Choose from the following children's sermons:
- Thanksgiving Cards for God, anonymous
- The Gratitude Attitude, by Rev. Frank Schaefer
- A Child's Thanksgiving Prayer
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Thanksgiving Cards for God
A kids' talk suggestion by a DPSer
Props: Have available simple thank you cards on
colorful paper.
Ask: have you ever sent a thank you card to
someone? Has anyone in your family? What were you given? Have you ever made a
card for God?
Next, you may talk about the weekly offering
and its use for the church, missions, and help for the community.
(Be prepared: some children think the minister gets to
keep the money).
What other ways can we show thanks? What can
kids do? Invite them to make thank-you cards for God, and suggest to hang them
up in the Sunday School room, church lobby, etc.
The Gratitude Attitude
a kids' talk based on the theme of thanks-giving
by Rev. Frank Schaefer
Hi boys and girls, today we will talk about a
very important word. And that word is . . . "thanks." If I didn't know
better I'd say this word has magical powers. You know why? Because it makes
people smile. Have you ever noticed that? It doesn't always work, but most
of the time when we say "thank you" to someone, they smile. It makes them
feel good to be thanked.
When do you use that word "thanks?" When do
you say "thanks" to someone? (let the children name examples and encourage
their answers).
I have another question: do you think that we
can say "thanks" to God too? (Nod slightly to encourage the yes answer) What
do you think, does God smile when you say "thank you" to him? (Nod
slightly). Yes, you are absolutely right: the bible tells us that God likes
our offerings of thanksgiving and praise. It makes God feel good.
And actually, that's what we're doing today
(tonight): we have a Thanksgiving Service. What do we thank God for? (let the
children give answers, help only if they are stuck; if you have fruits/ears of
grain, etc. on the altar you may want to point to them).
How about if we give God thanks right now and
pray a little prayer together?
A Child's Thanksgiving Prayer
(may be prayed by the entire congregation)
On Thanksgiving Day,
I thank God for my family and my sister.
I thank God for the rain and the sun.
I thank God for my Teddy Bear.
I thank God for my teachers and for my friends.
I thank you, God, for life and love.
On Thanksgiving Day,
I pray to God for all the poor people
who are hungry today because
they have no food, no home, no family
and no friends. They are all alone.
Only God remembers the poor.
On Thanksgiving Day,
I pray for the children who are hungry,
who have no parents, and no loving church.
I pray that God will spend Thanksgiving with them.
Please God visit me and love me;
I am not poor, but I love you too.
