Today’s Children’s Sermon was created to accompany a sermon based on the story of Jesus and the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. How do we be a friend to God, to Jesus, through this Lenten season? 

Good morning girls and boys. One thing we’re talking about today during worship is God’s gift of friendship, so I brought something with me that reminds me of one of my friendships. It’s a coffee mug. Every Friday, my day off, I meet my friend Susie for coffee. It’s kind of the way we play. We have coffee and we talk about things that are important to us. She listens and gets excited about things I share, and I listen and get excited about things she shares. It’s what you do when you care about a friend. We’re there for each other when things are easy and fun- and when things are hard and difficult. Her friendship makes my life better!

So I’m wondering, what do you do with your friends? (Listen to children’s responses)

How does that make your life better? (Children respond.)

We have another friendship- that is with Jesus. It’s a different kind of friendship, since I can’t meet him at Grateful Brew for coffee. But it is a loving friendship. I would bet that you would say that Jesus is your friend too. I’m wondering how you show your love for Jesus or God. (Listen to children’s responses.)

It’s a good thing to think about as we get close to Easter. If Jesus is one of our friends, how are we showing him that we love him? What could we do?

If you would like to draw him a picture or write him a letter, I’d love to put them together in an Easter basket just for Jesus! I’ll have a basket in the lobby and we’ll get it ready!

Let’s pray: Dear God, thank you for our friends and the way they make our lives so rich! Thank you that you sent Jesus to be our friend too. Help us find ways to show him how much we love him. We love you God. Amen.