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: ACTS 5:27-32 WITNESS
READ: The Early Readers Bible pp.467-469
DRAW: Can you draw a picture that tells a story?
PLAY: with sequence cards or blocks to make up a story. You could use the bookmarks from The Lost sheep website to retell the resurrection of Jesus https://www.lostsheep.com.au/stories/mary-and-the-gardener/
PRAY:
Let me be your witness God
Amen
PSALM 118:14-29
READ/WATCH: I WILL REJOICE by Karen Wilson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmSUgxqOHAE
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.
SING: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/when-you-lie-down-lullabies-scripture-songs/# NUMBER 4
OR PSALM 150 PRAISE HIM
Psalm 150: Everything praise!
Have you heard? Our God is great! (spread out our arms up and away from your body)
Galaxies – spin with praise. (turn around in a circle)
People – dance and sing. (do a dance)
Play the music, louder, louder! (pretend to play an instrument or if you can make a noise pick up a musical instrument)
Trumpets, organ, cymbals, guitar. (pretend or actually play these instruments)
Creatures, everything that lives – (pretend to pat an animal)
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (spread out our arms up and away from your body)
Thanks again to http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-150-kiwi-praise.html actions by me
SHOW/FIND: a VERY happy face.
SECOND READING: REVELATION 1:4-8 Beginning and the End
READ The Jesus storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones read the second last page from “It was hard to squeeze ——-perfect home once again”
MAKE: fold a piece of ribbon or a paper strip into an infinite loop. Instead of joining the ends the same way up, join them up and down putting a twist into the paper or ribbon.
Let them draw a continual line around the loop to see what happens.
GOSPEL READING: JOHN 20:19-31 TALE OF DOUBTING THOMAS
READ: The Lion Picture Bible, He is alive.340-343
OR My First Read -a -loud Bible by Batchelor and Boshoff, pp. 230-231 Thomas Believes.
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)
DO: this is a great story to retell using their toys or by making a felt board using stiffened felt as the back board and cutting out characters from felt. So they can retell the story.
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 