Nativity 3 B: Ideas to help the whole family relate to the RCL readings

Have a Blessed Christmas. May the story speak anew to you this season.

This is a page that has collated ideas that suport the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) readings, which are theologically and developmentally approriate, saving you time in finding resources admist this busy season, be it those in paid church employment or families looking for resources. If you use this page please refer to it as appropriate.

We are entering a new season and you will notice that the colour for the season of Christmas is White ( if you find this offensive please feel free to use gold this season.) The season of Christmas starts on the 24th of Decemeber and there are 3 RCL reading sets for the 24th and 25th of December Services. If you can check with the congregation you are worshipping with either physically or virtually this season to see which reading they will be using it may help your preparation.

I will post on each of these options, Nativity 1B, 2B, 3B and there is a general Christmas page if you are unsure what the readings might be. If you would like to start with some singing there are some songs that you may enjoy on this page, as well as some Christmas stories, and genral activity and colouring in pages.

If at home prepare a worship space, place a white table cloth, your advent candles, and light the final white Christ candle today. You may also include any items that help you concentrate on the season of Christmas.

PRAY:

God came into our life,

shining light into the night

We welcome God’s gift

Jesus today

Amen

FIRST READING: Isaiah 52: 7-10

READ/WATCH: Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones, the first half until the Angels appear in the story or 2.31min on the you tube clip.

Make a mega phone, roll a piece of paper with a small and a large end like a trumpet. Listen to how it makes your voice louder when you speak into it.

OR Make an Angel https://lettheirlightshine.com/2020/11/04/how-to-make-an-angel-craft-video/

PRAY Dear God

Help me to listen

to those who tell

of your love

Amen

PSALM 98

READ: Psalms for young Children by Marie-Helene Delval (This is abeautiful book that is worth purchasing)

“Sing to God a new song,

becasue he has done

many wonderful things.

Play a trumpet or a horn!

Join the rivers and mountains

in singing praise to God!

SING/Play an instrument it can be pot lids, salt and pepper shakers what ever you have at hand.

SECOND READING: Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)

READ/WATCH: Continue reading/watching Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones (See First Reading)

SING: https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/jesus-came-to-earth/

OR https://colinbuchanan.com.au/products/baa-baa-doo-baa-baa-cd-mp3-backing-track-sheet-music 21 Hebrews 1:1-2

DO: How are you like your parents? draw, or write.

GOSPEL READING: JOHN 1:1-14

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qAOR5U1i7k&fbclid=IwAR0xUZsJNJJoF3YB6McPTxX0PpUsi5o1Pb9SkdlVMDOIPM2MiwxQp9uFxQo

SING: https://colinbuchanan.com.au/products/baa-baa-doo-baa-baa-cd-mp3-backing-track-sheet-music 25 In the Beginning

OR https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/jesus-came-to-earth/

DO: Shine a torch or the light in the mobile phone into dark places. What is different?

Have a Blessed Christmas

Wendy L.

Advertisement

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Year A: Ideas to help 3’s and under relate to this weeks RCL readings

It’s finally arrived. Christmas Day. One last candle to light. And look at the colours in the church. We are in a new season, the Season of Advent.

PRAY:

Little Candle Burning bright (make yourself tall, with a flame- Arms over your head with your palms together in prayer)

Light my path (shade your eyes and look ahead)

to Christ your Son – (Blow out the candles and watch the smoke float out into the world.)

May I bring, Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love (point to each of the previous candles)

into the World

Amen

No matter where you are. At your home church, with relatives or travelling. Make sure you are ready to share this amazing time of Worship with your children.

The Uniting Church has 3 different lectionaries to choose from, so it might make being prepared cumbersome if you do not know in advance which readings to prepare for. So I will try to make it as simple as I can. Especially if you are travelling as being weighed down by books and equipment is not always possible (20kg if your flying, or an overflowing family car, can make life difficult), and the idea is to enjoy sharing this experience. Yes, even with overexcited children, fussing in-laws and exhaustion off the scale. I know a quiet service that allows you to snooze quickly is soo tempting. But then you would miss out on the spiritual awakening of your child. And that is worth staying awake to share in..

If you have older children this sheet might help them stay focused during the service https://reflectionaryb.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/christmas1.pdf

You can find some ideas here https://wordpress.com/post/thecrossinmybackyard.wordpress.com/910 as to where to sit and what to bring.

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

If you need

3 Possible FIRST READINGS

A) Isaiah 9: 2-7

B) Isaiah 62:6-12

C) Isaiah 52:7-10

3 Possible PSALMS

A) Psalm 96

B) Psalm 97

C) Psalm 98

3 Possible SECOND READINGS

A) Titus: 2:11-14

B) Titus 3:4-7

C) Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)

3 Possible GOSPEL READINGS

A) Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

B) Luke 2:( 1-7), 8-20

C) John 1:1-14

You will find last years suggestions here A) https://wordpress.com/post/thecrossinmybackyard.wordpress.com/478

B) https://wordpress.com/post/thecrossinmybackyard.wordpress.com/481

C) https://wordpress.com/post/thecrossinmybackyard.wordpress.com/488

They are the same readings as for Year C and for that matter Year B.

Have a Blessed Christmas

Wendy L.

After Pentecost 20B: Ideas to help you share the RCL readings with the 3’s and under.

Make sure you are prepared to visit a congregation while on holidays.

These are suggestions only, to help parents/caregivers engage their children in services that use the Revised Common Lectionary. They can be used by parents/caregivers or those who help out in small congregations that can not afford to pay Child and Families Ministry. Some congregations use all 4 readings in their services others only two. 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.

You might need to print off

https://e2epublishing.info/posters/

https://www.parenting.com/article/paper-doll-chain

ttps://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-fall-2018 THIS IS A NEW SEASON, AMERICAN FALL OUR Spring . For $10 American dollars (about $Aus 16) you have 12 weeks of colouring sheets. Or you can combine with other parents or ask the Church to make the purchase for yourself and the families.

Make sure you have

glu sick

texta’s

Communal play toys such as dolls, or cars or animals

GET A COPY OF

https://www.word.com.au/The-Jesus-Storybook-Bible/Sally-Lloyd-Jones-Illustrated-by-Jaqo/9780310708254

The Early Readers Bible https://www.koorong.com/search/product/early-readers-bible-2001-gilbert-beers/0310701392.jhtml

FIRST READING: job 1:1, 2:1-10

READ: The Early Readers Bible, Love God when Hurt pp.251-255

OR READ?WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6rp0SZX7lg Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No good, very bad day written by Judith Viorst and illustrated by Ray Cruz.  Really good if you have slightly older children, but i have seen even very young ones stop and pay attention.

also suggested by http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/09/year-b-proper-22-27th-sunday-in.html

DRAW: what it feels like when you are having a bad day.

PRAY:

(Shake your head)  I’m having a very bad day God

(Big Smile)  Glad I can tell you that God

Amen

PSALM 26:

READ in Psalms of Praise

DO: Feelings Cards https://e2epublishing.info/posters/ scroll down until you find them. Print them off then ask your child to show you how this Psalm makes them feel. Don’t be surprised if more than one emotion is suggested.

OR use a paper plate and ask them to draw a face that shows how they feel about the Psalm

SECOND READING: Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12

READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8prvuE_0qZc Moondance by Frank Ashe

as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-sunday-october-4-2015/

Jesus came down to “dance”/live with us

SING: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cx657wtzrqaxbfp/AAAtwbeCpLXmhCK56yD2ESfua?dl=0&preview=Holiness+and+Humanness+Theme+Song+Lyrics+and+Instructions.pdf

Listen here

From our Friends at INtergen https://www.facebook.com/Intergen-125514831561505/?__tn__=kC-R&eid=ARC8CjWK-kKwJl8cWkwEUiUDLLRRmFqRgyBGhjQO-1LB82BBi6xfvkIjLkG4o0XkvAxrk1fNMgI7zaYf&hc_ref=ARQSNCLUW17qG_PZTitvJtCI12js1yKVVwXyx1dN6KsKUtlGDa-TR7sLZHHGd0cbDmY&fref=nf&__xts__[0]=68.ARDyuXmr_Idbe-an4EFT8itBZIIo74PvvdOfpuQERYyaZvsFXGI695HjWbZxHA5ggU_tqCvl06kx0Zwf8zFWpbH2KaBUny2VG2C7-RGMfxiR6YKH6T3MCLUi-J5qCTbdc2OgzsG5bpSMNYgq-F-ggvb1gMTMY2TRdFtn6z_ylYiK24wbk09P

Maybe one to Learn during the week

PLAY: with any community toy, such as dolls house, cars, animals.

GOSPEL: Mark 10:2-16

Most will concentrate on Mark 13-16, as the text on Jesus welcoming the children is often preferred to the teaching on Divorce. No children’s story books Bibles I have access to presents the first half of today’s RCL reading

SO for Mark 10:13-16

READ: THE EARLY READERS BIBLE: Jesus and the Children pp.411-415

OR The Jesus Storybook Bible: The Friend of Little Children p.256-262

COLOURING-IN: https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-fall-2018 THIS IS A NEW SEASON, AMERICAN FALL OUR Spring 

CRAFT: make a paper doll chain, draw on them, faces and clothes. Attach to a A4 heavier paper or cardboard, draw Jesus with his arms out at one end of the paper, then glue the line of people from Jesus until it’s off the page. https://www.parenting.com/article/paper-doll-chain. (or you can buy them at http://riotstores.com.au) sometimes in the Reject shop   https://www.rejectshop.com.au

To tackle Mark 10:2-12

To me these two readings placed together, look at what the Kingdom of God is like, all are welcome and all stay together, hence I suggest reading Can I be your dog, about finding an accepting family

READ: http://www.picturebooktheology.com/search/label/family

 

MAKE: a paper doll chain, make faces, and dress.

PLAY: Communal games, such as dolls house, or cars or trains or animals

IF you are looking for some resources regarding Marriage or Divorce try https://www.relationshipsvictoria.com.au/resources/recommended-reading/

This is the book list including one of books suitable for children.

Relationships Australia also has courses and marriage guidance courses.

I completed my Couples Counselling Certificate with this organisation.

Look out for Thursday’s Blog post to find more family resources.

Blessings

Wendy L