Children’s Worship 11.22.20
Dear Parents,
Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home! This week we have a special lesson – with worship songs and crafts for each day leading up to Thanksgiving! Make sure to check them all out, and we hope that your family has a blessed Thanksgiving!!!
One Thankful Man – a Thanksgiving Lesson
Based on: Luke 17:11-19
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
Today we will leave our Old Testament stories to look at a New Testament story of One Thankful Man. Since this is Thanksgiving week it’s appropriate to look at how Jesus feels about thankfulness and to teach it to our children.
Today’s lesson also includes a song and an activity regarding thankfulness for each of the 5 days leading up to and including Thanksgiving. If you consider doing any of the activities you may want to read through them ahead of time to pick up the ingredients. (Especially Activity 4 on Wednesday). Also, at the end of the lesson are a few other ideas and websites that have fun and meaningful Thanksgiving activities.
In today’s story, of the 10 men cleansed by Jesus from leprosy, the man least likely to be thankful, the Samaritan, was the ONLY one who showed gratitude to Jesus and Jesus noticed! Jesus cleanses us as well from something worse than leprosy. He died and rose again to cleanse us from the sin that separates us from God! We have the best reason in the world to show our gratitude to Jesus, today and every day.
Activity 1: STORY
Introduction: A game to play:
Ahead of time, on one side of a paper plate print, “When has someone thanked you?” On the other side print, “When have you thanked someone?”
The person holding the plate tosses it in the air and lets it fall to the ground.
He or she answers the question that shows when the plate lands. Play several rounds, answering questions as time permits.
Intro to read to the children: Today’s story is about 10 men who were healed by Jesus. Can you guess how many said thank you?
Watch the video:
Activity 2: DISCUSSION
- How would you describe the 10 men at the start of the story? At the end?
- How did the men respond when they were healed? What did Jesus say about the other 9 men? Why do you think only one man remembered to thank Jesus? What do you think he did next?
- Jesus made 10 men well, but ONLY one man thanked Jesus. We all need help with something much worse than leprosy. We have all done wrong things, and those things get in the way of our relationship with God. Jesus died and rose again to forgive our sin! We have the best reason in the world to show thanks to Jesus, today, this Thanksgiving week and every day. What are some ways we can do this?
Worship Songs: one for each day leading up to Thanksgiving
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY:
one for each day leading up to Thanksgiving
- Sunday: Coloring Page
- Monday Thanksgiving Tree Centerpiece
Find a suitable branch. Cut out colorful leaves. Write “I’m thankful for. . .” on each one. Use ribbon to attach to the tree.
Ideas for use:
If you are doing the project as a family, have each family member complete their leaf as you create the tree.
OR…
Leave the tree as is until Thanksgiving day. While your guests are milling around while you frantically try to baste the turkey, give them each a leaf to complete and hang on the tree.
OR…
Put a leaf and a pen on each plate when setting your Thanksgiving table. The leaves can serve as place cards or simply add color to your table. Guests can complete their leaf as they sit down for dinner, and then hang it on the centerpiece tree.
- Tuesday: Gratitude Game
Make a master something like this. Use colored objects such as pick up sticks, crayons, or game pieces. Have a child pick a color and answer the question that corresponds to that color.
- Wednesday: Fun with Food
Here are some fun food things to make and share with others or eat yourselves! For the Blessing Mix, you could print off the tag and attach to a baggie to give away. Use raisins or craisins or even candied orange slices for the fruit and peanuts or sesame seeds for the nuts. Add some M and M’s for a sweeter version.
- Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!
If the children can, have them write or draw something they are thankful for on each of the turkey’s feathers. Color.
Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING
There are many reasons to give thanks to God. His kindness and enduring love are two of them. We show our thanks to God when we follow Jesus and show His love to others.
The Bible tells us to give thanks to the Lord in Psalm 107:1 . It says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
May you always remember to give thanks to God for everything He has given you.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Other ideas and places to get ideas for a fun, meaningful and thankful Thanksgiving:
Place a kernel of dried corn or Indian corn at each plate around the table. Have a small basket handy. Read a Bible verse about giving thanks. Psalm 9:1, Psalm 100, Psalm 118:1, etc. Have each person pick up their corn piece one at a time and say something they are thankful for. Drop the corn into the basket and pass it to the next person until everyone has had a turn.
Ideas from Focus on the Family:
https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/looking-forward-to-thanksgiving-six-ideas-for-family-fun
Ideas from Good Housekeeping:
