Faith Formation Journeys

Walking Together in Grace

Author: gb

  • Children’s Sermon June 24, 2012 Mark 4:35-41

    Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

    Preparation: This is optional. You can do this without props. small boat sheets or blue paper to make waves and helpers to stand outside the circle of children and make the waves cups of water for the helpers to sprinkle a small amount of water on the kids.

    Faith+Open: Gather the children. Today our gospel reading is one where Jesus is with the disciples and they decide to go out in a boat together. Have any of you ever been in a boat? Was it like this? (show them your tiny boat) No that would be silly for people to get in a boat this small.

    Faith+Share: But we are going to pretend that we are in this boat and we are going to make a storm. So pretend you are in the boat and it’s nice and calm, you are enjoying the sun and the rocking of the waves. Everybody rocking gently. Now there is a little trinkle of sound… do you hear it? (star rubbing your hands together then have everyone join you). Oh my it’s getting a bit louder. (start snapping your fingers then have everyone join you). Now the wind is starting…(have everyone join in you rocking harder and make wind noise. If you have helpers this is the time for them to start really making the sheets or paper go) Now it’s a big storm (stomp feet and have everyone join you… if you have helpers this is the time to splash a sprinkle of water on the group and you keep talking, summing up the story or pause for the giggles then tell the rest)

    The disciples were in this kind of storm where they were getting wet and knocked around and we are having fun with our storm but the real storm was probably very scary. Jesus says, “Peace be calm” and everything stops. (have everyone stop, try it again if it doesn’t work) Now, when I want something to stop I shout STOP! But Jesus said ‘peace, be calm’ I think he said that to show how he was command over the storm and also to give us words to know when we are afraid. Peace and be calm remind us that there is no storm Jesus can’t stop and that we are never alone no matter how scared we are. (if you have time you can ask about what kinds of things are scary to them and have them rehears the words Peace Be Calm)

    Faith+Prayer: Jesus, you give us good words of love. Peace, Be Calm. Show us that you are with us all the time and that we are loved. Amen

    Faith+Blessing: May you know the Holy Spirit’s peace and calm today and always

    LB – Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

  • Children’s Sermon Pentecost 3B 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

    Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

    Preparation: crown (paper is fine), robe (shawl or scarf works), oil or lotion.

    Faith+Open: Gather the children to you. I’m wondering, how do you know if someone is anointed? Hmm, well what does anointed mean? I think that kings and queens are anointed… how do you know if someone is king or queen? (take some answers but move along in your out loud wondering). Yes, you might know if they have on a crown like they do in storybooks (put crown on your head or head of a child) or maybe a robe (put shawl on shoulders)… you know anointing is more than just clothes though. When someone is anointed it means they have been marked for something special.

    Faith+Share: In our scriptures we hear about a boy named David who was anointed by God to be king. A priest named Samuel came looking for a king for Israel who would love and obey God. He went to a man named Jesse who had many sons. After Samuel had met all the oldest sons and he asked if there were any more and Jesse said, ‘well yes, but he is young and small and taking care of the sheep.’ Samuel wanted to meet him anyway and when David came, SAmuel knew that this was the one whom God would choose to make king. So Samuel anointed David with oil, he took oil and marked his head with it and some time later David did grow to be king. 

    **as an alternate or if you have a longer children’s church time you can read from Spark Storybook Bible or from Jesus Storybook Bible or other children’s bible to tell the story.

    We are anointed by God too… not to be king of Israel, but to be marked as someone special, a child of God. We are anointed with water or even with oil in our baptisms when we say, “child of God you are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever” This means that we are God’s child no matter what our whole lives. It is a reminder that we belong to God and that God loves us. Now, look at my forehead, can you see where I was marked? (show your forehead)… No… it is not like a crown or a robe that we can always see. But we know that it is there and we know that we are called to live as God’s children in the world.

    I have oil/lotion here as a way to help you remember and to anoint you today. Mark each child with oil or lotion on their hand or forehead.
    **or invite them to dip their fingers in the baptismal font and mark themselves.
    **or teach them about the anointing station you will have later in the service and invite them forward.
    **or pass out a small bottle of lotion to each one and have them rub into their own hands as a reminder of anointing

    Faith+Prayer: Holy God, we are your children. We thank you and praise you for being our God. Help us remember that you have loved us and anointed us to be your child forever. Amen

    Faith+Blessing: May the mighty wind of the Holy Spirit set your Faith on Fire!

    ~LB

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