Throughout this series, you will need to prepare and use each week an adapted version of Rev. Leanne Hadley’s “Listening Stones.” Click here to learn more about “Listening Stones.”

Supplies needed for the entire series:

Stones (You can either use small stones and give each child one each week or one bigger stone for the entire group to use throughout the series.)
Jar large enough for placing one stone from each week’s lesson. This jar will hold one stone from each week of this series. Keep it in the worship area throughout the series as a reminder to the entire congregation about the lessons discussed each week.
Permanent Markers.
Mod Podge

Steps to Make Listening Stones:

1.) Purchase stones (pre-polished from a craft store in the floral department. These are used to put in vases, etc.).

2.) Using a permanent marker, draw the symbols on the rocks and let them dry well. Click here to view a template (PDF) for the symbols for each week.

Images:

Water droplet
Music note
Cross
“BE”
Lightbulb
Yes, checkbox
Cloud

3.) Place a small dab of “Mod Podge” on each stone and let it dry. (If you skip this step, the symbols will rub off the rocks. It is very important! We have tried finding a spray-on application but have not had any luck.)

4.) Place the stones in a large cloth bag after they have dried for several hours. Placing the stones in a cloth bag or nice box makes the stones seem holier than toys or playthings.

Each week during this series, introduce the stone with the week’s image. Offer a stone to each child to use as a prayer stone. If you have only one larger stone, have children either touch or reach toward the stone as you close in prayer. Collect one stone each week in the jar or box and keep it visible in the worship area for the duration of the series.

DOWNLOAD Steps to Make Listening Stones (PDF)

Children's Message

Matthew 3:13-17, New International Reader's Version

Jesus Is Baptized

¹³Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River. He wanted to be baptized by John. ¹⁴But John tried to stop him. So, he told Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you. So why do you come to me?”

¹⁵Jesus replied, “Let it be this way for now. It is right for us to do this. It carries out God’s holy plan.” Then John agreed.

¹⁶As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened. Jesus saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. ¹⁷A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him.”

Supplies

Stone(s) with a water symbol inscribed on them

Message

(If you have access to the baptismal font, direct children’s attention toward it.) Ask: “How many of you are baptized?” (Allow children to raise their hands.) “What does it mean to be baptized?” (Allow children to answer.) Explain that people are baptized as an outward sign of their decisions to follow Jesus and have a deep relationship, called a covenant, with God and all God’s people. The person who is baptized also then becomes a member of this faith community.

Here are some helpful links about baptism from our site.

“The Meaning of Baptism in The United Methodist Church,” https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/the-meaning-of-baptism-in-the-united-methodist-church.
“FAQs about Baptism, Membership, and Salvation,” https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/faqs-about-baptism-membership-and-salvation.
“By Water and the Spirit” (full text), https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/by-water-and-the-spirit-full-text).

Today, we are going to talk about an incredibly special baptism—the baptism of Jesus. One day, Jesus went down to the Jordan River where John the Baptist was baptizing people. John used the water of the Jordan for baptisms. Jesus walked right up to John, passing through the crowd, and asked John to baptize him. John said that he should be baptized by Jesus and wondered why Jesus wanted John to baptize him. Jesus said that he needed to be baptized by John.

As soon as Jesus came up from the water of the Jordan River, the heavens opened, and God’s Spirit came down like a dove. Then everyone heard a voice from heaven that said, “This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him.” Whose voice do you think it was? (Allow children to answer.) That is right. It was the voice of God, and God was happy with God’s Son, Jesus. Who is Jesus? (Allow children to answer.) Jesus is the son of God.

Today, I have a stone with an image of a drop of water drawn on it. I wonder what the image of a drop of water means. (Allow children to answer.) (If you have one stone for each child, hand the stones out now or draw children’s attention to the one stone in your hand.) I want you to touch the stone. Feel how hard the stone is. While you do that, I would like to ask you a question: “Who is Jesus?” Now quietly answer, “the son of God.”

Trace your finger around the image of the drop of water. Then I will ask you a second question: “Whose child are you?” When I ask that question, quietly answer, “I am a child of God.”

(Repeat the two questions again, if you have time.)

We are all children of God. Jesus is God’s son. God sent Jesus to show us what God is like. Take your stone with you this week and spend time holding it and remembering Jesus’ baptism. I will place my stone in this container and leave it here so that we are reminded that we all are children of a God who loves us. And that God is pleased with each of us.

Prayer

God of love and grace, thank you for your son, Jesus. Help us to show Jesus’ love to everyone we meet, so that we are pleasing to you, just as you were pleased with Jesus. In his precious and strong name, Amen.