It seems that most of Australia is on the move this Season of Christmas. Some may visit churches other than their home church, some might zoom into services and others might take a break from formal worship. So I have stuctured these suggestions around infromal family faith formation experiences for those away from home or away from the usual structure.
If you are a small congregation who suddenly has children in your pews, these can also be used in your services, shared direct from this site or copied into your order of service.
Faith is portable, we live it, share it everyday. I hope these simple ideas help your family form their faith, no matter where you are.
We are in a new season the season of Christmas, it’s liturgical colour is WHITE (though some feel GOLD, is a better colour to be using).
For this day there are three sets of readings, Christmas 1, New Year’s Day and Holy Name of Jesus. You can find out which set of readings your congregation is using or if worshipping away from the congregation choose one or work through all three.
Find something white, create a cross from whatever is around you and light a candle as a centerpoint for your worship experience if away from a formal congregational meeting place (often known as a Church)
FIRST READING: Numbers 6:22-27
WRITE a Blessing of your own to use.
BLESSING Activities on p.7
PSALM 8
God, our living God,
you are amazing! (star jump)
You are higher than I can look, (Look Up)
You are wider than I can see. (hold your arms outside ways from your body)
But I can hear you – (cup your hand over your ears)
Listen!
We can hear you in the laughter of a little child, (big smile)
We can hear you in the babbling of a baby. (pretend to rock a baby in your arms)
You don’t need words to tell us of your power. (flex your muscles)
Why do you need us at all? (Shake your head)
We are so small, and the world is so big, (crouch down low)
the stars are so many and space is so enormous.(look up and around)
God, our living God,
you are amazing! (star jump)
You made everything. (look around you)
Why do I matter? (shake your head)
But we do matter! (point to yourself)
God cares for us most of all, (big smile)
and through us God cares for all the world. (pretend to stroke an animal)
You put everything into our care, (pretend to gather things close to you)
all the animals, all the birds, all the fish, (link your thumbs and pretend your hands and fingers are butterfly wings OR make your hand swim like a fish)
everything that creeps or flies or runs or swims, (creep 2 fingers up your arm)
even the land and the air and the sea. (pretend to make choppy waves with one hand)
It is all ours to look after. (gather things around you)
God, our living God,
you are amazing! (star jump)
Thanks again to Rev Purdie actions by me.
SING Dominion Item 6 on the Trust album from Seeds Family Worship
SECOND READING: Galations 4:4-7
READ Can I be your Dog by Troy Cummings
WATCH: by Troy Cummings
SING Totally God and Totally Man by Sovereign Grace Music
DO: Look at your family tree, where do you fit in? If you are adopted speak about your adoption and how you fit in.
OR
Phillipians 2:5-11
READ Maybe God is like that too, by Jennifer Grant
A Storypath suggestion
SING Totally God and Totally Man by Sovereign Grace Music
GOSPEL READING: Luke 2:15-21
READ: Whirl Storybook Bible
OR from the BIble for Kids App find the bubble with the Manger in it, then read or listen to pp 5-8
Question to Ponder How would you share good news?
PRAY
Help me to not be afraid
to share your Word God
Amen
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.
The Cross in My Backyard 