Take a number, please
Children's sermon
Object:
a stack of numbers on Post-it notes, starting with one down the stack to 25 (or however many children it is possible to have)
Good morning, boys and girls.
Each of you must take a number, please. (pass out numbers to each child as they come up before they sit down)
We're going to talk about waiting. It's very hard to wait sometimes. Where have you been where you had to take a number before? (let them answer) Sometimes in stores it is very busy at Christmastime and instead of trying to figure out who is next, stores have people take a number.
Let's call a few numbers. One. Who has number one? (wait to see who has the one) That means you are first! It feels pretty good and there's no waiting at all. Who has number 25 (or whatever was the last number you passed out)? (wait for response)
Back to number one -- when have you had to wait? (let the child answer)
Number two -- your turn. Do you like waiting in line at the grocery store? (let the child answer) Waiting isn't fun.
Number three -- your turn. What's a waiting room at a hospital? (let the child answer) It's a place where families wait for the doctor after someone has surgery.
Number four -- your turn. What's it like when you have to go to the doctor's office and you have to wait until they call your name? (let the child answer) It's hard to wait when you don't know how long it will be.
Number five -- your turn. How long did you (or will you) have to wait to open your Christmas presents? (let the child answer) Some people open presents Christmas Eve and some open them Christmas morning. It's hard to wait!
Number six -- your turn. What was Mary waiting for? (let the child answer) She was waiting for her baby to be born!
She wasn't the only one waiting. There was a whole group of the people of God waiting for Jesus to be born. They were waiting for God to say it was their turn! Did God give them numbers while they waited? (let them answer) No, God just made a promise to send a special baby. Did God keep that promise? (let them answer) Yes. God kept the promise and sent Jesus so no one would have to wait anymore. (call the rest of the numbers and whisper to them to say, "Merry Christmas," to the congregation with you)
Merry Christmas!
Each of you must take a number, please. (pass out numbers to each child as they come up before they sit down)
We're going to talk about waiting. It's very hard to wait sometimes. Where have you been where you had to take a number before? (let them answer) Sometimes in stores it is very busy at Christmastime and instead of trying to figure out who is next, stores have people take a number.
Let's call a few numbers. One. Who has number one? (wait to see who has the one) That means you are first! It feels pretty good and there's no waiting at all. Who has number 25 (or whatever was the last number you passed out)? (wait for response)
Back to number one -- when have you had to wait? (let the child answer)
Number two -- your turn. Do you like waiting in line at the grocery store? (let the child answer) Waiting isn't fun.
Number three -- your turn. What's a waiting room at a hospital? (let the child answer) It's a place where families wait for the doctor after someone has surgery.
Number four -- your turn. What's it like when you have to go to the doctor's office and you have to wait until they call your name? (let the child answer) It's hard to wait when you don't know how long it will be.
Number five -- your turn. How long did you (or will you) have to wait to open your Christmas presents? (let the child answer) Some people open presents Christmas Eve and some open them Christmas morning. It's hard to wait!
Number six -- your turn. What was Mary waiting for? (let the child answer) She was waiting for her baby to be born!
She wasn't the only one waiting. There was a whole group of the people of God waiting for Jesus to be born. They were waiting for God to say it was their turn! Did God give them numbers while they waited? (let them answer) No, God just made a promise to send a special baby. Did God keep that promise? (let them answer) Yes. God kept the promise and sent Jesus so no one would have to wait anymore. (call the rest of the numbers and whisper to them to say, "Merry Christmas," to the congregation with you)
Merry Christmas!
