Children’s Worship 10.11.20 – Gold Avenue Church

Dear Parents,

Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home!

Note: Please let us know about how your family is enjoying Children’s Worship! Take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship or share a story. You can post to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email at goldavechurch@gmail.com

God’s Care is Wonderful

Based on Exodus 16

OVERVIEW:

Activity One: Read the intro. Watch the video.

Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts.

Worship: Singing

Activity Three: Respond to the story by doing the activity.

Activity Four: Bless your children

EQUIP:

(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.)

Early into their journey out of Egypt, the Israelites were learning just how wonderful God’s care can be. But after only a month or so, they became disgruntled and began murmuring again against Moses and Aaron. Seemingly the people forgot the bondage, beatings, and misery of their forced labor as slaves. But God heard the complaints of His people. In His grace and mercy, each day the Lord sent nutritional provision. Psalm 78 tells us God opened the doors of the heavens and rained down grain—men ate the bread of angels (verses 23–25)! The word manna comes from the question the people asked that first morning, “What is it?” (in Hebrew, man-hu ). The manna came with the dew each morning and resembled a hearty seed.

The way in which the Lord provided the manna was a wonder-filled miracle. It was especially nutritious and was able to sustain an adult for an entire day’s journey. Manna, along with quail, was to be their food for the next 40 years, until the new generation entered the Promised Land. God gave clear instructions that the Israelites were to gather manna daily, but only as much as each person in the family could eat; no more, no less. His people were to wake up early, before the desert sun would melt the manna, and only gather enough for the day. On the sixth day, the people were instructed to gather twice as much in order to prepare for the Sabbath. Additionally, God instructed His people to place a jar of manna in the ark of the covenant to serve as a reminder of His wonderful provision.

God cares for me. He is my provider. He is my healer.

Take a moment to read through each of the above statements once more. Pause at the end of each sentence. How have you experienced God working in your life in relation to these statements? Do you need to be reminded of His provision and care for you? Is there an area of your life that needs His healing? Ask God to reveal more of Himself to you. Allow yourself to respond freely to Him in whatever posture of worship His Spirit directs.

Activity 1: STORY

Lead children in a Prayer of Release to pause, be still, and ask the Holy Spirit to quiet their hearts and minds.

Introduction to read to the children:

This part of The Big God Story begins right after the Israelites left slavery in Egypt. God parted the Red Sea (bring palms together and then spread them apart), and they walked right across and started their journey to the new land God promised would be their home. (Place left palm out flat, and with right hand, use two fingers to make walking motion across left palm.) Give children a minute to follow movements. God’s care for His people is wonderful!

Let’s learn about another way God showed His care for His people in today’s story.

Watch the video:

Activity 2: DISCUSSION

Today in The Big God Story you heard about the wonderful way God provided food for His people. He took care of them by sending manna from heaven. God’s care for His people is always wonderful!

I wonder … What would I think if food fell from the sky?

I wonder … What did the manna look and smell like each morning?

I wonder … When was a time God cared for me?

After discussing the Wonder Questions, you’ll have the opportunity to pray with and for each of the children in your group.

God is with us every day, and He never gets tired of caring for us in wonderful ways. Even when we complain or make the wrong choice, God is there, loving us and caring for us. I’m so thankful that God cares for me in wonderful ways. I’ll start our time of praise by telling God thank You for all the ways He cares for me. “Dear God, You’re wonderful! Thank You for caring for me in wonderful ways!” What would you like to praise God for right now? Encourage children to respond with their own words. Then, transition into a time of prayer for personal requests.

Worship Songs:

Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY

Experience #1

Supplies:

Paper strips for a paper chain, 2-3 per child

Writing or drawing utensils

Tape

God cared for His people in a wonderful way. He caused food to fall from the sky so they’d have enough to eat while they continued their journey to the place God promised would be their new home.

What are wonderful ways God cares for you? When you wake up in the morning, how does God care for you? When you play and eat and learn during the day, how is God caring for you? Who are the people God has placed in your life that care for you? Who did God promise to send to care for us? God knows what you need, and He’s able to take care of your needs in wonderful ways. Use some of their ideas from the prayer time after the Wonder Questions, also.

Explain that children can take strips of paper and draw about a way or ways God cares for them. As they work, share a story about how God has cared for you. Consider sharing an example that helps the kids see that God’s care can come in miraculous and ordinary ways. Both circumstances are wonderful.

When children are finished drawing on the strips, begin to tape them together to form a paper chain. Ask anyone who is willing to share about his link(s) and how God has cared for him. When your chain is complete, hang it for everyone to see.

Experience #2

Supplies:

Enlarge and print the image below

Crayons or markers

Glue stick

Oyster Crackers or Cheerios or another whitish cereal

Directions: Color picture. With a glue stick paste the “manna” on the ground and in the basket.

God was so good to take care of the Israelites as they traveled through the desert. God sent manna for the people to gather and eat each day. God cares for us each day, too.

Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING

Kids, God is wonderful today and always, and He cares for us in wonderful ways.

Lead children in several rounds of the following call-and-response.

Leader: God is wonderful …

Children: today and always!

Leader: God always cares for us …

Children: in wonderful ways!

End by speaking the following Scripture and prayer over the group. Invite children to cup their hands and hold them out as if they’re receiving something.

The Bible tells us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

May you know that God your Father loves you and will care for you in ways that are more wonderful than you can even imagine!