Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! 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 boys and girls! Pastor, I have a question for you.
Pastor: I am ready for your question, Sammy.
Sammy: What are taxes?
Pastor: Well, paying taxes means that adults give part of the money we earn to the government.
Sammy: You give money to the government?
Pastor: Yes. When adults go to work, they earn money, and part of the money they earn goes to the government. Most of us don’t even see the money that goes to the government. They take it from our paychecks.
Sammy: They steal your money?!
Pastor: No, it’s not stealing our money. We are required to give some of our money in taxes.
Sammy: But what does the government do with the money?
Pastor: Well, some of the money is used for building roads, improving schools, and helping people in need.
Sammy: We help people in need at church.
Pastor: Yes we do. One of the things we do as a church is we give money as an offering to the church and to God.
Sammy: Hang on. Adults give money to taxes and to the church? Do they have any money left?
Pastor: Yes they do. The church uses the money from gifts to serve and love God and the people in our community of faith. Boys and girls, what are some of the things we do as a church to help people?
[Allow time for responses]
Sammy: These are all great ministries and events in our church.
Pastor: Yes they are. We have to remember that even our time is a gift. When Jesus talks about giving to God what belongs to him, he doesn’t just mean our money. He wants us to give him our time. When we help with ministries at church, or we sing in the children’s choir, or we read our Bibles, we are giving God our time.
Sammy: I like that we can give God our time–I don’t have much money at all.
Pastor: That’s okay, Sammy. You know what? Let’s all give God our time right now. Boys and girls, will you please pray with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for our country. Thank you for our church. Help us to give our time and our gifts. Amen.
Sammy: Bye, everyone!
Pastor: Bye, Sammy!
