I hope you and your children enjoy spending time together in Church this week.
Here are some ideas to help you share the Readings from the Revised Common Lectionary with your children.
If you are a parent or Guardian
Prepare a special church bag in advance each week so that you are ready for the rush on Sunday Morning.
Always have plain drawing paper, washable TEXTA’S , the books that are suggested and the toys or craft suggested for this week
Remember to download the colouring sheets and check out the links before Sunday morning.
Sit towards the front so they can see what is going on.
Sing or sway during the Hymns
Read during the Bible readings,
Pray during the prayers,
Colour, Draw or Craft during the sermon.
Craft or drawing or play are for spiritual responses not for a perfectionist piece
that can be shown off. Don’t throw these out when you leave the church. Keep them at home in a special box, and bring them out to remind your child what has been happening or use as future prayer points.
Remember that little ones will need their own space to move and wiggle,
You have bought your child to worship. Enjoy engaging them in it.
If you are a small congregation without a Child and Family Minister have an area available near the front for parents/guardians to worship with their children, and print off this information so that it is readily available or direct them to this site. Set up an area with books and toys in it that will enhance their spiritual experience. (Ie not just toys for “keeping them quiet”).Spiritual Delights or Toy Box tat! andMake the books appealing
If you would like these ideas as a PDF file sent to you each week, please contact me.
THE LORDS PRAYER IN ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w
FIRST READING: JOEL 2: 23-32
READ: Mallee Sky by Jodi Toering and Tanya Harricks https://www.readings.com.au/products/26139045/mallee-sky
DO:Draw it or show it or point out the emotion from a set of emotional cards https://innovativeresources.org/resources/card-sets/bears-cards/ or the Bears App https://innovativeresources.org/resources/digital-applications/bears-app/
PRAY:
God I want to Rejoice
I do it like this
(show how you show you are truely happy and thankful to God)
Amen
PSLAM 65
READ: Psalm 65: He’s got the whole world in his hands!
We who live at the ends of the earth, (make a ball with your hands)
at the farthest reaches of the sea; (wiggle your hands like a choppy sea)
with the hills and fields and oceans (make a pointed hill with your hands)
we shout and sing to praise the Lord! (cup your hands around your mouth as if yelling)
He’s got all of the people in his hands, (wiggle your fingers)
He’s got all our regrets in his hands, (flop your hands down)
He’s got all of our hopes in his hands, (palms facing to the sky)
He’s got the whole world in his hands! (make a ball with your hands)
He’s got the ends of the earth in his hands, (make a ball with your hands)
He’s got the crashing of the waves in his hands, (wiggle your hands like a choppy sea)
He’s got the high mighty mountains in his hands, (make anointed hill with your hands)
He’s got the whole world in his hands! (make a ball with your hands)
He’s got the dawning of the morning in his hands, (sweep your hands in an arc)
He’s got the last rays of sunshine in his hands, (until it goes from one side of your body to the other)
He’s got the sweet falling rain in his hands, (twinkle your fingers from your head down)
He’s got the whole world in his hands! (make a ball with your hands)
He’s got the planting of the seed in his hands, (point you pointing finger into then palm of the other hand)
He’s got the gathering of harvest in his hands, (pretend to pull up a carrot)
He’s got the sheep and the farmers in his hands, (pretend to knit)
He’s got the whole world in his hands! (make a ball with your hands)
thanks again to http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-65-hersquos-got-the-whole-world-in-his-hands.html for the reworking of this Psalm actions by me
COLOURING -IN: https://store.illustratedministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-fall-2019?variant=29474498478178 Under the USA term of Fall 2019, there are 13 colouring in sheets for the next 13 weeks, starting September the 1st. which can be downloaded for US$10. NOTE Illustrated Children’s Ministry is now Illustrated Ministry.
SECOND READING: 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX_YrW4Qs3c The Good Bye Boat by Mary Joslin
PLAY: with your favourite toys. How do we say goodbye to each other. Gather your toys up at the end of the play and deliberately say goodbye as you put them in the back pack.
PRAY:
At the beginning
In the Middle
And at the End
There is always you
Amen
GOSPEL READING: Luke 18:9-14
READ: The Lion Story Bible The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
WATCH: https://www.max7.org/en/resource/aphariseeandataxcollector
COLOURING IN: https://stushieart.com for an annual fee of $25 or encourage your church to have a subscription.
SING: https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/everybody-needs-you/
PRAY:
Help me Lord to
Always be
honest with you
Amen
THE SERVICE MIGHT BE FINISHED BUT
Now is the time to continue teaching your child beyond the walls of the church.
Use the craft or drawings during the week to talk about the service or the stories.
Use any of the readings during the week, at bedtime, as story time or during the day in play or prayer.
Enjoy sharing your faith with your child.
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 