How wonderful that you have bought your young child to church, don’t waste this opportunity to share the faith stories and experience the wonder of worship.
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.
Sing or sway during the Hymns
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. Don’t throw these out when you leave the church. Keep them at home in a special box, and bring them out to remind your child what has been happening or use as future prayer points.
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”).Spiritual Delights or Toy Box tat! andMake the books appealing
If you would like these ideas as a PDF file sent to you each week, please contact me.
FIRST READING: Acts 16:16-34
READ: The Lion PictureBook Bible pp.364-365
OR The Beginners Bible Earth Quake in Prison, pp.500-503
PLAY: What do you do when you are in a difficult situation. Pray, call for Mum or Dad, Sing, pat the dog, hide, etc. Parents might like to make some cards of these possibilities. Put the cards down then ask your child to point out the picture of what they do, then ask them what Paul and Silas did.
PRAY: SING any song you know make it into a prayer
PSALM 97
Rejoice! The Lord is King!
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice; rejoice;
again I say, rejoice.
Power! All the forces in the planet (punch out your fist thrusting from your body)
are powered by the Lord.
Love! All the love in the universe (Make a love heart with your hands)
flows from the Lord.
Joy! All the happiness in the world (Jump)
is given by the Lord.
Thanks! All our thanks we give back to you. ( spray open your hands at shoulder level as you push them forward from your body)
My thanks again to Rev. Purdie http://www.conversations.net.nz/psalm-97-rejoice-the-lord-is-king.html
DRAW: quarter a page with a texta to make four spaces. Draw a picture for each of the four strong words in this Psalm, Power, Love, Joy and Thanks.
SECOND READING: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
READ: The Jesus Storybook Bible p.348 Read from the second paragraph down.
LOOK: There are a lot of symbols we use in this reading. So point out the symbols in your church, they may include the alpha and omega, the lamb or the Bride as mentioned or you might have some other symbols around the church.
PRAY
We wait for your world to come (hands on your waist)
Amen
GOSPEL READING: John 17:20-26
COLOURING-IN: https://store.illustratedchildrensministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/bible-story-coloring-pages-spring-2019 PURCHASE IS DOWNLOADABLE AND IS IN AMERICAN DOLLARS FOR 14 WEEKS (12WEEKS IN)
PLAY: Play with Babushka Dolls, or nesting toys to signify that we all rest in Christ.
NOO! You are not finished even if the service has. Now is the time to continue teaching your child beyond the walls of the church.
Use the craft or drawings during the week to talk about the service or the stories.
Use any of the readings during the week, at bedtime, as story time or during the day in play or prayer.
Enjoy sharing your faith with your child.
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 