Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, you call us your beloved children. May we hear your call to follow your Son Jesus, our Brother. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sorry Song (to the tune of If you’re happy and you know it)
When we say that you are sorry, God forgives.
When we say that you are sorry, God forgives.
If our sins are large or small,
God will still forgive them all.
When we say that we are sorry, God forgives.
Then sing the Gloria (tune of Row, Row, Row your Boat)
Praise, praise, praise the Lord, Praise our Father dear.
As we listen to his word, feel his spirit near.
Gospel – Matthew11:25-30
The Lord be with you. All: And with your spirit. (teach them this)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew. All: Glory to you, O Lord. (teach them this)
At that time Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned. Yes, Father, this was how you wanted it to happen.
“My Father has given me all things. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.”
The Gospel of the Lord
All: “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ”
Gospel passage taken from Good News Translation
Suggestions for the Discussion
How much do you think a really heavy brick weighs? Well, all bricks don't weigh exactly the same, but the average brick weighs about five pounds. That isn't very heavy, is it? You could easily pick up a brick. Do you think you could pick up a really heavy brick and hold it with your arm straight out to the side of you like this? (Demonstrate holding your arm out to the side.) You might be able to hold it for a minute or two, but do you think you could hold it all day? No way! The longer you hold it, the heavier it feels.
That same thing is true of the burdens we carry around with us. What are some of those burdens? Here are a few examples: maybe you're having trouble with your school work and find it difficult doing school online all the time, or you're worried about Covid or your family may be having financial difficulties. Maybe you're having trouble at home, you feel guilty about something you have done, or maybe one of your friends has been unkind to you.
Those things could be a pretty heavy load to have to carry by yourself, couldn't they? Well the good news is you don't have to carry it alone! In our Bible story today, Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Then he went on to say, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." Jesus is our helper. Sometimes we hold on to our burdens and try to carry them ourselves, but Jesus will help us, if we will let Him.
Whenever your load is too heavy, remember the words to this song:
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone.
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
How can we get closer to Jesus in our everyday lives? Be kind, helpful, forgiving, sharing, pray every day, don’t be tempted, remember to ask for forgiveness for our mistakes, listen to our parents, carers etc. How can we can tell people about Jesus? We can tell our friends to come to online church to join in and to learn about God and Jesus.
Father, sometimes our burdens are more than we can bear. Help us to remember that Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." In his name we pray. Amen.
Adapted from Sermons for Kids
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