Children’s Sermon for November 11, 2012 - Pentecost 24, year B, Mark 12:38-44

Scripture Focus: Mark 12:38-44

Prepare:  Get enough pennies for each child to have 2 pennies.

Faith+Open:  As you welcome the children, ask them to think about all the things that they and their household own.  Give them a minute to think and then suggest things that they may not have thought of, like the family car, their bed, the washing machine, etc.

Faith+Share:  Wow, we have a lot of stuff, don’t we!  That makes 

me feel pretty good, except . . .

Today we hear a story about Jesus people-watching outside the temple.  He sees some scribes and talks about how they seem to brag about how good they are.  They wear fancy clothes, get the best places to sit, they even show off when they pray!  Jesus says, that’s not so good, they shouldn’t be showing off like that.

Then, he sees a widow.  A widow was one of the poorest kinds of people in Jesus’ time.  Widows are women whose husbands have died.  It’s still really sad today, but in Jesus’ time there were laws that made it very difficult for a woman to live without a husband.  The widow walked up quietly and put two small coins into the offering (hold up two pennies).  The story says that both of her coins together were worth less than one of these pennies.  Then Jesus says the craziest thing.  He says that the widow gave more than anyone else!  Wait, she gave less than a penny, how can that be more than anyone else?

Jesus says that all the other people gave out of their abundance.  Or to put it another way, that the other people have lots of stuff, like you and me, and they gave just a very small part of what they had, but the widow put all that she had to live on in the offering, she kept nothing for herself.  That would be like you and I bringing all that stuff we talked about to church and putting it in the offering plate . . . which probably wouldn’t work since I’m pretty sure that a washing machine won’t fit in the offering plate.

I brought some more pennies, enough for each of you to have two, so twice as much as the widow had! (pass out the pennies)  As you take your two pennies, think about this being all that you have to live on, to buy food, to buy clothes, to pay for shelter.  Not much, is it?  Today, when we get to offering time, I want you to put one penny in the plate, and keep one penny as a reminder of the story.

Faith+Prayer:  Loving God, we thank you for the blessings that you have given us; food to eat, warm places to sleep, and people who love us.  Teach us to share the amazing gifts that you have given to us with those who need them. Amen

Faith+Blessing:  May the God of abundance give you all you need.

~GB

Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply.

Weekly Devotion - November 11, 2012 - 24th Sunday after Pentecost - Lec 32B

Here is the Weekly devotion for the 24th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 32B - November 11, 2012

Did you miss a week?  Go to the Weekly Devotion page to download past weeks!

Children's Sermon All Saints Sunday 2012

Scripture: Isaiah 25: 6-9 or Revelation 21:1-6a

Preparation: A chair for every generation you have in your worshipping community and someone to represent them. There are 5-6ish living generations-depending on your source. Roughly: GI Generation (1901-1924), Silent (1925-1945), Baby Boomers (1946-1964), Gen X (1965-1985), Gen Y (1978-1990), Gen Z 1995-2007 or today)
Then 2 extra chairs-one on each end- to represent the generations that have all passed and the ones yet to be born.
You can prep people ahead or just call people forward to sit in their chair, whatever is more comfortable.

Faith+Gather: Gather the children with you and in front of the empty chairs (or if you would rather have the people in them already that is fine too).  Explain the chairs and generations to the children saying that they represent all the different ages living now.

Faith+Share: Ask them, "Why do we have empty chairs on each end?" Take their answers and guide them to understanding that the empty chairs show the generations of people who have not been born and also the ones that have all lived before us. Continue with a simple explanation of All Saints Day, "Today we are remembering all the people who have gone before us and specifically we will say the names of the people who died this year. We call this All Saints day not because they are people that never did anything wrong but because they were people who were important in teaching and living faith in God even t hough they had struggles and sorrows and joys just like we do. We take time to remember that God's promises are for us and that they have been passed down and told to us because of the generations before. And these living people--they are the saints that tell us the story now and share their faith with each other and with the next generations. And this other empty chair shows that there are people yet to be born that will need to hear the story. And who will tell them about God's promises and love?.... That's right, you and the others who are here to live and walk in faith with them."
Share the scripture: "God promises to bring new life to us here on earth and to restore us all together in God's kingdom. It's a promise for the future but it's also a promise for today that God is here with us and loving us all through our lives no matter our age."

Faith+Prayer: Let's pray together and then we will offer a blessing to all the generations. Jesus, you give us many people to share the story of God's love. Be with each person, young and old, and be with us today as we remember the people who have died and how you love them too. Amen

Faith+Blessing: Have the children stand and gather around the chairs placing their hands on heads and shoulders. Say this blessing together or have just the leaders say it:
May you know the love and presence of God who is here in all ages. Amen

~Idea submitted by Rev. Michael Stadtmueller, written by Rev. Leta Behrens
Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply

Children's Sermon Reformation John 8:31-36

Scripture: John 8:31-36
Preparation: symbols of freedom like: flag, Bible, peace signs, statue of liberty, cross, hymnal (the old red hymnal was a sign of freedom in Namibia, Africa as it was given to them in a time of occupation and war but was used to declare their freedom to have english as a common language when the country gained independence)

Faith+Gather: Gather the children with you and welcome them. Say, "I have some items with me today... let's see if we can figure out what they have in common" Have items in a bag or hidden and pull them out one at a time. Save Bible and/or cross for last. Ask kids to see if they can come up with their common element. Give them hints like, "What does this symbol mean?"

Faith+Share: After you have explored items for a minute say, "All these things are a little different and they do have different meanings, but one thing they have in common is that they bring to mind the word 'freedom'. See the flag is a symbol of freedom for our country and the statue of liberty is a symbol of welcome and freedom not only for us in the United States but to those who come from other places. I  also have the Bible here that is a different kind of symbol of freedom--this Bible is in English and did  you know that a long time the Bible was only written in Greek and then in Latin? So people who didn't know those languages could not read the Bible. Today we are talking about the day of reformation which is a day we remember a part of the history of our church but also a day that we look forward to how we are always being made new by Jesus. Part of the history of reformation is that a man named Martin Luther thought it was very important for everyone to be able to read the Bible and to teach their children what it says. So he translated the Bible and that is how the Bible is now  like a symbol of freedom because it means that we can all read and know the stories of God. I also have a cross here--in today's gospel Jesus says, 'The truth will make you free--you all sin and are not perfect and cannot be without sin, but I have come to make you free.' (paraphrase, you can read the scripture directly). Jesus went to the cross for you and for me and for all people, so this cross is a symbol of that freedom that we have through Jesus. It is freedom to love one another and help one another and tell the stories of the Bible to show God's love for the world."

Faith+Prayer: Let's pray together. Jesus, you make us free. Thank you for your love. Thank you for the Bible which tells us your story. Amen.

Faith+Blessing: Make the sign of the cross and say + May you know God's love and freedom today and always.

**Additional Idea: You could also do a children's message that simply explains parts of reformation and how the Bible got translated. You could show many Bibles and talk about how we use scripture all throughout worship. Then use stickers as suggested by Worshipping With Children at this link to have kids find places in the bulletin where there are words from the Bible.

~LB
Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply

Weekly Devotion - October 28th, 2012 - 22nd Sunday after Pentecost - Lec. 30B

Here is the Weekly devotion for the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Lec 30B - October 28, 2012

Did you miss a week?  Go to the Weekly Devotion page to download past weeks!

Children's Sermon Pentecost 21 Mark 10:35-45

Children's Sermon by guest writer Mary Stoneback who serves Ascension Lutheran church in Colorado Springs, CO. Thank you Mary! 

(if you would like to submit a children's sermon please email pastorleta@gmail.com)

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Faith+Gather: Gather the children together. Ask, Have you ever asked your parents for something and they said “no?” Maybe you asked for a new bike, a new outfit or maybe a chocolate chip cookie? Was it hard to understand why they said no?

Faith+Share: Today in Mark’s Gospel reading, two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John, asked Jesus for something very big. They asked Jesus to have a special place at Jesus’ right and left side when the disciples think he will be made king, to be his special assistants. What exactly are they asking for? It’s a little different than asking for a bike, an outfit or a cookie.

Well, the Disciples didn’t really know what they were asking for either and Jesus let them know this. In Jesus’ time, the Jewish people were made slaves, living under the rule of a bad Roman king and they desperately wanted to be freed from the meanness they experienced. The prophets in the Old Testament had told people about God’s plan for a new kind of Kingdom, the Messiah’s Kingdom. Jesus was their hope for a new future but it wasn’t the kind of kingdom they expected. Jesus’ kingdom didn’t have thrones and palaces like that of Rome. Instead, it was in the hearts of Jesus’ followers. And that’s not very easy to understand.

Jesus knew that James and John were willing and would experience really hard times because they were His followers but Jesus said, “no” to their request to sit to the right and left of Him when Jesus goes back to heaven because it wasn’t for Jesus to grant that request. Jesus knew what was best for them.

Just like James and John, we don’t have to fear asking God for anything. He hears us when we pray but the answer may not always be yes. God wants to give us what is best for us, not only what we want. Sometimes it may be really hard to hear “no” even if we ask for a cookie right after brushing out teeth but God says “no” sometimes for our own good, even when we don’t always understand why. 

Faith+Prayer: Dear God, thank you that we can talk with you like a parent or friend. We can ask you for help, for understanding and for the desires on our hearts. Thank you for listening to our prayers. Help us trust you, even when your answer is “no”.

Amen.

Faith+Blessing: Gracious God (pause) Help us to see you in our lives this week. 

Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply

Guest Writer: Mary Stoneback, Ascension Lutheran, Colorado Springs

www.ascensionlutheranelca.org/

Weekly Devotions - October 21, 2012 - 21st Sunday after Pentecost - Lectionary 29B

Here is the Weekly devotion for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, Lec 29B - October 21, 2012

Did you miss a week?  Go to the Weekly Devotion page to download past weeks!

Children's Sermon Pentecost 20 Hebrews 4:12-16 and Mark 10:17-31 October 14, 2012

Children's Sermon by guest writer Molly Sullivan who serves Lord of the Hills Lutheran Church in Centennial, CO. Thank you Molly! 

(if you would like to submit a children's sermon please email pastorleta@gmail.com)

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31

Preparation: Gather a “lovie.” Your favorite toy/stuffed animal/blanket from when you were a kid. You could also use one from your child, or a picture of yours, or just jog your memory and have a good description of yours ready.

Faith + Gather: Ask all God’s children to come have conversation with you. Invite them to sit around you. While they are coming up ask the children if they get allowance? Ask them what chores or duties they perform to receive this allowance? And then ask what they like to do with the money they receive from their allowance. (Allow several children to answer making sure to repeat their answers so the congregation can hear.)

Faith + Share: Our second reading this morning comes from the book in the Bible called Hebrews. This passage has lots of big words but basically tells us that God knows life is hard and he understands just how tough things can be sometimes. It says that God has been where we are in the form of Jesus.

Jesus knows how hard it sometimes is to follow Him. But do any of you know just how hard the Bible says it is? Our gospel text from the book of Mark explains it in an interesting way. Tell me what your “lovie” is. This is usually a stuffed animal, blanket or toy that is your favorite. (Bring yours, or a picture of yours, and show it to them as a prop). We love these things very much, don’t we? For grownups our favorite “lovie” sometime becomes money or “stuff.” People in American culture seem to think that the more stuff we have…the better. I want you to imagine giving away your “lovie,” your favorite blanket, your favorite stuffed animal, or toy. Would that be hard? Imagine someone who has lots of “lovies.” Fancy cars, lots of TV’s in their house, awesome clothes, cool toys, and the latest gadgets, anything you could ever want. Now imagine them giving that all away. That is super hard even to imagine right? The gospel story says entering God’s kingdom is just that hard. He likens it to a rich man giving up everything that is precious to him. Actually it says it is easier for a camel to fit through the hole in a needle. Funny to think about that huh? But you know what? That’s not the end of the story.

After Jesus says how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God the disciples say “Well I don’t think I can do that!” “How do we know who will be with God in eternity?” And guess what Jesus’ response is? If you do these things…meaning the really hard stuff, AND ASK ME TO HELP YOU…Then I will help you. And if you believe in me, that I am God’s Son, you will be blessed. Jesus doesn’t say it will be easy, but He says that by doing them “in His name” God will be with you.

Faith + Prayer: God in Heaven, Thank you for our favorite things. Help us to make your son Jesus one of our favorite things too. Please walk with us this week. We pray in Jesus name (and all God’s children said)…AMEN!

Faith + Blessing: Have the kids repeat: Gracious God (pause) Help us to see you in our lives this week. 

Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply

Guest Writer: Molly Sullivan, Lord the Hills ELCA Centennial, CO