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 everyone! Good to see everyone! Tell me about your summer so far? How was Vacation Bible School?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: I am glad that everyone is doing well and that you are having a great summer. What are some of the foods you’re enjoying this summer?

Sammy: Well, at the farm the grazing is delightful! There’s wonderful plants growing in abundance over the summer. I enjoy eating a lot.

Pastor: Me, too. I don’t graze like you, but I do eat special foods in the summer time.

Sammy: What kinds of foods?

Pastor: I eat BBQ, grilled foods, sweet corn, fresh watermelon, peaches.

Sammy: That all sounds delicious!

Pastor: Summer is a great time of year. The fresh food is in abundance and thanks to our local farmers and gardeners, there’s plenty to eat.

Sammy: In a week we will really get to see the abundance of food growing in our county at the County Fair! I can’t wait to go! I heard all about the fair on the farm.

Pastor: You know, all of this talk of food reminds me of the Gospel story for today. Jesus met with a large crowd and was healing the sick and talking with them for the day. When evening came, the people were hungry.

Sammy: Was there a meadow nearby?

Pastor: A meadow? 

Sammy: For grazing. 

Pastor: People don’t graze. They need food that’s not hay and grass.

Sammy: Oh. I forgot. Well, what did they eat?

Pastor: All the disciples had was five loaves of bread and two fish.

Sammy: That doesn’t sound too bad. That could feed a few people.

Pastor: That’s right, but Jesus wanted to feed more than 5,000 people. That’s more than a few. That’s more people than we have for church right now.

Sammy: Wow! How did Jesus feed all of the hungry people?

Pastor: Jesus blessed and broke the loaves and gave the food to the people to eat. All of the people ate and they were all full. And there were leftovers!

Sammy: I love leftovers!

Pastor: Me too! Does anyone else love leftovers?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: Thank you all for sharing this time with me. Jesus is God. He provides everything we need and he surely loves us. Will you all please fold your hands, bow your heads, and repeat after me? Dear Jesus, thank you for giving us good food. Thank you for miracles. Thank you for being with us and healing us. We love you. Amen.

Scripture:

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Script:

Sammy: Good morning everyone! 

Pastor: We have VBS happening at our church this week.

Sammy: It’s going to be so exciting.

Pastor: I am looking forward to traveling to Ireland with all of the boys and girls tomorrow. And you know, it’s not too late to sign up and join us in the adventure to Emerald Crossing.

Sammy: How do we sign up?

Pastor: Ask your family to go online to our church website. You can also come talk to me or Mr. Scott after church today.

Sammy: You know, Pastor, I am a little nervous about VBS.

Pastor: Why’s that?

Sammy: Every year I go to VBS, I meet new people.

Pastor: And?

Sammy: That’s it. I just get nervous to meet new people.

Pastor: You know, Jesus talks about how we are going to live in our world. He tells a story, a parable, about a man who plants seed that is good. And then an enemy comes in and plants a bunch of weeds in a field.

Sammy: Why would an enemy do that?

Pastor: That’s what enemies do. They do bad things on purpose to hurt us on purpose.

Sammy: That’s terrible.

Pastor: I know, but Jesus has a plan. He protects the wheat and when harvest time comes, he gathers the wheat into the barn. 

Sammy: I am glad that this story has a happy ending, and I am glad that we have Jesus in our lives, but what does this parable have to do with me being nervous about VBS this week?

Pastor: Well, Jesus is reminding us that just like the wheat and weeds, we as believers grow up and live with nonbelievers. We are either children of God, or we are not. So as children of God, we have to remember that we are living among people who love God, and we are living among people who don’t love God.

Sammy: What does that mean?

Pastor: At VBS this week, and at preschool and elementary school in about a month, you are going to be in groups and classes with other children who are believers and who love God. You are also going to be in groups and class with other children who are not believers and who do not love God.

Sammy: How can other children not love God?

Pastor: Sometimes they don’t know about God. We have to remember that not everyone teaches their children about Jesus, but we can.

Sammy: We can?

Pastor: Well, in church we share the love of Jesus every week. In preschool or school, you can tell others that Jesus loves them. This week at VBS, make a new friend. And you can tell your new friend that Jesus loves him or her, too.

Sammy: I like that plan. I can tell my new friends at VBS that Jesus loves them.

Pastor: That’s great! Boys and girls, will you pray with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for helping us to make new friends. Help us to tell others about you. Please help us as we go to VBS, school, and work. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone! 

Pastor: How are you doing, Sammy?

Sammy: I am doing great, Pastor. 

Pastor: That is good to hear, Sammy. 

Sammy: Pastor, I was listening to the parable this morning. Jesus was talking a lot about seeds.

Pastor: Yes, Jesus is telling the parable of the sower. A parable is a story, and a sower is someone who spreads seeds in the ground.

Sammy: And then the seeds grow up into plants!

Pastor: Most of the time, yes, the seeds do grow into plants. Boys and girls, what kinds of plants do you have in your garden or yard?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: Thank you all for sharing with me. I have another question for you: How many of you have ever planted a seed that didn’t grow? What do you think happened?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: I watch Farmer Matthew plant seeds. A lot of his seeds do grow, but sometimes there’s weeds that take over part of the farm. Or sometimes birds eat the seeds. And sometimes Farmer Matthew misses the part of the farm that he plowed, and the seeds just fall on a bunch of rocks. That’s so silly.

Pastor: I think you are onto something, Sammy.

Sammy: I am?

Pastor: Yes–you really were listening to the parable of the sower that Jesus shared with his disciples. When we hear our families read the Bible to us, we need to remember that we have to ask questions if we don’t understand something. That way nobody can take away our faith.

Sammy: That makes sense to me–I have lots of questions.

Pastor: And when the seeds are sown on rocks, that is like when people lose their faith when something bad or difficult happens in their lives.

Sammy: You know, I tend to pray more when bad or difficult things happen in my life. I look at those times as a chance to listen more closely to what Jesus is saying to me.

Pastor: That’s a great way to pray. We want to be good soil; we want to hear the Word of God and stand firm in our faith. When we love Jesus and listen to what he is saying to us, we can grow and produce fruit.

Sammy: I love fruit! 

Pastor: Me too, Sammy. Jesus wants us to share the Gospel with everyone we meet. That’s what bearing fruit is all about. Boys and girls, will you please pray with me? Let’s fold our hands and bow our heads. Dear Jesus, Thank you for teaching us through parables. Help us to produce good fruit. Thank you for your Word. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Matthew 10:40-42

Sammy: Good morning everyone! 

Pastor: How are you doing, Sammy?

Sammy: I’m thirsty, Pastor.

Pastor: You’re thirsty?

Sammy: Yes, I need water. Can I have some water?

Pastor: I don’t have any water to give you. There’s a water fountain in the hallway.

Sammy: Even if I use the stool, I still can’t reach the water fountain. I’m thirsty, Pastor. I need a drink. Boys and girls, have you ever needed a drink? Maybe right before bedtime?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: I don’t have a drink for you, Sammy.

Sammy: Well, Jesus says if you give me a drink then you get a treat. I am just trying to help you out, Pastor.

Pastor: Oh, Sammy. Jesus is talking about how we should treat each other.

Sammy: I know that. I am a little one. I am thirsty. I would like a drink. I can’t reach the water fountain. Nobody is sharing a cup of water with me. 

Pastor: Hang on, Sammy. You are missing the point. 

Sammy: I don’t think so. I think I understand the point perfectly. I’m thirsty. I need a drink. You give me a drink. You get a treat. 

Pastor: Jesus is talking about how we should treat each other. People did not always treat Jesus or the disciples very nicely. There were men who brought God’s word to people. These men were called prophets. A lot of times, prophets spoke words of truth that were hard for people to hear. Sometimes, people listened to prophets, and sometimes they just got mad at the prophets.

Sammy: What does this all have to do with my drink?

Pastor: I am getting to that part. Jesus shows us that we need to be loving and welcoming to strangers and to people that are little. 

Sammy: I am little!

Pastor: Yes you are. Jesus is talking about how we need to focus on listening to people who follow God and we need to focus on loving and serving the littlest people in our lives–children.

Sammy: That makes sense to me.

Pastor: I don’t have a drink for you, Sammy. But I think after church I can help you get one. 

Sammy: That sounds great, Pastor.

Pastor: Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for encouraging us to love and serve each other. Help us to always listen to you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-39

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 everyone! Did you bring your sword, Pastor?

Pastor: My sword?

Sammy: Yes your sword. I thought you could show the boys and girls the sword I found the other day.

Pastor: Yes. I remember that day. You were wandering around my yard and I invited you in for a drink.

Sammy: Yes you did. I was a thirsty lamb. You have good water.

Pastor: After you got your drink, you wandered around the house.

Sammy: Yes I did. I found all sorts of wonderful things in your house. So many fun toys and the sword. Show them the sword.

[If you have a play sword, a picture of a sword, etc. share this item with the children]

Pastor: Here is the sword.

Sammy: That’s a great sword!

Pastor: You know, Sammy, it’s great that you found this sword in my house ahead of this Gospel reading today.

Sammy: It is?

Pastor: Yes it is. Today in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.”

Sammy: What does that mean? What is Jesus saying?

Pastor: Jesus is talking about how when people believe in him, they sometimes have family and friends that don’t believe in him.

Sammy: Some of my family members don’t believe in Jesus. It’s hard for me to talk to them sometimes about how much I love Jesus.

Pastor: Don’t be discouraged, Sammy. When Jesus came to earth the first time, he brought a sword, and people were divided against one another. When Jesus comes back to create a new Heaven and a new Earth, we will have peace.

Sammy: I look forward to that day, Pastor. But until then, maybe hang on tight to that sword.

Pastor: I will, Sammy. Boys and girls, can you please pray with me? Let’s fold our hands and bow our heads. Dear Jesus, help us to pray for peace among our friends and family. We thank you Jesus for your love. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Matthew 28:16-20

Sammy: Good morning everyone! 

Pastor: How are you doing, Sammy?

Sammy: I am doing well, but I am a little confused.

Pastor: What are you confused about, Sammy?

Sammy: What does authority mean? 

Pastor: That’s a great question, Sammy. Boys and girls, let’s try to help Sammy understand this word.

Sammy: Wait–I have a guess. 

Pastor: Go ahead, Sammy. What do you think authority means?

Sammy: Well, you heat up water on the stove, and then you get a mug, and you put dried leaves in the mug. Author-it-tea.

Pastor: That’s not right, Sammy.

Sammy: Well, it was worth a try.

Pastor: It’s always a good idea to try. Even if you are wrong. Still try. Anyway, boys and girls, what do you think authority means?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: I love all of these answers. Authority means that person is in charge. He or she is given something to rule or command. And everyone needs to look to that person for where to go or for what to do.

Sammy: So what is Jesus given authority of?

Pastor: Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” All authority. Everything in Heaven and on Earth belongs to Jesus.

Sammy: Woah. Everything?

Pastor: Everything.

Sammy: Everything? Are you sure?

Pastor: Sammy, Jesus is God. Everything belongs to him. Everything in Heaven and everything on Earth.

Sammy: Pastor, that means all of us belong to Jesus too.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. Jesus has authority over our good days, our bad days, our happy moments, and our sad moments. He is with us at school, on the playground, at church. There is nothing too big or too small for Jesus. He has authority over everything.

Sammy: I have so much peace knowing that Jesus has authority over everything. That means, no matter what, he is King.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. Boys and girls, will you pray with me? Dear Jesus, we thank you for your authority. We praise you for your love and for holding our lives in your hands. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture: John 20:19-23

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 everyone! 

Pastor: Peace be with you, Sammy.

Sammy: Peace be with you, too, Pastor. Hey, Pastor?

Pastor: Yes, Sammy?

Sammy: We say, “Peace be with you” during church, and Jesus says “Peace be with you a lot.” Today he said “Peace be with you” to his disciples.

Pastor: All of what you said is true, Sammy.

Sammy: So what does “Peace be with you” mean? I hear this phrase every Sunday, but I just don’t get it. I don’t go around greeting animals at the farm saying, “Peace be with you” to them. And when I go to the farmer’s market, the farmers don’t say, “Peace be with you” to each other. I hear a lot of “Good morning!” and “How are you?” and “What’s up?” but not ever “Peace be with you” until I come to church. So what does it mean and why do we say it?

Pastor: That’s a great question, Sammy. Boys and girls, what does “Peace be with you” mean?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: Thank you for all of the wonderful answers. Sammy, “Peace be with you” is a very special phrase. “Peace be with you” is a blessing. We are asking God to give a blessing of peace to others, and we are praying for peace between us and our neighbors. Church is a great place to share peace. But we can share peace with each other anywhere we go.

Sammy: That makes sense to me. I like that I can share peace with my friends and neighbors. 

Pastor: Something else that is really important about the Gospel reading for today is that Jesus gives his disciples the Holy Spirit. 

Sammy: That’s an incredible gift!

Pastor: Yes, the Holy Spirit is a gift Jesus gives us now. When we follow Jesus, we get to experience the peace of the Holy Spirit.

Sammy: I like that. Peace be with you, Pastor.

Pastor: Peace be with you, Sammy. Boys and girls, we are going to pray, and then I would like you to say, “Peace be with you” to someone on your way back to your seat. Let’s practice. Ready? Peace be with you. Nice job! Let’s bow our heads and fold our hands. Dear Jesus, thank you for your peace. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sammy: Peace be with you.

Pastor: Peace be with you.

Scripture: Luke 24:44-53

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 everyone! 

Pastor: Today is a special day, Sammy.

Sammy: Yes it is. We have church today!

Pastor: Yes, Sammy. And today at church it is Ascension Sunday.

Sammy: What does that mean?

Pastor: Well today we read a passage from the Gospel of Luke about Jesus ascending into Heaven.

Sammy: Ascending. Ascending. Boys and girls, can you try that word with me? Ascending. Ascending. What does ascending mean? 

Pastor: Ascending means that Jesus went up into Heaven while the disciples were looking at him.

Sammy: Oh I think I get it! Jesus was standing on the ground and then he started floating in the air and then he went into Heaven.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy.

Sammy: That’s kind of like this one time I was standing on a sidewalk with a balloon.

Pastor: What does a balloon have to do with Jesus?

Sammy: Hang on, Pastor. I am getting to that part. So I was standing on a sidewalk with a red balloon, and then all of a sudden, I let the balloon go.

Pastor: Boys and girls, what do you think happened to Sammy’s red balloon?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: These are good answers.

Sammy: My balloon floated up and up and then I couldn’t see it anymore. I don’t know where it went, but it went up really far.

Pastor: Jesus ascended just like your balloon, Sammy, but Jesus went to Heaven. Most balloons that float away from us pop and the pieces come back down. Or they get stuck somewhere.

Sammy: I miss my red balloon. Do you think the disciples missed Jesus?

Pastor: I think they missed him in a way, but you know, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with the disciples. And Jesus promised to always be with them. He was with the disciples, and he is here with us today.

Sammy: I love that Jesus is always with us.

Pastor: Me too. Let’s pray. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for coming to earth as a tiny baby. Thank you for choosing to die on the cross for our sins. Thank you for showing us your glory in beating death, rising again, and ascending to Heaven. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture: John 14:15-21

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 everyone! Today is a special day! Today is Mother’s Day!

Pastor: Happy Mother’s Day to all of our church mamas out there. 

Sammy: You know what’s great, Pastor?

Pastor: What is that, Sammy?

Sammy: I have a mama at home, but here at church, I have many mamas and grandmas that God gave me. We all believe in God, and we are a church family. I love looking around at my family here at _______ (church name).

Pastor: That’s a gift, Sammy. Boys and girls, what are some of the things your mamas and grandmas do for you because they love you?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: Those are all great answers. My mom helps me _______. 

Sammy: Pastor?

Pastor: Yes, Sammy?

Sammy: What is an avocado?

Pastor: An avocado is a fruit that grows on a tree.

Sammy: No. No. Let me try again. What is an ad-vo-cat? 

Pastor: An ad-vo-cat?

Sammy: Yes, an ad-vo-cat.

Pastor: I don’t think that’s anything, Sammy. I think you are making up words.

Sammy: I am not making up words. You were the one who read the Gospel, Pastor.

Pastor: Oh! You mean an advocate. Jesus is talking about an advocate, Sammy.

Sammy: Phew! I was worried that you were not going to understand me, Pastor. So what is an advocate.

Pastor: An advocate is someone who speaks on our behalf and who watches out for us. In the Gospel, the Advocate Jesus is talking about is the Holy Spirit. Jesus has to go back to Heaven, and he promises his disciples, and us, too, that he is not going to leave us alone. 

Sammy: But he left!

Pastor: Right, but the Holy Spirit is with us always. God is always with us.

Sammy: I am glad he is with me and that he is my advocate.

Pastor: Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us because he loves us. Just like our mamas love us. Just like our church family loves us. We are given these gifts from God because his love for us is so great, it is more than we can ever imagine. 

Sammy: That’s a whole lot of love. I love that Jesus sent an advocate for me. And I love that he gave me my mama, and our whole church, too.

Pastor: Let’s pray together. Can everyone please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, Thank you for your Holy Spirit. Thank you for mamas.  Thank you for our church family. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, everyone!

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 everyone! Is it still, Easter, Pastor?

Pastor: Yes, it is still the Easter season, Sammy.

Sammy: Oh good! I just love Easter.

Pastor: Me too, Sammy. The Easter message is very special to us as believers in Jesus.

Sammy: Why is that?

Pastor: Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again after three days. These events are important because Jesus paid the price for our sins with his blood.

Sammy: You know, Pastor, I noticed that even though Jesus talks a lot about his death on the cross and how he will rise again after three days, a lot of people were not paying attention.

Pastor: Yes a lot of people either were not paying attention or they heard the message and they didn’t understand. 

Sammy: Just like Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas.

Pastor: Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas?

Sammy: You know? From the Gospel reading today? There was a man walking to a place called Emmaus.

Pastor: Yes that’s Cleopas.

Sammy: Mr. Cleopas. And the other person was his wife. Mrs. Cleopas.

Pastor: That’s a good theory, Sammy. The second person with Cleopas isn’t mentioned by name, so there are a lot of guess about who it could be.

Sammy: Well, I like Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas. But you know, I don’t understand what happened. How come they didn’t recognize Jesus until he broke bread and blessed the bread?

Pastor: That’s a really good question. Jesus breaks bread with many people all throughout the Gospels. He eats with his disciples, with tax collectors, and with over five thousand people, on two separate occasions. That’s a lot of people.

Sammy: And all of those people saw Jesus bless and break the bread before they ate it with him.

Pastor: That’s right. So Jesus talked to Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas a long time, but they didn’t truly see who he was until he blessed and broke the bread. And then he disappeared.

Sammy: He did?

Pastor: Yes, but he appeared to many others. 

Sammy: I just love Easter. I love that we can find Jesus in unexpected places.

Pastor: Yes we can. Boys and girls, will you please pray with me? Will you please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, Thank you for Easter. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Thank you for rising to life so that we may have life in you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!