IN THE BEGINNING

by Sharilyn Adair

The Bible

Genesis 1:1-13

And God saw that it was good.

[TEXT UNREADABLE IN ORIGINAL SOURCE]

Supplies

white glue
green construction paper
crayons
markers
cotton swabs
small containers

Bible Story

Ssh! Lie down and close your eyes. Be very still. Let's pretend that we are lying like a big pool of water at the very beginning of the world. Everything is dork and quiet. We can't see anything or hear anything. Let's listen to how quiet it is. (Pause.)

At first we don't feel anything. But then God breathes fresh air over us. We don't peek because the world is still dark. And we can't see anything. (Pause.)

Now God has decided to make two different times—nighttime for sleeping and daytime for seeing things and running and playing. You may sit up and when I say "Night is day," open your eyes. When I say "Now it is night," close your eyes.

God wants the world to have a big blue sky over it. Stand up and reach high over your head. Pretend that your hands are the sky God sees that the sky is good.

God has decided to make land in the water. You might be a big tall mountain or a long flat beach full of sand. God likes the land and water.

God wants the land to be beautiful God makes plants and trees grow on the land. (Pretend to be plants.) God likes the plants and trees God has mode a beautiful world let's soy "hooray" for God's world.

Creative Fun

Pour a small amount of white glue into small containers. You will need one container for each pair of children. Make a copy of the tree on the following page for each child. Have the children color the tree trunk and the branches. Then tear construction paper in different shades of green into small thumb-size shapes. Have the children point the top of the tree with white glue using a cotton swab, then place the construction paper pieces on the tree to become leaves.

FILLING THE EARTH

by Sharilyn Adair

The Bible

Genesis 1:20-25

And God saw that it was good.

[TEXT UNREADABLE IN ORIGINAL SOURCE]

Supplies

scissors
envelopes

Bible Story

When God shaped the earth and planted the frees the skies still looked empty and so did the seas.

God know what to do, so God filled up the sky with all kinds of creatures that knew how to fly.

There were eagles and thrushes and whippoorwills, too.

There were blackbirds and red birds and buds that were blue.

There were crows and canaries and big birds called fowls.

And for flying at night God created the owls (Whooo.)

The sky was now filled and so was the sea, So God looked around to think what else could be.

So God made some cows and some pigs and some goats.

God made some lizards and 'gators and stoats.

God made the tigers and lions and bears.

God made the zebras and monkeys and hares.

God made mosquitoes and bees that would buzz.

God made caterpillars all covered with fuzz.

All of the creatures that now live in this land.

Were all a port of God's wonderful plan.

Creative Fun

Make two copies of the pictures of the animals on the following page. Cut them apart and put them in on envelope let the children try to match the different creatures.

IN GOD'S IMAGE

by Sharilyn Adair

The Bible

Genesis 1:26-27, 31

God made us and we belong to God

[TEXT UNREADABLE IN ORIGINAL SOURCE]

Supplies

glue
construction paper
yarn
trim
fabric
scissors

Bible story

In the beginning of everything, God mode a beautiful world God worked and worked to make it just right.

God mode the sky and filled it with shiny things, like the sun, moon, and stars. And all those things were good.

But still God was not through. God made water into oceans and caused land to be separated from the water. And those things were good.

But still God was not through God covered the land with green plants and trees and grasses. And all those things were good.

But still God was not through God filled the water with fishes and sea animals, and God filled the sky with birds. And all those things were good.

But still God was not through. God filled the land with all kinds of animals and creepy, crawly things. And all those things were good.

But still God was not through. "I have created a beautiful world," God said, "but something is missing. I need somebody to take care of my world, somebody who can plant seeds for more plants to grow and who can watch over my trees. I need somebody who can take core of the birds and the fish and the animals. I need somebody just like me."

So God made people. God made men and women to take care of the plants and animals and land. And then God was through making the world. And God saw everything that was made, especially the people who were made to be like God. And, indeed, everything God had made was very, very good.

Creative Fun

Make a copy of the figure on the following page. Provide a variety of decorating supplies, such as construction paper, yarn, trim, and fabric. Have the children create a figure that will represent themselves. Remind them that they were created in God's image.

THE VERY BIG BOAT

by Dapha Flegal

The Bible

Genesis 6:9-7:17

Genesis 7:24-8:22: 9:13

Trust in the [TEXT UNREADABLE IN ORIGINAL SOURCE]

[TEXT UNREADABLE IN ORIGINAL SOURCE]

Supplies

crayons
markers
masking tape

Bible story

"Noah," said God. "I want you to build a very big boot." Noah obeyed God.

Zzz. Zzz. Noah cut the wood to build a very big boat. Bam, Bam, Bam went the hammer. Noah hammered the wood to build a very big boat.

Finally the very big boot was finished.

"Noah," said God. "I want you to put two of every animal on this very big boat."

Baa, Baa. Noah brought two sheep into the very big boat. Moo, Moo. Noah brought two cows into the very big boat Roar, Roar. Noah brought two lions into the very big boat. Squeak, Squeak. Noah brought two mice into the very big boat. Quack, Quack Noah brought two ducks into the very big boot. Neigh, Neigh. Noah brought two horses into the very big boat. Coo, Coo. Noah brought two doves into the very big boat. Baa, Roar, Quack. The very big boat was full of animals.

Spitter, spatter. It started to rain Spitter spatter. If rained and rained Spitter, spatter. It rained for forty days and forty nights.

Moo, Squeak. Neigh. Noah, his family, and all the animals were safe and dry inside the very big boat.

Ssh. The rain stopped Coo. Coo. Noah sent out a dove The dove did not return. Noah knew it was safe to leave the boat. Baa, Roar, Squeak. All the animals left the very big boat, Ooo, Ooo Noah and his family looked up into the sky. They saw a beautiful rainbow.

"I promise that I will always core for you," said God. "I have placed my bow across the clouds to help you remember my promise."

Creative Fun

Make a copy of Noah's very big boat for each child. Have them color the boot and add strips of masking tape to the hull of the boat to be the planks of wood.

ABRAHAM AND SARAH

by Elizabeth Parr

The Bible

Genesis 12:1-8

God said "I will bless you"

Genesis [TEXT UNREADABLE IN ORIGINAL SOURCE]

Supplies

markers crayons baby oil small containers cotton swabs tape

Bible story

God spoke to Abraham one fine day. "I want you to move away. Move to a land that I will show. Listen now, it's time to go." God said, "Abraham, I've got good news. There's a great land that I'll give to you. I'll bless you and you'll be the dad Of many children, now aren't you glad? I'll be with you both night and day. Trust me now, I'll show the way.

Abraham listened to God that day. He pocked his things and walked away. Abraham. his wife, Sarah, too, Did just what God said to do. They traveled down a dusty road. They carried their things. What a load! They weren't afraid because they knew God said, "I'll always be with you."

Abraham and Sarah sow this beautiful land. Everything was just like God had planned. At the big tree they built an altar of stone. They thanked God that they were not alone. This land was for them and their family. God told them so beneath the big tree.

Creative Fun

Make copies of the picture of Abraham and Sarah, one for each child. Have the children color the picture with markers or crayons. Pour a small amount of baby oil in small containers. Give each child a cotton swab. Once the picture has been colored, let them dip their swabs into the oil and rub it over the picture to create a translucent effect. Hang the pictures in a sunny window.

SARAH LAUGHS

by Sharilyn Adair

The Bible

Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1:8

God said "I will bless you"

[TEXT UNREADABLE IN ORIGINAL SOURCE]

Supplies

crayons
markers
scissors
wooden craft sticks
masking tape

Creative Fun

Make a copy of the story figures. Color the figures and cut them out. Mount each figure to a wooden craft stick using masking tape. Hand them out to the children. Identify each of the figures (Abraham, Sarah, the three men). Have the children hold up each figure whenever they hear that character's name mentioned in the story.

Bible Story

Abraham feels happy. He has just had his lunch. His tummy is full of good food and he is resting in the shade of his tent Abraham laughs a happy laugh.

Oh, look Three men are coming to visit Abraham. "Welcome, my friends." says Abraham. "Stop awhile and visit with me Here is some water to wash your feet. Sit under this tree and rest I will get you some food."

"Thank you," say the three visitors. Abraham rushes into the tent to ask Sarah to bake some bread and cook some food for their guests. Abraham takes food to the three visitors. He stays to talk with them while they eat. The food is good. And Abraham and the three visitors are having a happy time. They all laugh.

Sarah is inside the tent. She listens to the men talking and laughing. "Where is Sarah?" one of the visitors asks.

"Sarah is in the tent," Abraham answers.

"I am coming bock this way in nine months," says one of the visitors. "Sarah will hove a baby then."

Sarah hears what the visitor says. "How can I have a baby?" Sarah says to herself. "I am old enough to be a grandmother, not a mother. And Abraham is too old too." Sarah laughs to herself.

The visitor says. "Don't laugh. Nothing is too hard for God to do When I come back to see you, you really will have a baby."

Nine months later, Sarah does hove a baby. His name is Isaac. Sarah is so happy, she laughs and laughs and laughs.

ISAAC AND REBEKAH

by Shariiyn

The Bible

Genesis 24:1-67

God said "I will bless you"

[TEXT UNREADABLE IN ORIGINAL SOURCE]

Supplies

tape
crayons
markers
scissors

Bible story

"Eliezer," said Abraham, "go to my old home and find a wife for my son Isaac."

Eliezer was a servant of Abraham. So he traveled all the way from the land of Canaan to the land of Horan. He stopped his camel outside the city gates. Eliezer made his camel kneel down and Eliezer swung his leg over and slid to the ground.

"How con I find a wife for Isaac?" Eliezer worried. And then he began to pray. He asked God to help him find a wife for Isaac.

Just then Rebekah came out of the city gates. She had a water jar on top of her head Rebekah went to the well outside the gates and lowered her jar into the well to get some water.

"May I have a drink of water?" Eliezer asked Rebekah. Rebekah tipped her jar for Eliezer to hove a drink. Rebekah saw that Eliezer's camels were hot and thirsty.

"I will pour water for your camels," she said.

Slurp. Slurp. The thirsty cornels drank. "What a kind person," thought Eliezer. He thanked Rebekah and gave her two bracelets to wear. Then he asked. "What is your name and who are your parents? Do they hove room for me and my cornels to stay overnight?"

Eliezer went to Rebekah's home He told her family how Abraham had sent him. He asked if Rebekah could be Isaac's wife. Everyone said yes. And Eliezer gave them gifts from Abraham.

Now Eliezer knew that God had answered his prayer. He had found a wife for Isaac. Eliezer was very happy.

Creative Fun

Make a copy of the bracelets on the following page. Have the children color them and cut them out. Tape the bracelets onto the children's wrists. These bracelets will remind them of how God answered Eliezer's prayer for help.

JACOB AND ESAU

by Elizabeth Parr

The Bible

Genesis 25:19-34

Be kind to one another

[TEXT UNREADABLE IN ORIGINAL SOURCE]

Supplies

envelopes scissors crayons markers glue

Creative Fun

Prepare two envelopes for each child by sealing each envelope and cutting the side out to form a pocket. Make a copy of the hand puppets for each child and invite the children to color them Remind the children to give Esau red hair. Have the children glue each puppet to on envelope. Have the children slip on envelope on each hand and hold up that puppet as you tell about him in the story.

Bible story

After Rebekah and Isaac were married, they had two boys who were twins. Their names were Jacob and Esau.

Esau was born first and had lots of red hair. Jacob was the second baby, and he did not hove red hair. Even though they were twins, as they got older they liked to do different things.

Esau liked to spend lots of time outdoors. Esau helped his family by hunting and finding food for them to eat. He loved to hear the wind blow through the grosses and watch the animals running through the fields.

Jacob was quiet and liked to be inside the tent where his family lived Jacob helped his family by cooking food for them to eat He liked to hear the crackle of the fire that heated the cooking pot. He liked to smell the tasty food he cooked for his family.

One day Jacob was cooking some stew. He stirred the stew as it cooked. He had bowls ready to fill with the delicious stew he was cooking Jacob's brother, Esau, came in from the fields where he had been hunting. Esau had been hunting all day and was very fired He was also very, very hungry. He smelled the delicious stew and knew he had to hove some of it.

"Please share some of that stew with me.' he said, 'I am so very hungry." Jacob gave Esau some of the stew.

Jacob and Esau were brothers Even though they liked different things, God loved them both Rebekah and Isaac loved them too.

JOSEPH'S COAT

by Daphna Flegal

The Bible

Genesis 37:12-28

God said, "Remember I will be with you."

[TEXT UNREADABLE IN ORIGINAL SOURCE]

Supplies

crayons
markers

Bible story

"Look at my now coot!" Joseph called to his brothers. He held out his arms and the long sleeves of his coot and turned around. "It has so many beautiful colors," he said. "It has red and blue and yellow and green colors."

"Where did you gel that coat?" asked one of Joseph's brothers

"Father gave it to me," answered Joseph.

The brothers were not happy about Joseph's coat. They did not like the beautiful colors. They did not like the red, the blue, the yellow, and the green colors. "Father has never given any of us a coat like that," said one brother.

"Father loves Joseph more than he loves us," said another brother. And the brothers decided to do something unkind to Joseph. They tore Joseph's coot with its beautiful colors.

They tore the rod, and blue, and yellow, and green colors. Then they pushed Joseph into a big hole.

"Look over there," said one brother. "Do you see that caravan? It's on its way to Egypt."

"Let's sell Joseph to the caravan," said another brother. "They will take him for away to Egypt."

The brothers pulled Joseph out of the hole. Soon Joseph was on his way to Egypt with the caravan. Joseph was afraid, but he remembered his father and the beautiful coat. He remembered the red and blue and yellow and green colors. Joseph also remembered that God was with him.

Creative Fun

Make a copy of Joseph's coat for each child. Let them decorate the coat with crayons or markers. After everyone is finished, invite the children to "model" their coats.