WELCOME
These ideas can be used in a church setting as you parent in the pews or in your own home while connecting to a broadcast service or for your daily family devotions.
They are for use by parents, grandparents and carers and for small congregations who do not have a Child and Family Ministry.
You have found a page that uses easily found ideas to help you share the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) readings with children. Instead of sifting through many websites, facebook , pinterest, instagram, and blog posts; this is a one stop shop where I have done the sifting for you to find theologically and developmentally appropriate material for your congregation or family.
If worshipping at home. You may want to set up a space to bring out or keep up through Lent.
The colour of Lent is purple, not the same blue based purple as Advent but a red based purple.
Set up a candle, and what ever helps you focus on the season, it might be a cross, some sand (to symbolise the desert times of the people of God), or cactus plants, some rocks(to represent challenge) for example, or anything that inspires you from any Lent studies you or your family ae doing.
A Book that I would rcommend for sharing about Lent with Children is Make Room A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter by Laura Alary You can see an adaption of this book in a Godly Play method here
If able to worship in the Chruch buildings pack a special backpack, as well as filling it with your Covid Safe equipment, add the books or materials required to help your young ones relate to readings.
For adults and older students you might like to take a journal with which to record anything that grabs your attention during the service. Write a precis of the message (traditional or sensory word), draw or write a response in and keep a record of emotions.
You might like to start with the Lords prayer if at home, or either of these suggestions can be used when the Lord’s Prayer is said within a set service.
either IN ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w
Or if you are looking for a more contemplative version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NuUo-igXDU&fbclid=IwAR2FasYCU-9mP1PaLQDjweXyhyUnJutt4J28KycjzeUEttWSesipX2jmJxE
During the time of Prayers for the people Pray the five finger prayer:
FIRST READING:Numbers 21:4-9
READ: The Early Reader’s Bible pp.123-127
WATCH: from 1.40 to 2.30 only
DO: find those items that help remind us to include God in our lives
DRAW: some of them
PRAY:
God asked us to pray.
There are many ways to pray.
How do you prefer to pray?
Share it now.
PSALM: 107:1-3, 17-22
READ from The Beginner’s Holy Bible or
DRAW: Whatever stand out in this Psalm for you
SECOND READING: Ephesians 2:1-10
READ: The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds read why here
SING: Seeds Family Worship Seeds of Faith Vol.2 Number 2 Grace
OR Baa Baa Doo Baa Baa by Colin Buchanan Number 15
PRAY:
Use Praying in Colors by Sybil MacBeth read more here
GOSPEL READING: John 3:14-21
READ: GOD LOVES by Stephanie Carmichael
SING: Seeds Family Worship Seeds of Faith Vol 2 Number 7 John 3:16
MAKE: a love heart, draw or write all the people you love.
Turn it over, draw who God sent becasue God loved us?
Attach a thread or string or ribbon to the centre of V shape of the heart. hold the string in one hand and push the heart so it will twirl
Ask someone to shine a camera light onto the heart as it turns.
Blessings
Wendy L.
Please check local guidlines before using items that are not mine and acknowledge this page if you have found it useful, especially if you are using this page for congregational use.
The Cross in My Backyard 