Lent 5 C: Revised Common Lectionary: ideas to involve even the youngest.

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 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. The ideal is to form alife long love of Christ and for the Word of God.

Today is the Fifth(5) Sunday in LENT. The Liturgical colour is PURPLE.

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. An acknoledgement though is always appreciated.

LET’S BEGIN:

LISTEN: On the album Lent, Lent 5 Willing Minds, by Liturgical Folk

Light or turn on 6 Candles (one for each Sunday in Lent) Blow out (or turn off) 5 Candles

PRAY

Into this season of Lent (pretend to Walk)

I go (point to yourself)

Life has it’s seasons (draw a circle in the air)

It’s Joys and (happy face)

It’s sadnesses (sad face)

You go before me (point your arms ahead)

You are there after me (look behind)

Amen

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:

PRAY: Use heart shaped post-it notes and as you write a person or an activity you can do out of love, pray for the activity or person.

FIRST READING: Isaiah 43:16-21

READ: Beyond the Pond By Joseph Kuefler

WATCH

A suggestion by Storypath

RECYCLE: make something from rubbish? Or make a new item out of an old t-shirt or other item of clothing, eg a sock puppet.

PRAY: Download and print this sheet of blocks and write the names of someone you want to pray for on each brick, as you pray for that person.

PSALM 126

Psalm 126: A Harvest of Joy

Remember feeling amazing! (Show how you feel when your happy)
Remember a time of celebration – (blow out a pretend candle)
that was the Lord God at work!
Laughter rang out, (pretend to laugh)
everyone was happy, (smile)
everyone laughed till they shook with joy! (big pretend belly laugh)
The Lord has done great things for us (hold hands out wide)
and we reply with shouts of joy! (jump and spread your arms and legs out)

Remember feeling sad? (make a sad face)
Remember tears running down your face –(rub your eyes as if your were crying)
God was with you then. (pretend to put your arm around a pretend friend)
Your pain planted seeds (double over holding stomach)
and your tears watered them. (catch the pretend tears from your eyes)
The seeds grew in the tender mercy of God (go from a small ball to stretch tall)
growing fruit of wisdom ( Hand someone a pretend fruit)
fruit of kindness. (give a pretend hug)
Gather the fruit, and celebrate (fling arms and legs out wide)
that all things work for good in God’s ways.
Those who go out weeping
shall come home rejoicing.
The Lord has done great things for us (hold hands out wide)
and we reply with shouts of joy! (jump and spread your arms and legs out)

words by Rev Purdie actions by me

SHOW: How does this psalm make you feel, act it out, choose and emoji shows how you feel, or draw it.

SECOND READING: Philippians 3:4b-14

READ: Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera

WATCH

A Storypath Suggestion

DRAW or MAKE something wonderful. When finished see if there is anything you can do to make it even more wonderful?

SING Nothing Better Than Jesus on Soverign Grace Music album To be like Jesus

PRAY

Dear God

I love (name the things you love)

but nothing is

better than You

Amen

GOSPEL READING: John 12:1-8

READ: The Whirl Story Bible, Mary anoints Jesus, pp.302-305

WATCH

COLOURING-IN:

DRAW: something that is really important to you? Could you give it away? If you ever did whom would you give it too?

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.

ADVENT 3B: IDEAS USING THINGS YOU HAVE AT HOME TO HELP EVEN THE YOUNGEST MEMBER RELATE TO THIS WEEKS RCL READINGS

These ideas can be used in a church setting as you parent in the pews or in your own home while connecting to a broadcast service or for your daily family devotions.

If worshipping at home you might like to prepare a space to worship which can be permanent or set aside and bought out when you are having private or family devotions.

This might consist of a purple table cloth, and any items that help you conccentrate or which represent the seaon of waiting for you.

During this season of Advent you might like to set up an Advent wreath that stays in place for the four weeks of Advent. This Sunday is Week 2 – Peace

Start by saying/being/singing this Candle Liturgy

You can see all four weeks here https://wordpress.com/post/thecrossinmybackyard.wordpress.com/1648

Week 3 JoY

Pretend to be a flame as you say or sing (to the tune of Twinkle twinkle little star) this liturgy. Remember to move like a flame. Today’s candle are is pink, perhaps you can wear or put on something that is pink. Do a few star jumps as your flame jumps for JOY.

Little candle burning bright

Light in my heart

Joy tonight

May it shine

To others lives

Sharing what we have

Is nice

Little candle burning bright

Light in my heart

Joy tonight

FIRST READING: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

READ: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas WATCH, I chose this book as the listening, rememberencing and transforming that happens, seems to me to be reministent of the effects of today’s reading.

Do: These verses look at how this grow with care. What can you grow and care for? Can you pot a plant or make a carrot top grow (by placing the top of a carrrot on a piece of wet cotton wool). Do you have a pet? How do you care for the pet.

Simple craft: Draw a tree on the portrait shape of a piece of paper. Make a long straight trunk, and lots of leaves at the top. Now fold the paper in half then half again and concertina the middle half, (like when you make a paper fan) This will give you a plant that grows.

PSALM 126

Psalm 126: When the Lord turned the tide of history
(The Lectionary Psalm for Sunday 17 December 2017)

When the Lord turned the tide of history (Look behind)
we could hardly believe it! (open your eyes wide)
Laughter bubbled out of us, (pretend to do a big belly laugh)
shouts of joy burst out of us, (do a star jump)
telling everyone who would listen: (cup your ear in your hand)
“The Lord has done great things for us!” (repeat the words)
“The Lord has done great things for us!” (shout the words out)

We call on you Lord: turn the tide of history (look behind)
here and now! (point both pointer fingers to the ground)
Rain down on our dry land. (pretend your fingers are rain)
Those who watered seeds with their tears (pretend to wipe away tears)
will gather in a harvest with joy. (spread your arms out and gather them into you as if carrying something big)
We have watered seeds with our tears –(pretend to wipe away a tear)
yet we will harvest with joy! (do a star jump)
“The Lord will do great things for us!” (repeat the words)
“The Lord will do great things for us!” (shout the words out)

Thanks again to Rev Purdie http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-126-a-harvest-of-joy.html for these amazing reworking of the Psalms. Actions by me

Colouring In: I will continue to recommend the work of Illustrated Ministries, though not free it is easily downloadable, the American $ 12.99 price give you enough colouring in sheets for every member of the family until February 14, 2021. If your children love colouring it is worth the investment https://store.illustratedministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-winter-2020-2021?variant=32002480373858

OR Luke 1:46b-55

Look https://teachingcatholickids.com/why-not-the-magnificat-marys-song-of-humble-joy-ought-to-be-our-song-too/

Instead of reading these verses just show the picture at the start of this page.

I wonder what you see in the picture?

I wonder what emotions it stirs in you?

I wonder what you would draw differently?

SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

READ/WATCH A Little Peace by Barbara Kerley

Pray There are so many prayer suggestion here you can Pray unseesingly as mentioned in V. 16

Sing/Listen: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/seeds-of-purpose-vol-4/#

GOSPEL READING: John 1: 6-8, 19-28

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2ei8nIhgFs&fbclid=IwAR0A9FkNzOjxf58pKj6dFw9bhR-4g9r9A5LIhmjFsMIdf6zmFBMyAHwGnRs

If you want to remove the confusing reference to the northern hemisphere seasonsfor those in the southern hemisphere, just start 30 seconds in.

Sing/Listen: https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/totally-god-totally-man/

Totally God, Totally Man

PRAY

GOD

Help me

to tell other’s

about your Son, Jesus

Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

You might like to conclude with the Lords prayer or use either of these options in the service

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

Or if you are looking for a more contemplative version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NuUo-igXDU&fbclid=IwAR2FasYCU-9mP1PaLQDjweXyhyUnJutt4J28KycjzeUEttWSesipX2jmJxE

Blessings

Wendy L.

Please feel free to use ay ideas and acknowledge me when you do

Lent 5C: Ideas to help you share this weeks RCL readings with the 3’s and under.

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.

Sit towards the front so they can see what is going on.

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 piece that can be shown off.

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: Isaiah 43:16-21 DO A NEW THING

READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV7yp2MUr9c DEMOLITION BY SALLY SUTTON as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/tag/isaiah-4316-21/ then read/watch Construction by Sally Sutton. to see what replaces the old and how useful it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUL-uiQL2Tk

Most children in Australia’s major city will relate tooth’s idea of building something new as they see it around them everyday. So it’s easy to start the idea that God builds new us, for when they are developmentally ready for it.

PLAY: with blocks to build something new.

PRAY: God,

Help us become your new creation

(add blocks to this prayer by placing a block down and saying God please help ____(name the person) this week.

Amen

PSALM 126 JOY

Psalm 126: A Harvest of Joy

by http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-126-a-harvest-of-joy.html actions by me

Draw: something from this psalm, it might be a small plant growing, or something that make s you happy, or anything else you want.

SECOND READING: Philippians 3:4b-14 BREAKING FROM THE PAST

This reading has similar themes to the FIRST READING. I suggest that you use those Books, activities and prayer here

GOSPEL READINGS: John 12:1-8 GIVING ABUNDANTLY

READ: My First Read-along Bible by Batchelor and Boshoff, Expensive Perfume, 204-205

OR The Beginner’s Bible A gift for Jesus pp.423-426

COLOURING-IN: https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-spring-2019 PURCHASE IS DOWNLOADABLE AND IS IN AMERICAN DOLLARS FOR 14 WEEKS (5 WEEKS IN)

SHARE: Make a bookmark, as simple or as wonderful as you like and hand to other people in the congregation. You might like to spray it with perfume to reinforce the story and add another dimension to the gift. So a physical, visual and smell experience. You can find a free colouring in one here https://www.illustratedchildrensministry.com/2017/ways-to-pray-with-kids/?fbclid=IwAR3VP7PIAsAk4AOA6l0d4i2pWFNoZZl-Zqq5QCbiLaSnUYGoEqqpT-D3CgE

OR share something to eat with others, ie blueberries, slices of cantaloupe etc.