WHO IS THE GREATEST?	Grades 3-4

“Let Me Serve” Placemats
Kids decorate placemats using themes of service and donate them to the church for use during community meals. Whenever they see the placemats used, kids will remember that serving others is a sign of greatness.

Spark Resources: 
None

Supplies:
Chart paper
Marker
Plain-colored cloth placemats
Paintbrushes or spongebrushes
Acrylic paints in silver, gold, and other colors
Paper or plastic plates
Cups
Water
Stamps
Stencils
Sequins (optional)
Beads, small (optional)
Hot glue, adult use only (optional)

Set Up: 
1.	Set out all materials. 
2.	Make paper or plastic plates available for paints. 
3.	Set out cups of water to rinse brushes. 
4.	Write the word “Service” at the top of the chart paper.

Instructions: 
What kinds of things do members of our church do to serve and help others? Allow time for kids to respond. It’s pretty cool that so many people here help out, huh? Let’s use our art project today to serve our church. We’re going to use all of these materials to make placemats to give to our church kitchen. Whenever there’s a special meal at church, we’ll use the placemats and remember that serving others is a sign of greatness. What words can we use to describe service or being a servant? (community, give, share, love, serve) Let’s use these words to make our placemats.

1.	Freehand paint or stencil one of the service words in the middle of the placemat. Add other shape designs by freehand or use stencils or stamps.
2.	Make handprints, add a border, add other words or the Bible Memory Verse from today, and/or paint signs for God and Jesus (hearts, rainbows, crosses, fish).
3.	Allow time for the placemats to dry.
4.	Invite someone from the church who helps out in the kitchen to come visit your class, and present the placemats to him or her.

Thank you for sharing your gifts in service today. Let’s put some of the words from our placemats into a prayer:

Loving God, 
Help us to be great through serving others. Lead us to give and share and to love one another as a community of believers. Amen.

If you have less time… 
Instead of having each kid complete one placemat, have kids work on teams together.

If you have more time… 
Use hot glue to add sequins or small beads on letter edges or throughout the design.