Sunday is another significant day in the Church calendar. It is the day we recognise the Baptism of Jesus. It is also the first Sunday in a new liturgical season. The season after Epiphany. Today’s liturgical colour stays white or Gold, but in the following weeks it will be green again.
If worshipping at home. You may want to set up a space/alter/focal spot, to bring out when you worship or to keep out everyday.
You can do this by setting up a candle, and add the things that remind YOU of God, a cross, a Bible that everyone likes to read from, a word, a special object, some water, or your Baptismal candle, even something from one of the readings.
If able to worship in the Church buildings pack a special backpack, as well as filling it with your Covid Safe equipment, add the books or materials required to help your young ones relate to today’s readings.
For adults and older students you might like to take a journal with which to record anything that grabs your attention during the service. Write a precis of the message (traditional or sensory word), draw or write a response in and keep a record of emotions. You could use a template like this free download
CONGREGATIONAL USE: Though parents are the best at sharing their faith with their children, if you are a small congregation where children are a very small, or rare part of your congregational life. Please feel free to make these suggestions available to your congregation. I am very happy for you to copy and paste ideas from here into your own Order of Service or for you to supply a link to this page.
WELCOME:
Everyone is welcome here.
SING https://www.snackmusic.com.au/songs/you-are-welcome
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY
If you are in Australia and attending a Uniting Church in Australia, in many cases an Acknowledgment of Country will be said. You can teach your young ones to do this too.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:
FIRST READING: Isaiah 43:1-7
READ: My Beautiful Child by Lisa Desimini
as suggested by Storypath
Play: Name your the teddies and other soft toys, name as many of the congregation as you know. Or bring an extended family photo, and ask your child to name everyone.
PRAY: God you call for me
I am your child
I am precious
I am Loved
I come to your call
Amen
PSALM 29
ACTIONS: You will need a toy boat and a blue tea towel or scarf. Toss the boat around on the rough tea towel sea, or make it “plain sailing”.
RESPONSE ACTIONS
The Lord our God is strong and mighty! (Show your muscles)
All glory belongs to our God! (arms out wide)
His name is magnificent, (throw your arms wider)
His voice echoes with power! (cup your hands like a megaphone)
Thanks again to Rev Purdie for such a great rewrite of the Psalm, actions by me.
DRAW your favourite part of this Psalm.
SECOND READING: Acts 8:14-17
READ:
In Samaria, people were keen to learn more about God, so the Apostles sent Peter and John to help them.
Peter and John prayed that the Samarians might recieve the Holy Spirit.
The Samarians had only been baptised in Jesus’s name.
Peter and John laid hands on the believers in Samaria and the Holy Spirit came on them.
DRAW: the things that you get excited about?
PLAY: with baby dolls (if child baptism is practised), use a paper bowl of blue shredded crepe paper or with other dolls, baptising in the blue tea towel “water”.
PRAY:
Dear God
In Water I’m Baptised (wiggle your fingers as you move your hands down from your shoulders)
But by your spirit (star jump)
I am alive. (wiggle all over)
thank you. (one clap)
GOSPEL READING: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22.
READ: Children of God StoryBible by Desmond Tutu, Jesus is Baptised pp.68-69
OR Whirl Story Bible, Jesus is Baptised pp. 166-169
MAKE 2 ideas here, I like the dove one but the sensory idea is similar to, but different again, to the one I used for the Second Reading. ( I first used this idea independantly 3 years ago) The theology may or may not align with yours, worthy of thinking about your beliefs.
SENDING HYMN Tell the World by Hillsong Kids Learn the actions here
Blessings
Wendy L.
Please check local guidlines before using items that are not mine especially if you are using this page for congregational use. Please acknowedge this page if you find it useful. Thank you.
I am writing this on Wurundjeri land and wish to pay respect to all Elders, past, present and emerging.
I have qualifications in Education, Theology and Children’s Spirituality, and have worked as a Children and Families Worker in a city church. I use simple and easily found ideas to help you share the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) readings. This is a ONE STOP SHOP where I have done the sifting for you to find theologically and developmentally appropriate material for your congregation or family saving you time from sifting through many websites, facebook , pinterest, instagram, and blog posts.
The Cross in My Backyard 