You have found a collection of ideas to help you contemplate the RCL readings. While designed to be used during a Sunday service at church or by zoom, these readings can also be used during the week to help you remember and build on what you experienced on Sundays. My objective is for faith to be a lived experience and for children to learn how to worship and explore the Bible and pray by participating in Worship with you. The goal here is not for them to learn names or facts though they may want to do that for themselves, but rather to find ways of connecting with the text and sharing that with others. The ideal is to form a life long love of Christ and for the Word of God.
You can do this by setting up a candle, then add the things that remind YOU of God, a Cross, a Bible that everyone likes to read from, a special object, even something from one of the readings. Today you might like to add some purple cloth or ribbon today.
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 use a journal with which to record anything that grabs your attention during the service. This could be a special, bound book or use your ipad or iphone. You could write a precis of the message (traditional words or pictures), draw, keep a record of emotions and hymns that you did or did not like. You could use a template like this free download. Remember, this is for you, you do not have to show anyone what is in it unless you want to, and you feel safe to do so.
CONGREGATIONAL USE: Though parents are the best at sharing their faith with their children. If you are a small congregation where children are a very small, or rare part of your congregational life, please feel free to make these suggestions available to your congregation. I am very happy for you to copy and paste ideas from here into your own Order of Service or for you to supply a link to this page. An acknoledgement though is always appreciated.
THE LORD’S PRAYER:
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY
FIRST READING; Acts 16:9-15
READ: Spark Story Bible, Lydia, pp.418-42
DRAW: A picture of Paul baptising Lydia
PSALM 67
Everyone Praise God, our God, be good to us and bless us (hold your hands in prayer)
make your face to shine upon us (trace your face with your finger)
make your ways known in all the earth (hold your hands as if they were a book)
show your saving power in all the nations. (shield your eyes as if looking into a bright light )
God, our God, has been good to us and blessed us (Hold your hands in prayer)
God is blessing us now and will keep on blessing. (point to an imaginary watch)
All you peoples – praise our God! (hold your hands out at about head level)
All you nations – be glad, sing for joy! (make a happy face)
For God rules with justice and peace ( point your finger)
and guides all the nations (hold your hand out with the palm up)
God brings forth goodness on the earth. (Crouch down low then grow tall)
All you peoples – praise our God! (hold your hands out at about head level)
To the very ends of the earth – (look into the distance)
honour and rejoice in God! (look very happy)
Words from Rev. Purdie http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-67-all-you-peoples-praise.html
actions by me
RESPONSE: How does this Psalm make you feel? Make a face, Happy or Sad?
SECOND READING: Revelation 21:10 and 22-22:5
READ: God Created By Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones
WATCHhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH71nftqTLg
A suggestion by Storypathhttp://storypath.upsem.edu/lectionary-links-sunday-may-1-2016/
DRAW: Your most favourite place or a place that you would really love to be in.
PRAY
Let your Light shine out God Amen
GOSPEL READING: John 14:23-29
READ: Llama Llama misses Mama
as suggested by Storypath read the explanation to see why this is a good fit for this reading.
DRAW: Fold an A4 paper into thirds. Draw a heart on the first third Draw a Peace sign on the Second third Draw a cross on the third third. Let your child colour them in, or copy the shapes if they are closer to 3 years old.
PRAY
Help my heart to be yours God
My we live in peace With faith in you
Amen
OR John 5:1-9
READ/WATCH: This is a Very long video for the younger age group so you might want to watch the video in small time bites. You could stop the video at 4.30 minutes mark for the little ones. Perfect for mid-to senior primary school kids.
PLAY: act out the story using your toys.
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.
I have qualifications in Education, Theology and Children’s Spirituality, and have worked as a Children and Families Worker in a city church. I use simple and easily found ideas to help you share the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) readings. 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, saving you time from sifting through many websites, facebook , pinterest, instagram, and blog posts.
The Cross in My Backyard 