How wonderful that you have bought your young child to church, don’t waste this opportunity to share the faith stories and experience the wonder of worship.
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 9:1-6 (7-20) The Conversion of Saul
READ: The Beginner’s Bible, A Changed Man, pp.488-493
OR The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones pp. 337-338
OR My first Read aLoud Bible by Batchelor and Boshoff, Jesus speaks to Paul, pp.240-241
COLOURING -IN https://ministry-to-children.com/pauls-conversion-sequenced-coloring-page/
PLAY: use your toys to retell the story of Saul meeting Christ and being helped by Ananias.
PSALM 30
Psalm 30: Joy in the morning
The night was dark, but joy came with the morning.
I was so sick I thought I would die,
but you healed me, you helped me, you saved me!
You turned my sadness into dancing!
You took off my weeping and dressed me in joy!
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.
from http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-30-joy-in-the-morning.html
How does this Psalm make you feel? or use https://e2epublishing.info/posters/ (scroll down a long way to find them)
SECOND READING: Revelation 5:11-14
READ: The Jesus Storybook Bible By Sally Lloyd-Jones pp.344-345 the 2 middle paragraphs.
SING a song, sing it softly if you are going to affect others nearby.
DRAW: a wonderful place that makes you feel so happy you want to sing.
POINT OUT all the times you will sing during the service.
The image of the lamb is used in this passage, you might want to have a toy lamb with you to play with. Explain that it is one of the images we use for Christ. ( your child will not understand now but in time this will start to make sense to them, especially as the imagery reoccurs during the church year.)
GOSPEL READING: John 21:1-19 The third sighting after the resurrection.
READ: Peter and the Big Breakfast by https://www.lostsheep.com.au/stories/peter-and-the-big-breakfast/
OR The Beginner’s Bible, A net full of fish pp. 462-465
DO: You might like to purchase the downloadable activity book that goes along with the Lost Sheep story Peter and the Big Breakfast.
OR Print off the freebie bookmarks and use them to retell the story.
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 (8 WEEKS IN)
CRAFT: make a three dimensional picture of the fishing boat and net
You will need 1 paper plate
2 different blue colours of paper, cut one larger than the other in a wave shape
I small bamboo serving basket https://www.partysavers.com.au/products/wooden-boats-14cm-50pk?variant=12164402249842&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh6XmBRDRARIsAKNInDGJK0wc0iRXqSVlE4iWlDqdHVrTA5Hbv3Ae_aUpok1yU2gzn5mc0T0aAkbZEALw_wcB
1 fruit net, Usually found around lemons or limes
Glue, paper as waves onto paper plate, glue the bamboo serving basket in the middle of the plate.
Cut out and colour in simple fish shapes, then place them in the “net”
You could even make peg people/disciples to your 3 D picture if you want to.
(sorry at present my camera is not working so no picture – send me pictures of your wonderful creations)
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 