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! Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads!

Pastor: Yes, happy Father’s Day! Sammy, did you know that our earthly fathers help to show us the heart of our heavenly Father?

Sammy: Do you mean that our dads and granddads and papas and pop-pops and grandpas and daddys show us part of God’s heart?

Pastor: Yes, we are created in the image of God, and God created men as a reflection of his own heart and his great love for his people. When our fathers raise us with the love of Jesus in their hearts, they show us who Jesus is, too.

Sammy: That’s great news! That means that when I run around the pasture and do something that I am not supposed to do, I don’t need to sit in the time-out pen anymore.

Pastor: What do you mean, Sammy?

Sammy: Well, God doesn’t put me in time-out for doing something wrong, my daaa-daaa does. So if my daaa-daaa reflects the heart of Jesus, then I don’t have to ever be in time-out again.

Pastor: That’s not how that works, Sammy. God disciplines his people all of the time in scripture, and in fact, part of his command for fathers in several books, including the Psalms, is for men to discipline their children.

Sammy: Oh.

Pastor: Boys and girls, what are some things that your dad or granddad or a dad here at church does for you that is special?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: I like all of these answers. My daaa-daaa plays a lot of games with me in the pasture. He’s fun to be around, too.

Pastor: That’s great, Sammy. I want to encourage everyone here to always look to our Father in Heaven. Our dads here on earth try their best, but they are not perfect. They look to Jesus for hope and encouragement and wisdom to guide them in raising us. But we can always look to our Father in Heaven. He is a perfect Father. Let’s say a prayer. Can we please fold our hands and bow our heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for our earthly fathers. We thank you for being our perfect Father in Heaven. Today we ask for your blessing upon our fathers. We ask that you help them look to you as they guide and raise us. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

John 14:8-17 [25-27]

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! Pastor, let’s find Phillip!

Pastor: Boys and girls, can you help me find Phillip in the boat? [Use the egg carton to find the plastic egg labeled “Phillip.”]

Sammy: There he is! I like that we can see him.

Pastor: Of course we can see him.

Sammy: Well, today in the Gospel, Phillip told Jesus he wanted to see the Father. He said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

Pastor: Yes, he did. And do you know what Jesus said to Phillip?

Sammy: Um, I forget, Pastor.

Pastor: Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus tells Phillip that He is God. And our God left his throne in Heaven to walk with us.

Sammy: Wow. Why would he do that?

Pastor: Jesus is the greatest King. He loves us so much that he chose to come to earth to save us and die for us. And he rose again to beat death and the grave. He saved us forever.

Sammy: Pastor, I think this Gospel has the Trinity in it, too.

Pastor: That’s correct, Sammy. Jesus talks about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Boys and girls, can you say, “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” with me? Ready? “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” That’s the Trinity. One God in three persons.

Sammy: That’s a gift. That’s living hope for all of us, Pastor.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy.

Sammy: One thing I love about the gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of peace that Jesus promises. I mean, sometimes I get gifts and they don’t bring me peace. Or the person giving me the gift wants something from me, too. Or I have to trade. But the Holy Spirit is a gift to us, and Jesus gives us peace, too. He gives the Holy Spirit to us because he loves us.

Pastor: Exactly, Sammy. Boys and girls, let’s bow our heads and fold our hands for a prayer. Dear Jesus, thank you for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thank you for peace in our hearts. Thank you for the peace you give us. We love you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

John 17:20-26

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!

Pastor: Sammy, did you know that Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God were all present before the beginning of the world?

Sammy: What!

Pastor: Jesus talks today in the Gospel reading from John about how God loved him from before the foundation of the world.

Sammy: But how can that be?

Pastor: Our God exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The love that exists between these three persons is so great that God created our world and us.

Sammy: I heard about the great love of God many times here in church. I hear from the readings and the songs about how God keeps coming back to rescue us.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. He rescues his people throughout the Old Testament. He walks with Abraham and Sarah, giving them the blessing of a child. He closes the mouths of the lions to protect Daniel. He walks through the blazing fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And then, our God shows us just how much he loves us by leaving the throne of Heaven…

Sammy: And coming to earth to be born of Mary as baby Jesus!

Pastor: Exactly. The ultimate rescue was Jesus coming to earth to save us from our sins. But Jesus was present with God from before the world was created.

Sammy: There’s so much that is a mystery, that I don’t understand, Pastor.

Pastor: That’s okay, Sammy. Today we are going to pray a special prayer to ask God to open our hearts. We can ask him to reveal more of his love and truth to us as we hear his word. Faith comes from hearing. Ready? Let’s bow our heads and fold our hands. Dear Jesus, thank you for increasing our faith. Help us to hear your Word and to trust you. Let us see you walking with your people from Genesis to Revelation. We love you, Lord. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

John 10:22-30

Scripture:

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!

Pastor: Sammy, we have more sheep this week in our Gospel reading from John.

Sammy: I know! This passage is great, Pastor! I love that we get to talk about sheep again. I am an expert in sheep. Well, I am a sheep. That’s why I am an expert.

Pastor: Let’s not get carried away, Sammy. When your shepherd calls you, do you know his voice?

Sammy: Of course! My whole family knows the voice of our shepherd. We love him. He takes good care of us and makes sure that we have what we need. And he protects us from danger. We listen to him.

Pastor: That’s great, Sammy. Do you follow your shepherd?

Sammy: We do! We trust him to guide us where we need to go.

Pastor: Boys and girls, what do you think happens if Sammy or her family wander too far away from the shepherd and from the other sheep?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: Well, those are really good answers. Sheep can get really hurt if we wander far away. We could get lost. And we may not be able to find enough water. And sometimes we can get stuck in bushes or thorns. Or we could fall off of a cliff or a ledge. Or a wild animal could try to hurt us.

Pastor: It sounds to me like sheep need and rely on their shepherd.

Sammy: Yes we do.

Pastor: You know, Sammy. Jesus is the best shepherd there is. When we become one of his sheep, we belong to him forever. He loves us so much, that he laid down his life for his sheep. He takes good care of us. We are the sheep of Jesus.

Sammy: Jesus is truly the best shepherd out there. You have to be really brave to be willing to die for your sheep. That’s great love.

Pastor: Yes it is. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads in prayer with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for being our Good Shepherd. Thank you for speaking to us. Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for laying down your life for us. Thank you for loving us. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

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, this Gospel reading was a long one today.

Pastor: Yes, Sammy. The Gospel reading today is all about the Passion of our Lord Jesus.

Sammy: So much happened while you were reading the Gospel. Jesus shared communion, he prayed in the Garden, and he was put on trial several times.

Pastor: Several people did not like Jesus. We meet some of them in the reading today. One of the things we have to remember is that Jesus committed no sin. He lived a perfect life. Boys and girls, have you ever been blamed for something you didn’t do?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: Jesus did not deserve death, but he chose to die because we deserve death. We are sinful, and the price for sin is death.

Pastor: Jesus went willingly to the cross, and he knew what he was going to suffer.

Sammy: You know, Pastor, as I listened to you read the Gospel today, I wondered who I would be if I was there to witness Jesus on the cross.

Pastor: What do you mean, Sammy?

Sammy: Would I betray Jesus, like Judas? Would I deny Jesus, like Peter? Would I be one of the ones who wanted Jesus to die, like the crowds or priests or Herod? Would I be willing to carry the cross like Simon? Would I mock Jesus like the soldiers? Or would I ask for forgiveness like the thief on the cross? Or would I stand at a distance and watch like Mary and the other women? Who would I be?

Pastor: I think each of us plays all of or many of these roles during our lives. God knows our hearts. He gives us faith and teaches us through the trials and challenges we face.

Sammy: But, Pastor, I worry that I am not good enough to deserve what Jesus did for me. He took my sin so that I could eat at his table with him forever.

Pastor: Sammy, none of us deserve the gift that Jesus gives us. None of us our worthy. We are broken and made new in Jesus. And he asks us to go and love as he loved us.

Sammy: I will try, Pastor. I will try.

Pastor: Boys and girls, this week, I want you to think about how you can better love someone. What can you do to show Jesus’s love to someone else?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: Great answers! Let’s close with prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for your great love. Thank you for taking our sin so we could eat at your table. Thank you for your goodness and grace. We love you. 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 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:

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!

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

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, the Gospel from Luke today talked about a winnowing fork and a granary. I know what those are, and I can tell the boys and girls.

Pastor: That would be great, Sammy. I am sure you know all about winnowing forks and granary because you live on a farm.

Sammy: That’s right!

Pastor: Let’s start with winnowing fork. What is that?

Sammy: A winnowing fork is a tool that farmers use to separate the grain of wheat from the chaff.

Pastor: What do you mean?

Sammy: Well, when farmers harvest wheat, they keep the grain of the wheat and turn that into bread, rolls, cake, cookies, pie…

Pastor: Okay, Sammy. We get the idea. We can use the grain of wheat to make lots of yummy baked goods. But what about the chaff?

Sammy: Well, the winnowing fork allows the chaff to blow away in the wind. That’s what farmers want because people do not eat the chaff.

Pastor: Sammy, would you like to also tell us about a granary?

Sammy: Yes! So after the farmers separate the wheat from the chaff, they collect all of the wheat and store it in a granary. It’s basically a big room just for the grain of the wheat. And when they need to sell or use the wheat, they can take what they need from the granary.

Pastor: Sammy, you did a great job of explaining these farming tools and techniques to the boys and girls.

Sammy: Thank you, Pastor.

Pastor: Boys and girls, when we are baptized, we become a part of God’s family. Jesus invites us into his family, and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit when we are baptized. In the Gospel today, John talks about how Jesus knows who belongs to him and who is a part of his family. He keeps us, his children, in his granary forever. We are so loved by God, and he wants us to be a part of his kingdom.

Sammy: That’s a great comparison, Pastor!

Pastor: John did a great job of sharing the message of Jesus and preparing the people to hear the Gospel.

Sammy: Yes he did. Boys and girls, would you please fold your hands and bow your heads in prayer with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for baptism. Thank you for inviting us into your granary and for including us in the promise of your coming kingdom. We love you. Amen. Bye everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture

John 11:32-44

Script:

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, this story from the Gospel reading today is a spooky one.

Pastor: Is it?

Sammy: Yes! A mummy came out from a tomb!

Pastor: Sammy, that’s not what happened!

Sammy: Yes it is! I was listening. This guy named Lazarus died and Jesus told some men to roll the stone away from the cave. And then a mummy came out!

Pastor: Sammy, we are going to talk about what really happened. I think you still have Halloween on your mind. That’s different from the Gospel reading.

Sammy: I did eat a lot of candy. Boys and girls, did you get a lot of treats for Halloween?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: Back to our Gospel for today. Jesus was really good friends with a man named Lazarus. He wasn’t old. He was a young man, like Jesus. Do you have a best friend?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: My best friend is you, Pastor.

Pastor: You’re my best friend, too, Sammy. Jesus’s friend Lazarus got sick and he died before Jesus could get to him to heal him.

Sammy: Oh no!

Pastor: It’s okay, Sammy. Death is not the end. Jesus is the end. He’s the beginning and the end.

Sammy: Amen, Pastor!

Pastor: When Jesus arrived at Lazarus’s house, he saw Mary and Martha there. They are Lazarus’s sisters. And they were crying. Jesus cried, too.

Sammy: Jesus cries? Why did he cry?

Pastor: Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is just like us. Boys and girls, can you think of a time when you cried?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: Jesus went to the tomb and asked the people to roll the stone away. He said a prayer and then told Lazarus to come out—

Sammy: And that’s when the mummy came out!

Pastor: No, Sammy. That’s when a living, breathing, fully alive Lazarus walked out.

Sammy: Wow!

Pastor: I want each of us to remember that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We get to live forever because of Jesus. We do not have to be afraid because Jesus loves us. He cries with us and is with us everywhere we go. Let’s pray: Dear Jesus, Thank you for the gift of eternal life. Thank you for your love. Thank you for helping us when we are sad. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!