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IDEAS for Sunday Morning

Babies
The story for this week is “God Made the Earth.” Babies will enjoy hearing about the things God made. Use conversation this week as you greet the child at the door. Say: “Hi, ______________ (use child’s name), I am so glad God made you. Thank You, God, for ____________ (use the child’s name).” Conversing with a child in a positive, comforting voice will strengthen the relationship you have as he begins to recognize your voice. His mom and dad will be excited to hear you speaking directly to their child first. The interchange will be positive for parents, too.

1s
Talk with the child about things God made as she enters the room. You might have a real flower in a clear plastic jar with the lid closed (and sealed) ready for the child to hold. Remark, “God made the flower for _____________________ (use child’s name).” A child will come to understand more about God by the way you speak of Him and the things only He can do. You might want to provide some wooden inlay puzzles that depict things God made. You can find these puzzles in the Resource Room on the right as you enter.

2s
Gather some items that are used at nighttime and daytime (sunglasses, pajamas, washcloths, stars, sun, shoes, etc.). Place the items in a box or bag. As you take them out, ask children, “Do you use this in the daytime or nighttime?” You might locate pictures of other items from magazines, also. Use the game as an opportunity to say thank you to God for the things He made for us or provided for us. Open the Bible as you tell the story to the children. They will understand that the stories are from the Bible and they are true.

3s–Pre-K
Using a few old file folders, cut shapes of trees, a house, flowers, etc. Then use the file folders like stencils. A preschooler can slip the paper inside the file and trace the shape to create his own kind of picture of his world. Place crayons in the middle of the table so children can take turns with the colors. Children like to create, but they usually ask us to draw for them. The stencil style art work will allow them to draw one all by themselves. Each picture will be different.

Kindergarten
Print each of the following numbers on an index card: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 7. Make a different set of cards on which you have printed: 1. Light, 2. Sky, 3. Dry land, 4. Sun and Moon, 5. Birds and Fish, 6. Animals and Man, 7. God rested. Use the number cards and corresponding creation cards to play a game. Place the numbers on the floor. Place the creation cards in a bag. Ask a child to pull a card from the bag and match it with the correct number for that particular day of creation. Say: “God made the earth for us. We thank God for the earth.”

IDEAS for Sunday Morning

Babies
A baby will learn that others love her when her needs are met. Meeting a baby’s need on demand is crucial to her learning trust. Help a baby get to know you better by talking to her. Use words that describe the actions you are engaged in, such as reading a book, looking at a new toy, or singing to her. Sing the chorus to the song “Jesus Loves Me”; this is a great way for a baby to hear the name of Jesus. Also, incorporate the child’s name in the song, such as  “Jesus loves Riley Jo.”

1s
Place a doll in the doll bed. Supply a few cloth bandages for a child to wrap the bandages around the doll. Talk about the story of Jesus’ making the ten men well. Say: “Jesus made ten sick men well. One man came back to say thank you to Jesus.” Pause and then add: “Jesus loved the men. Jesus loves you, too.” A one-year-old may not understand the deep significance of the Bible story, but he can learn that we lovingly care about others. Jesus told us to love one another. As a child pretends to care for the doll, he is role playing taking care of the doll. The connections will continue to be made throughout his life as the child plays out life events in his early years.

2s
Place a Doctor’s Kit in the homeliving area of the room. Wrap a blanket around the doll. Encourage a child to play with the doll using the doctor’s kit. As she holds the doll, say, “(Use the child’s name) can take care of the doll.” Place a few short bandages near the Doctor’s Kit to further encourage pretend play with a “sick” doll. Talk about the story and the ten men that Jesus made well. State that Jesus wants us to love one another.

3s – PreK
Collect ten different items for each child to use in making an art picture. Gather colorful construction paper, glue sticks, paintbrushes (watercolor paints), construction paper shapes (squares, hearts, circles, etc.), watercolor makers, yarn, ribbon, pompoms, various stickers, and a sticker with the words “Love one another.” As the child determines what he will make with the collection of items, say: “Jesus said to love one another. How do we show love for others?” After the child’s responses, ask, “How did Jesus show love to the ten men in today’s Bible story?”

Kindergarten
Guide boys and girls to make cards for people who are sick or not feeling well. Gather construction paper, watercolor makers, glue, and paper scraps for decorating the card. You may want to print some examples of things the child might write in their cards. Encourage the children to make cards for people they know who are ill or who need to know someone is thinking about and praying for them. Say: “In our story today Jesus made ten men well. Jesus loved the men and wanted them to be well. Can you think of someone you know who can hear that Jesus loves them?” Close the activity with a prayer for those people who are sick.

IDEAS for Sunday Morning

Bible Story – Jesus Showed Love (John 13:1-17)

Let me take this time to tell you this is one of my favorite stories. Each time I read it I am reminded of the times my dad asked me to wash his feet. As he got older, it became more difficult for him to take care of his feet. This simple act made my dad feel so good. As I washed his feet, I thought about Jesus caring for His disciples in such a loving way!

As you prepare for Sunday, read the Scripture verses that record Jesus’ showing love for His disciples by washing their feet. Jesus was very deliberate in what He was teaching His disciples—the unforgettable lesson of servant leadership. Our preschoolers will one day understand the concept, but the foundation of building friendships and relationships will be the start of the concept to “serve.”

Babies & 1s
Babies love it when others take time to talk to them. Talk when you engage in play with a baby and describe the actions of the play (roll the ball, shake the rattle, etc.). He will begin to see that people who care for him want to spend time in play. The beginning of friendship even for a baby is a new level of expanding his world. Have fun helping babies get to know others.

2s
You can help one year olds understand friendship by showing them how to be a friend. By mentioning his friends in the room by name, each child will begin to know and recognize their faces, too. Most ones are playing side by side and not necessarily engaging in play together. Give some opportunities for ones to play with each other by building with blocks. They may take turns in stacking blocks. Say, “We love our friends just like Jesus loved His friends.” Ones will learn about Jesus as you give them an understanding of the things Jesus did. As you play with ones, refer to the Bible story and talk about Jesus. Open the Bible and say, “Our story is from the Bible.”

3s-Pre-K
Place a few items in a bag such as a plate, pretend food item, cup, towel, and small plastic bottle of water. After you have told the Bible story during group time, ask a child to come forward and choose an item from the bag. Invite the child to identify the item and tell how it relates to the Bible story. Recall the story as they children the game. Some may want to do it over again. Repetition is good for remembering. Praise each child when he can recall how the item was used in the story. Say: “I am glad God gave us friends. Would you like to pray for your friend?”

Kindergarten
Open the Bible on your lap as you begin to tell the Bible story. Say: “When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He told them to help and love one another as He loved them. Jesus wanted His disciples to do for others what He had done for them.” Jesus taught His disciples by showing them what to do. Ask the children to recall ways they can help others, even family members. Print their examples on a large sheet of paper. (You can locate paper in the Resource Room.)

Have fun planning and teaching. I will see you Sunday!

Ann