(Fold the patterns accordion-style along the dotted lines with printed side facing you).  Jesus was teaching near a town called Bethsaida and about five thousand men, as well as women and children were listening to Him.  Jesus saw that it was getting late and the sun was starting to set.  Soon it would be supper time and He knew the people were getting hungry.

(Start to cut out the loaves and fishes).  "We need to give these people something to eat," said Jesus.  "Where can we buy food for all these people?" asked Philip, "We don't have enough money to buy food for everybody.  It would take seven month's wages to pay for enough food!"  Andrew then spoke up, "Here's a little boy who has brought five loaves of bread and two fish with him.  But that's not enough food for even two of these people!"

(Continue cutting the figures).  Imagine trying to feed more than five thousand people with only five little loaves and two small fishes.   They wouldn't even get one crumb each!

Children, how many loaves and fish do you think it would take to feed five thousand people? (Let the children respond).  In those days they only made small loaves, and after all, the boy was going to eat all the five loaves and two fish himself.   And I think that some of you would eat at least three times as much!  Well, I think it would take at least twenty five thousand small loaves and about ten thousand fishes.  And that's a whole lot of food.  It would feed one of the girls for nearly thirty five years!

(Unfold figures and show the five loaves and two fish).  The boy willingly gave his supper to Jesus.  Jesus then asked His disciples to get all the people to sit down in groups of fifty.  Then He thanked God for the food, and the disciples began handing out the bread and fish to the people.  Peter could not believe it as he looked down at a loaf and fish in his basket, and saw them begin to multiply into two, then four, then eight, then sixteen!  How would you feel if you saw this happening? (Let the children respond).

Peter's eyes grew as big as saucers as he watched his few loaves and fishes multiply into a huge pile of food!  "Quick," he said to the nearest person, "Take some before it falls onto the ground! (Unfold figures and show the many loaves and fishes).  Peter got all excited and shouted to the other disciples, "Hey, come and help me, I can't hold all this food, it's multiplying too fast for me to carry!"

The disciples had the same problem and ran to each group of fifty people and quickly dropped off dozens of loaves and fishes, and then ran on to the next group before their baskets began to overflow again!

(Start to cut out the baskets).  At last, it was the disciple's turn and there were still heaps of bread and fishes left for them to eat.   "What a feast," Philip murmured, as he burped loudly and rubbed his overfull stomach, "I have never seen so much food in all my life!"  I'm sure that John teased him and said, "Well, look what can be done with less than a day's wages, and you thought it would take seven month's wages to feed all these people!"  Philip gave a sheepish grin, "I never thought the Master could do something like this.  It's been a tremendous miracle!"

(Unfold and show the baskets).  When all the people were finished eating, the Disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.  I am sure that as they went to sleep that night they must have been thinking that they had such little faith.  But, what a marvellous Friend Jesus was, He did miracles and provided their every need!

I'm certain that that little boy must have run home shouting, "Hey, mom!   Remember those five loaves and two fishes you gave me?  Well, I've just seen a man feed thousands and thousands of people with them!"  I wonder what his mother replied?

And for us, Jesus is still the same and He can still do miracles in our lives.  We only need to believe and reach out to Him in prayer and then trust Him to meet your need.  Perhaps you need a miracle in your life today.  Why not ask Jesus for it right now.

Put your faith and trust in Jesus that He not only will hear your prayer, but that He is pleased to answer it as well.

God bless!