Have you ever been very thirsty and not been able to get a drink? How did it feel? How soon did you get some water? Did you feel better after you got a drink? Water is very important in our lives. (Invite children to place their hands in the water, if they wish.) Let's name some of the ways we use water every day. (List on newsprint or a chalkboard.) Some responses might be:

to drink
wash clothes
cook food
bathe
wash food
flush toilet
wash dishes
for pets
water plants

What would happen in our homes if the water were shut off for two hours, or a day, or even a week? Has this ever happened to any of you? (Some children may have experienced this.) Most of us not only have water, but we have both cold and hot water whenever we need it.

In many countries people don't have any water in their homes. They bathe in rivers or lakes. They wash their clothes in the same places, and very often cattle and other animals go into the same water and drink. Even if people choose a clean place to bathe, there may be animals taking a bath in the water just a few miles upstream. How would you feel about taking a bath in the same water as a cow, much less using the water for drinking?

During the next few weeks we are going to learn more about the importance of water for all people, and talk about ways we can help people who don't have any clean water for cooking or drinking. Our offering money will be used ot help people get clean water. Can you think about how our offerings can give a whole town safe water? We'll talk more about that during the next few weeks.

Memory Verse

Jesus said, "Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple ... truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward." -- Matthew 10:42

Through the water of baptism we became children of God and have the Spirit of God in us. As God's children we want to share our blessings with others, and a good drink of water can be one of those blessings.

Offering

Have the children place their offering in the "well."

Prayer

Thank you, Jesus, for giving us the water of life through baptism. Thank you for giving us plenty of water to use every day. Help us to use it wisely, and help those who do not have enough clean water to find ways of getting it. Amen.

Song

See Appendix for suggestions.

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL)

Children may like to draw pictures of ways in which they use water each day, or the sources of water, such as a faucet, hose, hydrant, shower, river, water tower, lake, rain, etc. Or teach students how to fold an 8.5 X 8.5 inch square of paper into an origami cup. This could be used for their offering.

Overview

Lesson Index

Session 2