AFTER PENTECOST 20 A: ideas to share this week’s RCL readings with even the youngest family members using things you have at home:

You have found a great resource for parents/careers and grandparents to use with their little ones during online or face to face worship, or to use as family devotions during the week.

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.

If at home you might like to make a space for worship it can be permanent or bought out at times of sharing faith together. We are in the season of After Pentecost, the longest season, and it’s colour is green.

You might like to place a green tablecloth on the dinner table or coffee table, or a white one with green ribbons.

It need be no more complicated than that!

OR you could add a cross, or something that talks to you about faith, such as your Bible.

You can even add a candle (with young children around I like to use the battery operated kind.)

START WITH: THE LORDS PRAYER 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 slot it in when the congregation says The Lords Prayer, if you are in a face to face service, or zooming in from Home.

FIRST READING: EXODUS 33:12-23

READ: https://sermonwriter.com/childrens-sermons/exodus-3312-23-by-your-side-edstrom/

Do: Who do you need by your side: a friend, a toy. Go get the toy or older children can explain or write a poem as to why theri friend is important to them.

DRAW: Is there a place you feel God’s presence. If there is draw it, if there isn’t what might it be like?

PSALM 99

READ:

Psalm 99: If you shake us

(as a prayer of confession)

O God, how incredible you are! (arms up high)
How ordinary we are. (make yourselve small)
The earth shakes with your power (shake your body)
and we tremble, afraid (tremble)
that if you shake us we’d fall apart. (fall to the ground)
We see your brilliance (hide your eyes)
and we hide in the dark. (shrink down)
We know how pure you are, pure love, (make a love heart with your hands)
and we know that we are a mess. (shake)
Forgive us, God. (hand your head)
We stuff up. (drop your shoulders)
We forget to live in your light. (pretend to hold a candle)

Many thanks again to Rev. Purdie http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-99-if-you-shake-us.html

COLOURING IN: Grab a 12 month membership to Stushie https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/620983/posts/296374048, for $US25 and you will find a page to colour in for today’s Psalm. (there is also one for the Gospel Reading – Double bonus today)

SECOND READING: 1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-10

READ/WATCH: The Recess Queen By Alexis O’Neill and laura Huliska-Beith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K05lKxCmRgc a suggestion by http://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-sunday-october-16-2011/ read why

QUESTION: What are you thankful for? Draw, talk share your thoughts.

SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV_OHTCzoZc Give Thanks

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 22:15-22

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwKSCniP_D8&fbclid=IwAR2mm3ecUkQIBq1VWzHsYKwxVqwbqpZ8vwqzidwn4f6njpGcI6uPoIMTrnE

COLOURING-IN: I have always recommended Illustrated Ministry’s work, though I prefer free stuff, I have found their work very reflective of how I find meaning in the passages, but more importantly I have noticed that chidlren of all ages love them and find meaning in them. Their FALL season has started and will give you a colouring in sheet each week until the end of November. It is $US19 for the quarter, and if you have kids that love colouring in it is money well spent COLOURING-IN https://store.illustratedministry.com/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-fall-2020?variant=31882216570978

PRAY:

Get out the play money (really the only form of currency kids see these days)

Line them up and attach one of the Fruits of the spirit to them. Read of the Fruits of the spirit here? https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A22-23&version=ERV

Assign a coin or note to each of the fruits and pray for God to grant you or help create in you the particular fruit.

If doing this as a family, write the fruits on pieces of paper or sticky notes take turns choosing a fruit and a corresponding coin. THen write a prayer or pray together for or about that fruit and it’s value in your family.

Year A: Transfiguration. Ideas to help 3’s and under relate to this weeks RCL readings

Here are some ideas to help you share the Readings from the Revised Common Lectionary with your under 3’s.

Note that the Church season is changing. This week should see churches dressed in White. What colour will we see next week?

You can find some ideas here https://wordpress.com/post/thecrossinmybackyard.wordpress.com/910 as to where to sit and what to bring.

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”).Spiritual Delights or Toy Box tat! andMake the books appealing

THE LORDS PRAYER IN ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w

FIRST READING: Exodus 24:12-18 Moses encounter with God

READ: The Lion Picture Bible p.86 only

DRAW: Those people that are special to you?

How do they make you feel?

PSALM 2

Psalm 2: You are my child

Hear God’s word to you:
“My dear, my beloved, you are my child
and I am your Father.
I will give you more than you could ask or imagine.
You can trust me completely.”

from http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-2-wrath-on-a-hill.html

How does t his make you feel?

OR Psalm 99

Psalm 99: If you shake us

(as a prayer of confession)

O God, how incredible you are! (hold arms out wide)
How ordinary we are. (look down)
The earth shakes with your power (shake)
and we tremble, afraid (tremble ( note how it is different to shaking)
that if you shake us we’d fall apart. (fall down)
We see your brilliance (shield your eyes)
and we hide in the dark. (make yourself very small)
We know how pure you are, pure love, (make a love heart)
and we know that we are a mess. (look around yourself as if you had made a big mess)
Forgive us, God. (hold your hands together)
We stuff up. (kick the ground)
We forget to live in your light. (Shield your eyes)
Words from http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-99-if-you-shake-us.html Actions by me

Point out or draw everything that shines (like God makes the world shine).

SECOND READING: 2 Peter 1:16-21

READ: You are Special by Max Lucado https://www.koorong.com/product/you-are-special-max-lucado_1581342195?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.koorong.com%2Fsearch%2Fresults.jhtml%3Fw%3Dyou%2Bare%2Bspecial%26af%3Dtab%253Aproducts

WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15QuHygLwFU

SING: https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/all-about-jesus/

PLAY: How special are your toys. give each a hug and tell them.

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 17:1-9

READ: The Early Reader’s Bible God Talks about his Son, pp.387-391

COLOURING IN: https://store.illustratedministry.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-winter-2019-2020?variant=31032290738274 This resource has colouring in pages until the 23rd of February 2020. And costs about $A20.

PRAY

Wiggle your fingers

Let me hear about the glory of God

And help me share

the Wonder

Amen

LENT STARTS ThIS WEEK with ASH Wednesday.

If your church does not do an Ash Wednesday service try to mark this special day at home.

You can eat pancakes on the Tuesday. A reminder to eat up up before the start of Lent before the traditionally 40 fasting days of Lent. If you do not have a Lent practice, fasting, giving up something, family time of prayer of Bible reading or singing. This might be the time to find something to mark the Lent days. http://sacraparental.com/2016/01/08/lent-with-kids-how-to-create-a-household-lent-plan/?fbclid=IwAR14kc_3deU8PAqC_3mSbnaRb8qh53hGLfqxUTSlpjN2xdxpuPG2Zl8c3LI

or https://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2014/03/weekly-lenten-disciplines-for-households.html?fbclid=IwAR2QbPdmXAC5gVNNmK7g7vedzu_Mpjo3ZCSDdFu0yqcxB0PpixAdPprat-4

OR https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/93773350/posts/2586325834

OR sign up to get the free Lent study for the Jesus Storybook Bible https://www.sallylloyd-jones.com/newsletter-sign-up/?fbclid=IwAR2Li8E7AnG3khWd6dxpdfJVoRDlAxRTou4yqsBP7LQL7UyMLsX7vtCcVjU

Then make time for a special prayer time on Wednesday. If you have had your Palm cross on your door since last year, you could burn this and make a drawing of the cross with its ashes to hang on the fridge this Lent as a reminder that it is a special time.

OR https://buildfaith.org/singing-in-the-dark/?fbclid=IwAR1e1myT_SgWHQtpdGFYwYLIu4StQv5DXAJN_CcYxsZHASJttdORsrXUoac

Transfiguration of Jesus Year C: Ideas to help you share this weeks RCL readings with the 3’s and under

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 would like these ideas as a PDF file sent to you each week, please contact me.

FIRST READING: EXODUS 34:29-35

READ: The Early Readers Bible God’s Good Rules pp.107-108

Colouring In https://coloringbookfun.com/religion/moses first image

PRAY:

Dear God

Help me to reflect your Glory

Amen

PSALM 99

Psalm 99: If you shake us

O God, how incredible you are! (open your hands wide)
How ordinary we are. (look down at the ground)
The earth shakes with your power (Shake)
and we tremble, afraid (show being afraid)
that if you shake us we’d fall apart. (Shake your hands)
We see your brilliance (shield your eyes)
and we hide in the dark. (put your hands over your face)
We know how pure you are, pure love, (make a heart shape with your hands)
and we know that we are a mess. (hold your arms open with your palms up ward)
Forgive us, God. (hold your hands in a prayer shape)
We stuff up.
We forget to live in your light. (pretend to blow out a candle)

from http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-99-if-you-shake-us.html

DRAW or SHOW: how this Psalm makes you feel

SECOND READING: 2 CORINTHIANS 3:12-4:2

READ/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmWw2ZbT1dY Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel

OR You are light by Aaron Becker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5TOnevpf9A or buy https://www.readings.com.au/products/26260084/you-are-light

PLAY: With mirrors, or shiny paper. Look at your reflection.

MAKE: A collage of shiny objects, shiny papers, sticky mirrors (sometimes available at RIOT)

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 9: 28-36 (37-43a)

READ: The Early Reader’s Bible God Talks about his son pp.387-391

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

PRAY:

Hold your hands up in Prayer

Notice the shape. Your hand looks like a mountain.

When we pray we talk to God, so as to get closer to God.

What do you want to tell God?

Can you sit quietly so that you might enjoy your time with God?