Additional Resources

Johnny Appleseed

Teach the children the song Johnny Appleseed, along with motions to accompany the lyrics:

Lyrics	Motion
Oh, the Lord is good to me	extend both arms / cross hands over chest
and so I thank the Lord	fold both hands as in prayer
For giving me	extend right arm / bring right hand to chest
the things I need	extend left arm / bring left hand to chest, over right
the sun and the rain and the appleseed.	make big circle with arms / make falling raindrops with fingers / bring thumb and finger together as if holding something very small
The Lord is good to me.	extend both arms / cross hands over chest

Ask the children to describe what Johnny Appleseed does. To do that work, what are the things he needs? What is each thing for?

Why doesn't Johnny just keep all the appleseeds for himself?

Why does he travel around and plant seeds in other places?

How does Johnny's giving to others make him feel?

What's something you can give to another person today?

One more time, sing the song and do the motions.

If I Were a Butterfly
(in conjunction with the Sharing Calendar, or alone)

Teach the children the song If I Were a Butterfly. If time permits, have the children invent motions to go with each line.:

If I were a butterfly, I'd thank the Lord for giving me wings.

If I were a robin in a tree, I'd thank the Lord that I could sing.

And if I were a fuzzy-wuzzy bear, I'd thank the Lord for my fuzzy-wuzzy hair.

But I'm just thanking you, father [or God], for making me me!

Through questions have the children consider, in turn, each line of the song:

If I were a butterfly, I'd thank the Lord for giving me wings.

What do the wings do for the butterfly? (ornamentation, transportation, enabling the butterfly to get to food, shelter, safety)

What in your life helps you like the wings help the butterfly? (legs and feet, vehicles, etc.)

[Mention that some children do not have all of those things.]

If I were a robin in a tree, I'd thank the Lord that I could sing.

Why would the robin thank God for singing? (an ability, a way to share, a way to make beauty, a way to be identified)

What's something you like to do that you can thank God for?

What are some times when you wouldn't feel like doing that activity?

[Mention that if you were hungry, or sick, or sad, you might not feel like participating in something like that. Some children feel that way.]

And if I were a fuzzy-wuzzy bear, I'd thank the Lord for my fuzzy-wuzzy hair.

Why is the bear thanking God for fuzzy-wuzzy hair? (a source of warmth)

If you wanted to thank God for some things that keep you warm, what things would you mention?

[Some children may not have a blanket or a heater; they may not even have a house.]

But I'm just thanking you, father [or God] for making me me!

When you get a really special gift, how do you feel?

What's your favorite way to thank someone?

What other ways could you show your thanks? (words, hugs, do something good for them, give them a present)

[When we're thankful to God-like the butterfly, the robin, and the bear-we can use words, and God hears them. But we can also use our other ways of thanking.]

How could you do something good for God? (do it for someone else)

How could you give God a hug? (hug someone else)

How could you give God a present? (give something to another person)

[You know why that works? Because we're all a part of God. And every time you do something good for someone else, you're doing it for God, too.]

So when you put into our basket the money you've collected for One Great Hour of Sharing, who are you giving it to? (to another child or family, also to God)

What If I Give All?

Churches that enjoy contemporary music might like to have a band and singer perform the song below, from the tape No Greater Sacrifice by Ray Boltz.

[writer's notes]

John 6:9-12

In one of our concerts a three-year-old boy looked up and saw the image of a hungry child on one of the large video screens. He asked his mother why the little boy was hungry. When he was told that the little boy's parents had no money to buy food, he took a dollar bill from his pocket and asked how many children it would feed. When his mother told him that the dollar would provide 10 meals, he immediately asked, What if I give all I have? I don't know his name, but this child's gift not only challenged me, it has challenged our audiences across the country. I co-wrote the song with my road manager and guitarist, Mark Pay.

[lyrics]

He heard the preacher say, A single dime can feed

A hungry boy or girl with nothing to eat.

So he pulled a dollar from the pocket of his jeans

And he asked his mama, How many will this feed?

She just smiled and when she told him ten

He reached back in again.

Chorus

What if I give all I have? What will that gift do?

My child, a gift like that could change the world;

It could feed a multitude.

He didn't close his eyes or turn away;

I can see him standing tall.

He saw the need and I can hear him say,

What if I give all?

Three birthday dollars could have bought a special toy;

But he reminds me of another little boy

Who gave to Jesus a gift of fish and bread.

I wonder if he said,

Repeat chorus.

And long ago a father and a son

Saw the children lost in sin.

Can you see the tears in Father's eyes

As Jesus says to him,

What if I give all I have? What will that gift do?

My Son, that gift will change the world;

It will free the multitudes.

What if I give all I have? What will that gift do?

My child, a gift like that can change the world;

It could feed a multitude.

We cannot close our eyes and turn away

When we hear His Spirit call.

We see the need-now let Him hear us say,

What if I give all?