If you are a parent or Guardian
Prepare a special church bag in advance each week so that you are ready for the rush on Sunday Morning.
Sit towards the front so they can see what is going on.
Read during the Bible readings,
Pray during the prayers,
Colour, Draw or Craft during the sermon.
Craft or drawing or play are for spiritual responses not for a perfectionist piece that can be shown off.
Remember that little ones will need their own space to move and wiggle,
You have bought your child to worship. Enjoy engaging them in it.
If you are a small congregation without a Child and Family Minister have an area available near the front for parents/guardians to worship with their children, and print off this information so that it is readily available or direct them to this site. Set up an area with books and toys in it that will enhance their spiritual experience. (Ie not just toys for “keeping them quiet”).Spiritual Delights or Toy Box tat! andMake the books appealing
If you would like these ideas as a PDF file sent to you each week, please contact me.
FIRST READING: Isaiah 43:16-21 DO A NEW THING
READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV7yp2MUr9c DEMOLITION BY SALLY SUTTON as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/tag/isaiah-4316-21/ then read/watch Construction by Sally Sutton. to see what replaces the old and how useful it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUL-uiQL2Tk
Most children in Australia’s major city will relate tooth’s idea of building something new as they see it around them everyday. So it’s easy to start the idea that God builds new us, for when they are developmentally ready for it.
PLAY: with blocks to build something new.
PRAY: God,
Help us become your new creation
(add blocks to this prayer by placing a block down and saying God please help ____(name the person) this week.
Amen
PSALM 126 JOY
Psalm 126: A Harvest of Joy
Remember feeling amazing! (Show how you feel when your happy)
Remember a time of celebration – (blow out a pretend candle)
that was the Lord God at work!
Laughter rang out, (pretend to laugh)
everyone was happy, (smile)
everyone laughed till they shook with joy! (big pretend belly laugh)
The Lord has done great things for us (hold hands out wide)
and we reply with shouts of joy! (jump and spread your arms and legs out)
Remember feeling sad? (make a sad face)
Remember tears running down your face –(rub your eyes as if your were crying)
God was with you then. (pretend to put your arm around a pretend friend)
Your pain planted seeds (double over holding stomach)
and your tears watered them. (catch the pretend tears from your eyes)
The seeds grew in the tender mercy of God (go from a small ball to stretch tall)
growing fruit of wisdom ( Hand someone a pretend fruit)
fruit of kindness. (give a pretend hug)
Gather the fruit, and celebrate (fling arms and legs out wide)
that all things work for good in God’s ways.
Those who go out weeping
shall come home rejoicing.
The Lord has done great things for us (hold hands out wide)
and we reply with shouts of joy! (jump and spread your arms and legs out)
by http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-126-a-harvest-of-joy.html actions by me
Draw: something from this psalm, it might be a small plant growing, or something that make s you happy, or anything else you want.
SECOND READING: Philippians 3:4b-14 BREAKING FROM THE PAST
This reading has similar themes to the FIRST READING. I suggest that you use those Books, activities and prayer here
GOSPEL READINGS: John 12:1-8 GIVING ABUNDANTLY
READ: My First Read-along Bible by Batchelor and Boshoff, Expensive Perfume, 204-205
OR The Beginner’s Bible A gift for Jesus pp.423-426
COLOURING-IN: https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-spring-2019 PURCHASE IS DOWNLOADABLE AND IS IN AMERICAN DOLLARS FOR 14 WEEKS (5 WEEKS IN)
SHARE: Make a bookmark, as simple or as wonderful as you like and hand to other people in the congregation. You might like to spray it with perfume to reinforce the story and add another dimension to the gift. So a physical, visual and smell experience. You can find a free colouring in one here https://www.illustratedchildrensministry.com/2017/ways-to-pray-with-kids/?fbclid=IwAR3VP7PIAsAk4AOA6l0d4i2pWFNoZZl-Zqq5QCbiLaSnUYGoEqqpT-D3CgE
OR share something to eat with others, ie blueberries, slices of cantaloupe etc.
The Cross in My Backyard 