BIG IDEA: God is the Creator of all things. God makes the Sun, Moon, and Stars to rule the skies.

VOLUNTEER PREPARATION IN ADVANCE:

• This is a story you have probably heard many times, and the kids likely have, too. That said, the story of creation is beautiful in the retelling. Today, we want to emphasize that creation is still ongoing - God is creating every new morning and blossoming flower right before our very eyes. The world is being made new every moment and we are invited to be a part of it.
• Read Genesis 1, and spend some time with these questions:

• Is this a familiar passage to you? What parts of it speak meaningfully to you?
• How do you see God moving in creation?  

• As you prepare the space, spend some time in prayer, asking that we all would come to know the heights and depths of God’s love for us.

8:45 AM/4:45 PM WELCOME

• Play music from the bluetooth speaker, connecting to one of the linked Mission Kids playlists, or playing soft, calm music.
• Set up a tabletop activity: playdoh, puzzles, craft supplies.
• Families drop off children. One volunteer greets each child at the door by name.
• Engage with the children as they sit at the table or free play. Learn children’s names and help introduce them to one another as many of them are new to this room.

9:15 AM/5:15 PM TRANSITION AND CLEAN UP

To signify transition, lead in the following song…

When clean up is over, say loudly: “The Lord be with you!” and children will respond, “And also with you!”

9:20 AM/5:20 PM MUSIC TIME & EXPECTATIONS

• Gather the children on the carpet in a circle. We want everyone to see each other’s faces as this is the first day in our new classrooms!

• Use the “Golden Rules” document as a visual and discuss expectations.

• Provide instruments from the music basket if you’d like. Sing 2-3 of the songs from the “Mission Kids Sing Along” playlist found on the back of the binder.

9:40 AM/5:40 PM TEACHING TIME

• To signify transition, lead in the following finger play…

ASK: Good morning! Have any of you ever seen a shooting star? Have you seen a constellation in the night sky?

SAY: Today, we’re going to go back to the very beginning of everything again - even BEFORE the stars. Before the stars even existed, God was. You may remember from last week that God is THREE people - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three people living in a loving relationship with one another, but there’s so much love in God’s self that it can’t be contained, it spills out into the world. That’s how everything was made - even the stars!

SAY: God made everything! And God still makes things. Every beautiful sunset and waterfall. Every butterfly and flower. Last week, we learned that the very first thing that God made was light. God said “Let there be light!” and light appeared! Today, we’re going to focus on how God made the Sun, moon, and stars.

ASK: Which one is your favorite: the sun, the moon, or the stars?

SAY: Have you ever looked up at the stars and felt small? Sometimes being small can feel a little scary, but God says it’s good to be small, because it means we can look up and see how big and beautiful God’s creation is! And even when we feel small, God sees us. Just like God knows each star by name, God knows your name, too.

ASK: I wonder why God made the Sun, Moon, and stars?

SAY: The sun shines bright in the day so we can grow and play! The moon glows gently at night so we can rest. The stars sparkle like lanterns in the sky. All these bright lights help us keep track of time. We use the stars and the sun to tell stories, to count how old we are, and to remember how much God loves us.

SAY: When we look at the sky, we remember how big God is. And when we look at each other, we remember how close God is. The sun, moon, and stars remind us that we are part of a beautiful world that God is still making.

WONDER:

• I wonder what constellations you would draw in the sky if you made the stars?
• I wonder how the bigness of God’s creation makes you feel?

• PRAY: Get into a posture that is comfortable for you to pray - bowing your head, closing your eyes, etc) Dear God, thank you for your word, and for the big, beautiful you’ve made for us to play and be with you in. We love you. Amen.

• SAY: Let’s all say the Lord’s Prayer together if you remember! (Pray through the Lord’s Prayer slowly.) Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen!

9:45 AM/5:45 PM ACTIVITY & STORY TIME

• DO: ART: The Sun, Moon, and Stars

• Since there is paint involved in this craft, it may be best to let children come up one-by-one to do this, while the rest work on a coloring sheet or movement activity.
• Glue the dark blue construction paper sheet over one half of the light blue one, to make night and day.
• Using the palettes, cover one side of one circular sponge in orange/red/yellow paint, and allow the child to dab it on the light blue paper to make the Sun. Then, either with a brush or with their fingers, they can draw the rays of light coming out from the sun.
• Do the same with the gray paint on the dark blue side.

• READ: While children work on their craft, read “God Creates the World” (pg. 2) from God’s Big Picture Storybook Bible. Pause for questions and engagement while reading.

10:20 AM/6:20 PM(ish) CHECK-OUT

• Before children leave, communion or blessings will be given to each in attendance.

• Children should put on shoes and art creations should be gathered.

• Parents will arrive at the room to pick up children. Ensure that all belongings are taken by the parent as they leave.

CLASSROOM CLEANING CHECKLIST

• Return Mission Kids cart with all belongings and all supplies to St. Joseph’s Children’s Chapel. Make sure everything has a lid so it does not dry out!

• As this is a shared space, it is important that we are good stewards of each room and clean up before leaving. Return all toys and supplies to shelves and wipe down high-touched surfaces/toys with a sanitizing wipe.

• Vacuum floors and set trash bags in the hallway, if needed.