These are suggestions only to help parents/caregivers engage their children in services that use the Revised Common Lectionary. They can be used by parents/caregivers or those who help out in small congregations that can not afford to pay Child and Families Ministry. Some congregations use all 4 readings in their services others only two. Prepare a special church bag in advance each week so that you are ready for the rush on Sunday Morning.
Read during the Bible readings,
Pray during the prayers,
Colour, Draw or Craft during the sermon.
Remember that little ones will need their own space to move and wiggle,
Sit towards the front so they can see what is going on. Craft or drawing or play are for spiritual responses not for a perfectionist piece that can be shown off.
Remember you have bought your child to worship. Enjoy engaging them in it.
You might need to prepare these in advance, and place them in a special Church Bag ready to go for Sunday Morning.
https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-summer-2018 Will get you 14 colouring in pages, that is 14 Sundays worth and I will refer to them over the coming weeks.
The Lion Picture Bible https://www.koorong.com/search/product/the-lion-picture-bible-sarah-dodd/9780745963037.jhtml
Snuggle time Psalms https://www.koorong.com/search/product/snuggle-time-psalms-glenys-nellist-cee-biscoe-illus/9780310749257.jhtml
Texta’s
Toys for dressing, dolls or teddies
oR https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/printable-paper-dolls-1253081
Building Blocks
http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com
FIRST READING: 1 Kings 8: (1.6.10-11) 22-30,41-43
READ: The Lion Picture Bible p.147
DO: Using the Here is the Church poem with hand actions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdIYPjak9H0
Here is the church
here is the steeple
open the doors and
here are the people
add God’s too big to be in there
We find God everywhere
PLAY: What building would you make to honour God? Use blocks to construct something?
PSALM 84:
Snuggle time Psalms
COLOURING-IN: https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-summer-2018
SECOND READING: Ephesians 6: 10-20
WATCH/READ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEo5fNirYGQ
PLAY: Dressing dolls or teddies, (MAKE sure that these items are not small enough to be swallowed )
OR you could do one of the wooden dress puzzles https://www.kidstuff.com.au/bello-puzzle-what-to-wear-bear/
OR make your own paper doll or felt doll set. You can be creative or use a template like this https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/printable-paper-dolls-1253081
If making out of paper I suggest the thickest gage paper that will go through your printer try https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/colour-copy-a4-digital-paper-160gsm-250-sheet-pack-sp108828r
Then use it as a Colouring in activity.
PRAY:
God, I put a hat on my head (point to your head)
to keep the sun off it (put your hands over your head like a hat)
I put a raincoat on (pretend to put a raincoat on)
To keep the rain off me (hold your hands above your head and wiggle your fingers down your body)
God is all around (hold your arms out wide from your body)
Like a cloak (pull your arms around you like a cloak – maybe a superhero’s cloak)
God covers me.
Amen
GOSPEL: John 6:56-69
WATCH/READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td2RgD5eNOQ Bread Bread Bread by Ann Morris
For me this reading is about choice.
PLAY: Choose between anything, teddy and doggy, mummy or daddy, etc, if in the older bracket play the card game Snap, or use last weeks
PLAY: http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com a good memory game but requires a little preparation before the service.
PRAY:
Like the disciples
help me to choose
who I stand for
and stand with.
Amen
The Cross in My Backyard 