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.
Sing or sway during the Hymns
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. Don’t throw these out when you leave the church. Keep them at home in a special box, and bring them out to remind your child what has been happening or use as future prayer points.
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 16:9-15 Lydia and Paul in Macedonia
READ: My First Read aloud Bible by Batchelor and pp.244-245
OR Brave Girls Bible Stories pp.178-181
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 (11WEEKS IN)
PLay: Can you reenact this story with your toys.
PSALM 67 Everyone Praise
God, our God, be good to us and bless us (hold your hands in prayer)
make your face to shine upon us (trace your face with your finger)
make your ways known in all the earth (hold your hands as if they were a book)
show your saving power in all the nations. (shield your eyes as if looking into a bright light
God, our God, has been good to us and blessed us (Hold your hands in prayer)
God is blessing us now and will keep on blessing. (point to an imaginary watch)
All you peoples – praise our God! (hold your hands out at about head level)
All you nations – be glad, sing for joy! (make a happy face)
For God rules with justice and peace ( point your finger)
and guides all the nations (hold your hand out with the palm up)
God brings forth goodness on the earth.
All you peoples – praise our God! (hold your hands out at about head level)
To the very ends of the earth – (look into the distance)
honour and rejoice in God! (look very happy)
Words from Rev. Purdie http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-67-all-you-peoples-praise.html actions boys me
How does this Psalm make you feel? Make a face, Happy or Sad?
SECOND READING: Revelation 21:10,22-22:5 New Heaven
READ: The Jesus Storybook Bible pp.246-247
DO: look at all the lights in your church, candles, windows, roof lights, etc, look at your phone light, show the sun and the moon, (don’t look directly at the sun. Now look at things that aren’t light, pews, books, people. Talk about how God can shine out of these things. Don’t expect them to understand this concept yet. This “game” is about starting to hear about Christian ideas and terms.
PRAY
Let your Light
shine out God
Amen
GOSPEL READING: John 14:23-29
READ/WATCH: Llama Llama misses Mama https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xB6i1ReuT8 as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-may-26-2019/ read the exploration to see why this is a good fit for this reading.
DRAW: Fold an A4 paper into thirds.
Draw a heart on the first third
Draw a Peace sign on the Second third
Draw a cross on the third third.
Let your child colour them in, or copy the shapes if they are closer to 3 years old.
PRAY
with your sheet from the above Draw suggestion.
Point to each drawing in turn
saying
Help my heart to be yours God
My we live in peace
With faith in you
Amen
OR John 5:1-9
Read/Watch: https://ministry-to-children.com/healing-at-the-pool/ Very long for this age group so you might want to watch the video in small time bites. You could stop the video at 4.30 minutes mark for the little ones. Perfect for mid-to senior primary school kids.
CRAFT: for 3.95US$ you can down load this craft from https://www.daniellesplace.com/html/bible-themes-bear-burdens.html#lesson
PLAY: act out the story using your toys.
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 