I love that you have made the effort to bring your child to church, that you will share the faith stories and experience the wonder of worship together. If you keep your mind open you may learn more than you share.
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.
Always have plain drawing paper, washable texta’s, the books that are suggested and the toys or craft suggested for this week
Remember to download the colouring sheets and check out the links before 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.
THE LORDS PRAYER IN ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w
FIRST READING: JEREMIAH 18:1-11
WATCH:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R00y8PWedYo a potter making a bowl.
PLAY: I usually don’t recommend using play doh in church as it is messy, but today is the perfect day to indulge them. My suggestion is that you bring it either home made or bought in a large shallow plastic (pba free of course) container. Or if your child is not allergic, you could bring it in a large beeswax cloth. The let them create.
PRAY:
Roll a small amount of play doh in your hand
God said he was the potter
and I am the clay.
Mould me God
to be what you want me to be
Amen
PSALM 139:1-6,13-18
READ: Snuggle Time Prayers by Glenys Nellist https://www.koorong.com/search/product/snuggle-time-prayers-glenys-nellist-cee-biscoe-illus/9780310749325.jhtml
OR God Knows all about me by Claire Page https://www.koorong.com/search/product/god-knows-all-about-me-claire-page/9781860249501.jhtml
OR Sorry God by Stephanie Carmichael https://www.koorong.com/search/product/sorry-god-books-for-little-ones-series-stephanie/9781925424058.jhtml
SING/LISTEN: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/when-you-lie-down-lullabies-scripture-songs/# number 3 Fearfully and Wonderfully made
OR https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/the-power-of-encouragement-vol-5/# Number 5 Wonderfully Made
COLOURING -IN: https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-fall-2019 Under the USA term of Fall 2019, there are 13 colouring in sheets for the next 13 weeks, which can be downloaded for US$10.
SECOND READING: PHILOMEN 1-21
READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLEo0IbYGJc Elephant in the Dark retold by Mina Javaherbin or try http://www.picturebooktheology.com/search?q=the+elephant+in+the+dark
DO: Draw a picture, then put it in an envelope address it to someone special or to yourself (you too are someone special). Put a stamp on the envelope, then on your way home from church post it in a post box
OR if you have older children, they can write a letter hen put it in an envelope address it to someone special or to yourself (you too are someone special). Put a stamp on the envelope, then on your way home from church post it in a post box
Or write an email
PRAY
Help me see (cover your eyes)
From your view God (uncover your eyes)
Amen
GOSPEL READING: LUKE 14:25-33
READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf59ZpfZGVQ Tip Toe Joe by Ginger Flogelsong Gibson as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-sunday-september-8-2013/
Do: What do you have to practice to get better at it, is it drawing, sharing, putting on your socks yourself, somersault, practice something that is hard to do.
OR you might like to make choices, ie do you want the blue or the pink pen, do you want the doll or the teddy, etc.
PRAY
Help me Lord,
to choose you
Amen
NOW THAT WAS FUN,
You are not finished even if the service has.
Now is the time to continue teaching your child beyond the walls of the church.
Use the craft or drawings during the week to talk about the service or the stories.
Use any of the readings during the week, at bedtime, as story time or during the day in play or prayer.
Enjoy sharing your faith with your child.
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 