JESUS IS THANKFUL - GREAT LESSON FOR THANKSGIVING

by Kimber Bailey Scott

Luke 22:7-19

SING:

THANK YOU, GOD

Tune: If you’re happy and you know it

Thank You, God, for Jesus who loves us. (clap, clap. Repeat line.)

Thank You, God, for Jesus. Thank You, God, for Jesus.

Thank You, God, for Jesus who loves us. (clap, clap.)

Thank You, God, for people who love us. (Stomp, stomp. Repeat line.)

Thank You, God, for people. Thank You, God, for people.

Thank You, God, for people who love us. (Stomp, stomp.)

Thank You, God, for food, good food. (Amen! Repeat line.)

Thank You, God, for food. Thank You, God, for food.

Thank You, God, for food, good food. (Amen!)

THANK YOU

Tune: London Bridge

Thank You, God, for Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

Thank You, God, for Jesus.

We say thank You.

(Fold hands on ‘thank You’; point upwards on ‘Jesus.’)

RHYME:

WE THANK GOD

We thank God (fold hands) for Jesus.

Who loves us (hug self), it is true.

We thank God (fold hands) for people,

Who love (hug self) both me and you (point to self and another).

We thank God (fold hands) for good food.

That we can chew and chew (pretend to chew).

We thank God (fold hands) for all these things (spread arms).

We say thanks to You! (Say together, “Thank You, God!”)

LESSON:

Have the visual aid of Jesus, the cup and the loaf ready. Put a piece of bread in (or hold up to) your mouth. What am I eating? Continue to eat the bread. I asked what am I eating? It’s just a piece of bread. But it sure tastes good. I guess it’s time to stop eating. It’s time for our Bible story. You’re really going to like the story today. There’s food in the story!

The Bible tells us about many times when Jesus said “thank You” to God. Let me tell you about one of those times. Hold up the Jesus visual. It was a very special night. Jesus and His friends were eating in a special room. Special foods been prepared. Special prayers had been prayed. Jesus and His friends had spent a lot of time talking to each other.

Near the end of the meal, Jesus stood up. Jesus picked up a cup of wine made from grapes. Put the cup in Jesus’s hands. Jesus said thank You to God for that wine. Then Jesus picked up a piece of bread Put the bread in Jesus’s hands. Jesus broke the piece of bread and shared it with His friends. Jesus said thank You to God for the bread too.

Let’s all have some bread and juice too. What do we need to do before we eat the bread? Let them respond – thank God. Pray then serve some bread to them. What do we need to do before we drink some juice? Pray then serve juice.

APPLY:

While children eat and drink, ask some questions and let them respond.

Whom did Jesus pray His thank-you prayer to?

What 2 things did Jesus say thank You for?

Do you say thank You to God for your food before you eat? What do you say?

Ask them to name some favorite foods they could thank God for.

Thank You, God, for ________.

Do you think Jesus was also thankful for His friends who were with Him that special night? Can you name some people you are thankful for?

Thank You, God, for ________.

MEMORY VERSE:

Does God want you to be thankful? What are you thankful for? Does God want you to say “thank you”?

The Bible tells us that God hears us when we pray to Him. The Bible says, “We…thank God.” Can you say those words with me? Say them louder. Give each one a Bible (or share) & ask each to say “We…thank God.” 2 Thessalonians 1:3

ART/CRAFT:

Print and cut out pumpkin pocket on orange paper. Staple the pocket around edges of pumpkin. Let them color items they are thankful for and have them place it in the pocket. Write their name on it.

Optional: have magazines where they can tell you what they’re thankful for and you cut them out for them.

GAME:

Play a Thanksgiving memory card game.

NEED:

visual aids of Jesus, the cup and the loaf

Bible

unleavened bread like tortillas or matza

cups

grape juice

print pumpkin pocket page on orange paper for each child then cut out

stapler

print & cut out items they are thankful for, for each child

crayons

marker

magazines (optional)

scissors

Thanksgiving memory card game

ONE MAN IS THANKFUL - LEPROSY - GREAT LESSON FOR THANKSGIVING

by Kimber Bailey Scott

Luke 17:11-19

SING:

THANK YOU, GOD

Tune: If you’re happy and you know it

Thank You, God, for Jesus who loves us. (clap, clap. Repeat line.)

Thank You, God, for Jesus. Thank You, God, for Jesus.

Thank You, God, for Jesus who loves us. (clap, clap.)

Thank You, God, for people who love us. (Stomp, stomp. Repeat line.)

Thank You, God, for people. Thank You, God, for people.

Thank You, God, for people who love us. (Stomp, stomp.)

Thank You, God, for food, good food. (Amen! Repeat line.)

Thank You, God, for food. Thank You, God, for food.

Thank You, God, for food, good food. (Amen!)

THANK YOU

Tune: London Bridge

Thank You, God, for Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

Thank You, God, for Jesus.

We say thank You.

(Fold hands on ‘thank You’; point upwards on ‘Jesus.’)

RHYME:

WE THANK GOD

We thank God (fold hands) for Jesus.

Who loves us (hug self), it is true.

We thank God (fold hands) for people,

Who love (hug self) both me and you (point to self and another).

We thank God (fold hands) for good food.

That we can chew and chew (pretend to chew).

We thank God (fold hands) for all these things (spread arms).

We say thanks to You! (Say together, “Thank You, God!”)

LESSON:

Have the children come to sit in a circle. Shake each hand and say “Thank you” every time they shake your hand (or give you high five).

Ask them to hold up their 10 fingers and count out loud: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Whenever you hear the word “10,” count out loud to 10. Give each child at least one sick/well man that you made. If you have more than 10 children, have them sit close to a friend and take turns holding the figure. If you have less than 10, have some hold more than 1.

The Bible tells us about 10 (count) men who were sick with leprosy. That means they had sores all over their bodies. Can you show me the 10 (count) men who were sick with leprosy? (ask them to hold up the sick men) This sickness made the men feel band and sad. They hurt and they had to stay away from other people so they did not pass the sickness to someone else. No one wanted to be sick with leprosy.

One day Jesus was walking near where the 10 (count them) sick men lived. They called out “Jesus, please make us well!” Jesus said “Go show the priest. You are well.”

The men began to walk to the priest. Can you make your men walk?

When the men had gone a little way, they felt different. They looked at themselves. They were well! All 10 (count them) men were well! Turn your men around so we can see the well men. They were so happy. Maybe they jumped up and down for joy. Can you make your men jump? Then 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of them went on to show themselves to the priest. Let’s count to 9.

May I borrow your man, ______? (hold up the man so the children see the well side) But one man (ask them to count to one) had something special to do. Do you know what it was? Yes, he went back to say thank You to Jesus for making him well. (return the man to the child)

APPLY:

How many men remembered to say thank You? Can you imagine that! Just one man remembered to say thank You to Jesus! Do you think that manmade Jesus happy?

Which of the 10 men do you want to be like? I want to be like the one man (count to one) not the nine men (count to nine). Jesus likes for us to say thank You to Him.

Who else should we thank? (parents, grandparents, friends, teachers, etc.) Saying thank you to these people makes them happy too!

MEMORY VERSE:

Does God want you to be thankful? What are you thankful for? Does God want you to say “thank you”?

The Bible tells us that God hears us when we pray to Him. The Bible says, “We…thank God.” Can you say those words with me? Say them louder.

Give each one a Bible (or share) & ask each to say “We…thank God.” 2 Thessalonians 1:3

ART/CRAFT:

Make Thanksgiving turkey hats

For the headband of each hat, cut a 25- by 5-inch strip from a paper grocery bag and fold it in thirds lengthwise. Wrap it around your child's head, overlap the ends by 2 inches, trim, and use tape to close the band.

To make each turkey leg, trim down a paper lunch bag so it stands 7 inches tall. Smooth the bag around your fist to shape it, then stuff it half full with balled-up scrap paper.

To make each bone, unfold two white paper napkins and crumple one napkin into a ball. Drape the second napkin over the ball and twist it to form the narrow part of the bone. Insert this end into the stuffed bag. Twist and tape the two parts to secure them.

Staple the legs to the headband and use tape to cover the staple ends inside the band.

GAME:

Before class, put several nature items into a basket. Ask kids to sit in a circle. Remove one item at a time from the basket and ask children what the items is. Have them pass it around the circle and carefully look at it. As they do, sing these words to the tune of “row, row, row your boat.” Repeat the song for each item. Encourage children to sing too.

Thank You, thank You, God

Thank You, thank You, God

Thank You for the _______.

Thank You, thank You, God.

SNACK:

Have baked drumsticks to eat. Pretend they’re turkey legs. Talk about what you’re thankful for then ask them what they’re thankful for.

NEED:

10 men on a stick (leprosy on one side and well on the other)

Bible

Paper grocery bag

Paper lunch sacks

Tape

Scissors

Scrap paper

White paper napkins

Stapler

Baked drumsticks (Place chicken on baking dish and bake covered for 45 min in 350 degree preheated oven.)

napkins

Nature items (shell, pinecone, leaves, flower, etc.)

THANK YOU, GOD! YOU ARE LOVE

by Kimber Bailey Scott

Genesis 4:1-2, 1 Samuel 17:12-20, 1 Samuel 1:1-11, 19-20

SING: I love God (tune: Fara Shaka)

I love God. I love God. Yes, I do. Yes, I do. (2x)

RHYME: Someone Loves Me

Someone love me very much. (hug self)

When I’m sleeping, when I play. (pretend to sleep; then clap hands)

Someone takes good care of me. (point to self)

And I am happy every day! (smile)

(repeat, subbing mother, daddy, grandmother & whomever the child suggests for ‘someone’)

LESSON:

Invite the children to sit on a blanket you’ve spread out. We’re sitting on our blanket today. I wonder if we will go on another picnic. Pull out the picnic basket or sack. Would you like to go on another picnic? Ok! Let’s see what we have in our basket today. Pull the basket close to you. Pull out your Bible and turn to 1 John 4:8 and the big red heart. This is my Bible; I’ll open it wide and see what is written on the inside! “God is love.” Say those words with me –“God is love.” Every time I pull out a big red heart you say the Bible verse with me. Pull out a heart. “God is love.” Great!

Our Bible tells us about a woman who was sad. Pull out sad Hannah and place her on the board. Do you remember her name?...Yes, Hannah. She talked to God and He gave her a little baby boy to love. Turn Hannah over; place Samuel next to her. His name was (pause)…Samuel. You are right. God loved Samuel and He knew Samuel would need a good mommy. Pull out a red heart. “God is love.”

Our bible tells us about a daddy named Jesse. Remove Hannah and Samuel; put Jesse on the board. He loved his sons and wanted to be sure they had enough food so he sent his son (pause) David to take food to his big brothers. Put David and bundle up. God knew children would need someone to love and help take care of them. Pull out heart. “God is love.”

Our bible tells us about the first family God made. Remove Jesse, David & bundle; put up family. Let’s see if we can remember their names. The daddy…Adam, the mommy…Eve, and the children…Cain and Abel. Super! God gives us families to love and take care of us. Pull out heart. “God is love.” Let’s thank God again. Pray. Thank You, God, for loving us so much that you gave us families to love and take care of us.

APPLY:

Move quickly through this activity. Call a child by name; the child stands and answers one of the questions below. Give the child a sticker and have him remain standing. When all children are standing, do the rhyme, “Someone loves me.”

Does God love you?

Does your mommy love you? Who gave you a mommy?

Does your daddy love you? Who gave you a daddy?

Does your family love you? Who gave you a family?

Be very careful when asking these questions. You should know the home situation of each of the kids. Sub grandmother or stepmom when appropriate.

MEMORY VERSE:

The Bible tells us that God loves us. The Bible says, “God is love.“ 1 John 4:8 Can you say those words with me? Say them louder. Say them softer.

SNACK:

Hold up a cookie. Who can tell me what shape this cookie is? What does a heart makes us think about? Yes, ____, God’s love. Let’s say our Bible verse together. One, two, three…”God is love.” Let children help pass out paper towels, cookies, and jumbo craft sticks. Explain that they will spread frosting on their cookies and then eat them.

ART/CRAFT:

Have your Bible, play dough and accessories on the table. Hold up a cookie cutter. When we see a heart we think of love. Hold up the open Bible. The Bible says, “God is love.” As children play, work your way around the table helping with the play dough. Show them how to make a pancake and then press a cutter into the dough. Go around the table a second time with your Bible and stickers allowing children to “read” the words and receive a sticker. _____, what do our Bible verse say? Yes, God is love. Here is a sticker. When someone asks why you have a sticker you can say, “God is love.”

BOOK:

Read a book about God is love.

NEED:

Large blanket

Flannel covered board

Picnic basket or sack filled with the following: Bible with heart marking 1 John 4:8, 4 large red felt

hearts, flannel figures and heart stickers

Heart shaped cookies

Jumbo craft sticks

Paper towels

Frosting

Clean up supplies

Play dough

Heart shaped cookie cutters

Spatulas

Jumbo craft sticks

Cookie sheets

Heart stickers

Jesus Talks to God

by Kimber Bailey Scott

Mark 1:35; Matthew 14:23; John 17

SING:

I Pray to God (Tune: Here we go ‘round the mulberry bush)

Jesus prayed in the ‘morning

‘morning, ‘morning

Jesus praying in the morning.

He prayed and talked to God.

I pray to God in the ‘morning.

Morning, morning.

I pray to God in the morning.

I pray and talk to God.

I pray to God in the evening.

Evening, evening.

I pray to God in the evening.

I pray and talk to God.

I Will Pray (Tune: London Bridge)

*In the **morning, I will pray (fold hands)

I will pray, I will pray.

*In the **morning, I will pray (fold hands)

Thank you, God. (touch fingertips to lips on “thank” and point upwards on “God”)

CHANT:

I Will Pray Today

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

I will say Good morning, God (Yawn and stretch)

I will say Thank You, God for my lunch (pretend to eat)

I will say Good night, God (pretend to sleep)

I will pray today. (fold hands in prayer)

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

I will say Help me do right (nod head yes)

I will say Keep me from wrong (shake head no)

I will say Thanks for listening, God (cup hands behind ears)

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

I will say Help my family, God (make a wide circle with arms)

I will say Help my friends, God (Touch or hug a friend)

I will say Thanks for helping me, God (point to self)

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

RHYME:

When I Pray

When I pray, I fold my hands (fold hands) and close my eyes. (close eyes)

I think about God & He hears me. ~Jean Katt

PRAY:

What do you pray about? It’s great that God hears and answers our prayers! (have them repeat you in short segments) Thank you, God, that we can talk to You. Thank you for listening to us. In Jesus name, Amen.

LESSON:

Jesus like to pray. He prayed to God a lot. Let’s find out when Jesus liked to pray. I’m going to do some actions that describe when Jesus liked to pray. You tell me what part of the day someone would do them. Watch closely. Yawn and stretch as if you were just getting out of bed in the morning. What time of the day do people usually yawn and stretch? Let me see how you yawn and stretch.

Now watch me again. Put palms of hands together and place hands against your cheek. Lay your head to the side as if sleeping. What time of day do people sleep? Let me see how you sleep.

Now you know when Jesus liked to pray. You are ready to help me tell the Bible story. When you hear the word “morning,” I want you to yawn and stretch. When you hear the word “nighttime,” I want you to pretend to sleep. And when I say, “Jesus talked to God,” I want you to repeat those words after me. Practice with the children. Open your Bible to Mark 1:35, Matthew 14:23 or John 17 and place it in your lap.

Jesus liked the morning time. Children yawn and stretch. It was a good time to pray to God. Jesus liked to pray in the quiet morning time. One day, Jesus got up before the sun was up. He walked from the house to find a very quiet place outside. Jesus got up early to pray to God. Jesus talked to God. Children repeat. He talked to God at the beginning of the day.

Jesus also liked the nighttime. Children pretend to sleep. It was a good time to pray to God. Jesus liked to pray in the quiet nighttime. Jesus talked to God. Children repeat. One night, Jesus told His friends to get into their boat and go across the lake. He told the other people to go home. Jesus did this because it was time for Him to pray and talk to God. Jesus talked to God. Children repeat. Jesus climbed up a mountain. Jesus talked to God Children repeat at nighttime.

What did Jesus talk to God about in the morning and at nighttime? He prayed for many things. He prayed for himself. He asked God to help Him. He prayed for His friends. He asked God to take care of His friends and watch over them. Jesus asked God to help everyone—even you and me. Jesus talked to God. Children repeat.

APPLY:

When did Jesus pray? Yes, He prayed in the morning. Yawn and stretch. And He prayed at nighttime. Pretend to sleep. When do you pray to God? Could you pray before you get out of bed? Could you pray before you eat? Could you pray before you go to bed? Sing “I Pray to God” using the words “Morning” and “Evening.”

I Will Pray (Tune: London Bridge)

*In the **morning, I will pray (fold hands)

I will pray, I will pray.

*In the **morning, I will pray (fold hands)

Thank you, God. (touch fingertips to lips on “thank” and point upwards on “God”)

MEMORY VERSE:

The Bible tells us that God made the world. The Bible says, “I pray to you, Lord.“ Psalm 69:13 Can you say those words with me? Say them louder. Say them softer.

SNACK:

OPTION 1: If you want to use finger gelatin, prepare it before class. To make finger gelatin, boil 4 cups of water. Add 3 pkgs of gelatin and 4 envelopes of unflavored gelatin and dissolve in a 9x13 pan. Put in the refrigerator to set. Cut gelatin squares slightly larger than the largest cookie cutter. Place each square on a paper plate. Provide cookie cutters in shapes from nature such as stars, flowers, animals and so forth.

OPTION 2: If you want to use bread instead, get a loaf of white or white wheat bread. Bring peanut butter or jelly and a plastic knife. Provide cookie cutters in shapes from nature such as stars, flowers, animals and so forth to cut a shape out of the bread.

Show the children the cookie cutters. Here are the shapes of some things from God’s world. Let’s name these things. Do you have a kitty at home? You can say “Thank You, God, for kitties.” Do you see the stars in the sky at night? You can say “Thank You, God, for the pretty stars.” Our Bible verse says “I pray to you, Lord.” Let’s say our Bible verse together. Help the kids cut a shape from a piece of bread or from the gelatin. Help them spread peanut butter or jelly on the bread. As the children prepare the snack, talk about food. Do you like peanut butter? What food do you like? God gives us our food. We can thank God for our food.

ART/CRAFT:

Before class, prepare stickers by following the directions on the instruction sheet included. Draw a line across each piece of paper to divide the horizon from the ground. What color should we color the sky? What color should we color the ground? While the children color the sky and ground, What are some things you see in the sky? What are some things you see in the sky? Give children the sun and bird stickers to add to their picture. Jesus liked to talk to God. Let’s add our sticker of Jesus praying to God. Tell me what Jesus might be saying to God. Children may want to draw other things in the sky or on the ground.

GAME:

Jesus liked to talk to God. The Bible says that Jesus prayed in the morning. And the Bible says that Jesus prayed at nighttime. Lead them in singing:

I Will Pray (Tune: London Bridge)

*In the **morning, I will pray (fold hands)

I will pray, I will pray.

*In the **morning, I will pray (fold hands)

Thank you, God. (touch fingertips to lips on “thank” and point upwards on “God”)

Before class, put the pictures in a paper sack. Let a child pull out a picture. Sing: I Will Pray using the picture as a guide to singing the song. If a picture of food was pulled out, sing “for my food, I will pray, etc.” If a picture of a family was pulled out, sing “For my family, I will pray, etc.” We can be like Jesus. We can pray to God. When can we pray to God? We can pray in the morning. We can pray at nighttime. We can pray anytime!

NEED:

Heavy white paper

Markers, crayons or watercolors and brushes

Stickers on instruction sheet

Snack Option 1: make finger gelatin before class (boiling water, 3 pkgs jello, 4 envelopes of unflavored gelatin, 9x13 pan, knife), paper plates, cookie cutters in shapes from nature such as stars, flowers, animal, etc.

Snack Option 2: loaf of white or white wheat bread, paper plates, knife, peanut butter or jelly, cookie cutters in shapes from nature such as stars, flowers, animals, etc.

Napkins

Paper sack

Pictures of food, families, boys, girls, houses, etc

PETER'S FRIENDS TALK TO GOD

by Kimber Bailey Scott

Acts 12:1-17

SING:

I Pray to God (Tune: Here we go ‘round the mulberry bush)

Jesus prayed in the ‘morning

‘morning, ‘morning

Jesus praying in the morning.

He prayed and talked to God.

I pray to God in the ‘morning.

Morning, morning.

I pray to God in the morning.

I pray and talk to God.

I pray to God in the evening.

Evening, evening.

I pray to God in the evening.

I pray and talk to God.

I Will Pray (Tune: London Bridge)

*In the **morning, I will pray (fold hands)

I will pray, I will pray.

*In the **morning, I will pray (fold hands)

Thank you, God. (touch fingertips to lips on “thank” and point upwards on “God”)

CHANT:

I Will Pray Today

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

I will say Good morning, God (Yawn and stretch)

I will say Thank You, God for my lunch (pretend to eat)

I will say Good night, God (pretend to sleep)

I will pray today. (fold hands in prayer)

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

I will say Help me do right (nod head yes)

I will say Keep me from wrong (shake head no)

I will say Thanks for listening, God (cup hands behind ears)

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

I will say Help my family, God (make a wide circle with arms)

I will say Help my friends, God (Touch or hug a friend)

I will say Thanks for helping me, God (point to self)

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

RHYME:

When I Pray

When I pray, I fold my hands (fold hands) and close my eyes. (close eyes)

I think about God & He hears me. ~Jean Katt

PRAY:

What do you pray about? It’s great that God hears and answers our prayers! (have them repeat you in short segments) Thank you, God, that we can talk to You. Thank you for listening to us. In Jesus name, Amen.

LESSON:

Put the paper chain around your neck. Why do I have this chain around my neck? I’m pretending to be in jail. I’ve never been in jail and had chains around me. But our guest today was put in jail by someone who hated Jesus. Peter is here today to tell us what happened. Let’s welcome Peter. Quickly turn your back to the kids and put on a robe keeping the chains on. Now turn around and with a deep voice, shake the children’s hands and tell them you’re Peter.

Hi boys and girls! I am Peter. I want to tell you about a time that I was put in jail. King Herod wanted to hurt people who loved Jesus. He put me in jail and put me in chains because I told others about Jesus. I was guarded by 16 men. That’s a lot of men!

While I was in jail, my friends prayed for me. They knew that God was the only one who could help me. So they prayed. What do you think my friends might have prayed? My friends asked God to help me. They did not know how God would help me, but they knew that God would hear their prayers.

Nighttime came. The guards fell asleep. I fell asleep too. Suddenly, there was an angel who was sent by God. None of the guards woke up. The angel told me to get up. The chains fell off of me. Allow the chains to fall off. I put on my clothes and sandals and followed God’s angel. I thought I was dreaming. God’s angel let me past the guards, out of the prison and into the city. Then the angel was gone. That was when I knew that I wasn’t dreaming. I knew God had rescued me!

I ran to tell my friends. They were still praying for me. I knocked on the door. A servant girl named Rhoda came to the door. She ran to tell her friends I was at the door. They couldn’t believe it was me. When they saw me, they knew that God had heard their prayers, Ask them if they have any questions for you/Peter. Have them say goodbye to you/Peter. Turn around again & take off your robe.

APPLY:

God heard the friends of Peter praying for him. And He answered their prayers. Does God hear your prayers? Does God answer your prayers? God hears and answers our prayers because He loves us. And we pray to Him because we love Him.

MEMORY VERSE:

The Bible tells us that God made the world. The Bible says, “I pray to you, Lord.“ Psalm 69:13 Can you say those words with me? Say them louder. Say them softer.

ART/CRAFT:

Before class, accordion style fold each piece of copier paper in fourths. Using the paper doll pattern, trace and cut out a set of figures for each child. Glue each set of figures onto a piece of construction paper. In class have children add clothing, hair and faces to the paper dolls to look like themselves and their friends. Optional: before class cut small pieces of fabric children can use to glue on for clothes and cut yarn into small pieces for hair.

As children work, talk about friends. Who are your friends? What do you like to do with your friends? We can do lots of things with our friends. Jesus liked to pray with His friends. Peter liked to pray with his friends too. Peter’s friends prayed for him when he was in jail.

SNACK:

Before class, put napkins, dry cereal and a few bananas into the paper sack or picnic basket. Ask a few children to help you spread out the blanket or tablecloth to sit on. Invite children to go on a picnic with you. Who has been on a picnic? What did you do? What did you eat? Where did you go for your picnic? Show the basket or sack. Did you take your food in a basket? A picnic is a good time to pray to god. Let’s tell God “thank You” before we eat. Ask a couple children to pray and thank God for food He gives us. Have a couple children pass out napkins. Then give some dry cereal and banana slices for children to enjoy.

GAME:

Before class, prepare a paper chain with 8 links from black construction paper for each child. The Bible tells us that God hears us when we pray. God heard Peter’s friends pray when Peter was in jail. God freed Peter from jail. Peter’s chains fell off. An angel led Peter out of the jail. Let’s pretend to be Peter in jail. Have the kids sit with legs outstretched on the floor. Drape the paper chains across the children’s feet. Do you like being chained up in jail? How are we going to get out of jail? We will pray to God. Our friends will pray to God. What will we say? What might our friends say? Look, our chains are falling off! Remove chains. We can walk out of jail! Lead them out of jail. God hears us when we pray. Thank You, God, that we can talk to you. Thank You for hearing us when we pray. Repeat if time & interest permits.

NEED:

Paper chain (black construction paper & tape)

Robe

Copier paper

Doll pattern

Glue

Construction paper

Scissors

Markers or crayons

Small pieces of fabric (optional)

Small pieces of yarn (optional)

Blanket or tablecloth

Napkins

Large sack or picnic basket

Snacks such as dry cereal and bananas

KING SOLOMON TALKS TO GOD

by Kimber Bailey Scott

1 Kings 3:3-14

SING:

I Pray to God (Tune: Here we go ‘round the mulberry bush)

Jesus prayed in the ‘morning

‘morning, ‘morning

Jesus praying in the morning.

He prayed and talked to God.

I pray to God in the ‘morning.

Morning, morning.

I pray to God in the morning.

I pray and talk to God.

I pray to God in the evening.

Evening, evening.

I pray to God in the evening.

I pray and talk to God.

I Will Pray (Tune: London Bridge)

*In the **morning, I will pray (fold hands)

I will pray, I will pray.

*In the **morning, I will pray (fold hands)

Thank you, God. (touch fingertips to lips on “thank” and point upwards on “God”)

CHANT:

I Will Pray Today

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

I will say Good morning, God (Yawn and stretch)

I will say Thank You, God for my lunch (pretend to eat)

I will say Good night, God (pretend to sleep)

I will pray today. (fold hands in prayer)

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

I will say Help me do right (nod head yes)

I will say Keep me from wrong (shake head no)

I will say Thanks for listening, God (cup hands behind ears)

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

I will say Help my family, God (make a wide circle with arms)

I will say Help my friends, God (Touch or hug a friend)

I will say Thanks for helping me, God (point to self)

I Will Pray Today (fold hand in prayer)

RHYME:

When I Pray

When I pray, I fold my hands (fold hands) and close my eyes. (close eyes)

I think about God & He hears me. ~Jean Katt

PRAY:

Let’s pray and thank God that we can pray to Him. (have them repeat you in short segments)

Thank you, God, that we can talk to You. Thank you for listening to us. In Jesus name, Amen.

LESSON:

Put a crown on your head and change your voice. Hello, boys and girls, I am King Solomon. I want to tell you about a time that God heard and answered my prayer. I was away from my palace. I had taken a trip to a special place where I could worship God. One night while I was sleeping, God said to me, “Solomon, ask me for whatever you would like me to give you.”

“Wow!” I thought. I could ask for anything! If you could ask for anything, what might you ask for? Let them answer. I didn’t ask for any of these things. I needed something more important than those things. I was the king. But I didn’t know how to be a king. So I prayed, “O God, help me to know what is right and do it. Help me to know what is wrong and not do it. Show me how to be a good king.”

God was pleased with my prayer. God said, “I will give you what you asked for. I will help you know what is right and do it. I will help you know what is wrong and not do it. I will show you how to be a good king.” God was so happy that I asked for these things that He gave me other good things too.

God heard my prayer. God gave me what I asked for. Some people call me the wisest king who ever lived. They call me this because God taught me what to do and helped me do it. God taught me what not to do and helped me not do it. God showed me how to be a good king. Thank You, God, that we can talk to You and that You hear us when we pray.

APPLY:

Take off your crown. What was the name of the king who prayed to God? What did King Solomon ask God for? Did God hear King Solomon’s prayer? Yes, God heard King Solomon’s prayer and God answered it. What are some things you pray about? Does God hear your prayers? Yes, God hears you when you pray and He will answer your prayers.

MEMORY VERSE:

The Bible tells us that God made the world. The Bible says, “I pray to you, Lord.“ Psalm 69:13 Can you say those words with me? Say them louder. Say them softer.

ACTIVITY:

Have children get the dolls ready for bed. They can use the wet washcloths to wash the dolls faces and dry them with a towel. They can comb the dolls hair, give the dolls a bottle and wrap them in a blanket. Remind children to pray with their dolls before putting them to bed. Jesus prayed to God at night. Solomon prayed to God at night. Our Bible verse says, “I pray to you, Lord.” We can talk to God at night. What do you do before you go to sleep? I take a bath, brush my teeth and brush my hair. Before I fall asleep, I pray and talk to God.

GAME:

Jesus liked to talk to God in the morning. King Solomon liked to talk to God at nighttime. Any time of the day is a good time to pray. Our Bible verse say, “I pray to you, Lord.” Have children say the Bible verse together several times. Let’s play a game. When I say, “Jesus prayed in the morning.” You stretch and yawn and take a “baby step.” When I say, “Solomon prayed at night,” you put your hands by your face like you are sleeping and take a “medium step.” When I say our Bible verse, “I pray to you, Lord,” you say, “I pray to you, Lord” and take a “giant step” with each word you say. Have the children start at one end of the room. When they all reach the finish point, have them turn around and go back to the starting point.

PRETEND:

Before class, make a crown for each child. If you cannot take a walk outside, gather the following items: flowers, leaves, tree limb or bark. Solomon was a very wise king. He liked to talk to God. He ws a very wise king because he prayed to God. Let’s pretend we are King Solomon. Let’s take a walk in our palace gardens. What kinds of things do kings wear? Yes, kings wear royal robes and crowns. I have a crown for each one of you. Adjust a crown to fit each child’s head and then tape it together. If dress up clothes are available, have children put them on. Take the group on a walk outside the building if possible. If not, display the items you gathered. Give each child a magnifying glass or let several children share one. Have children look at the grass, trees, leaves, limbs, bark, flowers, etc. God made the leaves. Look how pretty they are. Thank You, God, for the leaves. Do this for each item.

NEED:

Crown

Bible

Dolls

Bottles

Wet washcloths

Towels

Hairbrushes or combs

Blankets or pillows

Construction or heavy paper – GOLD or yellow

Crown pattern

Tape

Magnifying glasses

Dress up clothes (optional)

WE CAN SHARE AT CHURCH

by Kimber Bailey Scott

Exodus 35:4-29; 39:42-43

SING: 

 I’m Big Enough to Share (tune: row, row, row your boat)

I will share at church. I will share at church.

I am big enough to share. I will share at church.

RHYME: 

 Sharing

This is my book; I’ll open it wide, To show you the pictures that are inside.

This is my ball, so big and round. We can toss it in the air or roll it on the ground.

This is my umbrella; it can keep us both dry When raindrops fall from the cloudy sky. – Adapted

(Do motions the words suggest.)

PRAY: 

We’ve been singing and rhyming about sharing with our friends. Our Bible verses tells us “Be…kind”. Say this rhyme: When I pray, I fold my hands (fold hands) and close my eyes; (close eyes) I talk to God, and He hears me. – Jean Katt Thank You, God, that we are growing big enough to share. In Jesus’ name, amen.

LESSON:

I have something to share with you. Give each child a play necklace (lei, Mardi Gras, etc.). Give 2 to one child and ask them to share one with you. Thank You, Zach, for sharing! I am happy that you shared with me! Let’s listen to a story from the Bible about a time when people brought pretty things to share at God’s house.

God told a man named Moses, “Tell my people to build a big tent-church. It will be called a tabernacle.” Can you say that with me? Tab-er-nacle. Good! God said, “After the people build the tent-church, (tabernacle) they can go there to sing and pray to me.” Drape a blanket or sheet over a table or several charis to build a tabernacle.

Moses told the people that God wanted them to build a beautiful tent-church (tabernacle) where people would come to pray and sing to Him. Moses said, “Everyone who wants to help build this beautiful tabernacle should bring a gift.” So the people brought gold, silver and sparkling jewels display jewelry. They brought earrings and bracelets show more jewelry. Some people brought beautiful cloth scarves. Some people brought oil and spices that smelled good bundles of potpourri or spices. Hand each child a “gift.” Keep one and lead the children to the “tabernacle.” Leave the gifts inside or decorate the tabernacle with them. The people built the beautiful tabernacle with their gifts just as God had told them. The people were happy. They were glad to share.

APPLY:

Pick up a gift that was placed in or on the tabernacle. What do I have? Gift, necklace, cloth, etc. We pretended to take our gifts to help build a tent-church tabernacle for God. Who can point to what the people of God shared?...Point to the place where the people shared their gifts…Show/tell me how sharing made the people feel? Children make happy faces. What can you share at church? Help the children think of books, crayons, blocks, etc. How do you feel when someone shares a book with you?...Yes, happy. And how do you feel when you share something with someone else?...Happy! Sharing makes everyone feel happy.

MEMORY VERSE: 

The Bible says, “Be…kind“ Ephesians 4:32 Can you say those words with me? Say them louder. Say them softer. Give each one a Bible (or share) & ask each to say, “Be…kind“ Ephesians 4:32

BOOKS: 

Read a book to them about sharing and/or manners. Find one of these in a library near you or on the internet. SHARING examples: Colors & Shapes to Share, Fun with Lacey, Sharing time, Share & Take Turns, One for Me One for You, Emily’s Sharing & Caring Book, I am Sharing by Mercer Mayer, etc. MANNERS examples: Manners by Aliki, Manners can be fun by Munro Leaf, The Berenstain Bears forget their Manners, Manners Time by Elizabeth Verdick, This Little Piggy’s book of Manners by Kathryn Madeline Allen, Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank You Book, A Child’s book of Manners by Ruth Shannon Odor, etc.

ACTIVITY:

Seat children in a circle. Hand baby dolls and blankets to two children. Let’s sing a song about baby Jesus! Encourage the kids with babies to rock while a lullaby is sung. Sing these words to the tune of “Are You Sleeping?”

I love Jesus, I love Jesus. He’s God’s Son! He’s God’s Son!

Mary rocked Him gently, Mary rocked Him gently. He’s God’s Son! He’s God’s Son!

When the song is finished encourage children with dolls to share by letting other children rock the babies while the group sings the lullaby again. Repeats as needed. I see Elizabeth sharing her doll with Lori! God is helping her grow big enough to share. When we share with our friends at church we are listening to God’s Word. Remember our memory verse? “Be…kind.”

SING: I Can Share (tune: Deep & Wide)

I can share. (point to self)

You can share. (point to others)

We are growing big enough to share. (Spread arms wide)

I can share. (point to self)

You can share. (point to others)

We are growing big enough to share! (clap hands in rhythm)

Share at home (make house with fingers)

Share with friends. (point to a friend)

We are growing big enough to share (stand up big and tall)

Share at home (make house with fingers)

Share with friends. (point to a friend)

NEED:

Bible

A book on Sharing or Manners

2 Baby dolls or stuffed animals

2 baby blankets or towels

Play necklaces (lei, Mardi Gras, etc.)

Sheet or blanket

Table or chairs

Bring earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc.

Bring a scarf or two.

Bundles of potpourri or spices