Scripture: Matthew 5: 1-12 (for Proper text Matthew 25 click here)
Preparation: visual aids of a Bible and a map
Faith+Open: Gather the children with you. Have you ever been lost? I have! One time I took a wrong turn going home and ended up on the wrong road. I knew that I had to find the right road to get home. I was by myself too so I didn’t have anyone to help me. It was a little scary but I was able to find the right road after looking for a while. I did have a map with me so that I could read it and find the right way to go. (or tell a story of time YOU really were Lost!) Show them the map and say this might have helped you!
Faith+Share: We heard the word “blessed” a lot in this story this morning (or we will hear when we read the Gospel) and one meaning of that word is “you are on the right road.” (From the Hebrew) When we follow Jesus we know that we are on the right road. But how can we know that we are on the right road? Or what happens if we don’t know how to follow Jesus? Well, God gave us a kind of map to help us. When we read the Bible we can learn about God and this can help us follow Jesus. And even better God gave us family and friends to be on the journey with us. When we are all together we can help each other follow Jesus. When we pray together, read the Bible together, sing, play, work together, in all of those things we can follow Jesus!
Show the Bible during this part of relating it to being a map
Today we spend time remembering those who have died this year. We do this as a way to remember their life and their walk with God. They are people who we love and we miss and we remember today in the ways that they showed us God and lived following Jesus. (you may want to take time here to hear from the children about anyone or a pet they have lost and invite them to pray for or remember them today in worship through lighting a candle or whatever your ritual may be)
Faith+Prayer:
Jesus, you have come so that we can know God and know how to follow you. Help us on our paths each day to see and show your love. Amen
Faith+Blessing: Remember God is with us always. Make sign of cross together saying:
God in my head
God in my heart
God on my left
God on my right
Extension Ideas:
1. Have children share someone or a pet they have lost. Listen to their stories and pray for their remembrances
2. Including children in a lighting of candles ritual