Preparation: To make a "well"-shaped offering container, cover a round oatmeal box with plain, cement-colored paper (buff or gray), and, from the bottom up, mark various amounts of money, such as $5.00, $10.00 and higher. Each week mark the level the "water" has risen in the well as the gifts grow. A clear jar with dollar markings on the side could also be used to measure the "depth" of the giving. Each week, pour water in to the level of the accumulated gifts.

Some kids never have to be reminded to turn off the water faucet or to flush the toilet. They never leave a dirty sink behind them, or a ring in the bathtub. Some kids never drink enough water to stay healthy. By this time you probably know why this happens. (Wait for answers.) Those children have no faucet, sink, bathtub or toilet in their homes. They can get along all right without those things, but they will never get along all right without clean water to drink and to cook their food with.

Global Health Ministries has a program to help people get clean water from wells not too far from home. To have a well, strong men dig a deep hole in the ground until they find water. Then they line the hole with cement and build a "collar" around the top to keep people and animals from falling in. Why don't they dig such wells? Often, it is because the people are very poor. They could dig the hole and gather rocks for the collar, but they have no money to buy cement. So they have no well.

The Bible (John 4:4-29) tells us about a time when Jesus met a woman at Jacob's well and asked her to give him a drink of water. He called himself "Living Water" and told her that he was the promised Savior. Now, Jesus' Spirit lives inside of us so that we, too, can give hope to people who need help.

How can we help? We can give money so that a village can build a well. A gift of $500.00 helps pay for cement and other materials that would provide people with clean water to drink and to cook with, every day of the year. All gifts add up and make a difference. Our offering today will go toward helping a village get a well. (Display the "well.")

Memory Verse

Jesus said, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." -- John 7:37b

Like Jesus, we can help others have what they need if we care about them.

Offering

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

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for the many ways you protect us, through clean water, vaccines against illness, and good medical care. Help us to care about people who do not have all these blessings. Most of all, thank you for Jesus, who gives us eternal life. Amen.

Song

See Appendix for suggestions.

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL)

To encourage the children to have their own fund-gathering "wells" at home, give them paper that is cut 3 5/8 by 8 1/2 inches to decorate and take home to wrap around an empty soup can, or 3 3/4 by 8 1/2 inches for a soda can. Money they wish to give may be put into these wells, and brought to church school the following Sunday.

Session 1

Lesson Index

Session 3