These ideas can be used in a church setting as you parent in the pews or in your own home while connecting to a broadcast service or for your daily family devotions.
If worshipping at home you might like to prepare a space to worship which can be permanent or set aside and bought out when you are having private or family devotions.
This might consist of a purple table cloth, and any items that help you conccentrate or which represent the seaon of waiting for you.
During this season of Advent you might like to set up an Advent wreath that stays in place for the four weeks of Advent. This Sunday is Week 2 – Peace
Start by saying/being/singing this Candle Liturgy
You can see all four weeks here https://wordpress.com/post/thecrossinmybackyard.wordpress.com/1648
Week 3 JoY
Pretend to be a flame as you say or sing (to the tune of Twinkle twinkle little star) this liturgy. Remember to move like a flame. Today’s candle are is pink, perhaps you can wear or put on something that is pink. Do a few star jumps as your flame jumps for JOY.
Little candle burning bright
Light in my heart
Joy tonight
May it shine
To others lives
Sharing what we have
Is nice
Little candle burning bright
Light in my heart
Joy tonight
FIRST READING: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
READ: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas WATCH, I chose this book as the listening, rememberencing and transforming that happens, seems to me to be reministent of the effects of today’s reading.
Do: These verses look at how this grow with care. What can you grow and care for? Can you pot a plant or make a carrot top grow (by placing the top of a carrrot on a piece of wet cotton wool). Do you have a pet? How do you care for the pet.
Simple craft: Draw a tree on the portrait shape of a piece of paper. Make a long straight trunk, and lots of leaves at the top. Now fold the paper in half then half again and concertina the middle half, (like when you make a paper fan) This will give you a plant that grows.
PSALM 126
Psalm 126: When the Lord turned the tide of history
(The Lectionary Psalm for Sunday 17 December 2017)
When the Lord turned the tide of history (Look behind)
we could hardly believe it! (open your eyes wide)
Laughter bubbled out of us, (pretend to do a big belly laugh)
shouts of joy burst out of us, (do a star jump)
telling everyone who would listen: (cup your ear in your hand)
“The Lord has done great things for us!” (repeat the words)
“The Lord has done great things for us!” (shout the words out)
We call on you Lord: turn the tide of history (look behind)
here and now! (point both pointer fingers to the ground)
Rain down on our dry land. (pretend your fingers are rain)
Those who watered seeds with their tears (pretend to wipe away tears)
will gather in a harvest with joy. (spread your arms out and gather them into you as if carrying something big)
We have watered seeds with our tears –(pretend to wipe away a tear)
yet we will harvest with joy! (do a star jump)
“The Lord will do great things for us!” (repeat the words)
“The Lord will do great things for us!” (shout the words out)
Thanks again to Rev Purdie http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-126-a-harvest-of-joy.html for these amazing reworking of the Psalms. Actions by me
Colouring In: I will continue to recommend the work of Illustrated Ministries, though not free it is easily downloadable, the American $ 12.99 price give you enough colouring in sheets for every member of the family until February 14, 2021. If your children love colouring it is worth the investment https://store.illustratedministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-winter-2020-2021?variant=32002480373858
OR Luke 1:46b-55
Look https://teachingcatholickids.com/why-not-the-magnificat-marys-song-of-humble-joy-ought-to-be-our-song-too/
Instead of reading these verses just show the picture at the start of this page.
I wonder what you see in the picture?
I wonder what emotions it stirs in you?
I wonder what you would draw differently?
Colouring In: I will continue to recommend the work of Illustrated Ministries, though not free it is easily downloadable, the American $ 12.99 price give you enough colouring in sheets for every member of the family until February 14, 2021. If your children love colouring it is worth the investment https://store.illustratedministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-winter-2020-2021?variant=32002480373858 Note that this is the colouring in sheet for next week
SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
READ/WATCH A Little Peace by Barbara Kerley
Pray There are so many prayer suggestion here you can Pray unseesingly as mentioned in V. 16
Sing/Listen: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/seeds-of-purpose-vol-4/#
GOSPEL READING: John 1: 6-8, 19-28
Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2ei8nIhgFs&fbclid=IwAR0A9FkNzOjxf58pKj6dFw9bhR-4g9r9A5LIhmjFsMIdf6zmFBMyAHwGnRs
If you want to remove the confusing reference to the northern hemisphere seasonsfor those in the southern hemisphere, just start 30 seconds in.
Sing/Listen: https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/totally-god-totally-man/
PRAY
GOD
Help me
to tell other’s
about your Son, Jesus
Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
You might like to conclude with the Lords prayer or use either of these options in the service
either IN ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w
Or if you are looking for a more contemplative version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NuUo-igXDU&fbclid=IwAR2FasYCU-9mP1PaLQDjweXyhyUnJutt4J28KycjzeUEttWSesipX2jmJxE
Blessings
Wendy L.
Please feel free to use ay ideas and acknowledge me when you do
The Cross in My Backyard 