Don’t forget to point out the change of colour in the church (White), and that it is a start of a new season Easter.
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.
YES, given the significance of the day it is alright for them to eat a chocolate egg during the service if you want. Just make sure you have the Wet Wipes or Damp Flannel/Washer ready for the mess!!
FIRST READING: Acts 10:34-43 Theme: acceptance of all
WATCH/READ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho2teowtaXM Hurry up and Slow Down by Layn Marlow a suggestion by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-easter-sunday-april-5-2015/
Play: free play with favourite toys, perhaps use a play mat (such as this one from Ikea https://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/categories/departments/childrens_ikea/tools/coch/roomset/20182_coch03a/ ) To create community play. Or a dolls house.
PRAY: Entwine your fingers
God help us all to come together
Amen
OR Isaiah 65:17-25
READ/WATCH: https://www.amazon.com.au/Peace-Wendy-Anderson-Halperin-ebook/dp/B0088PDJSY Peace by Wendy Anderson Halperin available as both an ebook or Hardcover. as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-april-21-2019/
PLAY: Build with blocks something new.
PSALM 118:1-2,14-24
Psalm 118: Pointing to the risen Lord
(Read Acts 4)
This is the day that the Lord has made
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
The Lord is my energy and my strength
He has become my salvation!
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the corner stone,
the foundation on which everything is built.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
His steadfast love goes on forever!
by http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-118-pointing-to-the-risen-lord.html
PLAY: The full version has such beautiful imagery and metaphor, let them build something with blocks. Ask them how they built it? where is the door, the windows? Are they happy with what they have built. Let them know that God is our base, and it make’s us happy.
OR WATCH/READ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmSUgxqOHAE I will rejoice by Karma Wilson
DRAW: Anything that makes you happy.
COLOURING-IN:
https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/lent/products/psalms-coloring-posters?variant=5702410895392 You may have bought this series last year so check your download folder.
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26
READ/WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niwHUvDf7Z4 Can I play Too by Mo Willems a suggestion by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-april-21-2019/
PLAY: with blocks to build something new.
OR Acts 10:34-43
WATCH/READ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho2teowtaXM Hurry up and Slow Down by Layn Marlow a suggestion by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-easter-sunday-april-5-2015/
PLAY: free play with favourite toys, perhaps use a play mat (such as this one from Ikea https://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/categories/departments/childrens_ikea/tools/coch/roomset/20182_coch03a/ ) To create community play. Or a dolls house.
PRAY: Entwine your fingers
God help us all to come together
Amen
GOSPEL READING: John 20:1-18
READ/WATCH: https://www.lostsheep.com.au/stories/mary-and-the-gardener/ You can also buy the book for continued reading.
ACTIVITIES: Download the free bookmarks (great for retelling the story) and colouring in sheet or if could buy the Activity pack and have enough activities for the whole family for all ages.
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 (7 WEEKS IN)
OR Luke 24:1-12
The Luke reading does not have Mary’s encounter with Jesus in the garden.
READ: The Beginner’s Bible pp.456-457
Colouring-IN: http://www.thebeginnersbible.com//includes/files/base/documents/bb-Coloring-jesusIsRisen.pdf
CRAFT: You might like to make an Easter garden with the empty tomb https://lettheirlightshine.com/2016/01/07/easter-with-toddlers/ OR save this for making at home.
For more ideas check out last years blog, as many of the readings are the same Easter Sunday: Suggestions to help the 3’s and under connect with the RCL readings
HE has Risen Indeed
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 