The Placemats of God’s Presence

A Three-Week Children’s Series for Thanksgiving Season

Series Overview

Each child receives a paper placemat (or heavy cardstock). Each week, the children will have a different image to color (with crayons) that reinforces each week’s lesson. At the end of the series, the children will be able to use the placemats on their dining tables during meals, reminding them and their family of God’s presence in everyday life. By the end of the series, the children will have several placemats, colored and ready to use at Thanksgiving. The placemats were designed through the use of ChatGPT, so feel free to create your own versions of these images.

Note: These images were developed by Discipleship Ministries staff using AI tools in alignment with our AI Usage Guidelines. In this case, all final images were reviewed and approved by human contributors.

Week 3: God Is with Us Through a Caring Shepherd (Christ the King Sunday)

Jeremiah 23:1-6, New International Reader's Version

The Godly Branch

23 “How terrible it will be for the shepherds who lead my people astray!” announces the Lord. “They are destroying and scattering the sheep that belong to my flock.” 2 So the Lord, the God of Israel, speaks to the shepherds who take care of my people. He tells them, “You have scattered my sheep. You have driven them away. You have not taken good care of them. So I will punish you for the evil things you have done,” announces the Lord. 3 “I myself will gather together those who are left alive in my flock. I will gather them out of all the countries where I have driven them. And I will bring them back to their own land. There my sheep will have many lambs. There will be many more of them. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will take good care of them. My sheep will not be afraid or terrified anymore. And none of them will be missing,” announces the Lord.

5 “A new day is coming,” announces the Lord.
“At that time I will raise up for David’s royal line
a godly Branch.
He will be a King who will rule wisely.
He will do what is fair and right in the land.
6 In his days Judah will be saved.
Israel will live in safety.
And the Branch will be called
The Lord Who Makes Us Right With Himself.

Objects:

Cup, small bread loaf (or roll), shepherd’s staff image, stuffed sheep, 2 placemat coloring pages, one with bread and cup on table, and the other with shepherd and sheep, crayons.

Click here to download Bread and Cup placemat image.
Click here to download Shepherd and Sheep placemat image.

Message:

Good morning, friends! I want to start with a question: Have you ever been really, really hungry? Maybe your stomach was rumbling so much you could hear it! What’s your favorite food to eat when you feel that way? (Pause and let children answer.)

You know, when we’re hungry, it feels so good to sit at a table, see the food on our plate, and know we’re cared for. In our Bible story today, God tells us something really special. God says, “I will gather my people together, and they will not be afraid. I will give them shepherds who care for them.”

Hmm…what’s a shepherd again? (Pause for kids to respond.) That’s right! A shepherd takes care of sheep. A shepherd feeds the sheep, gives them water, protects them from danger, and makes sure none of them get lost. Sheep need shepherds, and people need good leaders who care for them, too.

Here’s the good news: God gave us the best shepherd of all—Jesus! Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. That means Jesus takes care of us, just as a shepherd takes care of sheep. He makes sure we are safe, that we belong, and that no one is left out.

Today in church, we celebrate a very special day called Christ the King Sunday. That means we remember that Jesus is not only our shepherd but also our king. He’s not a king with a crown of gold or soldiers with swords. No, Jesus is a king who rules with love. His “crown” is made of kindness; his “throne” is peace, and his “kingdom” is for everyone who wants to follow him. Isn’t that amazing?

(Lift up the bread and cup.) Look at this bread and cup. Do you remember what these remind us of? (Pause for answers: Jesus, Communion, the Last Supper.) Yes! At Jesus’ table, everyone has a place. No one is forgotten. That’s how our king leads, with love, welcome, and care.

Today, I have two different coloring placemats, so you can fill every place at your family table. As you can see, on one is a picture of bread and a cup printed. I wonder what you could draw around them. Maybe people sitting at the table with you. Maybe your family, your friends…or even someone who needs a friend to sit with. Because Jesus’ table is big enough for everyone.

Now, let’s look at the other placemat for today. You can see the shepherd and sheep printed there. I wonder what you could draw around them. Maybe the names of your family, friends…or someone who needs to know Jesus on the sheep. Could you draw a crown, or a heart, on the shepherd to remind you of Jesus the one who rules with love?

This week, when you use your placemats at home, you’ll remember: Jesus is our shepherd; Jesus is our king, and his table is open to all.

Closing Prayer (with motions):

Repeat after me!

(Hands like horns) “Thank You, God, for shepherds…”
(Hands on heart) “…and for Jesus, our Good Shepherd and king.”
(Pretend to hug) “Help us care for others as you do.”
(Hands together) “Amen.”

Between the Sundays: Family Conversation Starters

Jeremiah 23:1–6

Placemat Section: A cup and a loaf of bread on a table and a shepherd with his sheep
Message: Jesus is our Good Shepherd who makes sure everyone is cared for and has a place at the table.
Activity: Color the cup and bread. Add people sitting at the table with you. Write: “Jesus cares for me.”
Activity: Color the shepherd and sheep. Add things around this scene that describe. Write: “Jesus the Good Shepherd.”

Family Discussion:

What do shepherds do for their sheep? How is Jesus like a shepherd for us?
Why do you think Jesus is called both a shepherd and a king? What kind of king is Jesus?
If Jesus’ table is open for everyone, who might need a seat at our family’s table this week?

Family Activities:

Sheep and Shepherd Game – One person pretends to be the shepherd, and the others are sheep. The shepherd calls out, “Come close, sheep!” and everyone gathers in. Discuss how Jesus draws us close and keeps us safe.
Bread and Cup Meal Blessing – At dinner, set the cup and bread (real or toy/colored drawing) on the table. Each person thanks Jesus for one way he cares for them, then says, “Thank you, Good Shepherd.”
Placemat Time – As kids color their bread and cup, encourage them to draw people sitting around the table with them: family, friends, or someone who might feel left out.

Final Step:

By Thanksgiving, children have colored placemats they can use at meals. Parents can ask:

“What does your placemat remind you about God?”
“Who else can we invite to share God’s love at our table?”

Each week’s placemat activity becomes part of family life at the table—reminding everyone that God is with us in small beginnings, in joy and peace, and through Jesus our shepherd king.