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happen to my family, worry my paycheck won’t cover all the bills,
LESSON 1:
A BACKPACK OF WORRIES
MATERIALS: Backpack, heavy books or other heavy
random useless items
VERSE/s: Matthew 6:27, Matthew 11:28-30,
1 Peter 5:6-8, Philippians 4:6-7
KEY THEME: Worrying, Trusting God
How often have we seen a student struggling to carry the
load of books and supplies stuffed in their backpack? From now
on, may we remind ourselves God has asked us to trust Him with
carrying the burden of our worries and anxiety.
LESSON:
Fill your backpack with a few useful items such as back-
to-school supplies and several very large random books. Put the
backpack on and appear to be struggling under its weight.
Have students comment on items they normally carry in
their backpacks and how they use each. Ask them to guess what
might be in your backpack.
Set the backpack on the ground and begin to unload
the large random books commenting on their uselessness
and not really knowing why you picked them. Finally, pull
out your Sunday school lesson book, Bible, or other
supplies that you need to have with you.
Everyday, we carry around worries just like a load of
books that weren’t ours to carry. Have student name some
worries or fears with which they struggle. Share a few of your
own worries. Mine would include: worry something bad will
worry about what others would think of me, etc. Can we usually
fix or do something about these things ourselves?
1. Jesus said Worry is useless.
Tell them that today we are going to see what God’s Word
says about things we try to carry ourselves such as worries,
anxieties, fears, etc. and how we can learn to trust God to carry
these for us.
Have everyone turn to the book of Matthew 6 in their
Bibles. This is part of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus is
speaking and teaching. Read aloud verses 25-27:
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—
whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to
wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than
clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store
food in barns, for your Heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t
you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries
add a single moment to your life?” NLT
Jesus instructs us not to worry! In verse 25, He says, “that
is why…”. Have students look back and if they can find the why in
24. Help them understand that a master is someone you depend
upon. When we worry, we are depending on someone or
something besides God.
Put everything back inside the backpack and ask for a
volunteer to stand by you with the backpack on their back
while you teach.
Now that we know we shouldn’t worry, how do we live that
in everyday life?
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2. I can trust God with my worries.
Read 1 Peter 5:6-8: “So humble yourselves under the
mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in
honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about
you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He
prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
NLT
When we worry, we are actually being prideful. We are
trying to handle hard things ourselves rather than trusting God.
We must first admit we can’t carry it all, we need help!
Pride is always a doorway for Satan. Worry, anxiety, and
fear can really devour or eat us up! They paralyze us and keep
us from being who God has called us to be—courageous warriors
for Christ!
We are to “give” or as other translations say “cast” our
cares on God. This is a word picture of literally placing them on
His back.
At this point take the backpack off the student’s back
and put it on your own.
Ask your volunteer to explain how that made them feel with
you taking the load for them. God wants to do this for you too. He
wants us to trust Him with our worries, anxiety, and fear.
3. Don’t worry; pray always and give thanks!
Paul sums up this process when writing to the Philippians
in Chapter 4:6-7:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about
everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has
done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds
anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts
and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” NLT
Paul explains that our part is: (1) never worry, (2) always
pray, and (3) give thanks. Then God will give us peace that no
one can understand, but it can guard our heart and mind in Christ
Jesus!
Take all the useless things out of your backpack and
put to the side. Place the “much lighter” backpack now on
your back.
Read together out loud the words of Jesus found in
Matthew 11:28-30: “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you
who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble
and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My
yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” NLT
When we walk closely with Jesus, He is there to carry our
burdens of worry, anxiety, and fear. He lightens our load and we
can then “run the race set before us” (Hebrews 12:1-2) all out for
Him!
Close the lesson with a time of prayer asking God to
carry our present worries and to guard our hearts and minds
with His peace as we trust Him.
ACTIVITY 1: Have the students write some of their worries
and fears on a paper and then write:
Never worry.
Pray always.
Give thanks.
ACTIVITY 2: Have the students make a sticky note/ reminder
with their name on it. Ask them to write Never worry. Pray
always. Give thanks.” on one side and their name on the other.
Punch a hole and add a ribbon, if available.
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LESSON 2:
YOU’RE WORTH IT!
LESSON:
Hold out a handful of pennies. Ask which one is worth
the most. Hopefully they will say “They are all worth the
same.”
Pretend to argue with them that you think the shiniest
ones are worth more than the dirty or old worn pennies.
Finally ask them how they know they are each worth the
same. Answers may vary, but lead them to understand that
they are “all pennies” and that each one is marked with the
value of “one peso”.
Give each student a penny to hold.
Just like all these coins are the same, we as people, as
human beings, as God’s highest creation are the same.
Have students look up Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” NASB
Many Bible translations use the word “workmanship”.
Take a few minutes to discuss how artists, cooks, craftsmen,
builders, etc. may feel about something they have created. Let
them also express how they feel when they have worked really
hard to make something.
We should be like the Psalmist in 139:14 and say, “I
praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
MATERIALS: Pennies/ 1-peso coins
Even in Genesis 1:27, God set men and women apart
VERSE/s: Ephesians 2:8-10, Psalm 139:14, Genesis 1:27,
from all other creation. He marked us with His image. “God
Romans
created man 2:11 image, in the image of God He created
in His own
KEY
him; maleTHEME : Identity—our
and female He createdworth
them.”and value
God has marked each of us with His image. Even when
that image became damaged by sin, God valued us. Our value
and worth to Him did not change—so much so that Jesus came
to die for each one of us. God deemed each of us worthy of
sending His Son to die for our sin.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
This lesson demonstrates He didn’t wait for us to get all
shiny and clean. We are of worth to Him even while we are dirty
and dingy.
Have each student look closely at their penny. Ask
how many of them have the words “one peso” marked on
them. The answer-ALL. Every penny is worth the same. Every
person is worth the same to God. He does not have favorites.
Romans 2:11 says – “For there is no partiality with God.”
NASB or as the NLT phrases it – “For God does not show
favoritism.”
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Because we are of such value and worth to God, He sent
Jesus to die in our place because of our sin. Jesus took our
punishment. All God asks is that we turn away from going away
from Him and come back to Him by believing and trusting in
Jesus.
Going back to Ephesians 2, read verses 8-10 now. “for by
grace you have been saved through faith; and not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may
boast. For we are His workmanship (His masterpiece), created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so
that we would walk in them.” NASB
Encourage students to remember each time they see
a penny that they matter to God. He loves and values them
and wants them to put their trust in Him every day. Also
remind them that every person matters to God; therefore,
they should also matter to us.
LESSON 3:
WHEN THE SQUEEZE IS ON!
MATERIALS: Sponge
VERSE/s: John 16:33, Romans 5:1-5, Romans 15:13
KEY THEME: Trials, Sufferings
What comes out of us when the “squeeze” is on—clean,
pure thoughts and actions that please God or something not so
clean and pure?
LESSON:
Begin the lesson by giving each person a small piece
of a clean, unused sponge. A regular size sponge can be cut
into 10-12 nice size pieces and look like mini sponges for
them to keep as a reminder of the lesson.
The “squeeze” = Tribulations
Ask what sponges are used for and what they do.
Answers may include many things, but make sure it is
mentioned that they soak up liquid when squeezed. Another
answer might be sponges are used to clean, but if what is in
them is dirty instead of clean, they can’t do what they were
created to do.
Ask: “Do we ever “squeezed” in life?” If so, how? Allow
time for answers and thoughts; these will vary of course for
different age groups, but may include—when others (e.g.
friends, parents, children, teachers, etc.) pressure us to do
something, when we let anger/frustration build up until we
can’t hide it any longer, when we have too many obligations
or responsibilities, when bad or unexpected things happen
in our life, etc.
The Bible uses the term “tribulation” which comes from
the idea of when grapes were squeezed under pressure to
release the juice.
Jesus tells us that in this life, we will have tribulation, but
He also gives us hope. In John 16:33, it says, “I have said these
things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you
will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
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So if we get “squeezed”, what comes out? What comes
out of a sponge when it’s squeezed? Tie in answers to
eventually conclude that whatever is in the sponge or in us,
that which has been soaked up, will be what comes out.
If we have bad attitudes and negative thoughts, “the
squeeze” will bring out angry and hateful words and actions that
do not bring God glory and honor. However, if we spend time
being filled with His goodness and grace, “the squeeze” will bring
out good things like love, joy, peace, patience and other fruit of
the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
Squeeze the clean water from the sponge into the
colored water and notice what happens. The clean water
affects or dilutes the colored water. If we soak up the colored
water and then squeeze into the clean water, it changes it. In the
same way, whatever is being “squeezed” out of us whether good
or bad, affects those around us. Think of some ways our
actions and attitudes, good or bad, can affect those around
us.
Examples: Our anger at someone can cause them to be angry or hurt.
A younger sibling may be watching and copying what we do. Someone may see
kindness and love in us and be drawn closer to God.
The “soaking” or “filling” = Bad vs. Good
So what are some negative things we may be soaking up? It
may include things like: negativity from others, anger or
frustration, bad language, bad attitudes & ideas from TV, movies,
music, etc.
Place an empty sponge into a shallow amount of colored
liquid such as grape juice, Koolaide, Coke, etc. and watch it
disappear as the sponge soaks it up. Squeeze that back out
and then place your sponge into clean water until it is full,
next place it back in the shallow amount of colored liquid
making note that this time it is not soaking up the colored
liquid around it.
Point out that if a sponge is already filled with clean
water, it won’t soak up other things. How can we soak up what
is good and be so full that we won’t soak up what’s bad?
It begins and continues by trusting in God. Romans 15:13 has
become one of my favorite verses about being “filled”: “I pray that
God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and
peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with
confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
1. Be filled with His Holy Spirit- Ephesians 5:18 “Do not
get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead,
be filled with the Spirit.”
2. Be filled with God’s Word- Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden
Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
3. Be filled with God’s presence through prayer – Luke
6:12 “One of those days, Jesus went out to a
mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to
God.”
When we are filled with His goodness and grace, we can
rejoice when the “squeeze” or tribulation comes. It will make us
stronger in Christ! Look at the key verses in Romans 5:1-5 NLT:
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by
faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our
Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us
into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we
confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We
can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials
(tribulations), for we know that they are good for us- they help us
learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in
us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of
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salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we
know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the
Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.”
Another Danger
This lesson can be used to point out one other danger…
becoming dry, hard, and empty.
It’s good if we are staying away from soaking up negative
thoughts and bad things, but if we’re still not being filled with His
goodness, there will be no joy or peace. We will not be usable
just like it’s harder to use a dry, hard sponge.
Encourage each person to take their sponge with them
and place it somewhere they will see it so that it will remind
them of this lesson.
LESSON 4:
SOFT OR HARD?
MATERIALS: Cotton Balls and rocks
VERSE/s: Ephesians 4:32
KEY THEME: Kindness
Our words and actions can be soft or hard and hurtful.
Allow kids to hold a rock in one hand and a cotton
ball in the other. Ask which one is soft? Which one is hard?
Which one would hurt if someone threw it at you?
Our words and actions can be soft like the cotton ball and
show kindness or they can be hard like a rock and hurt other
people. The Bible tells us we are to be kind to one another. Have
the students practice saying the Bible Verse along with its
reference. Say it in a loud voice. Say it in a small voice. Say
it in a silly voice.
Talk about soft or kind things we can say to others
such as “Thank you”, “Please”, “I love you”, etc. As the kids
say kind words, give them a cotton ball for each.
Let them have fun throwing the cotton balls at each
other. Ask if they hurt or feel soft. God does not want us to
throw hurtful words or actions at others like rocks; God wants us
to be kind to one another.
Talk about soft or kind things we can do such as
share, help, hug, etc. Have them touch each other with a
cotton ball and repeat “Be kind”.
ACTIVITY 1: Show students how to stretch and pull a cotton
ball then glue to a piece of blue construction paper to make soft
clouds. Tell them when they see the soft clouds in the sky, to
remember God wants us to be kind to one another. Write the
Bible verse with reference on their page.
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LESSON 5:
DIFFERENT YET THE SAME
MATERIALS: M&Ms candy or skittles, or any colorful candies
VERSE/s: Psalm 139:14, 1 John 4:9-16, 1 John 4:19
KEY THEME: God’s creation; God’s creativity; Uniqueness
We should see all our different skin colors and tones as
part of God’s creativity and beauty while remembering we are
special to God and created to be filled with His love.
Hold up a clear jar filled with either M&Ms or any
colorful candies. Ask students which of the colors is their
favorite. Get several answers and then ask if Student 1’s
choice of color is better than Student 2’s. Ask: “Does the
yellow taste better than the green?”
We know that we look different on the outside. Have
students compare the color of their arms. No matter what color
people may call us, there are so many shades of every color that
we’re all different, unique, and special!
We look different in other ways too!!!:
 Have those with brown eyes stand. Other sits.
 Those with curly hair stand. Other sits.
 Those with earlobes attached at the bottom stand.
Other sits.
 Those who can curl or roll their tongue stand. Other
sits.
 Those with dimples stand. Other sits.


Those who are left-handed stand. Other sits.
Those who have freckles stand. Other sits.
 Those whose hairline on their forehead makes a point
or widow’s peak stand. Other sits; etc.
There is no exactly like you! You are unique and special!
Have students open their Bibles to Psalm 139:14: “I
praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your
works are wonderful; I know that full well.”
Remind students that the Book of Psalms is near the
center of their Bible and actually a book of songs. Psalm 139
was written by David. In verse 14, David points out that we have
been made “wonderfully”—the Hebrew word there ‘Pala’ (paw-
law) translated means “to distinguish, put a difference, show
marvelous, separate, set apart, sever, make wonderfully”.
David realized God made him unique…different…even
maybe a little “weird” and that was a wonderful thing! There is
and never has been nor ever will be another me…another you!
God never makes a duplicate! Even twins have differences!
Just as M&Ms candies are all different looking on the
outside with their various colors, so God has created us each
unique and special. We may all be different in a variety of ways,
but one way we are the same is that we were all created to be
filled. M&Ms are filled with chocolate—yum! And we are made to
be filled with God’s love—even better! Without the chocolate, an
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M&M is just a fragile shell with really no taste. Even so, we,
without God’s love, are fragile and empty too.
MATERIALS: Digital “This
1 John 4:9-16: camera/photo,
is how Godsmall
showedmirror
His love among
VERSE/s: Genesis 1:27, 2 Corinthians 3:18
us; He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might
KEY
live THEME
through : God’s
Him. This isimage; Identity
love: not that we loved God, but that He Read Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in His own
loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one created them”.
another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, Ask if anyone knows what an “image” is. Accept
God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. We know varied answers and comment positively on them so kids will
that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His continue to participate. Have the following definition to
Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His summarize and clarify the meaning of “image”.
Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that The dictionary gives this definition: “a physical likeness or
Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so, representation of a person, animal, or thing, photographed, painted, sculptured,
or otherwise made visible.”
we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.
Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” Take a picture of someone in the group with a camera
or bring a photo of someone most everyone will recognize
Also, because of how M&Ms (or other candies) are made, like a famous person.
they are easily shared with others. God’s love is made to be
shared through sharing the Gospel—the Good News of Jesus Ask them if the photo or image is actually that
person. Of course, it’s not. The image can’t speak, think, etc.,
Christ! but it does show a lot about the person and what they are like.
1 John 4:19: We love because He first loved us”. In the same way, we are created in the “image of God”.
We are NOT God, but created to be like Him and reflect what He
As you end the lesson, remind the students once
is like. God created us in His image to be perfect, but just like a
again that we may look different on the outside, we are all computer can “warp” or change an image until you can’t
the same—wonderfully created by the Lord. We are all recognize the person in the photo, so sin warped the image of
created special by God. God in us.
God, however, sent His perfect image, Jesus Christ, to
restore God’s image in us as we accept Him as our Savior and
LESSON 6: Lord.

IMAGE OF GOD

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Take a picture of someone in the group with a digital we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even
camera or bring a photo of someone most everyone will more.”
recognize like a famous person.
By us reflecting God’s image, others will be able to
Describe the person in the photo to them and ask recognize Him. We can use words to describe Jesus, but if others
them to guess who it is from your description. Be vague in can see an image of Him in us, they will be able to recognize Him
your description such as “this person has brown hair, is a more easily.
girl, and looks friendly.” Have them point out or name the
person in the picture. Ask them how they were able to
recognize them so quickly when you showed them the
photo.
Point 1: We can use words to describe Jesus, but if we
can show others as His image in us, they will be able to
recognize Him more easily. LESSON 7:
Point 2: How can we do this? We can be MIRRORS!
THINK BEFORE SPEAKING
Hold the mirror in three different ways while asking
them if they can see their reflection. MATERIALS: Toothpaste, rocks, strips of paper
1. Hold the mirror facing away from them. (When we VERSE/s: Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 11:9, 15:1, 4,
are not looking to God and learning about Him, we Psalm 141:3
won’t be reflecting His image either.)
KEY THEME: The power of words
2. Hold the mirror facing them but covered with a
piece of paper. (there can’t be anything between the
mirror and our eyes. Others won’t see the image of
God in us either if there is something between us and Our words can be stones that hurt or gifts that build up.
Him.) Once they are out of our mouth though, they cannot be taken
3. Move the mirror all around as they try to look at back.
their image. (We need to take time to “be still and
know that He is God”. We need to daily spend time We probably have all heard or even chanted the jingle—
with Him in prayer and Bible study so that we will “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never
become more like Him.) harm me.” We would also probably all agree…that just isn’t so!
2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us: “And if all of us have had that Words can hurt. Words can damage. Words can scar!
veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the
glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us,

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Solomon, the wisest man that has ever lived, attests to
exactly this when he writes in Proverbs 15:4 – “Kind words bring
life, but cruel words crush your spirit.” GNT
This lesson of being cautious and mindful of our words is
an important one and one that the Bible speaks of often.
Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no unwholesome word proceed
from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification
according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to
those who hear.” (Other translations use “abusive word” NLT or
“corrupt word” NKJV.)
Proverbs 11:9 – “With their words, the godless destroy
their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.” NLT
Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a
harsh word stirs up anger.”
Begin this lesson talking about how often we brush
our teeth. Ask:
 Why do we brush our teeth?
 How often do you brush your teeth?
 Do you have to be reminded to brush your teeth?
Hold up the tube of toothpaste. Ask for a volunteer to
squeeze all the toothpaste out onto a plate. Encourage them
to use all their strength and get it all out. Next, ask for
another volunteer to come and put all the toothpaste back
into the tube. Offer them a spoon to help, maybe a toothpick,
even a small funnel. Allow others to try if they think they can
do better.
We know the saying “What goes up, must come down” but in
this case what comes out does not just go back in! Our words are
very much like this toothpaste.
Have everyone say the word “anger” together. Now, tell
them all to take the word back. Trying to put the toothpaste
back into the tube was difficult, but taking our words back that we
say is impossible!
Read the Ephesians 4:29 altogether. Paul talks about
unwholesome or abusive words; what type of words might these
be? (curse words, words said in anger, insults, name calling, etc.)
Then he talks about words that are good for edification and give
grace. Words good for edification are words that build up and
encourage. Words that give grace to the hearer are words that
may not be deserved but are said in kindness in spite of not
being deserved.
Let’s change some “unwholesome” words to words that build
up or give grace. Examples:
 Your younger brother or sister comes in your room
without permission. You want to yell, “Get out, dummy!”
Instead you say, “I’m busy right now, could you come
back later please? Maybe then we can play.”
 Your parent won’t let you go somewhere you want to go.
You want to say, “I don’t care what you say; I hate you!”
Instead you say, “I really want to go but you are mom/dad
and I will trust you.”
 Someone on your team makes a big mistake in the game.
You want to say, “Way to mess up; can’t you do better
than that?” Instead you say, “It’s okay; we all make
mistakes. Way to try hard!”
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Words can hurt or words can heal. Words can leave scares or
they can be soothing medicine.

Proverbs 11:9 – “With their words, the godless destroy their

friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.” NLT

Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a

harsh word stirs up anger.” NLT

It’s important that we think before we speak. Once the words
are out of our mouth, they cannot be taken back. We can ask
God to help us just like David does in Psalm 141:3—
“Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.” NLT
NOTE: Our words can be stones we throw and hurt
others or they can be kindness rocks gently passed to another to
encourage them and build them up—even if they don’t deserve it.
May our words be gifts of grace!

Pass out either strips of paper with this verse or attach it

to a small tube of toothpaste for kids to take with them. Tell
them to remember this lesson each time they brush their
teeth and ask God to help them use words that build others
up.

Take time to pray this verse together as a group.

Before speaking, ask yourself— “Is it…”

T- true?

H- helpful?

I-Inspiring?

N- necessary?

K- kind?

ACTIVITY: KINDNESS ROCK

Provide various size rocks for students to choose one

and then either use paint or permanent markers to write a kind
word on it and decorate it. Encourage them to either give their
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rock to someone who needs encouragement or to leave it in a
spot around church where someone can find it and be