WELCOME: Everyone is welcome here.
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.
Light or turn on 6 Candles (one for each Sunday in Lent) Blow out (or turn off) 5 Candles
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
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.
FIRST READING: Isaiah 43:16-21
READ: Beyond the Pond By Joseph Kuefler
A suggestion by Storypath
RECYCLE: make something from rubbish? Or make a new item out of an old t-shirt or other item of clothing, eg a sock puppet.
PRAY: Download and print this sheet of blocks and write the names of someone you want to pray for on each brick, as you pray for that person.
PSALM 126
Psalm 126: A Harvest of Joy
Remember feeling amazing! (Show how you feel when your happy)
Remember a time of celebration – (blow out a pretend candle)
that was the Lord God at work!
Laughter rang out, (pretend to laugh)
everyone was happy, (smile)
everyone laughed till they shook with joy! (big pretend belly laugh)
The Lord has done great things for us (hold hands out wide)
and we reply with shouts of joy! (jump and spread your arms and legs out)
Remember feeling sad? (make a sad face)
Remember tears running down your face –(rub your eyes as if your were crying)
God was with you then. (pretend to put your arm around a pretend friend)
Your pain planted seeds (double over holding stomach)
and your tears watered them. (catch the pretend tears from your eyes)
The seeds grew in the tender mercy of God (go from a small ball to stretch tall)
growing fruit of wisdom ( Hand someone a pretend fruit)
fruit of kindness. (give a pretend hug)
Gather the fruit, and celebrate (fling arms and legs out wide)
that all things work for good in God’s ways.
Those who go out weeping
shall come home rejoicing.
The Lord has done great things for us (hold hands out wide)
and we reply with shouts of joy! (jump and spread your arms and legs out)
words by Rev Purdie actions by me
SHOW: How does this psalm make you feel, act it out, choose and emoji shows how you feel, or draw it.
SECOND READING: Philippians 3:4b-14
READ: Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera
A Storypath Suggestion
DRAW or MAKE something wonderful. When finished see if there is anything you can do to make it even more wonderful?
SING Nothing Better Than Jesus on Soverign Grace Music album To be like Jesus
PRAY
Dear God
I love (name the things you love)
but nothing is
better than You
Amen
GOSPEL READING: John 12:1-8
READ: The Whirl Story Bible, Mary anoints Jesus, pp.302-305
DRAW: something that is really important to you? Could you give it away? If you ever did whom would you give it too?
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.
The Cross in My Backyard 