Children’s Message, Sunday, October 14, 2007, Thank you!

One of my favorite authors is named Anne Lamott. She says that there are really only 2 prayers when you boil down all those fancy words: “Help me” and “thank you”.*

The Covenant Singers just showed us such a wonderful example of prayer that says thank you to God.. . the peaceful stream
The dancing leaf
The sun. . .the rain
Every second. . .every instant. . . **

Every day there are dozens of ways I could use God’s help—and dozens of other people that I would like God’s help for.

But every day I also am constantly reminded of things in my life to be thankful for.

The anthem that the Covenant Singers just shared made me think about every thing I could pray for. At my house, we say grace before meals—I bet lots of you do too. Here is my challenge for you: today at lunch or dinner, instead of your normal grace, like “God is great. . . “ come up with your own list of “thank you-s” for God. Big things. . . little things. . . whatever things you are thankful for right now.

You can also come up with a list of ways that you or the people you love need God’s help.

Let’s pray: Loving God
Help me—
Thank you.
Amen.

*in Traveling Mercies
** From the Anthem, “For All That Is” by Taylor Davis, text by John Thornburg

Children’s Message, Sunday, September 23, 2007, Children’s Message, Storybook

There are lots of different parts of the Bible. It is full of historical information, or rules and regulations, of songs and poetry and stories. I like the stories the best. Whether it is in the Bible or in a picture book, I have always liked stories.

I like stories mostly because they are fun to read and to hear. As a mom and a teacher, I also like that stories because sometimes, hidden in the adventures that happen to our main character, there is a lesson to be learned.

It is kind of like the Bible. The Bible is a huge book full of all sorts of types of writing. There is history. There are rules. There is poetry and songs. All of those things are great, and I am glad they are there, but I must admit, when I flip open the Bible, I always like when I get to a part with lots of stories. And just like your books that sometimes have lessons to be learned hidden in the stories, probably even more so, the Bible has lessons that need to be learned from the stories.

One of our favorites, Sheila Rae’s Peppermint Stick (Author: Kevin Henkes), reminds us that it is nicer to share what you have than to keep it all to yourself. It makes me think of the story in the Bible where the little boy shared his lunch with all the people were listening to Jesus. We sometimes call that story the story of the Loaves and Fishes.

Last week, I was with Mrs. Lenti when she was singing with the carol choir, and they were singing , “The wise man built his house upon the rocks. . . “ which tells the Bible story about the wise man who built his house on the rocks and the foolish man who built his house on the sand. A great lesson to remind us what is really important. Confession? The story always made me think of the three little pigs—a story that reminds us not to rush on important things.

Probably my favorite kind of story to read to children is a story that reminds them that they are always loved even when they are naughty. In Where the Wild Things Are (Author: Maurice Sendak), even though he, “made mischief” and got sent to his room, Max still had a warm dinner waiting for him when he got back from the place where the wild things are. The Bible has lots of stories that remind us that God will always love and welcome us. Like the story of the Prodigal Son who is welcomed home by his father, even when he had behaved very badly.

Let’s pray. . . Loving God
Help us to remember these things from your stories to us:
To share and be kind
To put our energy into what is really important
And that we are always loved by you.
Amen.