We are now in the season of Easter, 8 weeks following Good Friday until Pentecost. If our churches were open we would see them draped in the seasonal colour of white, but with most of us in isolation around the world, with new traditions and new practices taking shape, it might be time to consider how you would like to signify the new season in your home. Will it be through a personal or house alter, maybe by using the seasonal colour at each meal, white, tablecloth, or serviettes, a white ribbon around the Palm Sunday Cross on your front door, changing your media presence to a white symbol. Ask your children, they may have some wonderful ideas of their own.
You can use these readings for daily devotions or on Sunday if your home congregation do not supply an Intergenerational Service or a dedicated children’s program.
FIRST READING: Acts 2:14a, 22-32
READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi1NTZTL8Io City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Williams a suggestion by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-sunday-april-27-2014/ You can read why they recommend it for this reading.
Colouring_in: For $21 AUS You can purchase colouring in pages to use from the 1 March to the 31 May, (spring 2020) downloadable https://store.illustratedministry.com/collections/worship-resources/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-spring-2020?variant=31284510392418
PRAY:
Thank you God
that you keep your promises.
Amen
PSALM 16
Psalm 16: A goodly heritage
I know who I am and I know where I come from:
God is my home, God is my heritage.
My heart is glad, my soul sings for joy! (make a love heart with your hands then jump for joy)
I know who I am and I know what I’ve chosen:
God is my cup and his Spirit fills it.
My heart is glad, my soul sings for joy! (make a love heart with your hands then jump for joy)
I know who I am and I know where I’m going:
Christ is my guide, he shows me the path of life.
My heart is glad, my soul sings for joy! (make a love heart with your hands then jump for joy)
words by Rev. Purdie http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-16-fullness-of-joy.html , actions by me
Sing: https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/joy/
SECOND READING: 1 Peter 1:3-9
READ/WATCH Horace hears a Who by Dr Suess https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSH_OKeL5pg
PLAY: play hide and seek or peek a boo, depending on your child’s age.
The very young still connect seeing you with being there.
For an older child you might like to hide an object. Will they believe you have hidden it if they did not see you hide it?
Dear God,
when i can’t see you (close eyes)
You are still there (open eyes)
Thank you (entwine finger together)
God for being where I can’t see you (close eyes)
Amen
GOSPEL READING: John 20:19-31
DRAW: Use a white candle and draw on a piece of paper,
Can you see your drawing?
now cover that paper with poster paint or texta
Can you see it now?
PRAY:
Prepare a tray of objects to feel eg, something fluffy, something hard (maybe a rock), something bumpy (maybe a shell), something squishy(maybe jelly), something wet (a wet flannel/washer), Cover with a tea towel
Close your eyes.
reach out or have someone place an object from the tray in your hands
Then pray for what that object makes you think of
eg, fluffy might make you pray for your toys or for those who don’t have any
wet, you might pray for rain, or for it to stop. Or you might pray for people who are crying
Hard, you might pray for something that makes you uncomfortable or for someone who seems nasty.
Bumpy you might pray for someone who can be both kind and nasty or for the sea.
Squishy you might pray for those who are being pushed around by others
This idea was inspired by http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/2016/08/easy-sensory-prayer-path.html which if you have the bits available you could make as it is a great kinaesthetic prayer path for the whole family. Works well in the corridor on the way to bed.
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 