Scripture: 

Luke 13:1-9

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Pastor, I have to tell you, this week has been challenging for me.

Pastor: Why is that, Sammy?

Sammy: Well, there just seems to be a lot happening in our country and our world right now. I mean, there always is a lot happening, but a little lamb like me has trouble processing everything that is going on. It’s overwhelming.

Pastor: Tell me about it, Sammy. But one thing that I can encourage you and all of the boys and girls here to do is just to worry about kid stuff. Focus on being kids.

Sammy: That sounds like a good plan to me.

Pastor: Jesus knew about the current events of his day. There was a lot of violence and bad things happening around him. He responded with encouragement and tried to help people see that they need to focus on their relationship with God.

Sammy: That’s a good thing to focus on. I think being closer to God will help me have more peace about what is going on in the world.

Pastor: Absolutely. And our God is a God of second chances and multiple opportunities. Boys and girls, can you think of a time when you made a mistake and your family or friends gave you another chance?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: I make mistakes all the time! I think one of my biggest mistakes was tipping over the water bucket onto Farmer Luke. He wasn’t happy with me, but he refilled the bucket, told me he forgave me, and gave me another chance to drink my water out of the bucket.

Pastor: That’s great, Sammy. It’s important that we have mercy on each other, just like God has mercy on us. Let’s pray together. Can everyone please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for your mercy and love. Please forgive us when we make mistakes. Help us to forgive each other when we make mistakes. Please keep our focus on you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture: 

Luke 13:31-35

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: [Doesn’t appear right away. Stays hidden.]

Pastor: Sammy? Sammy? Are you there? Hmmm. Maybe we need to try again boys and girls. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: [Peeking up and hiding again.] Shhhh!

Pastor: Did you guys see Sammy? What’s going on Sammy?

Sammy: [Peeking up and hiding again.] Shhhh!

Pastor: Boys and girls, what do you think is going on with Sammy today?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: These are great ideas. Sammy, if you can hear me, I just want you to know that you are safe. Our church family, including the boys and girls, are here.

Sammy: [Peeking up] Are you sure? Is the fox gone?

Pastor: What fox?

Sammy: Jesus saw a fox this morning in the Gospel reading. And I trust and love Jesus with all my heart. And if he says there is a fox, then I need to hide.

Pastor: Oh! Is that what is making you upset?

Sammy: Yes, Pastor! And we have foxes all over the place around here. I can’t be too careful.

Pastor: Well, Sammy, Jesus was talking about a man named King Herod. He isn’t really a fox; he’s a man.

Sammy: So why did Jesus call him a fox?

Pastor: Jesus calls Herod a fox because he behaves like one. Boys and girls, how does a fox behave?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: That’s exactly right! Foxes eat little lambs like me for snack.

Pastor: I want you all to remember that Jesus is the King of Kings, and he is even King above Herod in our Gospel for today. Jesus protects us, just like a mama hen protects her baby chicks.

Sammy: Speaking of chicks…

Pastor: Not now, Sammy. Let’s pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for keeping us safe from foxes in our lives. Please help us to always trust in you. Thank you for giving us faith. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture:

Luke 4:1-13

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Hey Pastor do you have a favorite food to eat?

Pastor: Yes Sammy I do. I like to eat insert favorite food here. I can’t get enough of it. What do you like to eat Sammy?

Sammy: I really enjoy hay. I can eat up to two pounds per day. I also love eating in the pasture. I would eat all day if I could.

Pastor: Where do you put it all Sammy? You are such a little lamb.

Sammy: I have four chambers in my stomach. So, I always have extra room for more food!

Pastor: Boys and girls, what are your favorite foods to eat?

Give time for the kids to answer

Sammy: Pastor. What does Jesus mean that man shall not live on bread alone? Does that mean we should be eating a lot of different foods?

Pastor: Jesus is not talking about eating different foods. He is saying that food is not what gives us life. He is quoting Moses in the book of Duet. Chapter 8, “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

Sammy: Okay but how do words help us live? Don’t we need food?

Pastor: Moses point was not that food was not important, it is. But trust in the lord is more important. God created us with his word and now he sustains us with his word.

Sammy: So, if we follow God always, we will always know where to go?

Pastor: That is right Sammy. Boys and girls, can you fold your hands and bow your heads in prayer? Dear Jesus, thank you for guiding us with your word. Thank you for leading us away from trouble and always leading us to you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Scripture:

Luke 9:28-36 [37-43a]

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Pastor, there’s a scary story in the gospel reading today.

Pastor: What is scary, Sammy?

Sammy: Well, when Jesus came down from the mountain after the Transfiguration, a dad met him and asked him to heal his son, a little boy.

Pastor: Yes. What is scary about that?

Sammy: Well the little boy was shaking and foaming at the mouth. And he kept screaming. He must have been really sick.

Pastor: He was really sick. None of Jesus’s disciples could heal him, and the boy’s father advocated for his son. He asked Jesus to heal him.

Sammy: And Jesus did heal him.

Pastor: Yes he did. Boys and girls, can you think of a time when you were really sick and your dad or mom helped you?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: I guess what is scary about this story is there are so many sicknesses and boo-boos that we cannot control.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. But the great thing is that Jesus can heal any illness or hurt that we have. He shows us through scripture that we have the same power through the Holy Spirit, and we just need to have faith.

Sammy: Pastor, I like that you help me see that I don’t have to be afraid. Jesus wasn’t afraid, and the little boy’s dad knew that Jesus could heal his son. When we have faith, our faith changes everything.

Pastor: That’s the goodness and power of Jesus in our lives. Let’s pray. Can everyone please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for faith. Help us to look to you for the power of the Holy Spirit. Please be with us always. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Luke 6:27-38

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone!

Pastor: Sammy, how are things going at the farm?

Sammy: Going really well, Pastor! I am counting down the days until spring.

Pastor: Me too, Sammy.

Sammy: So, Pastor, I noticed that Jesus talks a lot about extra credit in our Gospel reading for today.

Pastor: What do you mean, Sammy?

Sammy: Boys and girls, can you tell Pastor what extra credit is? He seems to have forgotten.

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: I am glad that everyone reminded me of what extra credit means. But, Sammy, why do you think Jesus was talking about extra credit?

Sammy: Jesus talks about how easy it is to give to people who give to us. It’s easy to love people who love us. But we are called to something greater than that as Christians.

Pastor: We are indeed.

Sammy: Jesus wants us to give to people who cannot give anything back to us. He wants us to let people borrow our things without expecting them back.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. We are not supposed to judge others, and we need to love others and forgive them.

Sammy: Yes, that’s the extra credit, too. Pastor, I do have a question.

Pastor: What’s your question, Sammy?

Sammy: Jesus says my reward will be great. Do Jesus mean I am going to win the lottery or get a new truck for the farm or something like that? Or maybe a sugar cube? I love sugar cubes.

Pastor: No, Sammy. Jesus is talking about our reward in Heaven. When we give to others and love others like Jesus did, then we get to witness God’s abundant grace and love. Our reward is eternal life in Heaven with Jesus.

Sammy: That is a beautiful reward.

Pastor: Yes it is. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads with me. Dear Jesus, Thank you for teaching us how to live. Thank you for helping us love each other. We love you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture:

Luke 6:17-26

Script: 

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Pastor, I am encouraged by the words of Jesus.

Pastor: Jesus’s words in this sermon are very encouraging, Sammy.

Sammy: Jesus recognizes how broken our world is, and his words are comforting to me.

Pastor: Jesus’s words are comforting to many who believe in him. He promises that the poor will inherit the Kingdom of God. He says people who are hungry will have full bellies.

Sammy: I like having a full belly!

Pastor: Me, too, Sammy. Jesus also talks about how anyone who is crying now will laugh.

Sammy: That’s because Jesus gives us joy!

Pastor: Yes he does. When we put our hope in Jesus, he gives us so much in return. Jesus gives physical healing to many people, too. The Gospel writers Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all talk about how Jesus healed many people. We don’t know everyone’s story. We don’t know why each person needed healing, and we don’t know what each person did after he or she was healed.

Sammy: But we do know that Jesus healed them. And they walked away changed. They received healing from the Word of God. And Jesus gave them more encouraging words that would never be taken from them.

Pastor: Yes he did. Boys and girls, I have something special for each of you today. I am going to give each of you a heart. Can you read what this heart says? [Heart can say Jesus loves you or a verse from the scripture today.]

Sammy: Hey, Pastor! Do you have enough hearts in that basket for everyone today? Maybe the boys and girls can help you share the love of Jesus with our congregation.

Pastor: Boys and girls, will you please help me give a heart to everyone?

[Give a heart to each member of the congregation and then return to the front of the church for prayer.]

Pastor: Let’s fold our hands and bow our heads. Dear Jesus, thank you for always giving us hope. Help us to trust you to take away our tears and to give us laughter. Help us to have faith that you will always care for us and love us. In your name we pray, Amen. Bye, everyone!

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Pastor, what does Jesus mean when he tells Simon, James, and John that they will be catching people?

Pastor: Jesus is teaching these men that they are going to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations.

Sammy: That’s a really big job. I thought these guys were just fisherman.

Pastor: Yes, they were. But remember Jesus transforms the hearts and minds of all who believe in him and have faith. He can use us to further his kingdom no matter what job we have.

Sammy: So you are telling us that even I, as a little lamb, matter to Jesus? And all of the children here? They matter to Jesus?

Pastor: Each one of us, especially the littlest ones, matter to Jesus. He calls each of us to follow him, and we have to decide whether or not we will listen.

Sammy: Pastor, I love how Simon, James, and John leave everything and follow Jesus. I wish I would be better at following my mama when she calls me. I do get distracted sometimes, or sometimes I don’t want to follow her. I want to go my own way instead.

Pastor: Sometimes following Jesus is difficult, and sometimes following him takes a lot of sacrifice for believers. A lot of people have to give up something—sometimes something little, like a bad habit, or sometimes something big, like some of their friends or family members.

Sammy: That must be really hard for them. You know, Pastor, even when I want to go my own way, Jesus always comes back for me. He is the Good Shepherd. I just have to listen for his voice.

Pastor: And Sammy, I want you to know that even though following Jesus can be hard sometimes, doing something hard doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing. Boys and girls, can you think of a time when you had to do something hard in your life?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: Thank you all for sharing your examples with us. Let’s fold our hands and bow our heads in prayer. Dear Jesus, thank you for helping us to drop everything to follow you. Help us to listen for your call. Help us to know that even though we are small, we are still important in your kingdom. We love you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture: Luke 2:22-40

Script

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone!

Pastor: Sammy, today is a very special day.

Sammy: Yes it is! Happy Groundhog’s Day!

Pastor: No, Sammy. I mean, today is Groundhog’s Day, but that’s not what I was talking about.

Sammy: (CHOOSE) Punxsutawney Phil saw/didn’t see his shadow, so there will be six more weeks of winter/an early spring.

Pastor: Oh, Sammy.

Sammy: Pastor, these events are important in the world of animals and farmers. We have to know when spring is coming, and Phil is our expert weather-groundhog. There was a groundhog ball and a groundhog banquet this week in his honor. Punxsutawney Phil is famous.

Pastor: Here we go again.

Sammy: Pastor, did you know that Groundhog’s Day is actually rooted in a special day called Candlemas Day? Christians would bring their candles to the church on Candlemas Day to have them blessed, and this blessing would bring blessings into their house for the rest of winter. Did you tell the congregation to bring their candles today?

Pastor: Well, not but I–

Sammy: So eventually, Candlemas Day evolved and had weather predictions attached to it. There’s an old English song that says, “If Candlemas be fair and bright/Come, Winter, have another flight;/If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,/Go Winter, and come not again.”

Pastor: I am not seeing how the Groundhog fits in here.

Sammy: The groundhog’s name is Phil. Punxsutawney Phil. German Christians introduced a new tradition where they had little hedgehogs running around. If the hedgehog saw his shadow, then there would be six more weeks of Winter.

Pastor: Punxsutawney Phil is not a hedgehog. He’s a Groundhog.

Sammy: Yes I know he’s a groundhog, Pastor. When the German Christians arrived to the United States, they had a hard time finding hedgehogs, but Groundhogs were everywhere. Punxsutawney Phil was elected by the animals to serve as the chief weatherman on Candlemas Day, and he’s been predicting the weather since 1887.

Pastor: You mean to tell me that Punxsutawney Phil has been predicting the weather since 1887. He’s been alive since 1887.

Sammy: Exactly. That’s why he’s famous.

Pastor: Sammy, I am glad you shared all of this information about Candlemas and Groundhog’s Day with us.

Sammy: You’re welcome.

Pastor: Hearing about traditions in our church is always good. Lots of wonderful things we do today were started by Christians before us. Let’s say a prayer. Please fold your hands and bow your heads with me. Dear Jesus, thank you for inspiring your sons and daughters to seek blessings. Thank you for helping us come to you in the middle of Winter for comfort. We look forward to celebrating the joy of your resurrection and the new life we get to experience in you this Spring. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone. Happy Groundhog’s Day!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture:

Luke 4:14-21

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Mic drop!

Pastor: Well, good morning to you, too, Sammy.

Sammy: Mic drop!

Pastor: Mic drop?

Sammy: Mic drop!

Pastor: Boys and girls, I need a little help. I am a lot older than you, and I seem to be out of touch with the lingo the kids (and sheep) are using these days. What is a mic drop? What is Sammy talking about?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: Mic drop!

Pastor: Oh, I get it, Sammy! You are saying that Jesus had a mic drop—a big moment of triumph—in the Gospel today.

Sammy: Exactly!

Pastor: What would you consider his mic drop, Sammy?

Sammy: Well, Jesus reads the scripture from Isaiah to everyone in the temple just like we read the scripture here in church. When he is done reading about the coming Messiah that Isaiah prophesies about in the scripture, he says that he is the Messiah.

Pastor: Yes, Jesus says that he is the Messiah. He shares this information with the people of Nazareth, which is the town where he grew up.

Sammy: I love what Jesus says, Pastor.

Pastor: Me too, Sammy. Jesus says that the Spirit of the Lord is upon him, and he will bring good news to the poor, set the captives free, and help the blind see.

Sammy: And Jesus does all of these miracles. He truly is the Son of God.

Pastor: Yes he is—Jesus is our King and Savior.

Sammy: When Jesus shares that he is the Messiah, that’s his mic drop—his moment of triumph.

Pastor: If you want to call that moment a mic drop, that’s okay, Sammy. Jesus is victorious over many things: sin, death, the grave. He is victorious over declaring who he is to us as well. Boys and girls, would you please fold your hands and bow your heads in prayer with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for sharing who you are with us. Thank you for setting us free from sin, helping the blind to see, and giving us the power of your Holy Spirit. We love you, Lord. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture:

John 2:1-11

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, boys and girls! Good morning, Pastor! Hey Pastor?

Pastor: Yes, Sammy?

Sammy: I was listening to you read the Gospel message this morning, and I would like to share some of my thoughts about what you read.

Pastor: Sure, Sammy. I think we have a couple of minutes for you to share your thoughts.

Sammy: That’s great! First of all, all of our mamas know us really well.

Pastor: Of course. Our mamas are there on the day we are born, and they feel us before we are born, too. They raise us from when we are tiny babies.

Sammy: Jesus’s mama knows him really well. She knows that he is capable of miracles.

Pastor: Jesus’s mother, Mary, was told by the angel Gabriel that she would carry and give birth to the Son of God.

Sammy: I have another observation based on the gospel today: Mamas need their wine.

Pastor: …

Sammy: Mary encouraged the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. The wedding guests were out of wine. And I know all mamas need a glass of wine from time to time. And lots of mamas go to weddings.

Pastor: Yes, Sammy. The servants listened to Jesus as he told them to fill very large purification jars with water. He then told them to take some out of the jar and give the wine to the chief steward.

Sammy: That’s right. That brings us to my third point: Jesus always gives us the very best. When we follow him, we receive the best gifts from him. And we have to think about the little things he gives us, too. More wine at a wedding isn’t really important to me—I’m just a little lamb—but it’s really important to the bride and the groom and all the mamas who like wine.

Pastor: Sammy, I am grateful you shared your thoughts about the gospel today. The wedding at Cana is Jesus’s first public miracle, and this miracle is certainly a very special one. Our God always provides for us and gives us good gifts. Let’s give thanks to him. Boys and girls, would you please bow your heads and fold your hands in prayer? Dear Jesus, thank you for the gifts you give us. Help us to see the little gifts as miracles, too. We love you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, Pastor! Bye, boys and girls!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!