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 4:11-12, 22-28
READ: Mallee Sky by Jodi Toering and Tanya Harricks for an Aussie view on disasters, https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/mallee-sky-by-jodi-toering-and-tannya-harricks-9781925381672 or get as an ebook https://www.amazon.com.au/Mallee-Sky-Kerry-McGinnis-ebook/dp/B00E3JK7Q6
Then reinforce the idea that God is there in good and bad, we just need to turn to Him
PLAY: Build something with blocks knock it down and build it again
Father God
You have the power to create or destroy
We have the power to love you or to turn away
Help us choose wisely
Amen
PSALM 14
Psalm 14: “There is no God”
“There is no God!” everyone says. (hands on hips)
“I can do what I like!” everyone thinks. (point to yourself)
“Who cares about God?” everyone asks. (flop your arms away from your body)
“I’m here for me, I don’t answer to anyone!” (point to yourself)
God looks for faith, will he find it anywhere? (shade your eyes)
God looks for care for the poor.(pretend to put your arm around the shoulder of a mate)
God looks for love, will he find it in me? (make a heart shape with your hands)
Words by Rev. Purdie http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-14-all-fall-short.html actions by me
How does the Psalm make you feel? Draw it or show it or point out the emotion from a set of emotional cards https://innovativeresources.org/resources/card-sets/bears-cards/ or the Bears App https://innovativeresources.org/resources/digital-applications/bears-app/
SECOND READING: 1 TIMOTHY 1:12-17
READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTupF7EsDxE Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertie as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-sunday-september-15-2013/
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.
SING/LISTEN: https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/gotta-wait/
PLAY: with any toys that transform from one thing to another.
GOSPEL READING LUKE 15:1-10
READ: Stories Jesus Told by Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen, The Lost Sheep. and The 10 Silver Coins https://www.koorong.com/product/stories-jesus-told-omnibus-edition-nick-butterworth-mick_1859855881?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.koorong.com%2F
or WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=094upaf4BME
COLOURING IN
THE LOST SHEEP http://www.bible-printables.com/Coloring-Pages/Jesus-Parables/P-19-The-Good-Shepherd-01.htm
PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN https://sermons4kids.com/lost_coin_colorpg.htm
PLAY: Let them play at being the shepherd, you might want some plastic sheep and some green material, or just a soft toy sheep to cuddle.
Let them play at searching for anything, you might like to hide something in the pew and ask your child to find it. This could be a book mark hidden in a pew book or a toy in your bag, or a sheep sitting on the pew.
REMEMBER: not to let them play with anything that might cause a chocking hazard.
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 