Scripture:

Luke 9:28-36 [37-43a]

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Pastor, there’s a scary story in the gospel reading today.

Pastor: What is scary, Sammy?

Sammy: Well, when Jesus came down from the mountain after the Transfiguration, a dad met him and asked him to heal his son, a little boy.

Pastor: Yes. What is scary about that?

Sammy: Well the little boy was shaking and foaming at the mouth. And he kept screaming. He must have been really sick.

Pastor: He was really sick. None of Jesus’s disciples could heal him, and the boy’s father advocated for his son. He asked Jesus to heal him.

Sammy: And Jesus did heal him.

Pastor: Yes he did. Boys and girls, can you think of a time when you were really sick and your dad or mom helped you?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: I guess what is scary about this story is there are so many sicknesses and boo-boos that we cannot control.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. But the great thing is that Jesus can heal any illness or hurt that we have. He shows us through scripture that we have the same power through the Holy Spirit, and we just need to have faith.

Sammy: Pastor, I like that you help me see that I don’t have to be afraid. Jesus wasn’t afraid, and the little boy’s dad knew that Jesus could heal his son. When we have faith, our faith changes everything.

Pastor: That’s the goodness and power of Jesus in our lives. Let’s pray. Can everyone please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for faith. Help us to look to you for the power of the Holy Spirit. Please be with us always. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Luke 6:27-38

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone!

Pastor: Sammy, how are things going at the farm?

Sammy: Going really well, Pastor! I am counting down the days until spring.

Pastor: Me too, Sammy.

Sammy: So, Pastor, I noticed that Jesus talks a lot about extra credit in our Gospel reading for today.

Pastor: What do you mean, Sammy?

Sammy: Boys and girls, can you tell Pastor what extra credit is? He seems to have forgotten.

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: I am glad that everyone reminded me of what extra credit means. But, Sammy, why do you think Jesus was talking about extra credit?

Sammy: Jesus talks about how easy it is to give to people who give to us. It’s easy to love people who love us. But we are called to something greater than that as Christians.

Pastor: We are indeed.

Sammy: Jesus wants us to give to people who cannot give anything back to us. He wants us to let people borrow our things without expecting them back.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. We are not supposed to judge others, and we need to love others and forgive them.

Sammy: Yes, that’s the extra credit, too. Pastor, I do have a question.

Pastor: What’s your question, Sammy?

Sammy: Jesus says my reward will be great. Do Jesus mean I am going to win the lottery or get a new truck for the farm or something like that? Or maybe a sugar cube? I love sugar cubes.

Pastor: No, Sammy. Jesus is talking about our reward in Heaven. When we give to others and love others like Jesus did, then we get to witness God’s abundant grace and love. Our reward is eternal life in Heaven with Jesus.

Sammy: That is a beautiful reward.

Pastor: Yes it is. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads with me. Dear Jesus, Thank you for teaching us how to live. Thank you for helping us love each other. We love you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture:

Luke 6:17-26

Script: 

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Pastor, I am encouraged by the words of Jesus.

Pastor: Jesus’s words in this sermon are very encouraging, Sammy.

Sammy: Jesus recognizes how broken our world is, and his words are comforting to me.

Pastor: Jesus’s words are comforting to many who believe in him. He promises that the poor will inherit the Kingdom of God. He says people who are hungry will have full bellies.

Sammy: I like having a full belly!

Pastor: Me, too, Sammy. Jesus also talks about how anyone who is crying now will laugh.

Sammy: That’s because Jesus gives us joy!

Pastor: Yes he does. When we put our hope in Jesus, he gives us so much in return. Jesus gives physical healing to many people, too. The Gospel writers Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all talk about how Jesus healed many people. We don’t know everyone’s story. We don’t know why each person needed healing, and we don’t know what each person did after he or she was healed.

Sammy: But we do know that Jesus healed them. And they walked away changed. They received healing from the Word of God. And Jesus gave them more encouraging words that would never be taken from them.

Pastor: Yes he did. Boys and girls, I have something special for each of you today. I am going to give each of you a heart. Can you read what this heart says? [Heart can say Jesus loves you or a verse from the scripture today.]

Sammy: Hey, Pastor! Do you have enough hearts in that basket for everyone today? Maybe the boys and girls can help you share the love of Jesus with our congregation.

Pastor: Boys and girls, will you please help me give a heart to everyone?

[Give a heart to each member of the congregation and then return to the front of the church for prayer.]

Pastor: Let’s fold our hands and bow our heads. Dear Jesus, thank you for always giving us hope. Help us to trust you to take away our tears and to give us laughter. Help us to have faith that you will always care for us and love us. In your name we pray, Amen. Bye, everyone!

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Pastor, what does Jesus mean when he tells Simon, James, and John that they will be catching people?

Pastor: Jesus is teaching these men that they are going to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations.

Sammy: That’s a really big job. I thought these guys were just fisherman.

Pastor: Yes, they were. But remember Jesus transforms the hearts and minds of all who believe in him and have faith. He can use us to further his kingdom no matter what job we have.

Sammy: So you are telling us that even I, as a little lamb, matter to Jesus? And all of the children here? They matter to Jesus?

Pastor: Each one of us, especially the littlest ones, matter to Jesus. He calls each of us to follow him, and we have to decide whether or not we will listen.

Sammy: Pastor, I love how Simon, James, and John leave everything and follow Jesus. I wish I would be better at following my mama when she calls me. I do get distracted sometimes, or sometimes I don’t want to follow her. I want to go my own way instead.

Pastor: Sometimes following Jesus is difficult, and sometimes following him takes a lot of sacrifice for believers. A lot of people have to give up something—sometimes something little, like a bad habit, or sometimes something big, like some of their friends or family members.

Sammy: That must be really hard for them. You know, Pastor, even when I want to go my own way, Jesus always comes back for me. He is the Good Shepherd. I just have to listen for his voice.

Pastor: And Sammy, I want you to know that even though following Jesus can be hard sometimes, doing something hard doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing. Boys and girls, can you think of a time when you had to do something hard in your life?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: Thank you all for sharing your examples with us. Let’s fold our hands and bow our heads in prayer. Dear Jesus, thank you for helping us to drop everything to follow you. Help us to listen for your call. Help us to know that even though we are small, we are still important in your kingdom. We love you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture: Luke 2:22-40

Script

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone!

Pastor: Sammy, today is a very special day.

Sammy: Yes it is! Happy Groundhog’s Day!

Pastor: No, Sammy. I mean, today is Groundhog’s Day, but that’s not what I was talking about.

Sammy: (CHOOSE) Punxsutawney Phil saw/didn’t see his shadow, so there will be six more weeks of winter/an early spring.

Pastor: Oh, Sammy.

Sammy: Pastor, these events are important in the world of animals and farmers. We have to know when spring is coming, and Phil is our expert weather-groundhog. There was a groundhog ball and a groundhog banquet this week in his honor. Punxsutawney Phil is famous.

Pastor: Here we go again.

Sammy: Pastor, did you know that Groundhog’s Day is actually rooted in a special day called Candlemas Day? Christians would bring their candles to the church on Candlemas Day to have them blessed, and this blessing would bring blessings into their house for the rest of winter. Did you tell the congregation to bring their candles today?

Pastor: Well, not but I–

Sammy: So eventually, Candlemas Day evolved and had weather predictions attached to it. There’s an old English song that says, “If Candlemas be fair and bright/Come, Winter, have another flight;/If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,/Go Winter, and come not again.”

Pastor: I am not seeing how the Groundhog fits in here.

Sammy: The groundhog’s name is Phil. Punxsutawney Phil. German Christians introduced a new tradition where they had little hedgehogs running around. If the hedgehog saw his shadow, then there would be six more weeks of Winter.

Pastor: Punxsutawney Phil is not a hedgehog. He’s a Groundhog.

Sammy: Yes I know he’s a groundhog, Pastor. When the German Christians arrived to the United States, they had a hard time finding hedgehogs, but Groundhogs were everywhere. Punxsutawney Phil was elected by the animals to serve as the chief weatherman on Candlemas Day, and he’s been predicting the weather since 1887.

Pastor: You mean to tell me that Punxsutawney Phil has been predicting the weather since 1887. He’s been alive since 1887.

Sammy: Exactly. That’s why he’s famous.

Pastor: Sammy, I am glad you shared all of this information about Candlemas and Groundhog’s Day with us.

Sammy: You’re welcome.

Pastor: Hearing about traditions in our church is always good. Lots of wonderful things we do today were started by Christians before us. Let’s say a prayer. Please fold your hands and bow your heads with me. Dear Jesus, thank you for inspiring your sons and daughters to seek blessings. Thank you for helping us come to you in the middle of Winter for comfort. We look forward to celebrating the joy of your resurrection and the new life we get to experience in you this Spring. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone. Happy Groundhog’s Day!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture:

Luke 4:14-21

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Mic drop!

Pastor: Well, good morning to you, too, Sammy.

Sammy: Mic drop!

Pastor: Mic drop?

Sammy: Mic drop!

Pastor: Boys and girls, I need a little help. I am a lot older than you, and I seem to be out of touch with the lingo the kids (and sheep) are using these days. What is a mic drop? What is Sammy talking about?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: Mic drop!

Pastor: Oh, I get it, Sammy! You are saying that Jesus had a mic drop—a big moment of triumph—in the Gospel today.

Sammy: Exactly!

Pastor: What would you consider his mic drop, Sammy?

Sammy: Well, Jesus reads the scripture from Isaiah to everyone in the temple just like we read the scripture here in church. When he is done reading about the coming Messiah that Isaiah prophesies about in the scripture, he says that he is the Messiah.

Pastor: Yes, Jesus says that he is the Messiah. He shares this information with the people of Nazareth, which is the town where he grew up.

Sammy: I love what Jesus says, Pastor.

Pastor: Me too, Sammy. Jesus says that the Spirit of the Lord is upon him, and he will bring good news to the poor, set the captives free, and help the blind see.

Sammy: And Jesus does all of these miracles. He truly is the Son of God.

Pastor: Yes he is—Jesus is our King and Savior.

Sammy: When Jesus shares that he is the Messiah, that’s his mic drop—his moment of triumph.

Pastor: If you want to call that moment a mic drop, that’s okay, Sammy. Jesus is victorious over many things: sin, death, the grave. He is victorious over declaring who he is to us as well. Boys and girls, would you please fold your hands and bow your heads in prayer with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for sharing who you are with us. Thank you for setting us free from sin, helping the blind to see, and giving us the power of your Holy Spirit. We love you, Lord. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture:

John 2:1-11

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, boys and girls! Good morning, Pastor! Hey Pastor?

Pastor: Yes, Sammy?

Sammy: I was listening to you read the Gospel message this morning, and I would like to share some of my thoughts about what you read.

Pastor: Sure, Sammy. I think we have a couple of minutes for you to share your thoughts.

Sammy: That’s great! First of all, all of our mamas know us really well.

Pastor: Of course. Our mamas are there on the day we are born, and they feel us before we are born, too. They raise us from when we are tiny babies.

Sammy: Jesus’s mama knows him really well. She knows that he is capable of miracles.

Pastor: Jesus’s mother, Mary, was told by the angel Gabriel that she would carry and give birth to the Son of God.

Sammy: I have another observation based on the gospel today: Mamas need their wine.

Pastor: …

Sammy: Mary encouraged the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. The wedding guests were out of wine. And I know all mamas need a glass of wine from time to time. And lots of mamas go to weddings.

Pastor: Yes, Sammy. The servants listened to Jesus as he told them to fill very large purification jars with water. He then told them to take some out of the jar and give the wine to the chief steward.

Sammy: That’s right. That brings us to my third point: Jesus always gives us the very best. When we follow him, we receive the best gifts from him. And we have to think about the little things he gives us, too. More wine at a wedding isn’t really important to me—I’m just a little lamb—but it’s really important to the bride and the groom and all the mamas who like wine.

Pastor: Sammy, I am grateful you shared your thoughts about the gospel today. The wedding at Cana is Jesus’s first public miracle, and this miracle is certainly a very special one. Our God always provides for us and gives us good gifts. Let’s give thanks to him. Boys and girls, would you please bow your heads and fold your hands in prayer? Dear Jesus, thank you for the gifts you give us. Help us to see the little gifts as miracles, too. We love you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, Pastor! Bye, boys and girls!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone! Pastor, the Gospel from Luke today talked about a winnowing fork and a granary. I know what those are, and I can tell the boys and girls.

Pastor: That would be great, Sammy. I am sure you know all about winnowing forks and granary because you live on a farm.

Sammy: That’s right!

Pastor: Let’s start with winnowing fork. What is that?

Sammy: A winnowing fork is a tool that farmers use to separate the grain of wheat from the chaff.

Pastor: What do you mean?

Sammy: Well, when farmers harvest wheat, they keep the grain of the wheat and turn that into bread, rolls, cake, cookies, pie…

Pastor: Okay, Sammy. We get the idea. We can use the grain of wheat to make lots of yummy baked goods. But what about the chaff?

Sammy: Well, the winnowing fork allows the chaff to blow away in the wind. That’s what farmers want because people do not eat the chaff.

Pastor: Sammy, would you like to also tell us about a granary?

Sammy: Yes! So after the farmers separate the wheat from the chaff, they collect all of the wheat and store it in a granary. It’s basically a big room just for the grain of the wheat. And when they need to sell or use the wheat, they can take what they need from the granary.

Pastor: Sammy, you did a great job of explaining these farming tools and techniques to the boys and girls.

Sammy: Thank you, Pastor.

Pastor: Boys and girls, when we are baptized, we become a part of God’s family. Jesus invites us into his family, and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit when we are baptized. In the Gospel today, John talks about how Jesus knows who belongs to him and who is a part of his family. He keeps us, his children, in his granary forever. We are so loved by God, and he wants us to be a part of his kingdom.

Sammy: That’s a great comparison, Pastor!

Pastor: John did a great job of sharing the message of Jesus and preparing the people to hear the Gospel.

Sammy: Yes he did. Boys and girls, would you please fold your hands and bow your heads in prayer with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for baptism. Thank you for inviting us into your granary and for including us in the promise of your coming kingdom. We love you. Amen. Bye everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture

John 1:[1-9] 10-18

Script: 

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, boys and girls! Good morning, Pastor.

Pastor: Sammy, did you know that we can find Jesus in the Old Testament?

Sammy: We can? I thought Jesus only appeared in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and that he only appeared in the New Testament.

Pastor: Many follows of Jesus today think that Jesus is only in the four gospels, but he is in the Old Testament as well.

Sammy: Where? Do the boys and girls know where we can find Jesus?

Pastor: Boys and girls, do you know where we can find Jesus? 

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: In the Gospel of John today, John declares that Jesus is the Word of God who was in the beginning. Who created the heavens and earth, Sammy?

Sammy: God did. He spoke and creation came into being.

Pastor: That’s right. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit existed from the beginning, before the creation of our world.

Sammy: What is the first thing that God created, Pastor?

Pastor: In the Gospel today, John talks about Jesus as the light of the world, and that’s also the first thing that God created: light.

Sammy: I like the light, Pastor. I like when I can see where I am going.

Pastor: When we follow Jesus, our creator, we will see more clearly than ever before.

Sammy: So where else can we find Jesus in the Old Testament?

Pastor: Jesus walked with Abraham and ate with him. He stood in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When you read stories from the Old Testament, you have to look for him. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are present all throughout scripture, and Jesus walks among his people many times.

Sammy: I love knowing that Jesus walks with us today, too. We have an amazing God.

Pastor: Yes, we do. Boys and girls, let’s fold our hands and bow our heads. Please repeat after me: Dear Jesus, Thank you for creating light and for always being there, even before creation. Help us to search for you daily, especially as we read the scriptures. Thank you for your love. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Sammy: Guess what guess what guess what!

Pastor: What, Sammy? You seem really excited to tell us something.

Sammy: You are never going to believe what I saw!

Pastor: What did you see, Sammy?

Sammy: I was sleeping, okay? I was all curled up next to my maaamaaa and then all of a sudden, someone turned on the sun in the middle of the night.

Pastor: Someone turned on the sun?

Sammy: Yes! The sky was that bright! First there was darkness and little twinkly stars and then boom! A light as bright as the sun filled the sky. So of course I woke up. And you are never going to believe what happened next.

Pastor: Please tell us.

Sammy: I saw angels fill the sky. One angel named Gabriel told all of us: my maaamaaa, my cousins, and aunts and uncles, and even farmers Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and the shepherds something really special.

Pastor: What did he say?

Sammy: Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹ to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,^[b] the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” I just stood there with my mouth hanging open.

Pastor: What else happened?

Sammy: Well then the angels started singing! They sounded so good. Just like our choir here at St. Paul’s.

Pastor: Well what happened next?

Sammy: Are you serious, Pastor Jim? Of course I had to go see the baby. I love babies.

Pastor: Who went to go see the baby?

Sammy: My maaamaaa, my cousins, and aunts and uncles, and even farmers Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and the shepherds, too. We all went.

Pastor: And, what did you think?

Sammy: The baby was so cute. His momma and dada wrapped him up in swaddling clothes just like the shepherds use for lambs and laid him in the manger—just like the manger I eat from. He’s a lamb just like me! But you know, Pastor Jim, I could tell that there is something really special about this baby.

Pastor: What do you mean?

Sammy: This baby is no ordinary baby. This baby shone brighter than all of the angels in the night sky. And I felt such peace when I laid down in front of the manger. And I knew in my heart that even I, a little lamb, am so loved.

Pastor: Sammy, you witnessed the greatest event in the history of man. God is with us. A savior is born to us. Boys and girls, let’s pray: Dear Jesus: Thank you for being with us. Thank you for guiding us. Thank you for coming to earth as a baby. Thank you for your love. Amen.

Sammy: I have a gift for each of the boys and girls here today. I have a little lamb for each of you to adopt into your family to remind you how much Jesus loves you. Pastor Jim, can you give everyone a lamb please?

Pastor Jim: Merry Christmas, Sammy!

Sammy: Merry Christmas, Pastor Jim! Merry Christmas boys and girls!