After Pentecost 13 A: IDEAS TO SHARE THIS WEEK’S RCL READINGS WITH EVEN THE YOUNGEST FAMILY MEMBERS USING THINGS YOU HAVE AT HOME

If you are worshipping on line and are unsure what to do with the “little ears” worshipping with their parents, please feel free to make these suggestions during your service so the young ones too can participate.

This is also a great resource for parents/careers and grandparents to use with their little ones during online or face to face worship, or to use as family devotions during the week.

These resources are great for the very young, so that all ages can be engaged in worship.

If at home you might like to make a space for worship it can be permanent or bought out at times of sharing faith together. We are in the season of After Pentecost, the longest season, and it’s colour is green.

You might like to place a green tablecloth on the dinner table or coffee table, or a white one with green ribbons.

It needs be no more complicated than that.

You could add a cross, or something that talks to you about faith, such as your Bible,

you can even add a candle (with young children around I like to use the battery operated kind.)

START WITH: THE LORDS PRAYER IN ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w

Or slot it in when the congregation says The Lords Prayer, if you are in a face to face service, or zooming in from Home

FIRST READING: Exodus 3:1-15

READ: The Begonneres Bible, The Burning Bus, pp. 98-101

OR The Jesus Storybook Bible, God to the Rescue, pp.84

OR for the very young try, The 5 Minute Bible, or the Read aloud Bible, by Batchelor and Boshoff, Fire in the Bush, p. 42-43

CRAFT: https://www.dltk-kids.com/bible/moses_and_the_burning_bush_craft.htm https://www.dltk-kids.com/bible/moses_and_the_burning_bush_craft.htm

DO: What is in a Name: How many names does God have in the Bible?

What is your name? why were you called that?

PSALM 105: 1-6, 23-26, 45b

READ: https://psalmsforkids.com/psalm-105/

Do as the Psalm suggests and sing

SING:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVwlopsFTHM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVwlopsFTHM

SECOND READING: Romans 12:9-21

READ/WATCH: How Kind by Mary Murphy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujy5GLr5q1E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujy5GLr5q1E as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-september-3-2017/http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-september-3-2017/

SING: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/genuine-romans-129-10/https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/genuine-romans-129-10/

PLAY: play with your toys, show each of them kindness. Older children, might like being kind for an hour, or a day, to other family members.

PRAY:

Help me God,

To be kind to others

Even when I feel hurt

Amen

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 16:21-28

WATCH:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnr9FT9lAJM&fbclid=IwAR2XsdlyLkJ4Wkf53WxTnzgBXnTgSU2ueO5QVtXrs5JY6KuFxuSd7zlNW_k

PLAY: play with your toys and practice being kind to them.

OLDER children might like to make a list of ways they can help others and what they can do. If they are allowed they can use the internet to search for ideas, or organisations that need help. Maybe it’s even closer to home! What are they overlooking in the everyday.

Prayer Burdens

Use rocks or draw rocks, or make wool rocks (by winding wook into a small ball) or makes rocks from coloured paper by srewing the paper into tight balls.

Now make a space, such as a timber bowl (anything that won’t be scatched or broken by the rocks).

Place a rock into the bowl for each difficult thing you have to do, homework, babysitting etc.

Then give Thanks for these things that you find difficult but which will help your family.

Amen

Blessings

Wendy L.

After Pentecost 10 A: IDEAS TO SHARE THIS WEEK’S RCL READINGS WITH EVEN THE YOUNGEST FAMILY MEMBERS USING THINGS YOU HAVE AT HOME

Also a great resource for parents?careers and grandparents to use with their little during online or face to face worship, or to use as family devotions during the week.

These resources are great for the very young, so that all ages can be engaged in worship.

START WITH: THE LORDS PRAYER IN ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w

Or slot it in when the congregation says The Lords Prayer

FIRST READING: GENESIS: 37:1-4,12-28

READ: The Beginner’s read aloud Bible OR the 5 Minute Bible Joseph’s Coat, pp.32-33

)R The Beginner’s Bible, Joseph’s Colourful Robe, pp.71-77

CRAFT: Draw Joseph and his brothers? How many were there?

What set Joseph apart? Show this in your drawing/

OR you might like to try this https://www.schooltimesnippets.com/2015/10/preschool-bible-craft-joseph-colorful-coat.html

Pray

You are with me

Even when things look bad

Thank you

Amen

PSALM 105:1-6,16-22,45b

READ: https://www.psalmsforkids.com/psalm-105/

What Parts of the FIRST READING are in this Psalm?

Does it tell you any more of the story?

Colouring In: https://store.illustratedministry.com/collections/illustrated-worship-resources/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-summer-2020?variant=31520646987874 You can find it as the 2020 Summer Series( the season in the Northern Hemisphere) and for $Aus 19, you will have colouring pages until the 30th of August.

SECOND READING: Romans 10:5-15

READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0yJOKdvRrg Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-august-13-2017/

MAKE: A paper chain of people https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZo68K6vWZ4. Decorate your people. All are welcome. (HINT: You can also use this idea to make Joseph and his brothers in The FIRST READING)

OR you can collect all your toys and read or tell them a Bible story.

PRAY:

Use your paper chain to pray for people you know or who you would like to know.

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 14:22-33

WATCH:

READ: My First read-aloud Bible or the 5 minute Bible both by Boshoff and Batchelor, Jesus walks on Water, pp.178-179

OR The Beginners Bible Jesus Walks on Water, pp.364-370

PLAY: Create, get a blue sheet to table cloth, find a toy boat or make one out out of a box, use your toys as the people involved in the story.

OR draw this story

OR make something look here for some ideas https://www.daniellesplace.com/html/bible-crafts-jesus-walks-on-water.html

Older children, might like to think about the things that sink them, the things that they don’t trust God with?

OR you could write some topics, drugs, bullying, Coronavirus, Home schooling etc, on post it notes and place in a box or bowl. Get older children to pull them out on at time and to place on two sheets of A4 paper, one marked Yes, i would take this to God or No, i wouldn’t take this to God. There are NO wrong answers. Listen to your children as they talk these options through.

PRAY

You lift me up God,

When I talk to you

Amen

(you could say this prayer with these actions, start it while crouching down and and stand up tall while saying it, ending with your arms out high and wide as you say AMEN)

Blessings

Wendy L.

After Pentecost 8 A: IDEAS TO SHARE THIS WEEK’S RCL READINGS WITH EVEN THE YOUNGEST FAMILY MEMBERS USING THINGS YOU HAVE AT HOME

Whether you are worshipping at church or at home, or if you are a parent or involved in paid Ministry here are some ideas to help you share the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for this week with children, even the very youngest.

START WITH: THE LORDS PRAYER IN ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w

FIRST READING: Genesis 29: 15-28

READ: The Lion Picture Bible: pp.52-53

OR Brave Girls Bible Stories by Jennifer Gerelds, The Game Plan pp 33-37 https://www.koorong.com/product/brave-girls-bible-stories-thomas-nelson-publishing_9780529108982?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3uLBj-ra6gIV0g0rCh0qdQl1EAQYASABEgKuMfD_BwE#product-tabs

Two weeks ago we had the story of another sibling rivalry, Jacob and Esau, today we have the feminine equivalent Leah and Rachel.

PLAY: families.

PRAYER

Leah relied on God, she prayed, while Racheal was hard working sweat natured and pretty took her pain to her husband not to God.

What should you be telling God about rather than telling others to fix it?

PSALM

PSALM 105: 1-11, 45b,

To learn more about this Psalm and to find some questions to engage your family read http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalms-105-106–107-history-psalms.html

READ: https://www.psalmsforkids.com/psalm-105/ The word covenant is used extensively in this version, if you have very young children substitute the word promise, note that it mentions the stories we had in the readings over the last few weeks, now might be a time to remember what we have read?

You can do this by bringing up something that you did or read in the First readings for the last Month, suitable for everyone

OR you might like to photocopy some pictures of each of the stories and see if family members can tell you about the stories . suitable for the 5’s and up

OR you can name a toy as eg. Jacob and ask your child to tell you something about the story of for eg. Jacob suitable for the 5’s and up

SING/LISTEN: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/seeds-of-character-vol-6/#

OR VIDEO https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/give-thanks-psalm-1051-3/

OR Psalm128

Psalm 128: Live long and prosper

May you live to be old (double over and shake your hand)
May you live well with God (pat your stomach)
May love fill your home and your family (make a love heart with your hands)
May you enjoy your work and do well (pretend to dig, or sew)
May you live to enjoy your children’s children (shield your eyes and look into the distance)
May happiness find you, and peace rest upon you. (give yourself a hug)
The Lord bless you! (point to someone in the room and then at yourself)

Words from http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-128-live-long-and-prosper.html, actions by me

SING/LISTEN: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/walk-in-his-ways-hand-motionssplit-screen/

SECOND READING: Romans 8:26-39

READ/WATCH: The Night Gardener by the Fan Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxwxyKnBgcM as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-july-30-2017/

SING/LISTEN:https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/things-hand-motionssplit-screen/

OR one for the parents https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/god-us-romans-828-31/

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

READ: The Lion Story Bible The Mustard Seeds, p.187

OR WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlLiRsDKk7g

and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-b3T7HfXYY

OR READ: FAVOURITE PARABLES FROM THE BIBLE or STORIES JESUS TOLD by Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen, The Precious Pearl pp.32-57

and READ: The Beginner’s Bible, A Fisherman’s net pp.351-356

CREATE: Take an A4 placed portrait and draw a very big tall tree, then fold it into 4 lengthwise. Pleat the middle 2 sections. And watch your small tree grow.

OR Jesus taught using stories, parables, which tell more than what they first appear. Have fun in your family making up parables. You could make this fun by siting round an outside fire and drinking hot chocolate (with marshmallows) or inside around the fireplace again drinking hot chocolates (with marshmallows)

OR Make bread, watch the yeast grow

PRAY

God,

help me listen to your stories (cup your hand around your ear)

and to tell them to others (cup your hands around your mouth)

Amen (one clap)

Blessings

Wendy L.