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”).
If you would like these ideas as a PDF file sent to you each week, please contact me.
FIRST READING: GENESIS 15:1-12, 17-18
READ: The Jesus Storybook Bible, Sally Lloyd-Jones: Son of Laughter pp.56-58
OR The Rhyme Bible storybook by L.J.Sattgast pp.40-42
OR The Early Reader’s Bible p.36
COUNT: Hundreds and Thousands. You might need to sweep up the area for those that might have escaped small mouths. We can’t see the night sky to count the stars during the service this is something else that is too numerous to count. What a big promise, You can also do this at night before bed time and actually try counting stars.
MAKE: 2 pieces of thick paper, one white or sparkly, the other dark blue or black. Paste them together around the edges only, placing the dark sheet over the light one. With a biro, or a blunt small object, make holes in the dark sheet. What is peeking through?
PSALM 27:
READ: http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-27-take-courage-my-heart.html
How does this Psalm make you feel eg, happy, safe, etc. Show this with your body or draw it.
SECOND READING: Philippians 3:17-4:1
READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4zCqtYG_DY Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-march-17-2019/
PLAY: with your child, make a face and ask them to copy it, or make a pattern with your fingers, like a heart.
PRAY: God,
help me to follow you
not just copy you
but live my life your way
Amen
GOSPEL READING: Luke 13:31-35
READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOSgUMxJPao I Am Human: A book of Empathy by Susan Verde suggested by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-rcl-march-17-2019/
PLAY: I love the image of Vs.34, especially at this time of the year, Of the hen spreading her wings and gathering the hens to her. So play with animal families, especially a hen and chicks if you can
OR WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQEty_Pi73w
MAKE: You might like to make this chicken family https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2XV7Xg7gww
OR number 3, https://www.daniellesplace.com/html/rrsamplehen.html
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 