These are suggestions only, to help parents engage their children in services that use the Revised Common Lectionary. They can be used by parents or those who help out in small congregations that can not afford to pay for Child and Families Ministry. Some congregations use all 4 readings in their services others only two. They can also be useful if you are visiting a different church this weekend.
Prepare a special church bag in advance each week so that you are ready for the rush on Sunday Morning.
Read during the Bible readings,
Pray during the prayers,
Colour, Draw or Craft during the sermon.
Remember that little ones will need their own space to move and wiggle,
Sit towards the front so they can see what is going on. Craft or drawing or play are for spiritual responses not for a perfectionist piece that can be shown off.
Remember you have bought your child to worship. Enjoy engaging them in it.
You might need to prepare these in advance, and place them in a special Church Bag ready to go for Sunday Morning
https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-summer-2018 Will get you 14 colouring in pages, that is 14 Sundays worth and I will refer to them over the coming weeks.
Lion Story Picture Bible https://www.word.com.au/The-Lion-Picture-Bible/Sarah-J-Dodd/9780745963037
or The Jesus Storybook Bible https://www.word.com.au/The-Jesus-Storybook-Bible/Sally-Lloyd-Jones-Illustrated-by-Jaqo/9780310708254
texta’s
journal or A4 white sheets
paper plates
Doll house toys OR play mat toys
toys to pretend wash
Food toys
https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Church-With-Your-Fingers stop at step 2 of Part 2 as the rhyme is different but it will show you what to do with your hands if you are not familiar with the actions.
FIRST READING: 2 Samual 11:26-12:13a
READ: Lion Story Picture Book pp.142-143
OR The Jesus Storybook Bible p.130 until last paragraph
PRAY: Thank you that you are a loving God (make a heart with your hands).
Who listens (cup your hand around your ear
When we are sorry (hand your head)
Amen
PLAY: with a dolls house, or on a road mat. When you hear your little ones say sorry during play acknowledge it.
PSALM 51:1-12
READ: I love this version but it is still too advanced for this age group, so I’m placing it here if you have older children who might find it helpful http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-51-standing-under-the-shower-of-confession.html
COLOURING IN: https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-summer-2018
PLAY: Let them wash or wipe clean a doll or toy
EMOTION: IS This Psalm Desperate or Hopeful? Draw or make a face showing your chosen emotion. If using paper plates to draw the faces on. Keep them each week so you can reuse them by getting them to choose an emotion from the collection, rather than draw them.
SECOND READING: Ephesians 4:1-16
WATCH/READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGkmNSznJQ You might prefer to watch this at home or keep the volume low, or generously share it with those around you!
Book Suggested BY http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-august-5-2018/
ACTION:
“Here Is the Church”finger-play that young children enjoy insists that the church is not a building but people. When I goggled it I discovered there are lots of versions of this. The one that fits today is:
Here is the church
Here is the steeple
Open the doors
See all the people.
You CAN have a church
Without any steeple.
But you can’t have a church
Without any people.
from https://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/06/year-b-proper-13-18th-sunday-in.html
https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Church-With-Your-Fingers stop at step 2 of Part 2 as the rhyme is different but it will show you what to do with your hands if you are not familiar with the actions.
PLAY: With toys that have pieces that need to be fitted together to make them up, ie blocks, puzzles, Ikea people etc. keep them age appropriate and make sure that there are no small pieces that your child might swallow.
GOSPEL READING: John 6: 24-35
WATCH/READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td2RgD5eNOQ Bread Bread Bread by Ann Morris
OR READ p.102 of The Jesus Storybook Bible
PLAY: with food toys, such as the IKEA https://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/20262005/
CRAFT: cut out pictures of different types of bread and stick them on a paper plate
try http://www.momjunction.com/print-coloring-image/?pageid=369470&print=2015/08/Different-Types-Of-Bread/
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 