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.
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.
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 need be no more complicated than that!
OR 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 16:2-15
READ: The Jesus Storybook Bible p.100-101
OR The Beginner’s Bible pp.116-118
OR For the very young My First Read-a loud Bible OR the 5-minute Bible by Batchelor and Boshoff, pp.50-51
SHARE a meal together, or make a special afternoon tea. Young Children may play with your toys give them a picnic or afternoon tea. When we eat together what else do we share?
Love some of these ideas. Some might work for your family https://sermons4kids.com/dinner_on_the_ground_group_activities.htm
PSALM 105:1-6, 37-45
READ:
Print out the verses from the Psalm
For chidlren that can read: Remove the verse numbers and then try to reconstruct the verses in order
How does this Psalm make you feel.
How might the Isrealists have felt.
Describe those feelings, Show how these feelings look like in your body 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: Phiippians 1:21-30
READ/WATCH: The Fire Cat by Esther Holden Averill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjQk2EYwgd0 as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-sunday-september-18-2011/
PLAY with your toys, practice being caring of others. If you have a “playmat” like these ones https://www.scattermats.com.au/products/childrens-kids-rugs/car-street-rugs-road-rugs.html
PRAY
May I always remember
To care about others
Like you would
Amen
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 20:1-16
WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0craw4O3S48&fbclid=IwAR1NlOto2uvOWcCrUQhUQpzLmH2Vr4MQSQSDGt5ABMpt-h5pO6Jn1q8EKSo
COLOURING-IN: I have always recommended Illustrated Ministry’s work, though I prefer free stuff, I have found their work very reflective of how I find meaning in the passages, but more importantly I have noticed that chidlren of all ages love them and find meaning in them. Their FALL season starts today and will give you a colouring in sheet each week until the end of November. It is $US19 for the quarter, and if you have kids that love colouring in it is money well spent COLOURING-IN https://store.illustratedministry.com/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-fall-2020?variant=31882216570978
PRAY
find some play money or real money
As you place a coin on the table, no matter how much money it is name someone and say
God, values us all tthe same
I am as valuable as (use the persons name)
(Then name that person again) is as valuable as me
to you God
Amen
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 