Christmas 2 C: Revised Common Lectionary ideas to involve even the youngest.

We are currently in the season of Christmas, and it’s liturgical colour is WHITE (if you find that choice repressive many are now substituting GOLD)

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, 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.

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.

LET’S BEGIN:

WELCOME: Everyone is welcome here.

SING https://www.snackmusic.com.au/songs/you-are-welcome

THE LORD’S PRAYER:

You might like to start with the Lord’s Prayer if at home, or say the Lord’s Prayer within a set place if following along in a service. Here are 4 options

2 with ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w

A more contemplative version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NuUo-igXDU&fbclid=IwAR2FasYCU-9mP1PaLQDjweXyhyUnJutt4J28KycjzeUEttWSesipX2jmJxE

Or for a more Intergenerational approach try Number 1 on the Table Settings album by Liturgical Folks

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: Collect all your lego people together, put them in a bucket and as you draw each out, pray for what you think that person might need prayers for.

FIRST READING: JEREMIAH 31:7-14

READ: How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz

WATCH

A Storypath suggestion

DRAW, or show or find an emoji for the feeling of HOPE

PRAY

Thank you God

for giving us Hope

Hope in hard times

Hope in dark places

Amen

PSALM 147:12-20

Psalm 147: Who is this God of ours?

Who is this God of ours?
Why should we sing?
Why get excited?
Number 3: God cares for us,
feeds us, looks after us, gives us good things;
the gift of peace, the gift of love.
Number 4: God creates life
and gives rain, rivers, snow and ice,
warm and cold, wind and sun.
​
This God of ours is greater than great,
so we sing with joy 
and overflow with praise!

An excerpt from Rev Purdie’s rewriting of Ps 147

Number 3 and 4 mean that these lines should be read by different people

SING: Younger children can use a musical instrument, such as maraccas, tamborine, shakers etc.

OLDER Children find songs of praise and sing them.

SECOND READING: EPHESIANS 1:3-14

READ: The Whirl Story Bible, God’s Family, pp.378-381

SING: God’s Great Family by Soverign Grace Kids album The Ology

PLAY: With a nativity set, I wonder who you would add, I wonder who else the baby may need. I wonder who is in our family?

GOSPEL READING: John 1: (1-9) 10-18.

WATCH

SING The Word became Flesh by Colin Buchanan on Fam Bam Bible Jam

PLAY: Make a chain of people you can see a video here. Colour them in. Older children might like to cut holes in the people and to cover each hole with cellaphane so the light gets in. Or if you can write you might like to write some of today’s bible passage over the paper people.

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.

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