Creche: Jesus Calms The Storm

May 21, 2015May 24, 2015Leave a comment

Here’s an idea to gently introduce some of the themes of the story of Jesus calming the storm to children under 3…

Sensory bottles (fill used water bottles with the following and seal with superglue):

1. Water, green glitter and blue seed beads
2. Rice and matchsticks (to make rain/ storm noises)
3.Water, blue and green sequins and blue and green mini Pom-poms
4.Water, coloured with a little bit of blue food colouring (filled to just over half way up the bottle), topped up to the top of the bottle with baby oil.
5. Baby oil, blue and green sequins and blue loom bands.

As you can see, the idea was to keep with a blue/green ‘water’ theme. The baby oil and water mix is great as there is a clear separation of the two after the shaken mixture comes to a rest. Baby oil looks like water from the outside, but slightly slows down the sinking of the objects.

Let the children shake the bottles for the ‘storm’ and then watch as the contents settle and become ‘calm.’

All Age Pipe Cleaner Intercessions

May 21, 2015May 22, 2015Leave a comment

I love the versatility of pipe cleaners and children seem to feel the same! They are great for playing
with and they are also great for praying with…

Here is a version of some prayers I did at a recent All- Age service with the whole congregation. The prayers would work well with a small group of children or in a family prayer time. Take time to talk with children about each section as you go along so that they know clearly who and what they are praying for. They will undoubtedly have lots of suggestions!

1. Shape the pipe cleaner into an initial or a shape that stands for one of your friends.
Hold the shape and tell God how your friend might need His help. Ask God to bless them.

2. Screw the pipe cleaner up.
Think about people in the world who live in confusion and don’t understand what is happening to them- people who live in war torn areas, who have to leave their homes, who don’t know where they will get their next meal. Hold the shape and ask God to help them.

3. Link your pipe cleaner with someone else’s.
Think about people who are lonely- those who have no friends, family or support around them. Ask God to send them people who will be their friends.

4. Loop the pipe cleaner around your wrist.
Think about when God has been with you this week. Has he answered any of your prayers? If you have any prayers, ask God now. Thank God for always being with us and caring for us. Wear the pipe cleaner around your wrist as a reminder of God being with you.

School Club Session Basic Outline

May 21, 2015May 21, 2015Leave a comment

If you’re thinking of starting a lunchtime or after school club in a local primary school, here’s a basic outline for a 30 minute session which you might find helpful as a guide:

5 mins	Introductory activities e.g. colouring/ board games while you are waiting for everyone to arrive
5 mins	Game
2 mins	Song
10 mins	Story and short talk (as interactive as possible!)
10 mins	Craft or other activity
3 mins	Game

For loads of game ideas, click here.

If you want to sing songs, action songs are good. Click here for some helpful videos!

Telling Stories with Story Stones

May 20, 2015May 21, 2015Leave a comment

Story stones are a great way of telling stories with small groups of children. Paint stones yourself or print out some pictures (click here) and glue them to stones.

Use the pictures on the stones to tell your Bible story and then let the children play with them and retell the story themselves if they want to!

Here are some examples…

The Feeding of the 5000

Lost sheep/ Good Shepherd

Jesus calms the storm

Sorry Prayers

May 20, 2015May 22, 2015Leave a comment

Here are 3 easy ideas for helping children to say sorry to God which will also help them to understand something of the forgiveness He gives. For ‘sorry’ prayers it is important for the children to know that what they are saying is between them and God only if they want it to be. children can use letters, pictures or symbols to communicate to God alone what they are saying sorry for.

Chalkboard sorry prayers