Sorry for the delay in getting this too people in a timely manner this week unfortunately I got caught in a perfect energy draining storm of infection, electrical fire and outages. All the usual pressures that were behind the idea for this blog to be a space to quickly go to to grab information that might help your worship experience with littlies.
Whether you are able to make this weeks service, or have to sit this one out due to illness, or social distancing here are some ideas to help you share the Readings from the Revised Common Lectionary with your under 3’s, they are also easily adapted for older children or you can use Jillian’s https://feedmyfamilyblog.com/product/lent-2020-life-pack/ or Illustrated Ministry https://store.illustratedministry.com/collections/family-resources/products/lent-for-families-prayer or for your older children
Note that we have entered the season of Lent.
You can find some ideas here https://wordpress.com/post/thecrossinmybackyard.wordpress.com/910 as to where to sit and what to bring.
If worshipping at home these are some of the things you might want to “stockpile” (have in the home)
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
THE LORDS PRAYER IN ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w
FIRST READING: Exodus 17:1-7
READ: 5 Minute Bible Stories by Batchelor and Boshoff, God gives Water pp.52-53 OR My First Read-aloud Bible by Batchelor and Boshoff
COLOURING-IN: https://store.illustratedministry.com/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-spring-2020?variant=31284510392418 For about $20 Aus you can download enough colouring in sheets to last till Pentecost.
PLAY: Play out the story, using whatever you have on hand.
PSALMS 95
READ Snuggle Time Psalms by Glenys Nellist
OR Psalm 95: Come let us sing for joy
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord! (Dance)
Let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation! (make a megaphone with your hands)
Come, make a joyful noise! (hands in the air)
Come, bring all your “thank you”s ((bob your head)
For in God’s hand are the mountain tops (make a mountain with your hands)
and the ocean floors. (make waves with your hands)
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord! (Dance)
Let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation!(make a megaphone with your hands)
Come, bow down and worship (Bow)
Come, kneel and be humble (kneel)
For in God’s hand are all his people (cup your hands together)
we are his sheep and he is our Shepherd (be a sheep)
from http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-95-come-let-us-sing-for-joy.html
How does the Psalm 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: Romans 5:1-11
READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpGhq4hkYHc The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania Al Abdullah andKelly DiPucchio
SING/Listen: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/seeds-of-faith-vol-2/#
OR https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/our-help/
PRAY:Meditate: Turn on a Battery operated sit quietly enjoy God’s peace. (our little ones won’t sit long, and this is not an endurance test, set a timer , 10 seconds, 20 seconds, each time you try this make it just a little bit longer.
GOSPEL READING: John 4:5-42
READ: Love Letters from God Bible Stories for a Girl’s Heart By Glenys Nellist The Thirsty Girl, pp.20-21
OR Brave Girls Bible Stories, The Women at the Well, Living Water, pp.157-162
Both of these suggestions are for older children. I have found that Little ones will listen for a bit, then move away, but they will stay more engaged when older children are interested in a story.
SING/LISTEN: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/the-character-of-god-vol-7/#
Colouring-IN: https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/2884399/posts/8620 For a yearly subscription of $US25 to download
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 