On what is Father’s Day here in Australia, enjoy this day with your family and share this worship experience with even the youngest members in the family. If you are visiting relatives and unable to get to a service, you can worship wherever you are using these suggestions below.
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
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.
FIRST READING: JEREMIAH 2:4-13
READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHjwh_0jK_s THE HOUSE THAT SNEEZED by David Lennie Just like Israel had defiled the land that God gave them, so do the owners of this beautiful house who then responds.
Draw or build something with blocks? How would you feel if someone came along and destroyed your hard work? Show your answer on your face, or draw it on a paper plate 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 you built a good world for us
Help us to keep it safe
Amen
PSALM 81:1, 10-16
READ:
But now your lives are crowded
there’s little space for me. (Rub your hands together)
I long to bless you every day
and fill you with good things (open your mouth)
but I need room to be your God!
You can’t have lots of others. (wag your pointing finger)
I’m not a bonus add-on.
Turn to me, my people! (turn around)
Let me in and let me lead.
Come, let me feed you (open your mouth)
with honey from the rock.
Come, let me love you (give yourself a hug)
and never never stop!
Exert from http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-81-honey-from-the-rock.html actions by me
How does having a God who wants to be good to you make you feel?
Show your answer on your face, or draw it on a paper plate 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/
SECOND READING: HEBREW 13:1-8,15-16
READ/WATCH: THE BIG UMBRELLA By Amy June Bates vhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O37HwF-Wy8
SING: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/the-character-of-god-vol-7/# No.10 God is Unchanging
OR https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/forever-god/ Forever God Number 2 on Awesome God
Colouring -in: https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-fall-2019 Under the USA term of Fall 2019, there are 13 colouring in sheets for the next 13 weeks, which can be downloaded for US$10.
GOSPEL READING: LUKE 14:1, 7-14
READ/WATCH: I am the Best by Lucy Cousins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP5DUzBiHOc as suggested byhttp://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-sunday-september-1-2013/
Play: with toy food, have a party for teddy/ or daddy or any favourite toy.
PRAY:
I invite all to come
and share a meal together
Amen
(practise this at meal times this week or any Grace)
NOO! You are not finished even if the service has.
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.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 