Preparation
Make S’mores, enough for each child to have a taste. All you need are graham crackers, chocolate bars and roasted marshmallows.
Greet the children
Good morning! How are you today?
Distribute the S’mores. If you have babies or toddlers who cannot eat the S’mores, give their treat to their parents.
Do you know what this is? What do you call it?
(Allow time for children to respond.)
It is a S’more. Have you ever made these on a campout?
(Allow time for children to respond.)
It is fun for us to roast marshmallows over a campfire. It is an adventure. Do you like to make S’mores?
(Allow time for children to respond.)
Did you know that in some parts of the world, people do not have stoves or ovens, and cooking over an open flame is the only way to prepare food and to boil water so it is safe to drink?
(Allow time for children to respond.)
What would you do if you met someone who did not have a faucet or a stove in his or her home?
(Allow time for children to respond.)
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” What does that mean? How can we be peacemakers?
Today is Peace with Justice Sunday. It is a special time to think about children and grownups, both in our community and in faraway places where people don’t have enough food or water to be healthy—or a way to cook it. On Peace with Justice Sunday, we show people we love and care about them, and we do whatever we can to help them to live in peace.
Rick Jost, a missionary in Haiti, shares cheap, easy-to-make solar ovens with people who must walk many miles to get safe water and who do not have kitchens with stoves and other appliances. Is that a way to share Jesus’ love?
(Allow time for children to respond.)
Jesus also said, “Treat other people as you want to be treated,” and that is exactly what “justice” means.
With the money from this special offering on Peace with Justice Sunday, we help people to care for God’s beautiful world by recycling and doing other things. We help poor people to find food and shelter and to be able to go to the doctor. We do whatever we can to show people how to get along.
Maybe your parent or another grownup will help you make S’mores to share with your friends. If people tell you they like the S’mores, say “thank you.” You might even tell them about how Rick Jost helps people in Haiti. If your church has a pantry to feed hungry people in your community, you can be a missionary like Rick by bringing food to share.
Let us pray: Dear God, thank you for watching over us and keeping us safe. Teach us to be peacemakers! We know we don’t have to go to faraway places to share with others. Show us how to be kind and generous to people in our neighborhood. Thank you for your blessings. We love you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. | 
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