If you are worshipping on line and are unsure what to do with the “little ears” worshipping with their parents, please feel free to make these suggestions during your service so the young ones too can participate.
Also a great resource for parents?careers and grandparents to use with their little during online or face to face worship, or to use as family devotions during the week.
These resources are great for the very young, so that all ages can be engaged in worship.
If you are looking for a resource to use with your family on the Fourth of August for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day https://sa.uca.org.au/documents/National-Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-Childrens-Day.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2nIHPoBXgheGtbKA9ulqHTmwKRky27fIIfGEQhF_TZUSpbJe7vpjQIeXs
or mark it by reading great Aboriginal Children’s Books such https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEKUyht_fs8 or any of these gorgeous books from https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/c/indigenous__65?fbclid=IwAR32OvmqOuhztr00LAcvR8k590H3RzWz9-Z_Iw5ZXbb_klJcPxKVnHZHzYo
or watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEe2lcLWrhU
START WITH: THE LORDS PRAYER IN ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w
Or slot it in when the congregation says The Lords Prayer
FIRST READING: Genesis 32:22-31
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zIbU866z6A start at the 1.10minute mark
DRAW: What are the things that concern you, the things that you would like to have it out with God about? Draw them OR
OR Older children might like to write them down.
Don’t answer your children’s dilemma’s help them find ways to work through them, such as help find Bible readings that might help, suggest Prayer or meditation, do some research on the topic etc. Set them up for a life dependent on God, not on you for answers.
PRAY:
Thank you God,
That I can talk to you
even if I don’t think
you might like
what I have to say
We can wrestle it out together
Amen
PSALM 17:22-31
Mighty and righteous God,
protect me from attack
rescue me from any need for revenge
May I leave all judgment in your hand
Teach me to forgive
and to act in goodness and genuine love
in every moment, every conversation
May I bless those who curse me
May they and their children be filled with good things
an exert from Psalm 17 Under Attack from http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-17-under-attack.html
How does this Psalm make you feel? Describe that feeling, 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 the Bears App https://innovativeresources.org/resources/digital-applications/bears-app/
SECOND READING: Romans 9:1-5
READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VYHc1t_JYA Also an Octopus by Maggie Tokuda-Hall as suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-august-6-2017/
DO: Write or tell a story. Share your stories.
PRAYER
Remind us God,
To tell your stories
and build on them
Amen
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 14:13-21
OR READ: My First Read aloud Bible OR 5 Minute Bible Stories Both by Boshhoff and Batchelor, pp. 176-177 for the very young
OR The Storybook Bible Filled Full pp. 244-249 recommended for the whole family
DO: Think of situations (you can check the internet if that is allowed) where one idea sparked a broad response, ie Teddy Bear trails, Rainbows for Health staff, a boy making bears for charity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quHdFGV94OM, etc, how many were started by kids?
What made the story of the loaves and fishes story different to these stories (ie Jesus blessed the offering) anything else?
Is there anything you feel you are called by God to do?
PLAY: if you have a picnic playset, or the Ikea food basket https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/latsas-12-piece-shopping-basket-set-20262005/ invite your toys for a picnic, or have a concert, or have it during or after the worship service. Or have a real picnic!
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 