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: 11:1-18
READ: Who is my Neighbour by Amy-Hill-Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso https://www.amazon.com.au/Who-My-Neighbor-Amy-Jill-Levine-ebook/dp/B07NZ81MK8/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=Who+is+my+Neighbour&qid=1557820492&s=gateway&sr=8-5 available to purchase as a KInDle Book
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 (10 WEEKS IN)
PLAY: let them play with the food toys or tea sets, Who will they invite? Who would God invite?
PRAY:
God made a wonderful
Good Food
Good People
To share
Amen
PSALM 148
Psalm 148: Calling all creation!
Hey, you! Give praise to God! (make a motion with your hand as if you are calling someone over)
You angels in heaven, sing out glory. (Open your mouth wide as if to sing)
You stars, sun and moon, shine bright with praise! (hold your hands up and wiggle your fingers)
God dreamed you and called you and here you are! (stamp your feet)
You fish and whales and squid, sing praise in the deep. (place your palms together and wiggle your hands like a fishing darting here and there)
You elements of nature, fire, rain, wind, ( wiggling yours hands as you move them from your head to your waist)
cold and heat, stone and mountain – praise! (wrap your arms around your body as if keeping warm)
God dreamed you and called you and here you are! (stamp your feet)
You plants and forests, praise God as you flower and fruit. (place your hands together then open out your finger tips like a bud opening )
You mammals, insects, reptiles and birds – praise! (crawl you fingers up your other arm like a bug crawling)
God dreamed you and called you and here you are! (stamp your feet)
You people, Presidents and nobodies, rich and poor, (wiggle you pointer finger as if calling someone over)
women and men and girls and boys, (point your finger as if counting a lot of people)
in every corner of planet Earth, (make a circle with your fingers)
God dreamed you and called you and here you are! (stamp your feet)
So listen out for the Name that is above every Name, (cup your hand around your ear)
sing out with all the love and joy you can find (make a heart with your hands)
for all you are is made by God, (stand tall)
all you have is gift from God. (point to yourself)
Calling all creation – come and be found in praise! (clap your hands)
from http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-148-calling-all-creation.html actions by me
A lovely book to read/watch with this is When God made You by Matthew Paul Turner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spwy5Ig4sPw
DRAW: all the things that God made.
SECOND READING: Revelation 21:1-6
READ: The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones pp.346-347
OR The Beginner’s Bible p.507
OR My First Read-aloud Bible By Batchelor and Boshoff p.253
PLAY: Build with blocks, build a wonderful city and then how would the people behave in that wonderful city.
PRAY: As you place a block, pray a prayer of Hope for a future with God, you could name certain people or name certain things you want God to make new.
GOSPEL READING: John 13:31-35
READ: The Lion Storybook Bible, A New Commandment, p.205
PLAY: play with your toys. A great place to practice being a loving community.
DRAW: a love heart on a piece of paper and draw all the people you love in it.
PRAY: God you told us
To love (make a love heart)
Everyone.
Please help me (point to yourself)
To do that
Amen
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 