Contact October 2025

a publication for the OKUMC connection

nurturing growth across generations

October 2025 • Volume 7, Number 9

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Communications Ministry Staff

Carlos Ramirez

Jena Barber

Andrew Himes

Director of Communications

Editor of Publications

Multimedia and Web Ministry

Publication Credits Cover photo and feature graphics: Deposit Photos & Jena Barber Stories and layout by Jena Barber (unless otherwise noted) If you have story ideas, please reach out!

Send them to Jena Barber at editor@okumc.org.

The Contact, a publication of the OKUMC Connection (USPS 954-500) is published monthly by The Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church, 1501 NW 24th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73106. Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “The Contact OKUMC”, 1501 NW 24th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73106.

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from the editor

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or as long as I’ve been a United Methodist, I’ve worked with children in some way. As a youth, I worked in the nursery and helped with children’s programming. In high school, I volunteered with Special Olympics for my brother’s trips and events.

When my girls were small, I had an opportunity to teach Sunday School. I learned lessons I’d never really understood - and was too afraid to ask - and got to do some really cool science and magic tricks.

Along the way, I learned a bit about food allergies, classroom management, and way too many Veggie Tales lyrics. I also learned that kids can sense fear, so it’s best to at least pretend you’re not afraid of them.

I learned they don’t love puppets, until they do, and they don’t like drawing, until you tell them they can’t do it on the walls, and they don’t listen, unless you say something you don’t mean for them to hear.

I was invited to lead a new preschool worship program, which I proudly did for 4 1/2 years, until we moved. During that time, I learned to keep the attention of 20 preschoolers. I learned to take 20 preschoolers to the bathroom and make sure 40 little hands got washed, all while holding open the bathroom door so Safe Sanctuaries was always kept.

I learned how to make a boat out of a cardboard box, how to sing without really singing, and how to get various substances - like marshmallow or “washable” marker out of my church clothes.

I learned about having extra of everything, keeping my eyes moving at all times, and constantly counting heads.

I learned that the important thing is not that children memorize Bible verses, but that they remember to always try to be like Jesus, who is the star of the Bible. I learned that the best thing we can teach children is unconditional love, and the best thing we can show them is how Jesus loves them through us.

As I was learning everything I was supposed to learn, my daughters were also learning. They volunteered, even as they were going on youth mission trips or school band concerts.

My older daughter worked summer ministry programs with me, won mission awards, and is now a fantastic mom, with objectively the cutest, smartest, and most hilarious three-year-old on the planet. She just finished her fist half-marathon, and she’s reading Bible stories to her daughter every night.

My younger daughter is an English major at OSU, rocking a 4.0 and having spent her first summer as a reading coordinator at Project Transformation. When asked what her favorite part was, she said the kids.

When kids are shown love in church, they take away more than Bible verses or Veggie Tales lyrics - though we’re still looking for Larry’s hairbrush.

They learn that God loves them, Jesus loves them, the congregation loves them.

They learn that they are loved.

If you’re considering volunteering with your church’s children or youth ministries, know that you’re in for some of the best days of your life.

And know that you’re sharing the love of the whole church with those kids.

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Finding ministry in your mission field

by Rev. Carlos Ramirez

W

hen I moved to the United States and started my pastorate here, I was appointed to Heavener Hispanic Fellowship (located in the far southeast corner of Oklahoma). Our congregation was small, primarily made up of immigrant families from Mexico and Honduras. These families had plenty of children.

On Sunday mornings our sanctuary had as many children as adults (sometimes probably more kids!). During our time of singing, we would give the children maracas, tambourines, and little drums.

They would bang those instruments and truly make joyful noise to the Lord. I cherish those memories. Children going up and down the aisles, babies crying and children asking their parents when church would be over.

mission

field

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When we were appointed to Elk City UMC, I was in charge of overseeing the youth ministry. I had a wonderful time building relationships with those teenagers. Confirmation, mission trips, Wednesday and Sunday night gatherings, and Wednesday lunch filled my week and allowed me to know them personally.

I am proud to say that I continue to have a relationship with many of those teenagers (now adults and parents on their own!). In every appointment I have been blessed to establish deep relationships with children and youth I have been entrusted to serve and care for.

I think we all can agree that being in ministry with children and youth is very important - better yet, very rewarding. I also know that many of our congregations do not have children present in their congregations.

There are a variety of reasons as to why: families have moved out, the town has decreased in size, our congregation grew older and we could not bring new families in, and families these days seem to choose the soccer, baseball, football fields or any other form of entertainment. Worship is not a priority anymore.

Now, before we start to feel either too bad for ourselves or filled with righteous indignation, let us consider the following: how can my/our congregation be in ministry with children and youth?

Perhaps to be in ministry with children and youth would require that a couple (or more than that) churches come together to host an after school program.

Perhaps we could partner with congregations who host Project Transformation during the summer.

This partnership could mean supplying volunteers, or resources, or both! Project Transformation now runs during the school year and while only in a few congregations for now, the hope is that this program will expand.

Perhaps our congregation can partner with the YMCA, or school, or organization that already does work with children or youth.

I think this is a season of the Church (universal, not only in Oklahoma or the United States) where we need to be creative and bold in order to continue our witness of Jesus Christ resurrected.

One thing we usually have plenty of is space in our buildings…could we offer it for children and youth so that they can have a safe place where hope and love could be palpable?

How may God be calling your congregation in order to be in ministry with children and youth? Another thing that I think (I guess I think a lot!), is the fact that children and youth need to hear that Jesus loves them.

What better place or better people than United Methodists for them and their families to know about this love. May each one of our congregations find ways to be in ministry with the children of our mission field.

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Crafting an Effective Children’s Moment

by Jena Barber

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hen I worked as a children’s minister - as a volunteer and as a paid member of staff - I was often flattered when adults made comments like, “I get more out of that then I do the sermon.”

Though this was surely hyperbole, I began to take it seriously. I must confess, there were times when I began to tailor my lessons more toward adults than the children. When this happened, I invariably had to go back to children’s church and retell the stories to make them work better for the children.

I realized I was concentrating on the wrong audience, so I went back to my training.

My children’s ministry mentor and standard bearer, Karen Swales, is an educator, a member of clergy, and a super fun lady. She also taught me everything I know about children’s ministry.

More words

One thing Karen taught me is that, when you’re talking to children, you should talk to them. Not at them. Not through them.

And you should ensure your message is crafted in a way that works for the developing brains of children.

Over my years of study in elementary education and in trainings, workshops and children’s ministry conferences, I’ve

discovered a few key pieces of advice that everyone should know before they sit at the chancel and deliver a message.

First, though, I’ll share a few fumbles.

What not to do Once, when we were visiting a church in Arkansas, we saw a pretty bad one. The lady offering the children’s moment sat down with the kids and told them that they were worth less than dirt. Honestly - that’s what she said. She held a handful of dirt as she told the kids that they were less important than the dirt she had in her hand.

I can’t remember her message, but I remember the looks on the children’s faces - including my own daughters. That was not a message for children. I’m sure the woman was using a concept that I used with my (adult) yoga students. The concept is that no being is more important than another. It’s a great concept, but it’s not within a child’s comprehension.

Another time, we ended up at a church with a woman who didn’t know much about children’s ministry but who was very willing to google “children’s moment” and perform whatever she found there. Her message was to pour chocolate syrup on the kids’ hands and then to tell them that the syrup was sin, and that she had baby wipes, which were God, and that the baby wipes were cleaning up the syrup - er, sin.

This was probably the worst children’s moment in history, if I’m being honest.

I could tell you about the times I messed up big time, but let’s be honest; I’m sure I suppressed those memories long ago.

Plus, I’ll probably need them later in this article to illustrate some points.

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That metaphor is a green dog juggling bananas while singing karaoke

One way in which I know I erred for years is that I used the favorite tool of adults everywhere - the metaphor, otherwise known as the object lesson. I had no idea until, during an elementary education class about comprehension, I learned that children don’t really grasp more than simple metaphors until they’re around age 10 or 11.

This means that each time I told a story in my heavily-metaphor-laden style, children were becoming lost along the way. I distinctly remember buying little buckets and using the book, “How Full Is Your Bucket?” to illustrate self-esteem.

I used lemons to demonstrate that life can be sour, but if you add sugar - the metaphor for our church community - it can be sweet. For more than the obvious reason, this lesson backfired, since these kids all LOVED lemons and didn’t want to add sugar and water to make lemonade.

For weeks, I railed and laughed at myself about the lemon lesson. Then it hit me: I was concerned about the wrong mistake.

It wasn’t the kids’ love of lemons that was at issue. It was that kids aren’t metaphordriven.

This is really tough. The most successful children’s moments, if you ask the adult congregation, are usually the object lessons, heavy on metaphor. When a children’s minister or volunteer comes out with a big bag of object-lesson goodies, everyone gets excited. This includes the children.

But are the children really getting the lesson?

Simple metaphors work well for children. A

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jumping child is a frog: this works. Larger concepts, like chocolate syrup and sin - not so much.

What every child should experience - and what every leader should know Several years ago, Discipleship Ministries published an age-by-age guide for leaders and teachers to know which biblical concepts were developmentally appropriate for children at which stages.

The guide was developed to be cognitively and theologically appropriate for children, using scriptures and concepts. It’s been a foundational piece of my understanding of children’s ministry from the beginning, and it’s a huge help. And it’s United Methodist!

Find it here.

An example Karen gave during one of her workshops is this (and I’m paraphrasing): A four-year-old boy is in Sunday School learning a Bible story. When his dad comes to pick him up, the boy is terrified, crying and asking Daddy not to take him.

This little boy has just heard the story of Abraham and Isaac.

Of course, Karen made the story up to use as a teaching example, but it’s illustrative of the way in which even the most wellmeaning volunteers can inadvertently interfere with children’s faith formation.

A four-year-old boy can’t possibly be expected to understand the nuances of Abraham’s complete trust in God; he can only be horrified by the thought of a father preparing to kill his son.

Most children’s moment volunteers likely don’t have education degrees, and it may escape their attention that the week’s scripture might not be age appropriate for younger children.

Sometimes, you just have to go rogue and do your own thing, substituting the scripture with something on theme but more developmentally appropriate.

Outside pressure is a real thing that can’t be ignored During my tenure as children’s director at a big church, I was often warned to shorten my children’s moments. Let’s be honest; I have a tendency to ramble sometimes. But aside from that, I was trying to make those moments with the children count.

When you only have a very short moment of time - say, two minutes - to give a lesson for children, it might be best to give a “preview” and then take the lesson to children’s church, or to scrap the children’s moment altogether.

There’s nothing wrong with doing a “children’s parade” on Sunday mornings, where the children walk through the sanctuary - so adults can see them - and then take them on to children’s church.

What happens, though, when you don’t have children’s church?

I’m a big fan of busy bags and boxes. I also love - when I have time - to create challenge bulletins just for kids. I used to do this on holidays. I’d ask the pastor for their sermon topic or, if I was lucky, a draft of their manuscript. Then I’d create reasons for kids to listen attentively.

At Easter, for instance, I would ask the kids to count how many times the pastor said the word “risen.” And I’d give them a fill-in-the-blank for song lyrics or scripture.

This got the older kids paying attention so they could win the prize at the end!

I’ve included a sample you can use on Thanksgiving in the back pages of this

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It’s important to know, though, that even if you don’t live with a pastor, you should always feel comfortable asking them to check your work and to help you stay on track with UM doctrine. Clergy are pastors for the whole church, not just the adults.

One thing to remember is that pastors usually don’t have even one class in children’s ministry. They know the doctrine; you know the kids.

As the great Whitney Houston said, children are our future. We must nurture their faith formation and protect their comfort in the church.

For one of my early children’s moments, I tried to illustrate empathy by trading shoes with a four-yearold. Sigh.

issue.

Another solution is to implement a prayground. Some churches have areas in the sanctuary where children can keep their hands busy while they worship, and parents can keep an eye on them.

United Methodists are different from other denominations, and that’s important It’s better to have someone offer a boring, nothing-burger children’s moment than to have a flashy, attention-grabbing performance that confuses children about our denominational beliefs.

Generally speaking, I like to grab a pastor and say, “Hey, is this point I’m trying to make United Methodist?” Thankfully, I live with one.

Long after we’re all gone, someone will be inhabiting the halls of our churches and teaching lessons to new disciples. These moments - these children’s moments - are all we have with them, so we should make them count.

With all that said, my best tips are: 1. Talk to the pastor(s). What do they want out of a children’s moment? Is it a priority?

Will they help ensure yours is appropriate?

2. Don’t rely on object lessons and complicated metaphors. Children don’t have the cognitive skills to “get” metaphor until they’re older.

3. Check out What Every Child Should Experience - and use United Methodist resources.

4. Speak to the children, not to adults and don’t worry about making it exciting.

5. Give yourself grace - and remember that kids are the most forgiving people. As long as your heart is in the right place, they’ll appreciate the lesson.

6. Never, ever give a kid your microphone.

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Accessibility Isn’t Optional: Walkers to Wheelchair to Braces

by Rev. Sharon Kay Cochran Broken Promise at My Favorite Café In the spring of 2018, I wheeled up to my favorite café after going in the wheelchair only to find the ramp tucked around back and the front door had steps. I turned and left, my heart pounding with rejection.

That single moment crystallized a truth I’d learned gradually: inaccessible spaces push people away, and exclusion often feels like extortion. No one should be told they don’t belong because they can’t navigate a few steps.

unassisted, inaccessible design still bars my full participation in community life.

When Inaccessibility Feels Like Extortion Requiring guests to depend on staff assistance or endure awkward maneuvers isn’t hospitality—it’s coercion. If I can’t enter or move through your space independently, I either leave immediately or never return. Feeling like a burden is one of the sharpest insults; no dignity remains when every visit demands an apology or explanation. How many more customers must choose between their self-

A Lifetime on Walkers, Canes, and Wheels My journey began in 1999, when neuropathy and Charcot foot forced me onto walkers and canes. By 2018, I relied on a wheelchair full time and felt the sting of narrow doorways and missing ramps daily. In March 2023, bariatric surgery gave me back my legs—but only with foot braces. Regardless of whether I’m seated, leaning on braces, or walking It’s time for church leaders to honor every body. Inaccessible design bars full participation in community life. Photo by Depositphotos.com.

respect and your bottom line?

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• An expanded customer base and loyal True Accessibility Means Independence repeat visits Easily accessible spaces allow every person • Positive word-of-mouth and community to navigate without any assistance. Key goodwill elements include: • Reduced liability and smoother daily operations • Reserved, clearly marked parking stalls at • A culture of genuine hospitality that the front attracts dedicated staff • ADA-compliant ramps and curb cuts at every entrance When customers see authentic care in the • Automatic or low-resistance doors on details, they become lifelong advocates. primary walkways • Wide, clutter-free aisles and level Steps to Walk the Talk thresholds 1. Conduct an access audit with people • Restrooms with ample turning space, who use walkers, canes, braces, or grab bars, and accessible fixtures wheelchairs.

2. Prioritize high-impact fixes: automatic If immediate renovation isn’t possible, doors, front-row seating, curb cuts. staff must be trained and ready to provide 3. Train every staff member on disability respectful, dignified support—without etiquette—always ask before assisting and making patrons feel like problems. respect autonomy.

4. Clearly communicate accessibility Beyond Compliance: Hospitality and features on websites and signage.

Justice 5. Invite ongoing feedback and The Americans with Disabilities Act demonstrate visible improvements. establishes the legal floor; true inclusion is a moral choice. Designing for disability A Call to Open Our Doors from the start affirms each person’s worth and unleashes universal benefits: No more hidden ramps or back-door entries. No more forcing patrons to choose • Parents with strollers navigate more between dignity and access. If your doors easily aren’t fully open, your welcome isn’t • Older adults with canes or walkers move complete. It’s time for business owners, more securely community leaders, and policymakers to • Shoppers balancing bags and packages insist on spaces that honor every body. find wider aisles a relief Let’s build a world where no one ever has to ask, “Am I welcome here?”—because Respecting difference is not charity—it’s the answer is unmistakably yes. justice in action.

Recognizing the Hurt The Business Case for Inclusion Every time we say “please rise if you’re Welcoming patrons of all abilities is an able” or “everybody stand up if you can,” investment, not a burden. Accessible we unintentionally single out beloved businesses enjoy: members who can’t stand or who fatigue

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quickly. Even with the best intentions, those words make people feel excluded, ashamed, or “less than” every single week.

I’ve taught “rise, in body or in spirit” since 2018 because it honors everyone’s worship, but hearing the old language feels like a fresh wound each time.

Inclusive Alternatives Use phrasing that includes every body in the room without hesitation or apology: “Rise, in body or in spirit. You’re invited to be seated.”

Embedding Change into Worship Life 1. Update Order of Service Replace every instance of “please stand if you’re able” with your chosen inclusive phrase in bulletins, slides, and printed liturgy.

2. Equip Worship Leaders • Brief musicians, ushers, and lay readers before each service on the importance of the new wording.

• Provide a one-page guide explaining why “in body or in spirit” matters and how it reflects Christ’s welcome.

3. Engage the Congregation • Offer a brief testimony—perhaps in announcements—about why inclusive language deepens our communal worship.

• Encourage members with mobility challenges to speak once from the pulpit or in a newsletter, sharing how much the change means.

4. Use Visual Reminders • A simple note on the lectern: “Rise, in body or in spirit.”

• Posters near the door or on screens: “This is an inclusive worship space.”

5. Cultivate Ongoing Feedback • Invite your congregation to share other moments they feel excluded.

• Form a small accessibility team (including

those with varying physical needs) to review worship practices quarterly.

Cultivating a Culture of Care Changing a phrase is one step. Deep change happens when every member learns to notice who might be left out and intentionally include them. As leaders and neighbors, we model Christ’s hospitality by: • Asking, “How can I make worship meaningful for you today?”

• Thanking people who point out unintentional exclusions.

• Celebrating with those who feel seen and welcomed.

Moving Forward No more explaining why certain words matter or why toddlers can’t stand as long as veterans. Let’s embed inclusive language into our DNA, not as an afterthought but as an expression of Christ’s radical welcome. With prayerful persistence and these practical steps, we can stop hurting each other and start honoring every body—ready or resting—as we worship the God who cherishes us all.

I will sit on any planning committee for free. And I’ll bring my wheelchair.

Rev. Sharon Kay Cochran is the pastor at Fay, Canton, and Watonga UMCs.

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While some mobility aids are visible, others are not. It’s vital to conduct an access audit to ensure everyone has equal access to facilities.

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Beyond the Building: How Children’s Ministry Thrives in the Everyday

by Luisa Medina

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hroughout my decade in full time Children’s Ministry, I have found that the best way to do this sort of ministry is by expanding its reach far beyond Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Meaningful ministry happens not only in classrooms and sanctuaries, but also in cafeterias, sports fields, concert arenas, and auditoriums.

By intentionally showing up in the everyday spaces where children live and grow, I have found that we are helping children thrive in their faith by the ministry of presence.

Every time we show up, we’re saying to a child, ‘You matter.’ When we take time to be part of their world, they see God’s love in action — not just talked about, but lived out. The theological foundation is clear:

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if God’s love reaches all places, then the church must as well. As United Methodists, we understand this as an expression of prevenient grace — God’s presence already at work in the world before we even recognize it.

Of course, we have regular Sunday school and children’s church and Bible studies, but a lot of my ministry revolves around meeting children where they are - sitting in a lawn chair, holding a sign and cheering them on when they’re playing soccer; or sitting in a school gym as one of my tiny humans has their name called as student of the month (and simultaneously watching their smiles grow with pride when they see their cheering section); or even dancing and singing at a Jonas Brothers concert while one of my tiny humans experiences his first concert to his current favorite

band.

These are precious moments that I get with these children outside of our church time. We don’t have to sit in chairs and read Bible stories to experience the deeper love of God. Through this, children begin to understand that faith isn’t something that happens once or twice a week in church. They see that Jesus is with them everywhere — on the playground, at the lunch table, even in the middle of a big game or crowded arena.

This isn’t easy or something that happens overnight. It takes intentionality and building relationships with parents and guardians, as well as the children. It also takes time. But the more time we can pour into these children, the more love of God

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they feel and see.

For children, these moments of connection — a wave from the bleachers, a smile in the hallway — become reminders that they are seen, loved, and surrounded by a community of faith.

Luisa Medina is the Director of Children’s and Family Ministries at New Hope UMC in Oklahoma City.

Because church isn’t confined to a building.

It’s wherever God’s people are — and wherever children need to be reminded that they are not alone.

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LOST ARTS Contact | 18

Intergenerational ministries bring people of all ages together over shared interests

H

ave you ever considered taking up a hobby but didn’t know where to start?

YouTube and Tiktok are great, but they’re no substitute for having someone see what you’re doing and give real-time feedback as you fumble through your first sourdough bread loaf or woodcarving project.

Would you like to learn with someone who has real-world experience, where you can get hands-on training from a natural?

Or are you that artisan or craftsperson who has lots of experience and knowledge and no one to share it with? Do you have decades of experience doing something that is often done by machines these days? Would you like to share it with the next generation, keeping alive the traditions that were handed down to you?

You’ve just created a ministry!

With a Lost Arts ministry, multiple generations can get together to share skills and talents, and to build relationships that will last for generations to come. Whether the skill is an art, a craft, or just plain useful, Lost Arts ministries are uniquely positioned to maximize relationships.

The people Teachers The best way to find out what skills you have in your church is to ask. The direct approach might not be the best, though, since many artisans and craftspeople may not consider themselves teachers - or even experts. Ask around, put it in the bulletin, and see what you find.

It’s likely your church has a knitter, a flyfishing lure tier, a whittler, a ukelele player, a quilter, a baker, a canner, or more. You never know until you ask!

Once you’ve identified potential teachers, it’s important to let them know they won’t be expected to stand in front of a classroom and give a lecture; that could be intimidating. This is more of a very small group of individuals with whom they’ll share a skill - as if they were at the dinner table with family.

Remember that teaching doesn’t have to be one-sided. Younger people can teach computer skills, cultural sensitivity, and more.

Also, it might be a good idea to partner with a nearby congregation to maximize these learning opportunities.

Once you’ve gotten a soft yes from a potential

teacher, it’s time to gauge whether there’s interest in the congregation.

Learners After you’ve identified subjects that are available, reach out to the congregation to find out who might be interested in learning.

Many younger generations have never been exposed to such wonders as making their own pickles, repairing clothing, or building a birdhouse. They might have considered a new hobby but abandoned it when they couldn’t find the materials, the time, or the expertise.

Youth can find these subjects particularly fascinating.

Be sure to let potential learners know that they are getting more than a skill; they’re getting relationships that are more valuable than gold. It’s also important to understand that a Lost Arts class is successful when it has three to five people.

If a teacher is willing, and depending on the subject, the number of students can be greater, but a small class is not an indicator of lack of interest.

The supplies

It might seem as though a class on a Lost Art could be expensive, but that is often not the case. Many times, people have stockpiles of hobby supplies at home, waiting for just the right time to use them. It never hurts to ask.

It’s also key to remember that gathering supplies for a hobby is a hobby all by itself, so the supplies you seek might be in someone’s house, waiting to be put to use.

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If all else fails, there is really no harm in asking students to make a small investment in their new skill. It’s often much less expensive to share the cost than to go it alone. And there might be someone in the congregation who would like to pay a “scholarship” for someone to participate. This is especially helpful when youth are involved.

The time and place

When teachers and learners are identified, and supplies are gathered, the last thing is simply to find a time and place. If the church can offer a classroom, a cabinet, or even a corner to safely store supplies, that can be very helpful.

Then it’s up to the group to decide on a time that works for everyone.

If some are in school or working, and others are retired, a Saturday morning compromise might work, or it might be better to meet Tuesday evening or some other time. The important thing is to be open to compromise so that everyone can get together and learn from one another.

More than one Lost Arts group can meet at any given time, but it’s best to give them room so that people can participate in more than one.

Relationships that grow from Lost Arts groups last well beyond the generations into which they’re born, as skills continue to be passed down for years and years.

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Thanksgiving Kids’ Bulletin

FILL IN THE BLANK

Listen closely to the scripture and fill in the blanks. Your version might be different. Jeremiah 23:1-6.

Watch out, you _________ who destroy and scatter the ______ of my pasture, declares the Lord. This is what the Lord, the God of _______, proclaims about the shepherds who “tend to” my people: You are the ones who have ___________ my flock and driven them _______. You haven’t attended to their ________, so I will take revenge on you for the ___________ things you have done to them, declares the Lord. I myself will gather the few remaining _________ from all the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their ________, and they will be fruitful and multiply. I will place over them __________ who care for them. Then they will no longer be __________ or dread harm, nor will any be missing, declares the Lord. The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up a ___________ descendant from David’s line, and he will rule as a ________ king. He will do what is just and right in the land. During his lifetime, _________ will be saved and Israel will live in safety.

And his name will be The Lord Is Our ___________________.

Helpful Hint: Spell it like it sounds. It’s OK if you don’t know the right spelling of a word!

If you need help, check out your Bible!

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HOW MANY TIMES SOMEONE SAY...

DOES

Make a mark every time you hear each word. Listen closely!

thank

triangle

saint

sing

king

Jesus

sheep

pie Thanksgiving Word Search

Finish this worksheet and hand it to an usher to receive a prize after worship!

C T U C B R E A D X COU F AM I L Y B H J MR L DG CO T U E QM K B O T R H R S Z C U E DQ E A C U ZMN N Y Q R N H S T U F F I NG K X L R R Y P B O Y S J U I C E I O S N L E G R A T E F U L E communion

grateful

stuffing

juice

turkey

family

thanks

pie

church

Jesus

bread

God

®

Build your own custom worksheet at education.com/worksheet-generator © 2007 - 2025 Education.com

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COLOR THE SHEEP

FINISH THE PICTURE. Draw the right side to match the left.

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HELP THE SHEEP FIND HER SHEPHERD AND HER FRIENDS!

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Call to Action

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