Scripture
Mark 4:35-41
Script
Props: Disciples and boat. You will need the egg carton and the eggs labeled with the names of the disciples. You will also need bookmarks, one for each child. These are simple to make. Simply print the following on a long strip of cardstock. You can laminate, add ribbon, stickers, or an image from the computer on the bookmarks, or you can keep them simple with just the text. You may want to think about giving bookmarks to all members of the congregation as well.
Jesus cares about me.
Jesus gives me peace.
Jesus stills me.
Jesus calms me.
Jesus protects me.
Jesus gives me faith.
Because of Jesus, I don’t have to be afraid.
All of creation obeys Jesus.
Jesus loves me.
Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!
Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Pastor, let’s get out the disciples and their boat.
Pastor: Who here has seen the ocean or the bay before? What is the ocean/bay like?
[Allow time for responses]
Sammy: I love it when Farmer Mark takes me to the ocean.
Pastor: Farmer Mark takes you to the ocean, Sammy?
Sammy: I get around, Pastor.
Pastor: Our gospel reading today is about how Jesus calmed the sea.
Sammy: What happened?
Pastor: Jesus and his disciples were on a boat and Jesus was so tired that he fell asleep in the stern of the boat?
Sammy: What’s a stern?
Pastor: The stern is the back of the boat. Jesus fell asleep and the wind blew and the waves crashed against the boat. Then the boat began to fill up with water.
Sammy: Oh no! That sounds bad. Jesus had to be awake for all of that.
Pastor: He slept through everything.
Sammy: Boys and girls, why do you think Jesus slept through the bad storm with the wind and the waves and the water in the boat?
[Allow time for responses]
Pastor: Great answers, everyone! The disciples did wake Jesus up, and they said, “Jesus, don’t you care about us?” And Jesus told the wind and the waves to be still, and the storm stopped right away.
Sammy: Just like that?
Pastor: Everything was quiet. And Jesus asked his disciples two questions: “Why are you afraid?” and “Have you no faith?”
Sammy: There are many important things for us to remember about this passage from Mark.
Pastor: Well, I have a little gift for everyone. I have a bookmark for you all to remember Jesus’s promises to us based on this story. What does the bookmark say?
Jesus cares about me.
Jesus gives me peace.
Jesus stills me.
Jesus calms me.
Jesus protects me.
Jesus gives me faith.
Because of Jesus, I don’t have to be afraid.
All of creation obeys Jesus.
Jesus loves me.
Sammy: Can I say our prayer? Let’s bow our heads and fold our hands. Dear Jesus, Thank you for always being with us. Thank you for calming us. Thank you for faith. We love you. Amen. Bye, everyone! Enjoy the bookmarks!
Pastor: Bye, Sammy!
