Where do you feel comfortable and protected?  He had a few people share their answers (mom's kitchen, the bathtub, anywhere but school).

He had a shepherd's crook up front and he talked about the shepherd's crook and how it protects in two ways - pulling sheep back in line and defending against predators.  And how Jesus is the good shepherd and the great comforter, protecting us in both ways.

We then passed out a candy cane to everyone there and mentioned how it is in the shape of a shepherd's crook as well. 

Unbeknowst to the pastor, the two artist featured are children who have been reluctant to be in adult worship.  I was so pleased to see how excited those two were to be included in the sermon. 

Lisa B from NC

I invited the children and the congregation to turn to someone near them and share about a letter they received from a loved one and tell who the letter was from.  Boy, the adults were talking as much as they do during our "Meet and Greet" time!  In the past, I've usually had to prompt the children to talk to each other and not just to me, but not this morning. Luckily we had an odd number of children or else I wouldn't have had anyone to to share with.  

After our pair share, I showed them my hatbox of letters from people who love me.  I pulled out a letter or two to show them and shared who they were from. 

Then I told them that the pastor was going to share about a letter that the church of Rome received from a very special loved one - Paul and that Paul's letter told the Romans of God amazing love for us. How God loves us so much that he sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross for the bad things we have done.

I'm so encouraged by the pair shares and interactive participation of our congregation in the Children's Message. Not only does it engage everyone, it takes "the heat" off the children so they aren't on stage anymore.

They're just get to sit closer to the action.

Lisa B from NC

I shared with that thoughtful young man that at my former church, my son, on his High School Graduation Sunday, got his entire Senior Class to come forward when I called the children for the Children's Message. (It was quite a sight to see those lanky young men and beautiful young ladies squeeze in with the children on the chancel steps.) I KNOW my son wanted me to think he was doing it to mess with Mom, but I realized that the Seniors wanted to be with the children they had grown to love as their VBS Crew leaders, Assistant Sunday School teacher and Nursery workers, one more time. We had a very special Children's Message and I closed by reminding the Seniors to keep sharing the love of Jesus, just like they shared with the children, wherever they go!   Every year after that, our graduating Seniors came forward for the children's message on Graduation Sunday and we would celebrate their ministry as role models to the children.

So, I hope that young man DOES decide to come down for the Childrens' Message one Sunday soon. We'll see!

Lisa B from NC

REBUKE was easy.  I told them that a REBUKE was like a "talking to" from your parents...at least that's what we southerns call the lectures kids get from adults when kids have done something wrong. The got that!

REPENTANCE or REPENT - I told everyone to look out the sunny windows on their right at God's beautiful creation and imagine that was the way to God. I then told them to look toward the shadowy windows on their left and imagine that was the way toward darkness and away from God. I told everyone (kids &congregation) to stand up and face the left wall if they had ever done something wrong which God calls sin. I told them that when we sin, it's like turning our backs on God. Then I asked them to take a step toward the left wall if they had ever told a lie, or taken something that didn't belong to them. (Of course, everyone took a step & we all got a laugh when a few people who'd taken BIG steps were almost nose to nose with the wall!) I then explained REPENT. When we REPENT (turn around, FACE GOD and tell God of the bad things we've done) he will forgive us and we take a step closer to God. Then I invited them all to REPENT and they all turned to the right wall.  I told them to take a step toward God if when rememberd to obey God the next time they were tempted to do that same bad thing again.

After everyone sat down, the children were able to tell me that REBUKE meant "a talkin' to" and that REPENT meant turn around, face God and ask for forgiveness. 

What tickled me was the number of adults who remembered the hands on illustration when REBUKE and REPENT came up in a Bible study class later that day. 

Matter of fact, one man told me that as we were taking steps to represent our sins, he whispered to his wife, "If she makes us take a step for every sin, I'm going to end up in the next county!" LOL!

Lisa B from NC