Those who are generous are blessed,

for they share their bread with the poor.

Begin: Guide reads the background, scripture & prays for the class

Unwrap-Opening Activity 10:00-10:10 AM

Investigate: Tell & Wonder about the Story 10:10-10:25 AM

Learn by doing /snack 10:30-10:45 AM

Dismiss: Review Cornerstone; Closing Prayer 10:55 AM

Explore the concept of generosity and how we are generous by sharing our time, talent and treasure.

Heavenly Father, we know

that you have given us

many wonderful gifts.

Please guide our hearts and

hands so that we may be

generous to others.

Amen.

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Our recognition and appreciation of the infinite generosity of God fills us with the desire to be generous in response. “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James1:17)

Children may excitedly anticipate receiving gifts, but may not see themselves as gift givers. This lesson encourages them to wonder about the gifts that they can give. They can give a cookie to a classmate, a smile to a teacher and a drawing to a grandparent. They can learn about and participate in the various ways that their parents and siblings choose to show generosity. By thinking about all of the gifts that they have received (such as loving parents, a warm bed, food when they are hungry), they can think about giving as a way to praise

and thank God.

Generosity is not about giving because we have more than we need, or giving out of guilt or social obligation. It isn’t about giving to gain the recognition or approval of those around us, nor is it just about how we use our financial resources, but about how we use all of God’s gifts, including our time and talent.

We are members of a generous community that both

models and encourages generous behavior. When we

join together to share our gifts, we can forge lasting

connections while responding to God’s love.

Word Search (provided in your box)

OR

LEGOS! Bring in a bin of Legos for the kids to build with, just for something different and fun.

You could also use Lego piles later as a visual reference when talking about “scarce” vs. “enough” vs.

“generous” (more than ample) amounts.

Please ask Church Staff in advance if you need to borrow Legos and need help finding a resource.

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“Raise your hand if you know what the word “GENEROUS” means?” Let the children respond and give some ex-amples.

Help lead the discussion to point out that there are many ways to be generous. We can be generous with our time, our talent, our treasures, and even with our attitudes and words.

Being generous means more than just sharing or offering help to someone. It means doing more than is expected or necessary, and do-ing it with a glad heart. The next question will help them see the difference.

I wonder what is the most generous thing someone has done for you? Discuss as a class, and perhaps add your own story of “a most generous act” to the conversa-tion. Try to steer them away from materi-al gifts and more toward acts of generosi-ty… gestures that made them feel special and loved.

I wonder how you felt when that hap-pened.

Let’s talk about some really cool things that happen when we are generous: 1. It makes another person feel special and loved. 2. It makes YOU feel happy inside, too. 3. We please God when we behave in gener-ous ways. 4. We set ourselves apart as members of God’s Kingdom when we are generous with others, and God is honored and praised.

5. It is like a “thank you note” to God for all the ways that God is generous with us:

God gave us LIFE. God gave us loving families. God gave us this amazing world to live in and food to eat. He gives us unlimited FOR-GIVENESS whenever we ask for help with our mistakes.

And, the ultimate example of generosity is that God came down to earth as a human in Jesus Christ, and allowed himself to suffer and die for all of us.

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The class will make Generosity

Origami using the template pro-

vided. You might recognize this as

an old-fashioned “Fortune Teller

or Cootie Catcher,” but ours has

ideas of generous acts written

inside the flaps.

Three flaps have been left blank

for each child to fill in their own

idea for being generous with their

time, talent (natural abilities),

and treasure. Help them to come

up with examples in that they can

practice going this week.

Then students will color, cut and

fold their Origami, then practice

using it with their table-mates.

Perhaps you can challenge them to act on at least one ideas from the Origami this week, and report back next Sunday!

Say: Today we learned more about generosity and how we might share our time, talent and treasures.

Call: The Lord be with you.

Response: And Also with you.

Let us pray:

Thank you, God, Heavenly Father, for giving us many wonderful gifts. Please

guide our hearts and hands so that we may be generous to others. Amen.

SNACK TIME can be an exercise in generosity as well. Perhaps when each child is served, they must then give their portion to someone else in the room. Eventually, everyone will get a snack, but they must wait to receive it from a classmate who has passed theirs on instead of keeping it themselves. The class should wait to eat until everyone has been served.

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