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Choose from the following Children's Sermons:

• Look to Him & Be Radiant All Saints/Halloween
  by an anonymous DPS poster

• Small in Stature; Huge in Heart,  Luke 19:1-10
  by Rev. Randy Quinn 

• >> Little <<   Luke 19:1-10,  by Rev. Frank
  Schaefer

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Look to Him & Be Radiant
a children's sermon seed based on All Saints/Halloween
by an anonymous DPS poster

.... A friend shared with me her "pumpkin sermon" which I plan to use this Sunday for the Family Service.

Prepare a large jack o'lantern ahead of time by cutting out eyes, ears, nose and mouth, slicing off the stem end and hollowing out the rest. Put all the pieces (except the seeds, pulp, etc.) back in place, so that the pumpkin still looks whole.

Then talk about how the senses (sight, hearing, etc.) allow us to be in touch with God. As each is mentioned, remove the pieces and reveal the face.

Then ask the children what is missing. When they respond "a light", place the candle and light it to show God's spirit within each one.

Talk about how sometimes we refuse to use what we have to get in touch with God. Put back the pieces to stop up the nose, mouth, etc. Put back the top and observe what happens to the light within us.

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Small in Stature; Huge in Heart
a children's sermon based on Luke 19:1-10
by Rev. Randy Quinn

(I’ll stand on top of my stool, rather than sit on it today.)

I probably look pretty silly up here, don’t I?

Actually, I have a good reason to be here. Have you ever been to a parade? It’s hard to see, isn’t it? Sometimes, parents will hold their children up or put them on their shoulders.

But where could I go to see? (On top of a stool!)

I read about a man who always took a ladder with him when he went to see a parade. That way, even if he was late getting there he could still see.

Do you know a Bible story that might be like that? We sang a song about him in Sunday School this morning . . . Yes! Zacchaeus! He was so short that he climbed up into a tree to see Jesus come by.

But the more important part of the story is that Jesus saw him! He told Zacchaeus to come down. Then Jesus had supper with him, didn’t he?

Sometimes you may be too small to see a parade, but you’re never too small for Jesus to not see you. God notices you whether you’re in a tree or on a ladder or just holding someone’s hand.

And Jesus loves you, too. None of us is too small for that.

Let’s pray:

God thank you for seeing us and loving us. Thank you for the story of Zacchaeus that reminds us that you see everyone and you want everyone to be happy. Help us remember that no matter how small we may think we are; we are never too small for you to notice. Amen.

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>> Little <<
A children's sermon based on Luke 19:1-10
by Rev. Frank Schaefer

props: none

Welcome, my little friends.  You know, I often say that.  I call you "my little friends."  It's funny because today I'd like to share with you the story of Zacchaeus who was a little man.  I don't know how tall exactly he was, but the bible says that he wanted to see Jesus and he couldn't look past or over people in front of him. So I imagine he was probably very short, perhaps the size of a child.

Do you, as children who are not as tall as adults, feel like you cannot see past people sometimes?  Are there other challenges being small?  What about reaching things?  Like dishes form a high cabinet?  What else?  (Let the children share).

So who of you remembers what little Zacchaeus did when he couldn't see Jesus past the people in front of him?  That's right, he climbed up on a tree.   Now, who of you thinks that's a good idea?  Hands up.  I thought that you would like that.

Who of you likes to climb trees?  Where do you climb trees?   What does the world look like from a tree?  Do things look different from up there?  How do they look different?  Smaller?  Less intimidating / scary?

Climbing trees is a lot of fun.  Of course, I haven't done it in a while, nor would I be any good with my mind of belly, but I do remember it vividly from my childhood.

You know, I find the story of Zacchaeus the little man wonderful, because through this story, God says to us: It doesn't matter how tall or little you are, you are important and very special to me.  And it also doesn't matter how much wrong you have done, I love you anyway, and I help you to become a better person.

Isn't that good to know?  That to God it doesn't matter what size you are?  That he loves everybody regardless of what they look like, what they have or don't have, and what they have done or not done?

Zacchaeus invited Jesus into his house.  Would you like it if Jesus came to your house?  Maybe Jesus cannot come to our house in the way he came to Zacchaeus, but you know what?  We can invite Jesus to come into our hearts and into our minds, and into our lives.

If you want that, your could pray along with me as I pray.  Let us bow our heads: "Dear Lord Jesus, just like little Zacchaeus invited you into his house, I would like to invite you to come into my life.  Please be close to me, walk with me, stay with me when I go to sleep and greet me each morning when I wake up.   Help me when I am confused or lost, help me to make good decisions.  Help me to grow up to be a good person and a faithful Christian.  Amen."