New Year Sunday School Lesson for Kids
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Lamentations 3:22-23; Jeremiah 29:11
An interactive lesson where children learn God's mercies are new every morning, memorize Lamentations 3:22-23, set a goal star, and make a prayer jar to trust God with the new year.
Memory verse
It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Explain that God's mercies and faithfulness are new every morning.
- Say Lamentations 3:22-23 from memory with motions.
- Set one goal for the new year and bring worries and hopes to God through a prayer jar.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: Morning Stretch (5 min)
Setup: Stand in an open space where children have arm room.
Greet each child by name. Have everyone crouch low like a sleeping seed.
Say: "It's a brand-new year! Let's wake up together."
1. Slowly stand and stretch arms up like the sun rising.
2. Call out, "Good morning, God!"
3. Ask: "What is one thing you like about a new start?" (A new notebook, a fresh day, a clean page.)
4. Let three or four children answer.
Say: "Today we will learn that God gives us a fresh start every single morning."
Say: "Now let's hear what God's Word says about new mornings."
God's Word: New Mornings and Good Plans (6 min)
Open the Bible and read Lamentations 3:22-23 aloud from the KJV. Read slowly and let children echo each line.
Background: Lamentations is a book of sad songs about a hard time for Jerusalem. Tradition says Jeremiah wrote it. Even in sadness, the writer remembered God's mercy.
Say: "Mercy means God is kind to us even when we are not perfect."
Say: "God's compassions never fail, and they are new every morning."
Now read Jeremiah 29:11 aloud.
Background: In Jeremiah 29, God sent a letter through Jeremiah to His people living far from home in Babylon.
Say: "God told them He knows the thoughts He thinks toward His people. They are thoughts of peace and an expected end."
Ask: "What do these verses say about God?" (He is faithful. He is kind. He has good plans.)
Say: "Let's see what this means for our new year."
Teaching: A Fresh Page Every Day (7 min)
Setup: Hold up a sheet of paper that has been scribbled on, and a clean sheet.
Say: "Sometimes we mess up. We say unkind words or forget to obey. It feels like a scribbled page."
Say: "God's mercy is like a clean page. When we are sorry and ask Him, He forgives us and gives us a fresh start."
Hold up the clean sheet. Ask: "How is a new morning like this page?" (We get another chance. It is empty and ready.)
Say: "The year ahead is a clean page too. We do not know what will be on it. But God does, and He is faithful."
Point out three truths and have children repeat each one:
1. God's mercies are new every morning.
2. God is faithful, so we can trust Him.
3. God has good plans for us.
Gently connect to Jesus. Say: "God showed His greatest mercy by sending Jesus to forgive us and bring us close to Him."
Say: "Now let's learn our verse with motions."
Game: Sunrise Say-It (5 min)
Setup: Post the verse where everyone can see it. Children sit in a circle. This is a seated game, so no running.
Time: 5 minutes.
1. Teach motions together: "mercies" (hands over heart), "not consumed" (shake head no), "new every morning" (arms rise like the sun), "great is thy faithfulness" (arms wide).
2. Say the whole verse together twice with motions.
3. Cover or erase one phrase at a time. Say the verse again after each change, filling in from memory.
4. Pass a paper sun around the circle. Each child says the next phrase when they hold it. Helping is always allowed.
5. End with everyone saying the whole verse together.
Say: "Great job! Hold on to this verse all year."
Activity: Goal Stars (6 min)
Setup: Pre-cut one paper star per child. Put crayons on each table.
Time: 6 minutes.
Say: "A goal is something we want to grow in or try. We can make plans, and we ask God to guide us."
1. Share ideas: read my Bible more, be kind to a sibling, pray each day, help at home, try something new.
2. Each child writes or draws one goal on a star. Helpers can write for younger children.
3. On the back, they write or draw: "God, help me."
4. Pair up. Each child shares their goal in one sentence.
5. Collect the stars to use in the next activity.
Say: "Plans are good, but God is the one who leads us. We hold our goals and ask Him to help."
Say: "Next we will make a place to put our prayers."
Craft: Prayer Jar (8 min)
Setup: Teacher cuts paper strips and jar labels before class. Use plastic jars or paper cups only, no glass.
Safety: Teacher handles all scissors. Check for sensitivities to markers or tape. Supervise closely.
Time: 8 minutes.
1. Give each child a jar or cup and a label. Have them write "New Every Morning" on it and decorate it.
2. Tape the label onto the jar.
3. Give each child 3 to 5 paper strips. They write or draw prayers: thanks, worries, hopes for the year, or people to pray for.
4. Fold the strips and place them in the jar, along with the goal star.
5. Explain how to use it: each morning, pull out one strip, pray over it, and thank God for His faithfulness.
Say: "When we put our prayers in the jar, we are trusting God with our year."
Say: "Now let's talk about what we learned."
Talk Time: Trusting God (4 min)
Sit together and ask these questions. Let several children answer each one.
1. What does "new every morning" mean? (God gives mercy and a fresh start each day.)
2. Why can we trust God with the new year? (He is faithful and has good plans for us.)
3. How can your prayer jar help you this year? (It reminds me to pray and trust God each day.)
4. What is one way you can show thanks for God's mercy this week? (Forgive someone, be kind, say thank you to God.)
Say: "Thank you for sharing. God loves to hear from you."
Closing: Prayer and Blessing (4 min)
Gather everyone in a circle holding their prayer jars.
Say: "Let's thank God for His mercies and ask Him to lead us in this new year."
Pray together using these points, with children repeating each line:
1. Thank You, God, for new mornings and fresh starts.
2. Thank You for Your faithfulness and kindness.
3. Help us trust You with this year.
4. Help us grow in our goals and love You more.
End by saying the memory verse once more with motions.
Say: "Remember, God's mercies are new every morning. Take your jar home and use it every day!"
Materials
- KJV Bible
- Poster or whiteboard with the memory verse
- Pre-cut paper stars (one per child)
- Crayons or markers
- Paper strips (about 5 per child)
- Clean plastic jars or paper cups (one per child)
- Construction paper and tape for jar labels
- Safety scissors (teacher use for setup)
Teacher notes
- Safety: Teacher handles scissors. Use plastic jars or paper cups only, never glass. Check for sensitivities to markers or tape.
- Adaptation: Offer picture or drawing options for goals and prayers. Pair younger or struggling readers with a buddy. A quieter option is to color the jar label.
- Keep Jeremiah 29:11 in context: it was written to people far from home in Babylon. Present it as God's care and good plans, not a promise of a problem-free year.
- If time runs short, shorten the game to one round.
Send it home with parents
Today we learned that God's mercies are new every morning and that He is faithful. We looked at Jeremiah 29:11, where God speaks of His good plans, and trusted Him with the new year. Your child set one goal on a star and made a prayer jar.
- What does it mean that God's mercies are new every morning?
- What goal did you put on your star, and how can we pray for it?
Each evening this week, have each person pull one strip from the prayer jar. Pray over it together, then add a new prayer or thanks.
Each morning, say Lamentations 3:22-23 together and thank God for a fresh start.
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