After Epiphany 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.

Today is the FIFTH 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. An acknoledgement though is always appreciated.

LET’S BEGIN:

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

FIRST READING: Isaiah 6:1-8(9-13)

READ: On the Night You wer Born By Nancy Tillman

WATCH

a Storypath suggestion

SING: God is Holy on The character of God Vol. 7 from Seeds Family Worship

OR For You are Holy on Awesome God by Sovereign Grace Music

DRAW or MAKE something wonderful.

PSALM 138

DRAW: some of the things to be thankful for

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

READ Another Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown

WATCH

Another Storypath suggestion

PLAY:Have a relay game, Keep the toy going around the room or along the pew without it dropping.

PRAY

Help me God,

to tell others

of you love for us

Amen

GOSPEL READING: Luke 5:1-11

READ: Children of God by Desmond Tutu, Jesus goes fishing

OR Peter The Fisherman by Andrew MacDonough

OR the youngest might enjoy The Play a long Bible, Fishing for People by Bob Hartman

DO: You can purchase a great downloadable book of activities for all ages about 5$AUS.

COLOUR-IN downloadable sheet on the Peter the Fisherman sheet

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.

AFTER PENTECOST 2B: ideas to engage the whole family(especially the youngest) in the set RCL readings for today

WELCOME

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

WHO ARE THESE IDEAS FOR?

They are for use by parents, grandparents and carers and for small congregations who do not have a Child and Family Ministry.

You have found a page that uses easily found ideas to help you share the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) readings with children. Instead of sifting through many websites, facebook , pinterest, instagram, and blog posts; 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.

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.

Though you will find simple ways into the text here THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THOUGH THAT YOU CAN DO IS SHARE YOURSELF AND YOUR FAITH. I firmly bleive that it is in the relationship, that the Faith formation of the next generation truely starts.

GETTING READY

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 what ever else helps you focus on the season.

We are now in the longest liturgical season, the season after Pentecost. This season takes up half or the year, and it’s liturgical colour is green. There are no major celebrations during this season, and some refer to it as Ordinary Time. For me it is a time to celebrate everyday joys, to see God in the ordinary, in the everyday, and to hear the everyday stories of Jesus.

This is the time to add the things that remind YOU of God, a cross, a word, a special object, even something from one of the readings

If able to worship in the Chruch 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 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.

LET’S BEGIN

You might like to start with the Lords prayer if at home, or say the Lord’s Prayer within a set place in the service.

Today try this version 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

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

FIRST READING: 1 Samuel 8:4-11

READ: Grumpy little King by Michel Streich a suggestion from Picture a Good Book to Use

WATCH

MAKE a crown. Are you a KIng? You can make one simply or download this fabulous looking one here and see how you make it here or for a simple version try here

PRETEND You are King, or write a play about a good king and a Bad King? Why would people want a KIng?

PSALM 138

READ follow the suggestion for reading make up actions for each line.

How does this Psalm make you feel?

Describe those feelings, Show how these feelings look like in your body or draw it, or point out what it feels like from a set of emotional cards https://innovativeresources.org/resources/card-sets/bears-cards/ or you can make your own using paper plates and draw a picture for each emotion.

SECOND READING: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

READ The Giving Tree by Shel Silvester

WATCH

DO: What can you renew? Find a new use for? Re-gift

PLAY: play with lego, or playdoh. once you have made something, pull it apart and make something else.

GOSPEL READING: Mark 3:20-35

WATCH

DRAW: Draw your family. OR make a peg family Be inspired here You can also use ice-cream sticks to make people. Try these products https://www.spotlightstores.com/kids/kids-craft-supplies/kids-wood/arbee-wooden-dolly-pegs/BP80148736

PRAY

Pray for each member of your family.

Then pray for each member of your church family

Then pray for other’s in God’s family.

Blessings

Wendy L.

Please check local guidlines before using items that are not mine and acknowledge this page if you have found it useful, especially if you are using this page for congregational use.

Epiphany 5: Ideas to help parents/guardians relate Sunday’s RCL readings to their 3’s and under.

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.

FIRST READING: ISIAH 6:1-8(9-13)

READ: The Jesus Story Book Bible p.144 stopping at the start of the 2nd last paragraph.

DRAW: Things you can do to help others.

PRAY: Dear God:

The only thing you find small (open up your hand as if holding something very tiny)

Is our understanding of you. (Fling your arms wide open)

Amen.

PSALM 138

READ: http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-138-thank-you-for-your-love.html

DO: When you hear the words heart or Love make a love heart with your hands

When you hear the words power or strength show off a muscle in your arm.

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

READ/WATCH: https://youtu.be/QGbAE-KS8LM Remember Me by Cecelia Meng

PLAY: with nesting dolls, or building cups that grow larger out of each other.

MAKE: Cut out paper dolls, showing how by cutting one we can grow to be many.

https://www.origami-resource-center.com/paper-dolls.html

GOSPEL READING: Luke 5:1-11

READ: The Lion Story Book, by Sophie Piper, Jesus and the Fisherman pp148-149

OR My First Read a loud Bible by Batchelor and Boshoff, Peter Goes Fishing pp. 156-157.

Colouring-In: https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-winter-2018-2019

MAKE: a picture Use blue paper or stiffened felt, make a simple boat out of brown paper, or brown felt, such as a simple rectangle. Collect the net around lemons or limes or oranges and use it to make a net from the boat into the water.

Blessings

Wendy L.