AFTER PENTECOST 23B: IDEAS TO ENGAGE EVERYONE (ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGEST) IN THE SET RCL READINGS FOR SUNDAY

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WHO ARE THESE IDEAS FOR?

For anyone looking for ideas to help share God’s word with everyone including the youngest.

Whether you are preparing traditional worship or an all age or Intergenerational service. You can include this link or share these ideas in your Church newsletter, in your Order of service or on your media notes. .

OR you are a parent wanting something for your children to use either in face to face or with broadcast services, as you parent from the pews or couch

Or during family devotion times.

I use 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.

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 believe that it is in the relationship, that the Faith formation of the next generation truely starts. You will notice that there are very few prompts or questions on this page. This is to allow your child to do the thinking and to work out what is important to them from the texts. Sometimes they may give you an insight or even ask a question? There are no wrong insights or crazy questions, and you are enough, enough to listen, enough to work it out together, ENOUGH to share your love of GOD with your child.

Here is a great presentation on children’s spirituality, but most importantly from the 40 minute mark on, it speaks about the importance of teaching through story and explains the process I recommend you use with children.

SEASON: AFTER PENTECOST

We are still in the longest liturgical season, the season after Pentecost. This season takes up half of 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.

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 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

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

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Create a Heart Prayer Station, last of the 10 Nature Prayer Actiities by Sun Hats and Wellie Boots

FIRST READING: RUTH 1:1-18

READ: Brave Girls Bible Stories by Jennifer Gerelds pp.72-73

OR The Spark Story Bible, Naomi and Ruth pp.110-113

OR The Children of God, by Desmond Tutu, The Story of Ruth, read all except the last paragraph.

COLOURING-IN

SING

PSALM 146

Will You Praise the Lord

DRAW: some of the things mentioned in the Psalm that we should Praise God for

SECOND READING: Hebrews 9:11-14

READ: Brave Irene by William Steig

WATCH

A suggestion by Storypath

DRAW I wonder what lives for ever? Draw the oldest thing you know of that is alive.

PRAY

Almighty God,

thank you that you are

always there for me

Amen

GOSPEL READING: Mark12:28-34

Children of God by Desmond Tutu, The Law of Love, p.82

DRAW a love heart, split it down the middle, write or draw the 2 rules, one on each side of the tear and then put them back together like a jigsaw.

PRAY

Loving Father,

Help me to love,

You with my Heart( point to your heart)

my soul (rotate your clenched fists against each other)

my mind(point ot your brain)

and my strength (make a muscle)

To love others (hold your hands out wide)

like I love myself (point to yourself)

Amen

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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After Pentecost 24B: Ideas to help the 3’s and under relate to this Sundays RCL readings

These are suggestions only, to help parents/caregivers engage their children in services that use the Revised Common Lectionary. They can be used by parents/caregivers or those who help out in small congregations that can not afford to pay Child and Families Ministry.  Some congregations use all 4 readings in their services others only two.

They can also be used at home during Family Devotion Time. Remember it is never too early to start faith practices in the home.

If using during worship Prepare a special church bag in advance each week so that you are ready for the rush on Sunday Morning.

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,

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

Remember you have bought your child to worship. Enjoy engaging them in it.

You might need to prepare these in advance

https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-fall-2018 THIS IS A NEW SEASON, AMERICAN FALL OUR Spring . For $10 American dollars (about $Aus 16) you have 12 weeks of colouring sheets. Or you can combine with other parents or ask the Church to make the purchase for yourself and the families.

You might need,

felt, both sticky and stiffened

paper dolls

Family toys such as dolls, doll house, cooking set etc

 

FIRST READING: Ruth 1:1-18

READ: So many choices so chose a storybook Bible they enjoy, some tell all the story while others will only tell a part so you can choose a slightly longer version and read it like a serial over the coming weeks

If you also have older children everyone might enjoy Brave Girls Bible Stories Today read pp.72-24 0nly today

OR The Beginner Bible either as a physical or ebook pp.152-153

OR The early readers Bible p.147

OR My First Read a loud Bible p.68-69

PLAY: with family toys , dolls house, or baby dolls, or cooking sets etc

MAKE: you could make a character in the Ruth story over the next few weeks. This week make Ruth and Naomi, you could dress up some dolls, or using a strip of paper dolls, colour in one doll as Ruth and the other as Naomi, then seperate them from the other paper dolls, attach a piece sticky felt, buy a piece of hardened felt and make your own felt board top layout the story over the next few weeks.

PRAY: Put your hands together

Thank you God that you stick by me, like Ruth stuck by Naomi.

PSALM 146:

READ: Rev Purdie has written two beautiful rewrites of the Psalm, so I’m leaving it up to you to chose the one that best suits your child.

This is a joyful Psalm so read with excitement.

Get them involved with easy actions or if reading the right hand version get them repeating the simple responses in Bold print.

Look through your collection of emotions (see previous Tuesday blogs) or draw joyful happy faces on paper plates on in their journal

SECOND READING: Hebrews 9:11-14

READ/WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBKfbo60jlI One Winter Day by M. Christina Butler Most of Australia does not suffer such cold weather or have these animals but sometimes the message is worth a detour out of our comfort zone, and this talks about sacrifice like today’s reading in Hebrews.

PRAY: Jesus you gave everything for me

Thank You

 

GOSPEL READING: Mark 12:28-34

Colour In : https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-fall-2018 THIS IS A NEW SEASON, AMERICAN FALL OUR Spring

SING: https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/product/seeds-of-purpose-vol-4/ item 4

MAKE: a heart out of paper, colour it in, make one for you , make one for someone else who loves God.