miracles – The Well Creative Children's ministry

The Exodus story is a fabulously colourful and exciting one. Miracle after miracle happens to the Israelites as they journey through the Red Sea and across the desert to the promised land. This craft touches on the life bringing provision God brings to his people through manna, quail and water.

You will need: sandpaper (use quite fine sandpaper if finger painting as it is much less rough on fingers), paint.

The sandpaper is rough and reflects both the sand of the desert the Israelites are crossing and the hardship of life there. Adding colour helps to reflect the life that God’s proven brings to them.

Encourage children to use their fingers or brushes to paint on the sandpaper. They might want to paint something from the story they have heard or simply to create a colourful picture. Use the time to talk about how God provided for the Israelites in the desert, bringing them life and showing his love.

This craft is a construction challenge!

In the story of Jesus walking on water, Peter manages to walk a short distance on the water, but when he starts to pay attention to the storm around him rather than Jesus, he starts to sink. When Peter get distracted by his problems and loses focus on Jesus he can’t keep going. He needs Jesus’ help to walk across the water!

Set children the challenge of constructing a way, using recyclable rubbish, of helping a stone (which would naturally sink) to move across the water. The stone needs to stay afloat and it needs to move!

You will need: stones, marker pens, recyclable materials e.g. cardboard, plastic pots, tubes, plastic lids, scissors, glue, sellotape, balloons, straws, a tray of water.

There are no rights and wrongs with this craft- only imagination. It is probably best to give the children a time limit and to keep reminding them of what time they have left. Some will prefer to work with a partner and some will very much prefer to do their own thing. When time is up, let the children test out their constructions!

Talk about:

How do you think Peter felt when he saw Jesus walking on the water
Why do you think he wanted to try it himself?
What do you think he started to sink?
Have you had times when you needed help to keep going at something that was difficult?
What helped you?
Have you ever asked Jesus for help?

Pray

Pray for people who are experiencing , difficult, stormy times in their lives, where they feel that it is hard to keep afloat. Put the children’s crafts on the water and pray that those people will find the help that they need.