easter
From “Saving the Ants”
Scripture Reference:Â Luke 24:13-31 Â 
Preparation:Â You can begin the children’s sermon by donning a pair of dark sunglasses or a fake nose and mustache and ask the children if they recognize you.
Can you recognize me? I’m wearing a disguise, but do you still know who I am? (Let children answer.) Today’s Gospel lesson tells the story of how the disciples met Jesus on the day of his resurrection. The first time they saw Jesus, even though he wasn’t wearing a disguise, they didn’t recognize him!
The disciples had already been told by the two Marys who saw the empty tomb and the angels that Jesus wasn’t dead; he was alive, but they still didn’t believe it. They were walking to a town called Emmaus, sadly talking about how Jesus had died, when Jesus himself came walking right up alongside them and asked them what they were discussing. Did they recognize Jesus then? No! Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever not recognized someone that you know really well . . . maybe at Halloween, or at a costume party? (Wait for answers.) Well, Jesus wasn’t in disguise, and they still didn’t recognize him!
(Here you can tell your own story of not recognizing someone or elaborate on one of the children’s stories. An example follows.)Â Quite a few years ago, I took a trip to North Dakota with a friend to visit some of his relatives and to help his uncle and cousin do some work on their farm. While we were there, they took a picture of me, wearing some borrowed clothes, my hair pulled back, with an old baseball cap on my head. When I got home from the trip, I showed my dad the photos we took. We got to the picture of me and my dad asked, “And who is this guy?” I couldn’t believe it! My own dad didn’t recognize me. I strung him along for a while, saying that it was one of my friend’s cousins and that people thought we looked a lot alike. Dad didn’t think there was much resemblance. I finally told him that it was a photo of me and scolded him for not recognizing his own daughter!
Jesus’ disciples didn’t recognize him either, even though he talked with them for quite a while. They didn’t expect to see Jesus at all at that time. It just didn’t register that he was alive. He had told them he would be resurrected; the two Marys had told them; but they couldn’t believe it. Then when he broke the bread at supper, a familiar and special action that they’d seen him do before he died, finally, they recognized him. They knew it was Jesus and they were very happy that he was alive!
Prayer: Â Lord Jesus, help us to recognize your presence in our lives and welcome you always.
Easter Sunday
From “Scolding the Snakes”
Artwork by Elsa Ingulsrud
Scripture Reference:Â 1 Cor. 15:20-26Â 
Preparation: Bring a bouquet of colorful spring flowers and a vase in which to place them on the altar or at the foot of the cross.
Happy Easter everyone! Do you know the words to the Easter greeting that has been used in the Christian church for almost two thousand years? When I say to you, “The Lord is risen!†you answer back, “He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!â€
You should sound really loud and happy when you answer, because it is such good news. Let’s try it. “The Lord is risen!†(Children answer, “He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!†Try this several times so that children get the chance to sound really happy.)
(Hold up the flowers you brought in.) I brought a bouquet of flowers because it’s such a special day. When people have won a victory or done something great, they are often given flowers. It’s a way to congratulate them, to say, “Way to go!â€
Jesus did something really great, didn’t he? What do we celebrate on Easter? (A child may answer.) Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins, and three days later, on Sunday, Jesus came back to life—he rose from the dead. Jesus beat death; it was a great victory! That’s why we celebrate Easter.
God’s people, the Israelites, had many enemies throughout their history. For a time, the Egyptians were enemies, but God helped the Israelites escape slavery in Egypt. God’s people had another victory when the walls of an enemy city called Jericho came tumbling down. The Philistines were enemies, too, but when young David killed the Philistine giant Goliath, the Israelites had another victory. With God’s help, the Israelites were able to defeat many enemies, but there was one enemy they could not defeat.
Ever since the beginning, when Adam sinned, the enemy that could not be beaten was death. The winners of every battle and every war finally grew old and died. Death always came in the end. But Jesus changed all that. Jesus took on the final enemy of God’s people, and he won! We no longer have to be afraid of death. Our bodies still will get old and die, but we will come alive again—to live forever with God. And one day we will all be together living happily in heaven with God. Death has no power over us. Jesus won the battle.
Could I have a volunteer to help place these victory flowers on the altar? (Choose one or two helpers to place flowers on altar or at foot of empty cross.) Thank you. Happy Easter. Let’s say the Easter greeting just one more time. And this time, let’s invite everybody in church to join in the answer: “The Lord is risen!†(Have congregation join in the response: “He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!â€)
Prayer: Â Thank you, Jesus, for giving us life with you that never ends.
Fifth Sunday in Lent
From “Saving the Ants” (Download book at left!)Â
Scripture Reference:Â Ezek. 37:1-14 and John 11:25 Â 
In the Old Testament reading today, Ezekiel describes a valley full of dry bones. This was a vision or dream that the Lord was showing to his prophet Ezekiel. It must have been quite a sight, a whole valley full of dry bones lying around. How do you think Ezekiel might have felt when he saw that? (Let children share.)
The Lord was showing this vision to Ezekiel for a very important reason. Those bones represented the Israelites, God’s people, who had lost hope and had lost faith in God. Because they had turned so far from God, and had lost their spiritual life inside, they were like those lifeless bones.
Now if I gave you a skeleton of something like a chicken (show your bone as an illustration), could you make that chicken alive again? Could you put the muscles and feathers back on the chicken and then make it start breathing again? (Children may respond.) That would be impossible for us, but for God, nothing is impossible. When Jesus was walking around here on earth, he raised people from the dead.
Ezekiel watched this valley of bones, and he spoke to the bones, just as the Lord told him to do. Do you know what happened to the bones right before his eyes? (Children may answer.) Those bones were connected back together and soon they had muscle and skin and they were human again. Then God breathed into them, and they stood up and were alive.
Ezekiel was given this dream to show him that God could do anything. The people of Israel were alive, but they felt very sad inside. They had stopped listening to God. It was as if their spirits were dead, like those dry bones. God sent the prophet Ezekiel to them to bring their hope and their spirits back to life.
Sometimes we feel sad and far away from God. We may feel like the Lord doesn’t hear our prayers. We don’t have to stay that way, far away from God like a dry bone. God wants us to be alive in him, full of the Holy Spirit and happy to be children of God. If we open our hearts and lives to him, the Spirit of God will come whooshing into our lives again.
Do you know what Jesus said to Mary and Martha before he raised their brother back to life? He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die… will live again” (John 11:25 NLT). Can you say the verse with me? (Repeat with children.)
Prayer: Â Lord, we’re thankful that you can do anything. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we will truly be alive in you.Â
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