SESSION 1

GOD KNOWS ME

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.

— John 10:3, 14–15

In the Session

Thank you God for keeping me near to you and for caring for me. I know that you love my family and me. Help me to learn more about you and the special way that you created all of me. Amen.

On Your Own

In this session, you were invited to consider how it felt to be sheep in Jesus' flock. The children learned:

• Jesus told them about sheep and shepherds. Jesus said that he was like a shepherd and that his sheep knew the sound of his voice. And Jesus said that he knew each of his sheep. Jesus said that he takes care of all of his sheep.

• Jesus said that we were like sheep.

How does it feel for Jesus to know you?

How does it feel for Jesus to know your name?

In the session, you and your child made a STORY OF ME book. What warmed your heart to remember?

What was the best part to share with your child?

What was your beginning?

What is the story of your name?

Describe your gift from God.

What is the story of your baptism?

What is your story now?

A Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.

With Your Family at Home

You may want to use this activity later to complete this portion of your child's Participant Book, found on page 15.

The story of the Good Shepherd helps us remember that God knows us by name. Use the sheep below to think about the parable again from John 10.

Can you give them each a name?

Whom else does God know by name in your family?

What are the names of some friends that God knows by name?

With crayons or markers, add to the pictures of the sheep. Draw some grass or ground. Add in the sky. Write "Jesus knows us by name."

SESSION 2

I AM LOVED

"I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other."

— John 13:34–35 (CEB)

Dear God, thank you for loving me and for sending Jesus and giving us a new commandment: To love each other, as you have loved us. Help me to love my friends and myself, too. Amen.

In the Session

In the session, we learned that a blessing is like a prayer, a hopeful prayer that inspires and lifts people.

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them and bless them. The disciples tried to shoo them away. But when Jesus saw this, he was upset and said to them, "Don't you dare try to keep these little ones from me. Let me hold them. The Kingdom of God belongs to little ones just like these. If you aren't open to God's kingdom like a little child is open, you will never enter the kingdom." And he picked them up in his arms and laid his hands on the children and blessed them.

— Mark 10: 13–16

What do we learn about Jesus from this story?

What do we learn about ourselves?

BLESSINGS

Make a blessing prayer for your child. Your child can help color and decorate the prayer. The words or drawings represent or describe the attribute(s) of your child.

Some examples include the following:

loving

kind

gentle

prayerful

generous

hopeful

grateful

enthusiastic

joyful

thoughtful

smart

selfless

faithful

Write some of your own words or descriptions below.

On Your Own

This week, as you go out into the world, bless your child.

_____________________ is _____________________, _____________________, and _________________________. Thank you God for _____________________.

Loving and awesome God, thank you for my family. Thank you for giving me people to love and people who love me. Help us to remember that we have all been blessed by your grace. Stay close to us and keep us close to each other as we learn and grow. Amen.

Write your own prayer of thankfulness for your child.

With Your Family at Home

You may want to use this activity later to complete this portion of your child's Participant Book, found on page 25.

The story of Jesus and the little children reminds us that Jesus loved all people, even very young people. He welcomed them with his hands wide open. Trace both of your hands. You can also trace your parents' hands on top of your hands. Use a different color crayon or marker so you can see the different hands.

Then draw the faces or bodies of all the people you think Jesus welcomes. You can draw yourself. You can draw your friends at church or school. You can draw other children and people in the world. Write below your picture: Jesus Welcomes Everyone!

Prayer

Loving and awesome God, thank you for my family. Thank you for giving me people to love and people who love me. Help us to remember that we have all been blessed by your grace. Stay close to us and keep us close to each other as we learn and grow. Amen.

SESSION 3

GOD MADE ME

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
all the days that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.
How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

— Psalm 139:1–5, 12–17

In the Session

Thank you, God, for always being with me. God looks for me and finds me. God leads me to places to play and keep me safe. God knows even when I stand up and when I sit down again. When I look around, I see what God has created. Help me to...