WELCOME: Everyone is welcome here.
While designed to be used during a Sunday service at church or by zoom, these readings can also be used during the week to help you remember and build on what you experienced on Sundays. My objective is for faith to be a lived experience and for children to learn how to worship and explore the Bible and pray to God by participating in Worship. The goal here is not for them to learn names or facts though they may want to do that for themselves, but rather to find ways of connecting with the text and sharing that with others.
Today is the second Sunday after Epiphany. The Liturgical colour is green.
If you are worshipping from home you may like to set up a worship area
You can do this by setting up a candle, then add the things that remind YOU of God, a cross, a Bible that everyone likes to read from, 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 use a journal with which to record anything that grabs your attention during the service. This could be a special, bound book or use your ipad or iphone. You could write a precis of the message (traditional words or pictures), draw, keep a record of emotions and hymns that you did or did not like. You could use a template like this free download. Remember, this is for you, you do not have to show anyone what is in it unless you want to, and you feel safe to do so.
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.
LET’S BEGIN:
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: Fill a jug with water, place some red cordial or food dye in the bottom of small glass bowl. As each takes turns pouring the water into the bowl, name someone or a situation, silently or out load whom you would like God to name before the Lord.
First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5
READ: NOW BY ANTOINETTE PORTIS
PLAY: a choice game. It can be as simple as placing 2 or 3 favourite toys in front of your child and adding them to pick one. Or it could be a card game like Fish
Draw or show what it looks like. be be excited.
Psalm 36:5-10
Far Reaching Love
Your love, O God, reaches up, up beyond the sky, (reach up to the sky)
Your goodness goes higher than the clouds, (hands above your head and flutter the like moving clouds)
Your power is bigger than the tallest mountains, (make a point with your hands above your head)
Your truth goes deeper than the ocean. (crouch down very low)
O God, we treasure your infinite love. (make a love heart with your hands)
All people can hide in the shadow of your wings. (interlock your thumbs and flutter your fingers)
O God, we celebrate your mighty river of joy. (snake one arm across your body like a river flowing by)
All people can feast together in your house. (make a bowl with one hand and use the other to eat out of it)
O God, you are the fountain of life. (fling your arms up and away)
All people can find light in your light.(shelter your eyes as if looking into the sun)
Your love, O God, reaches up, up beyond the sky, (reach up to the sky)
Your goodness goes higher than the clouds, (hands above your head and flutter the like moving clouds)
Your power is bigger than the tallest mountains, (make a point with your hands above your head)
Your truth goes deeper than the ocean. (crouch down very low)
Hold us in your amazing love, now and forever. (give yourself a hug)
With loving hearts we will live in you. Amen. (make a heart shape with your hands)
Adapted from a rewrite of the Psalm by Rev Purdie, used without the third stanza. Actions in italics by me.
How does this Psalm make you feel? Point out an emoji that shows how you feel or show how you feel or draw how you feel.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
READ: Wild About Us by Karen Beaumont
A suggestion by Storypath
PLAY: with animals that come apart and you can put back togther in different ways, even a Mr Potatoehead will do. Or a mix and match book or a puzzle book
Older children and adults might like to wonder about how useful the new “animals” could be?
SING God made the chickens by Snack Music ( I love this song, it has an important point that fits well with the 1 Corinthians reading, but I am concerned about the genderation of God in this) song)
Gospel: John 2:1-11
READ: Children of God StoryBook Bible by Desmond Tutu, Jesus turns water into wine, pp.72-73
OR The Spark Story Bible, Wedding at Cana, pp.332-337
Dear God,
Jesus first poured out (tip one hand as if pouring into a cup in the other)
his gifts from you (Pretend to pass a present)
at a party (dance)
where people show commitment and love (pretend to put a ring on your wedding finger)
I am glad (smile)
that you are committed to loving me too. (make a love heart with your hands)
Amen (1 clap)
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 