Bread from Heaven

Itty Bitty Lutherans continues our Exodus journey this week, and connect this week's narrative to prayers of thanksgiving for all of God's good gifts.


Read Exodus 16-17.  Gather a variety to toys (cars, play food, little people and animal figurines,etc) and baby care objects (shoes, clothes,etc) in a large basket. You'll also need a cup of Cheerios labeled "Bread of Life" with a cross.


Begin by briefly reviewing the Exodus of God's people from Egypt to date, God took good care of His people. God led His people out of Egypt safely.  God protected His people.  God separated the waters and led them safely to the other side.   But God's people forgot.  They didn't remember how God took care of them.  

God's people got hungry and started to whine and cry.  Invite children to echo your cry.  God's people whined and cried, "we're soooo hungry! we need some food!"  Even when we whine our good God still takes care of us. That night while God's People were sleeping, ask children to close their eyes, or parents may cover their eyes, and their eyes were closed, it rained. Sprinkle the Cheerios down over the children, asking, Do you feel that rain? Then in the morning when they opened their eyes...please open your eyes.  They saw that God had made it rain bread from heaven.  God gave them just enough food to eat every day.  Allow the children to eat the Cheerios. God took care of His people. God gave them food to eat.  God gives us food to eat too.  This week is Thanksgiving and we'll eat a lot of food. 


Now lets go on a journey!  Walk the children into the church.  Lead them to the steps of the altar.  Encourage parents to point to the altar, showing it to the children. When your mommy and daddy come up here during church Pastor Lingsch gives them a little piece of bread.  God has the pastor give the bread to His people today.  The bread is food, a special kind of food from God that works forgiveness of sins.  When Mommy and Daddy eat that bread and drink the wine God is giving them His life and His love.  God gives them bread because He loves them and wants them to live forever with Him. Next time you come up here with your Mommy or Daddy look for that special bread. Lead the child back to the nursery.


Sprinkle the toys from the basket all over the room.  Gather the children together saying, The best food God gives us is that bread your mommy and daddy get in church.  God gives us many other good things too.  Look around the room and we will remember some of the good things God gives to us out of His love for us.  Ask children to find the toys and other items and place them in the basket.  Name the items as they are deposited in the basket, saying "Thank you, God for ________" as each piece is added. When the basket is full have children gather around it so they can see inside.  Just look at all of these wonderful things God gives us!  Shoes, cars, turkey.... Everything we have is from God.  He gives us so much more than bread.  God gives us everything. 


Sing the song, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes with the children. God gave us our bodies.  He gave us everything we need to take care of our body and life.  Ask each student to select one item from the basket to hold in their hand. Name each child's object.  Sing the song again, this time try to use the names of the items the children selected, and point to them while you sing. for example,

Cars, turkey, parents and shoes, parents and shoes

Cars, turkey, parents and shoes, parents and shoes

Thank you God for everything you give!

Cars, turkey, parents and shoes, parents and shoes

This week as you prepare for and celebrate Thanksgiving teach your child to thank God for every person and item at your table. Review the First Article of the Apostles Creed, printed below.  Also emphasize the best thing God gave us: His son, Jesus. Jesus died on the cross for the times when we whine and cry and forget all of the good things He has given us.  God forgives us and gave Himself for us. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

See you downtown on Monday night and Wednesday night at the Thanksgiving Eve service.




The First Article
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.


What does this mean?  I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. 


He also gives me clothing and shoes, food, and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have,  He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.