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Choose from the following children's messages:

• A Place At God's Table
  by Rev. Frank Schaefer     (see below)
   
• The Best Gift for Children    Mark 10:2-16
  by Rev. Randy Quinn    (see below)

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A Place At God's Table
based on World Communion Sunday
by Rev. Frank Schaefer
Props: piece of paper, marker

Good to see you all, my little friends.  Please find a seat on the altar steps and make yourself feel comfortable.  Today, we celebrate World Communion Sunday, and that simply means that all Christians around the world will eat a piece of bread and drink a little wine or grape juice, all in the name of Jesus who taught us to remember him as we do this.

It is like all of us are gathering at a huge table, and we all celebrate our God.

Speaking of tables,  there are so many different forms of tables.    (Take out paper and marker and draw the shapes of table as you talk about them) Some dinner tables are round, some are square, some are oblong, some are oval...    What does your dinner table look like at home? (Let the children share)

Do you all have a special place at your dinner table at home?  Do you always sit in the same place?   (Let some of the children show on the paper where they sit.

Now, imagine mom or dad call you to the dinner table and you run into the dining room (because you're hungry) and there is someone else who sits in your chair, in your space at the table.  How would you feel about that  (let the children share)?  I know I would feel bad about that, too.  It would be like I didn't belong at the table or like I didn't belong to the family any longer.

Whenever anybody of my family wasn't present, their place at our family table was empty, and we would know that they were missing.  That place belonged just to them, and they could always come and be welcome at that table--no matter what!     And I bet you it's just like that in your home as well.  Isn't it good to know that you always have a place at that table--no matter what you did or didn't do?

So it is with God's table too.  No matter what we have done, or what we neglected to do, God always reserves a place for us at his table.  God loves us and he forgives us all our sins if we are truly sorry for them and confess them to God.    Then we can take our place at God's table.

Now God's table, of course, is the communion table, and every believer is always invited to come and partake of the bread and the juice.

No matter what, God has a place for all of us at his table and this morning we celebrate that together with the entire world.  Christians from around the world will celebrate communion today.  And there is enough room at God's table for every single one of us.  Now that's one large table!!

So this morning as we come either to partake from the bread and the juice or to come for a blessing (in many traditions, children before initiation / confirmation receive a blessing instead of the elements) we celebrate the great faithfulness of our God who loves us so much that he forgives us all our sins.  Amen.

More Children's Sermon Ideas For World Communion Sunday:

Coming to the Table This is a week of Holy Communion. Why not ask the children what they do when they are called to come to the table in their homes. Can they remember a special time when everyone gathered? Hopefully that's every family at some time every day. This is a good time to talk about the bread that is served in their homes -- for some it is white bread, others -- brown, still others black, and so many other hues. Can you think of other things that are the color of bread? The color of our skin. Isn't it interesting that Jesus would choose this symbol for the bread of our being loved by God. When we are invited to the table for special meals at home, we make every effort to be there. Can you see why Christians around the world make every effort to come on this special day to come to the table, too, to share God's love?! May you enjoy your time of table grace together as God gives you food for the journey in Christ's Holy name. Amen. --Karl in Iowa

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The Best Gift for Children
Mark 10:2-16
by Rev. Randy Quinn

I have a picture here. Can you tell me what it’s a picture of? (I have a picture of Jesus holding a child by Richard Hook. It normally hangs in my office, and was given in memory of Catherine Joy Kusske. Some of the children may have seen it before.)

In our scripture today, we will hear about Jesus welcoming children – even though his Disciples wanted to keep them away from him.

A couple of weeks ago, our scripture had Jesus welcoming children, too. In that passage, he tells us to welcome children. So I thought it would be good to ask you if you think our church welcomes children – and if so, how?

(I will let them answer. I really do want to know what they think.)

I like to think we welcome children by having Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.

I like to think we welcome children by having a clean nursery and a Preschool.

I like to think we welcome children by having this time I spend with you and by providing children’s bulletins and allowing you to participate in communion.

But there is more to welcoming children than that, isn’t there? It’s a mindset that says children have a place in our church. It’s an attitude that permeates the church so that every adult smiles when children are present.

I’m glad you think we welcome children. I know it’s what Jesus did and I think it’s what he wants us to do, too.

Let’s pray:

God, thank you for welcoming all of us here today. Remind us that ever person, no matter how old, is your child. Help us to make all of your children feel welcome here. Amen.