Large Group Instructions
Host and Co-host enter dressed in overalls.
Host
Welcome to the Train Station, Jr. Conductors! I’m so glad that you are here today.
Co-Host puts a finger to his/her mouth and doesn’t speak.
Host
Jr. Conductors, look at our friend. Do you think he/she wants us to talk loudly or be quiet? (Pause) It looks like he/she wants us to be really quiet. Put your finger next to your mouth like him/her.
Co-Host
We’re going to play a silent game today. We will tell you silly things to do, and while you do them, you can’t make any noise. Let’s see who can do it without laughing.
Play the game. Give them different actions such as dance silly, walk like a monkey, make a funny face, hop on one leg, etc.
Host
Okay, good job. Everyone let out a big laugh. (Laugh) Today we will find out about Someone special who loves to hear us talk.
Co-Host
That sounds fun. But first stand up, give us a big, “Choo-choo!”
Host and Co-Host enter. This engage uses two large foam hands. If you don’t have access to these, consider cutting some out of posterboard.
Co-Host
Engineer Kelly wants to talk to God, but she’s not sure what to do.
Host
Did you hear our Big Point at the Music Store? I think that will help her. Let’s stand and practice the Big Point again,
Host
I Can Pray!
Co-Host
Praying means talking to God. I like to pray and talk to God every day.
Host
Me, too. Do you think that everyone can chat with God and pray?
Co-Host
Of course, as long as we get ready. Before I pray, I get my praying hands out.
Co-Host holds large hands and places them together.
Co-Host
I have to close my eyes, too, but that’s hard, so I use a blindfold.
Co-Host slips on a blindfold. He/She turns around and talks away from the kids.
Co-Host
See, I’m all ready to pray. Where did you go?
Host
We’re behind you.
Co-Host
Really? I didn’t see you.
Host
That’s because your eyes are covered. Jr. Conductors, do you have to have giant praying hands and a blindfold to talk to God? (Pause) No. Sometimes it’s helpful to close our eyes when we pray or fold our hands together, but you don’t have to do those things. You can start talking to God whenever you want to. It doesn’t matter where you are, you can pray.
Co-Host
(Removes the blindfold) That’s a relief. I’m glad that I don’t have to do extra things to be ready to pray.
Host
All you have to do to pray is start talking. Let’s open our mouths wide. (Open your mouth) Yep, just use your mouth to talk. Let’s see if Engineer Kelly learns our Big Point.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
None of the things that Engineer Kelly found in the store helped her talk to God.
Host
Conductor Gordon reminded her that she can chat with God using her own words. Let’s practice singing the Big Point again,
Host
I Can Pray!
Co-Host
I like the verse that Conductor Gordon shared from the Bible.
Co-Host
Philippians 4:6 (NIrV) says, “No matter what happens, tell God about everything.”
Host
Did you know that you can tell God about all the things that happen in your day?
Co-Host
Let’s practice telling everything with a fun activity. We will see a picture and then choose some junior conductors to tell us what you see in the pictures.
Show each picture and then ask kids to describe what they see. Encourage the kids to share every detail.
Host
You did a great job describing the picture. Do you see how easy it was to tell us everything that you saw?
Co-Host
You can do the same thing when you chat with God. You can tell Him about all of the things that you did and saw during your day.
Host
You can tell God about the funny things, the silly things, the happy things, and even the sad things.
Co-Host
God wants to hear it all. He loves you that much. Let’s stand and worship the God who hears us when we pray.
Optional: Play Soft Instrumental Music.
I’m so glad that we can pray and talk to God. We can tell God about everything. Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes. Quietly tell God about one thing that made you happy today. (Pause) Now quietly tell God one thing you need help with. Finish this sentence, “God, I need help with…” (Pause) I’m so glad we can pray. I’ll talk to God now and pray for all of us. Dear God, thank You for teaching us that we can pray about anything. I’m so glad that You like to talk to us every day. Amen.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
Engineer Kelly made a great choice to pray for her friend, Penelope.
Host
She discovered that when she prays, she can chat with God. Let’s all practice our Big Point again,
Host
I Can Pray!
Co-Host
That’s what Hannah did in our Big Story. She told God what made her sad. God listened to Hannah’s prayers and helped her.
Host
You can tell your family what you learned about Hannah when you do the Big Do this week.
Host
Make a list of things that you can pray about and share them with God.
Co-Host
Let’s play a game of “I Spy.” We will give you clues about what we spy and see if you can guess.
Host
Then we’ll talk about how we can pray about the things we spied.
Play “I Spy” with the kids. Choose things or people that you can pray about such as leaders in the room, the pastor, their friends, the church, etc.
Host
Good job. Those give us lots of great ideas for what to pray about this week. I’m glad that all of us can chat with God. Let’s say our Big Point once more,
Host
I Can Pray!
Did our Big Point say I Can’t Pray or I Can Pray?
Let’s pretend to call someone on a telephone. Hold your phone up to your ear. Who are you calling? What are you telling him or her about? Who learned how to talk to God today? Engineer Kelly What is it called when we talk to God? Praying
Can someone tell me what you ate for breakfast? Tell me about your pet. Tell me about your bedroom. Philippians 4:6 (NIrV), “No matter what happens, tell God about (some things / everything).”
What kinds of things do babies do? (Allow for answers) Let’s pretend to drink a bottle like a baby. Let’s pretend to talk like a baby. Who was sad because she didn’t have a baby in our Big Story? Hannah
Who did Hannah talk to when she felt sad? God What did God give Hannah? Baby boy Can you talk to God when you feel happy? Yes! Sad? Yes! Scared? Yes! Silly? Yes! …
What did Conductor Carl tell us to do in the Big Do? Make a list of things you can pray about and things you can share with God
