HAPPY NEW YEAR
It’s the start of the Liturgical Year, and we are back to Year A in the three year cycle.
You might like to view https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPTWq1AsCao To explain the liturgical year.
Have a party at home to celebrate, bake a cake (or buy one), and put the first candle of Advent on the top.
My favourite New Year activity is to make a paper chain calendar.
You will need Purple(more towards the blue spectrum) or Deep Blue paper(p/b), white (w), black (b), red (r), green (g), gold (gd) and Purple (more towards the red spectrum) (p). coloured paper. For 2019/20 you will need to place the colours in the chain thus
4 chains in P/b Advent
2 chains in White Christmas
1 chain in White
6 chains in Green After Epiphany
1 chain in White
6 chains in P Lent
7 chains in white Easter
1 chain Red Pentecost
1 chain White
23 chains in Green After Pentecost
1 chain in white
Take your time to look around the church today to see the new colours and banners in the church,
This is Highfield Road Uniting Church with banners designed by Margaret Duncan.
Many congregations will use candles to count down to Christmas
Below you will find some ideas to help you share the Readings from the Revised Common Lectionary with your children.
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: Isaiah 2:1-5
READ/WATCH: CAN’T YOU SLEEP, LITTLE BEAR? by Martin Waddell as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-december-1-2019/ HINT: this is long, so break it down into smaller bits and wait till your child is ready to come back to read/watch it again.
PLAY: play with a dolls house or build your own house out of bricks
PRAY
You God,
guide my way
Amen
PSALM 122
Psalm 122: The Peace of Jerusalem
Jerusalem, O Jerusalem,
the home of the Lord, (Make a house with your hands)
the house of David, (Make a house with your hands)
the gates of Israel, (fold your hands across your body with finger tips touching the swing your arms open like a gate)
the Holy Land.
Jerusalem, O Jerusalem,
we pray for peace inside your walls, (make a peace sign)
peace between your peoples, (make a peace sign)
peace through your land. (make a peace sign)
We will seek your good (shield your eyes as if losing for something)
and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. (hold your hands in prayer)
Thanks again to http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-122-the-peace-of-jerusalem.html actions in italics from me
RESPONSE: When you think of your home how does it make you feel? Describe that feeling, or draw it, or point out what it feels like 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: Roman’s 13:11-14
READ/WATCH: Hey! Wake up! by Sandra Boynton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VLgGhipXtc as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/update-and-lectionary-links-sunday-december-1-2013/
MAKE: Use a paper plate, colour one side yellow, and the leave the other white. Flip it back and forth asking your child to show you what they do when the Sun is up and when the Moon is up.
Or make a candle. use a tube such as the inside of a cling wrap or aluminium foil roll, wrap it in purple paper, tuck in both ends. Fold up square about 15cm square of yellow cellophane, place at top of roll, to make a burning candle.
Play: with your toys, put them to sleep, then wake them up to play with you and the other toys.
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 24:36-44
Reread the story of Noah’s ark, try The Beginners Bible storybook or the Bible for Kids app two by two (third story in) https://bibleappforkids.com, or your favourite Bible story book.
Count in twos, two legs, two arms, two seats, etc
When getting ready this week talk about being ready to live God’s way everyday
PRAY
LIKE NOAH,
GOD
HELP ME TO BE READY
TO DO YOUR WILL
AMEN
THE SERVICE MIGHT BE FINISHED BUT
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.
You might like start watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPTWq1AsCao
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 