Leader:

Hello! How is everyone today? I have a special story to share with you today about Jesus’ love of children and Jesus’ love of you. But before I tell it, I want to ask you two questions. My first question is: Who brought you here today?

Children:

My mother! My grandmother! My parents!

Leader:

That’s great! My next question is: Why did they bring you here?

Children:

They wanted me to be with them. They wanted me to learn about God. I don’t know.

​Leader:

I see. Well, in the beginning of the story in the New Testament book of Mark in the Bible (opening the Bible), people were bringing children to Jesus because they wanted this very special man called Jesus to touch them and bless them. But do you know what happened?

Children:

(Various responses)

Leader:

You might be surprised to know that some of Jesus’ followers started saying, “Move back! Don’t come here! Get away! Can’t you see that Jesus doesn’t have time for you? He has more important things to do!” So, what do you suppose happened then?

Children:

(Various responses)

Leader:

The children and those who brought them might have felt bad and started to leave. But Jesus didn’t stop the children. He stopped his followers and said with a strong, demanding voice, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” Wasn’t that a great thing Jesus did?

Children:

Yes!

Leader:

Jesus spoke out to his followers because he loved children; and that hasn’t changed. Jesus loves each one of you and will never turn you away. But he also had a message to anyone who thinks Jesus should not welcome you in his presence. He let his followers know that there is something about the way children are—about the way you are—that others should be like in order to carry out God’s work in the world. Jesus was talking about the respect children show others that all Christians should show God. Jesus was also talking about your trust in others that all Christians should have in God and the happiness you have and show that God wants to see in those who follow Jesus. I would like all of us to remember that Jesus loves children and loves you. I would like each of you to say your name as loudly as you can, ​and after each name is said, let’s have the whole congregation say aloud, “Jesus loves you!”

All:

(Each child says her name or his name aloud, followed by the congregation’s response, “Jesus loves you!”)

Leader:

Let’s close with everyone singing the song “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know.”