Passion Sunday 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. The ideal is to form alife long love of Christ and for the Word of God.

Today is Passion or Palm Sunday in LENT. It is also the beginning of Holy Week. The Liturgical colour is PURPLE. (Palm Sunday suggestions are on a seperate blog)

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:

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

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.

FIRST READING: Isaiah 50:4-9a

READ: Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

WATCH:

A Storypath suggestion.

DRAW: those times when you need God.

PRAY: Dear God

You are with us

Always

Thank you

Amen

PSALM 31:9-16

Psalm 31: My hiding place
 

Where can I hide?               (cover your eyes with your hands)
I cannot find anywhere that feels safe. (Look around you)
Everywhere there are traps set for me. (reach a hand out then pull it back quickly)
Everywhere people whisper about me. (cusp your hands around your mouth as if passing on a secret)
Be my safe place, O God. (cross your hands over your body)
Be my hiding space, my refuge, my shelter. ( crouch down small)
I put myself in your hands. (cup your hands in front of you)
Be strong! Fill your heart with courage! (make a muscle, then a heart with your hands)
Words by Rev. Purdie action by me.

How does this Psalm make you feel, make a face to show others, or draw how you feel, or point out an emoji that represents how you feel.

SECOND READING: Philippians 2:5-11

READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jknhdB8ZHI MAYBE GOD IS LIKE THAT TOO by Jennifer Grant as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-april-9-2017/

SING: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/the-word-of-god-vol-8/#

DRAW: What is God like?

SECOND READING: Philippians 2:5-11

READ: Louis 1, King of the sheep by Olivier Tallec

WATCH

A Storypath suggestion understand why?

Question: I wonder why Jesus didn’t act like Louis 1?

SING: No 4, Jesus Christ is Lord from the Word of God Volume 8 by Seeds Family Worship

GOSPEL READING 1: Luke 22: 14-23:56

and GOSPEL READING 2: LUKE 23:1-49

This is a massive reading, so I have broken it down into segments and made recommendations on what I see is the most appropriate Reading for our little ones. There is plenty here to keep you going right through this week and possible into Holy Week.  Mix it up with a bit of play or activity then return to the reading as appropriate. 

FOR Luke 22:14-23 READ The Last Supper pp.314-316 from The Whirl Storybook Bible

For Luke 22:32-71 READ: Jesus is Betrayed, pp.370-375 from the Spark Storybook Bible

FOR Luke 23:1-49 (this is also the 2nd Gospel READING) READ The Way of the Cross by Andrew MacDonough

WATCH

COLOUR-IN free colouring in sheet or purchase the Activity Book for many activiteis for all ages.

For Luke 23:26-56 READ Jesus is Crucified pp.322-325 in the Whirl Story Bible

 Note: Gospel Reading 2 is included in Gospel Reading 1

PLAY: These readings make a great opportunity for your child to play.

Set a table, let them remake the last supper with teddies and tea sets

Create a dark green hill with books under a green scarf or piece of material. Let them fight out the story with Ikea or lego people, find a rooster from a farm set,

Turn a traditional pew into a courtroom, Let the toys take on the rolls of Herod and Pilate, etc.

Icy pole sticks create good crosses, let them parade up to the hill (books covered in a light green cover)

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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