This worship series helps children (and adults) connect their lives to creation and the intersection of other issues. We’re all connected. As a through-line for the children’s message, we recommend building a terrarium together - or some kind of nature-centered altarpiece. Each week has suggestions about how to do that. If your worship space does not lend itself to this activity, alternatives are also suggested.

John 21:15-17, New International Reader's Version (shortened from lectionary for message)

Jesus Gives Peter His Task

When Jesus and the disciples had finished eating, Jesus spoke to Simon Peter. He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered. “You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

Jesus spoke to him a third time. He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter felt bad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He answered, “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

Visual Aids:

Rocks and dirt (and wet wipes)

Message:

In the scripture for today, Jesus asks his friend Peter to feed his sheep. Jesus often talked about himself as a shepherd and people as his sheep. So, do you think Jesus wants us to go feed actual sheep at a petting zoo?

I think Jesus wanted to remind Peter, and us, to help take care of other people - and part of taking care of other people sometimes means making sure they have good food to eat. Unfortunately, in our community and all around the world, there are people who don’t have enough good food to eat. We also know that it’s important to “feed” our souls with good things like nature, which is good for our brains. Science says it’s good for our bodies, too.

In areas where humans have done a lot of building and paving, sometimes it’s hard to get good food, but it’s also hard in those areas to feed people’s souls with nature.

In our church, we (Mention something that your church does to “feed” its members. Both bellies and soul. ) to help people feed their bellies/souls. Did you know that? Have you helped? Can you help even if other people don’t see you help?

(Show the dirt and rocks.) What is this? One of the cool things about dirt and rocks is that they are the food for plants.(If there are wet wipes available, have the children touch the dirt, then clean their hands afterward.) If plants have good food, they can become good food for us and animals! Can you see the good stuff in this dirt that will help plants grow?

We can help the dirt by composting food we don’t eat along with grass clippings. We can water plants that are potted to make sure they get what they need to grow. We can plant things outside that will help local wildlife have food to eat. Maybe we can even plant a garden with food that feeds people!

(For those with a terrarium)

Today, we’ll put these rocks and this dirt into our glass bowl to remind us that we don’t have to be seen to do good things for others.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the food I eat. When I eat, help me remember that not all kids have enough and that I can help all your creation be fed, even in small ways. Amen.

Between the Sundays: Family Conversation Starters

We have added conversation starters to each children’s message series to help spark conversations within families during the week. We encourage families to use these questions to guide them through conversations and subject matter discussed during the worship service, including the children’s messages on Sundays. These conversations will reinforce learning and nurture faith formation for the entire family.

This series will offer picture book suggestions to go with each week’s topic. Adults in the lives of children might want to use the story time already scheduled in the week to spend a little extra time talking about faith. There is no need for your church to buy all or any of the recommended books. Most of these books should be available in public libraries. Certainly, not all the books need to be read by each family.

Suggested books about people helping nature and one another to be fed:

A Garden to Save the Birds by Wendy McClure and Beatriz Mayumi
Green Green: A Community Gardening Story by Marie Lamba, Baldev Lamba, and Sonia Sanchez
In Our Garden by Pat Zietlow Miller and Melissa Crowton
Jayden’s Impossible Garden by Mélina Mangal and Ken Daley
One Little Lot: The 1-2-3s of an Urban Garden by Dian C. Mullan and Oriol Vidal

I wonder what my favorite food would be if I were . . . a bird.

I wonder if there’s somewhere I could plant something.

I wonder how long it takes for my food to grow.

Books about children who don’t have enough food (Be sure to read the notes to adults in the back of these books before reading with children to be ready for the discussion):

Lulu and the Hunger Monster/Lulú y el Monstruo del Hambre by Erik Talkin and Sheryl Murray
Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt and Vin Voge
Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O’Neill and Brizida Magro

I wonder how many kids nearby don’t have enough food. (You can find the answer here: map.feedingamerica.org.)

I wonder what groups in my community already help feed people and animals.

I wonder what I can do to help hungry people and animals near me.

Books about how we get food (science about how food creates energy for bodies; instructions on growing plants at home, and even some recipes!):

From Plant to Plate: Turn Home-Grown Ingredients into Healthy Meals by Darryl Gadzekpo and Ella Phillips

For the littlest ones - this book comes in a board book edition. It discusses food justice and includes discussion questions:

We Care: A First Conversation About Justice by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, and Sharee Miller

Promise

Circling Toward Food Justice

Believing into Christ

References

Colors

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