If you are worshipping on line and are unsure what to do with the “little ears” worshipping with their parents, please feel free to make these suggestions during your service so the young ones too can participate.
This is also a great resource for parents/careers and grandparents to use with their little ones during online or face to face worship, or to use as family devotions during the week.
These resources are great for the very young, so that all ages can be engaged in worship.
If at home you might like to make a space for worship it can be permanent or bought out at times of sharing faith together. We are in the season of After Pentecost, the longest season, and it’s colour is green.
You might like to place a green tablecloth on the dinner table or coffee table, or a white one with green ribbons.
It needs be no more complicated than that.
You could add a cross, or something that talks to you about faith, such as your Bible,
you can even add a candle (with young children around I like to use the battery operated kind.)
START WITH: THE LORDS PRAYER IN ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w
Or slot it in when the congregation says The Lords Prayer, if you are in a face to face service, or zooming in from Home
FIRST READING: Exodus 3:1-15
READ: The Begonneres Bible, The Burning Bus, pp. 98-101
OR The Jesus Storybook Bible, God to the Rescue, pp.84
OR for the very young try, The 5 Minute Bible, or the Read aloud Bible, by Batchelor and Boshoff, Fire in the Bush, p. 42-43
CRAFT: https://www.dltk-kids.com/bible/moses_and_the_burning_bush_craft.htmhttps://www.dltk-kids.com/bible/moses_and_the_burning_bush_craft.htm
DO: What is in a Name: How many names does God have in the Bible?
What is your name? why were you called that?
PSALM 105: 1-6, 23-26, 45b
READ: https://psalmsforkids.com/psalm-105/
Do as the Psalm suggests and sing
SING:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVwlopsFTHMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVwlopsFTHM
SECOND READING: Romans 12:9-21
READ/WATCH: How Kind by Mary Murphy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujy5GLr5q1Ehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujy5GLr5q1E as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-september-3-2017/http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-september-3-2017/
SING: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/genuine-romans-129-10/https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/genuine-romans-129-10/
PLAY: play with your toys, show each of them kindness. Older children, might like being kind for an hour, or a day, to other family members.
PRAY:
Help me God,
To be kind to others
Even when I feel hurt
Amen
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 16:21-28
WATCH:
PLAY: play with your toys and practice being kind to them.
OLDER children might like to make a list of ways they can help others and what they can do. If they are allowed they can use the internet to search for ideas, or organisations that need help. Maybe it’s even closer to home! What are they overlooking in the everyday.
Prayer Burdens
Use rocks or draw rocks, or make wool rocks (by winding wook into a small ball) or makes rocks from coloured paper by srewing the paper into tight balls.
Now make a space, such as a timber bowl (anything that won’t be scatched or broken by the rocks).
Place a rock into the bowl for each difficult thing you have to do, homework, babysitting etc.
Then give Thanks for these things that you find difficult but which will help your family.
Amen
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 