Welcome. Each week I compile a number of resources to help you, your family or your congregation contemplate the RCL readings. 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, explore the Bible and pray by participating in Worship with others. The goal here is not for them to learn names or facts, though they may want to do that for themselves, but rather find ways of connecting with the text and sharing that with others. The ideal, is to form a life long love of Christ, for the Word of God and to participate in Worship.
Faith is portable, we live it, and share it, every day. I hope these simple ideas help your family or congregation form their faith.
If you are a small congregation that 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. Create an area as close as possible to where the major liturgies of the service occur, for parents/guardians to worship with their children fill this area with books and toys in it that will enhance their spiritual experience. (Ie not just toys for “keeping them quiet”). You will find some ideas in these posts Spiritual Delights or Toy Box tat! andMake the books appealing
We are approaching the end of the Season of After Epiphany and the liturgical colour is GREEN.
If you are worshipping away from a Church it might help to create a centrepoint for your worship time. To do this you might like to find something green (the liturgical colour), create a cross from whatever is around you, and light a candle, you can add anything else that speaks to you about God from the readings or from your week with God.
If worshiping 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, and 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.
You might like to introduce THE LORDS PRAYER IN ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w
FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
READ: The Magic Word by Mac Barnettas
WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRiyWntDEdA
Suggested by Storypath, http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-february-16-2020/
ACTIVITIES:Help your child choose, between a choice of 2 texta’s, between 2 biscuits or pieces of fruit, between 2 toys et. Others might like to think about or share the difficulties they might have making decisions.
PRAY
Lord help me to choose well,
Help me to choose you.
Amen (one clap)
PSALM 119:1-8
Great blessings belong to those who live pure lives!
They follow the Lord’s teachings. (walk you fingers up your arm)
2 Great blessings belong to those who follow his rules!
They seek him with all their heart. (make a love heart with your fingers)
3 They don’t do wrong.
They follow his ways. (walk your fingers up your arms)
4 Lord, you gave us your instructions
and told us to always obey them. (waggle your pointing finger)
5 How I wish I could be more faithful
in obeying your laws!(Look sad)
6 Then I would never feel ashamed
when I look closely at your commands. (smile)
7 The more I understand how fair your laws are,
the more sincerely I will praise you.(put your arms out high)
8 I will obey your laws,
so please don’t leave me! (put your arm out as if putting your arm around a friend)
Draw it or show it or point out an emoji that represents how this Psalm makes you feel
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
READ: CITY GREEN by by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-bABEjMMy4
a Storypath suggestion by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-february-16-2020/
MAKE: Make a garden, A 3D representation using A4 heavy paper, use patty pans as flowers, colour in or paste green paper straws or paper strips as stems and leaves, colour in the sky and grass.
OR grow your own garden plant some small plants or seeds to take home, use terracotta pots to place them in, or start a new garden in the church grounds.
Or look at Roots rootsontheweb.com/epiphany-reflections?fbclid=IwAR2qX637E-TzXwkiFVlFksx6w8uAsE5RZQfwaT4Z8X2-49szd6I5WbUKJR4
For Mandala ideas to go with this reading p 7.
PRAY
May be God,
you have chosen me to water,
or to tend,
Please help me to do it all for you
Amen
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 5:21-37
Do: I suggest you draw what it feels like to forgive. To say sorry for something you have done that has hurt someone. did you poke the baby or did you walk away form grandma? This reading asks us to do, not follow rules or read so instead of reading a lot of words I suggest doing this.
You might also like to use the feeling exercise I regularly use with a Psalm. How does this reading make you feel? Draw it or show it on your face or find an emoji that shows how you feel.
Question: How does it make you feel when someone says sorry to you?
FORGIVENESS PRAYER
Pray for those who you have deliberately or unintentionally hurt?
Don’t forget to include yourself.
Blessings
Wendy L.
Please check local guidelines before using items that are not mine especially if you are using this page for congregational use. Please acknowledge this page if you find it useful. Thank you.
I am currently away from Australia, but when home I am writing this on Wurundjeri land and wish to pay respect to all Elders, past, present, and emerging.
The Cross in My Backyard 