Gathering Prayer: (Do this prayer repeat-after-me style)
Dear God, we thank you that you welcome everyone as children, and that we have a place in your kingdom. Help us to learn how to make everyone welcome. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Bible Story: Mark 9:33-37
Read about Jesus Welcoming Children in a children’s Bible or online here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9%3A33-37+&version=ERV
Questions to Ponder:
- What is something that you are really great at? How could you use that gift or talent to serve God?
- What is something that you really struggle with? Who could be Jesus for you as you struggle?
- How do you know that you are welcome when you go someplace?
- What are some ways that you could be welcoming to others?
Song: God Welcomes All
Here is a song that we are going to be learning in church this fall. It reminds us that all are welcome, young and old alike!
God Welcomes All Emily Scott Houston 2011 from All Saints Company on Vimeo.
Activity: Welcome Placemats
We are entering into a time of year when lots of our family members come to visit. Instead of making a welcome mat that would get stepped on, I thought it would be fun to make welcome placemats that we include on the table when we have visitors. I found the instructions here: https://laughingkidslearn.com/how-to-make-paper-weaving-placemats/ (I used leftover colored cardstock from other projects. We did not glue them together. We did use glue dots to stick the banner to the front.)
This is what ours look like:
Thank you for spending some God Time with your family! I hope this was a holy time for you.
Closing Prayer: (Do this prayer repeat-after-me style)
God be in my head, and in my understanding.
God be in my eyes, and in my looking.
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking.
God be in my heart, and in my thinking.
God be at my end, and at my departing. Amen.