This is such a “spoilt for choice” Sunday as there are 3 sets of readings set down for this Sunday. Most services will stay within one of the themes – Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday or Annunciation of the the Lord, rather than choose from different reading sets.
My guess is that most churches with a children’s ministry will opt for Palm Sunday. But if you are visiting a congregation hopefully there will be enough ideas here to help your under 3 connect with whatever is on offer, where ever you are.
Things you may need
The early reader Bible https://www.word.com.au/The-Early-Readers-Bible/V-Gilbert-Beers-Terri-Steiger-Illustrator/9780310701392
The Beginners Bible Timeless Children’s stories THE BEGINNERS BIBLE TIMELESS CHILDREN’S STORIES https://www.koorong.com/search/product/the-beginners-bible-timeless-childrens-stories-beginners-bible/9780310750130.jhtml
Or the Beginners Bible for Toddlers https://www.koorong.com/search/product/the-beginners-bible-for-toddlers-kelly-pulley-illus/9781859857410.jhtml
Toy Donkey (toys r us)
play paper or Journal
Texta’s
Glue stick
felt
brown material
brown and green paper
dolls clothes
green crepe paper
paper plates
https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/illustrated-worship-resources/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-spring-2018 (The price you pay will get you 14 colouring in pages, that is 14 Sundays worth and I will possibly refer to them over the coming weeks. To reduce the cost further, you could share with other families or ask your church to purchase them for you. Note this is a USA publication so the season for them is Spring, and the price is in US$, so it will cost a little more and possible attract international transaction charges depending on whom your credit card is with)
PALM SUNDAY
OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 50:4-9a
DRAW: A face as this reading is read, start with the tongue, (v.4), ear(v.4b), cheeks(v.6), beard(v.6),
OR draw the face on a paper plate for something different.
PRAYER: The good God helps me. Amen
PSALM 118:1-2, 19-29
DRAW: How this psalm makes you feel. Draw a happy or sad face, inside a love heart.
PRAY: God’s Love (make a love heart with your hand)
Lasts forever (put your hands wide out from the body)
Thank you God
Amen
PLAY: with a favourite toy. Tell your child that God loves them to.
NEW TESTAMENT: PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
READ/WATCH: DR SUESS HORTON HEARS A WHO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgPcAxkxoio
Horton helps out without thinking about what people think of him.
ACTION: Bow down every time Jesus’s name is said during today’s worship.
GOSPEL MARK 11:1-11
READ: THE Early Readers Bible Jesus on a Donkey pp. 435-439
OR The Beginners Bible The True King p. 427-432 or The Beginners Bible for Toddlers The True King
OR the Lost sheep Dave the Donkey https://www.lostsheep.com.au/stories/dave-the-donkey-an-easter-story/
COLOURING-IN
https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/illustrated-worship-resources/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-spring-2018 (The price you pay will get you 14 colouring in pages, that is 14 Sundays worth and I will possibly refer to them over the coming weeks. To reduce the cost further, you could share with other families or ask your church to purchase them for you. Note this is a USA publication so the season for them is Spring, and the price is in US$, so it will cost a little more and possible attract international transaction charges depending on whom your credit card is with)
MAKE: A Simple palm leaf. You need A4 green paper, fold long ways, cut out an oval shape, tear or cut pieces out to give a palm shape.
CREATE: Recreate the scene
Option 1: Brown material, approximately 1 metre ( from Spotlight or Lincraft)
dolls clothes, smaller palm leaves then suggested above,(not too small we don’t want a swallowing hazard) cut from green felt.
(You will need to prepare these in advance)
Toy Donkey ( i bought a soft toy one from TOY’s R US)
Let them play
Option 2 Brown paper, clothes cut from paper, palm leaves cut from crepe paper. Glue with a Glue stick to make a picture.
Option 3 Stiff Brown Felt, coloured felt to make clothes, green felt to make palm leaves. (cut these out at home before going to church) The pieces will stick on the stiff felt and the picture remade as many times as liked. Take it home and let them continue playing with it all week.
OR JOHN 12:12-16
READ: The Lion Storybook Riding to Jerusalem
or Bible for Kids app https://www.bible.com/kids The donkey and the king
Activities as for Mark readings
MAKE: A Simple palm leaf. You need green paper, cut out an oval shape, tear or cut pieces out to give a palm shape.
CREATE: Recreate the scene
Option 1: Brown material, approximately 1 metre ( from Spotlight or Lincraft)
dolls clothes, smaller palm leaves then suggested above,(not too small we don’t want a swallowing hazard) cut from green felt.
(You will need to prepare these in advance)
Toy Donkey ( i found mine at Toy’s r US)
Let them play
Option 2 Brown paper, clothes cut from paper, palm leaves cut from crepe paper. Glue with a Glue stick to make a picture.
Option 3 Stiff Brown Felt, coloured felt to make clothes, green felt to make palm leaves. (cut these out at home before going to church) The pieces will stick on the stiff felt and the picture remade as many times as liked. Take it home and let them continue playing with it all week.
PASSION SUNDAY
Things you may need
The Lion Story Bible https://www.koorong.com/search/product/the-lion-story-bible-sophie-piper-ruth-rivers/9780745964003.jhtml
plain paper or Journal
TEXTAs
toys, people and animals
https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/lenten-2018-resources/products/psalms-coloring-pages-8-5×11 (This series has 9 colouring in pages, including a simplified version for younger hands. They cover the Psalms in the RCL until Easter Sunday. I do suggest you purchase them, just remember the price is in $US so will be slightly higher and may attract an international transaction fee. You might like to share this product with other families or ask your congregation to purchase it for you.)
OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 50:4-9a
Activities as for Palm Sunday
DRAW: A face as this reading is read, start with the tongue, (v.4), ear(v.4b), cheeks(v.6), beard(v.6),
OR draw the face on a paper plate for something different.
PRAYER: The good God helps me. Amen
PSALM 31:9-16
HOW DO YOU LOOK WHEN YOUR UPSET? make that face.
COLOURING-IN
https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/lenten-2018-resources/products/psalms-coloring-pages-8-5×11 (This series has 9 colouring in pages, including a simplified version for younger hands. They cover the Psalms in the RCL until Easter Sunday. I do suggest you purchase them, just remember the price is in $US so will be slightly higher and may attract an international transaction fee. You might like to share this product with other families or ask your congregation to purchase it for you.)
NEW TESTAMENT: PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
Activities the same as Palm Sunday
READ/WATCH: DR SUESS HORTON HEARS A WHO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgPcAxkxoio
Horton helps out without thinking about what people think of him.
ACTION: Bow down every time Jesus’s name is said during today’s worship.
GOSPEL READING: Mark 14:1-15:47
READ: The Lion Story Book pp. 204-216
also The lost sheep The Way of the cross https://www.lostsheep.com.au/stories/the-way-of-the-cross/
and/Or https://www.lostsheep.com.au/stories/peter-and-the-rooster/
PLAY Chose a section to play out, ie The last supper,
DRAW: Draw a part of the story you like.
OR Mark 15:1-39 (40-47)
READ: The lost sheep The Way of the cross https://www.lostsheep.com.au/stories/the-way-of-the-cross/
OR The Lion Story Book pp.211-216
Activities the same for the longer reading
PLAY Chose a section to play out, ie The last supper,
DRAW: Draw a part of the story you like.
look for ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD as a seperate post later today.
The Cross in My Backyard 