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Bless You!
a children's sermon based on Matthew 5:1-12
by Rev. F. Schaefer

Props: a handkerchief

Invite the children to come up for the children's time in worship.  Show your handkerchief and ask if anybody knows what this is for.  Take a few suggestions, then demonstrate the use by pretending to sneeze into the handkerchief.

Ask the children for the various people give when someone sneezes.  The most common response is "bless you."  Ask the children if they know what this expression means.  Who is supposed to do the blessing?  What is the blessing for?  For people to get better, for well-being.

Make a transition to the "Bless Yous" Jesus gives in our passage.  Read a few of them to the children.  Tell them that Jesus said "bless you" to them, not because they sneezed, but because God wants to bless especially those who are needy, those who are poor, those who are sad, and those who suffer.

Jesus also blesses those who try to do the right thing; those who are making peace instead of taking revenge; who are meek and not aggressive, who are forgiving instead of judging. (You may want to expand this by fleshing it out with examples out of the children's home or school experience).

Closing prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your blessings; we especially appreciate the blessings for those who are poor and those who are sad.  But we also thank you for blessing all of us who try to live a good and peaceful life in your kingdom.  Lord, we need to be blessed by you; add a blessing to our day today so that we can show the whole world the love you put into our heart.  Amen."