While some States in Australia are close to returning to school, it seems that most of Australia are still on the move this week. As some may visit churches other than their home church, while others might zoom into services and others might take a break from formal worship at this time; I have structured these suggestions around informal family faith formation experiences for those away from home or away from the usual structure.
Faith is portable, we live it, and share it, every day. I hope these simple ideas help your family form their faith, no matter where you are.
If you are a small congregation that suddenly has children in your pews, these can also be used in your services, shared direct from this site, or copied into your order of service. Or you can print out handouts here
We are now in the Season of After Epiphany and the liturgical colour is GREEN.
If you are worshipping away from a Church it might help to create a centrepoint for your worship time. To do this you might like to find something green (the liturgical colour), create a cross from whatever is around you, and light a candle, you can add anything else that speaks to you about God from the readings or from your week with God.
FIRST READING: Isaiah 9:1-4
READ: Night Out by Daniel Miyares
A Storypath Suggestion
ACTIVITY: play with light, use your phone or a battery operated candle or a torch to shine light into dark spaces
PRAY:
Shine your light on me too,
God
Amen
PSALM 27:1 and 4-9
My God is my light (hold your hands in front of you and twinkle your fingers)
My God is my savior (look longingly)
Why be afraid? (shake)
My God is my safety (hug yourself)
My God is my home (make a roof with your arms over your head)
I won’t be afraid! (shake your finger)
Some days are bad days – that’s OK.
Some people say nasty things – that’s OK,
because I am hidden with Jesus
in the safest place,
in the arms of God,
like sleeping in a tent,
like standing high on a tall rock
where nothing can get me.
With God’s care around me
I will sing and dance
and shout for joy!
With God’s face shining on me
I will be patient through bad days.
I will be strong.
Take courage, my heart,
lean on God.
abridged from take Courage my Heart an interpretation of Psalm 27 by Rev. Purdie, actions by me
SING: Choose a song to sing to the Lord when you are happy, and when you are frightened.
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
READ: When pencil met eraser by Karen Kilpatrick and Luis O. Ramos, Jr.
A Storypath suggestion
ACTIVITY: Find as many things as possible that go together, ie flower and a stem, a leaf and a twig, a pair of socks(they don’t have to match) etc.
OR you can play with toys that are better together ie, lego, blocks, farm or car sets, dolls etc.
OLDER people might prefer to make a list of things that people ca do together, ie reading clubs, bike groups etc.
PRAY (start this prayer with your arms out wide and as the words are said slowly clasp your hands together)
In You Jesus,
Help me to see our love of You
not the things that divide us
Amen
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 4:12-23
READ: The Jesus Storybook Bible p.210 starting “Who would make great helpers, do you think?” to p.213
WATCH Start at the 39 sec position for today’s reading, and stop at the 1.17sec spot.
DRAW: This was a common everyday scene that Jesus’s disciples were in when they acknowledged Him. You might like to draw a scene from your everyday.
PRAY
Find a fruit net or a hair net. Cut out fish shapes like this template, you may need to change the copier size to get the size that fits in your net.
Now write a prayer or draw a person that you want to pray for on a fish and as you pray for that person, put the fish in the net.
Blessings
Wendy L.
Please check local guidelines before using items that are not mine especially if you are using this page for congregational use. Please acknowledge 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.
The Cross in My Backyard 