Lent 1 C: Revised Common Lectionary ideas to involve even the youngest.

WELCOME: Everyone is welcome here.

While designed to be used during a Sunday service at church or by zoom, these readings can also be used during the week to help you remember and build on what you experienced on Sundays. My objective is for faith to be a lived experience and for children to learn how to worship and explore the Bible and pray by participating in Worship. The goal here is not for them to learn names or facts though they may want to do that for themselves, but rather to find ways of connecting with the text and sharing that with others.

Today is the FIRST Sunday in LENT. The Liturgical colour is PURPLE. Here is an article that might help you explain the season of Lent to your children

If you are worshipping from home you may like to set up a worship area

You can do this by setting up a candle, then add the things that remind YOU of God, a Cross, a Bible that everyone likes to read from, a special object, even something from one of the readings.

If able to worship in the Church 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 today’s readings.

For adults and older students, you might like to use a journal with which to record anything that grabs your attention during the service. This could be a special, bound book or use your ipad or iphone. You could write a precis of the message (traditional words or pictures), draw, keep a record of emotions and hymns that you did or did not like. You could use a template like this free download. Remember, this is for you, you do not have to show anyone what is in it unless you want to, and you feel safe to do so.

CONGREGATIONAL USE: Though parents are the best at sharing their faith with their children. If you are a small congregation where children are a very small, or rare part of your congregational life, please feel free to make these suggestions available to your congregation. I am very happy for you to copy and paste ideas from here into your own Order of Service or for you to supply a link to this page. An acknoledgement though is always appreciated.

LET’S BEGIN:

LISTEN Lent 1 Refuse the Bait, on Lent by Liturgical Folk

Light or turn on 6 Candles (one for each Sunday in Lent) Blow out (or turn off) one Candle

PRAY

Into this season of Lent (pretend to Walk)

I go (point to yourself)

Life has it’s seasons (draw a circle in the air)

It’s Joys and (happy face)

It’s sadnesses (sad face)

You go before me (point your arms ahead)

You are there after me (look behind)

Amen

THE LORD’S PRAYER:

You might like to start with the Lord’s Prayer if at home, or say the Lord’s Prayer within a set place if following along in a service. Here are 4 options

2 with ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w

A more contemplative version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NuUo-igXDU&fbclid=IwAR2FasYCU-9mP1PaLQDjweXyhyUnJutt4J28KycjzeUEttWSesipX2jmJxE

Or for a more Intergenerational approach try Number 1 on the Table Settings album by Liturgical Folks

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY

If you are in Australia and attending a Uniting Church in Australia, in many cases an Acknowledgment of Country will be said. You can teach your young ones to do this too.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: PRAY: Use heart shaped post-it notes and as you write a person or an activity you can do out of love, pray for the activity or person. (you might like to place your post-it notes in a heart shape as you pray) also a suggestion as a First Reading Activity.

FIRST READING: DEUTERONOMY 26:1-11

WATCH:

READ: Love by Matt de la Pena

A suggestion by Storypath

PLAY: make a card, include a love heart on the front and make it for someone you know who might need a little extra love at the moment

OR decide what you can you do this Lent to help others. Just to get you started here are 3 suggestions, collecting money for refugees or food donations, helping a neighbour, writing a letter to a member of Parliment about Climate change just to

PRAY: Use heart shaped post-it notes and as you write a person or an activity you can do out of love, pray for the activity or person. (you might like to place your post-it notes in a heart shape as you pray)

.

PSALM 91:1-2, 9-16.

READ: Psalm 91: The Trust Psalm

Trust! Trust in God!
God is our shelter, (make a tent with your hands)
we are safe in his shadow.
God is our refuge, (put your tent shape above your head)
we are protected in his power.
God is like a mother bird and we are like chicks, (flap your arm like a chicken)
tucked warm under her wing.
God is our shield and our armor (hold your arm across your body as if holding a shield)
nothing can strike us down.
God is with us all the way
our guard and our guide. (point your finger as if showing someone something)
You may trip on a stone
but angels will catch you. (hold your arms out as if to catch something)
So don’t be afraid of snakes and spiders, (wiggle your hand up your arm)
don’t be afraid of evil attack.
In God’s love we are safe, no matter what. (make a love heart with your hands)
In God’s strength we are saved!

words from http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-91-an-invitation-to-deeper-prayer.html actions by me

SING No. 18 Psalm 91:14-16 on Boom Chick Boom by Colin Buchanan

SECOND READING: ROMANS 10:8b-13

READ

WATCH

READ: A book of Friends by Dave Ross

A Storypath suggestion

DO: share, share stickers or a bookmark (some of the Lost sheet books have free bookmarks to collect and colour at the end of the books print some off and have your child colour them in then share them with those around you or at church https://www.lostsheep.com.au/stories/jesus-and-the-storm/

OR make a love heart card that says I love God and I love you to give to members of the congregation.

GOSPEL READING: Luke 4:1-13

WATCH

READ: Jesus in the Desert, pp.70-71 in Children of God Storybook Bible By Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Make a desert. Make it three dimensional, use yellow or red material if you don’t have sand or make it two dimensional with felt pieces or make a picture using coloured paper or felt. Use rocks, plastic snake, plants etc.

PRAY:

Like Jesus

Help me trust you always.

Amen

SENDING HYMN Tell the World by Hillsong Kids Learn the actions here

Blessings

Wendy L.

Please check local guidlines before using items that are not mine especially if you are using this page for congregational use. Please acknowedge this page if you find it useful. Thank you.

I am writing this on Wurundjeri land and wish to pay respect to all Elders, past, present and emerging.

I have qualifications in Education, Theology and Children’s Spirituality, and have worked as a Children and Families Worker in a city church. I use simple and easily found ideas to help you share the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) readings. 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 saving you time from sifting through many websites, facebook , pinterest, instagram, and blog posts.

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