Don't worry!
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: Worry is something that permeates our
society. We are a nation of worriers. In this Gospel text, Jesus
tells us not to worry, and we should be teaching our children the
value of this advice. Thanksgiving Day is an ideal opportunity to
focus on our blessings and not our worries. If we can teach the
children early the value of overcoming worry, they will be
blessed indeed.
*Prepare some "worry cards." Make up cards with a variety of
things that children might worry about. Use such things as, "I
might get hurt in some way," "I might fail a test," "I might not
have enough to eat," "I won't get something that I really want,"
"I might get sick," and so forth. Use your imagination and your
knowledge of the children to create "worry cards" that might
apply to them. Hand out the cards to the children. (If the
children are very young, just read the cards to them.) Then have
each one tell you what they might do if they had that particular
worry. What would they do to alleviate that worry? You are
looking for three things in their answers: actions they might
take to solve the problem, accepting the will of God in the
matter, and prayer. The most likely response will be the first
one. They may talk about what they would do to solve the worry.
This is important, but you need to lead them to see that prayer
is needed and acceptance of whatever God's will is in the matter.
In each case, keep emphasizing the role of prayer until they
begin to see that as the most important way to handle worry.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Sing the hymn, "What A friend We Have In Jesus;" a hymn
that emphasizes the role of prayer in solving our problems in
this life.
society. We are a nation of worriers. In this Gospel text, Jesus
tells us not to worry, and we should be teaching our children the
value of this advice. Thanksgiving Day is an ideal opportunity to
focus on our blessings and not our worries. If we can teach the
children early the value of overcoming worry, they will be
blessed indeed.
*Prepare some "worry cards." Make up cards with a variety of
things that children might worry about. Use such things as, "I
might get hurt in some way," "I might fail a test," "I might not
have enough to eat," "I won't get something that I really want,"
"I might get sick," and so forth. Use your imagination and your
knowledge of the children to create "worry cards" that might
apply to them. Hand out the cards to the children. (If the
children are very young, just read the cards to them.) Then have
each one tell you what they might do if they had that particular
worry. What would they do to alleviate that worry? You are
looking for three things in their answers: actions they might
take to solve the problem, accepting the will of God in the
matter, and prayer. The most likely response will be the first
one. They may talk about what they would do to solve the worry.
This is important, but you need to lead them to see that prayer
is needed and acceptance of whatever God's will is in the matter.
In each case, keep emphasizing the role of prayer until they
begin to see that as the most important way to handle worry.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Sing the hymn, "What A friend We Have In Jesus;" a hymn
that emphasizes the role of prayer in solving our problems in
this life.
