Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

I had a lovely time recently, learning about liturgy boxes and how toys and other items can help children (including under 5s) to interact with parts of liturgy, especially when there are no formal children's activities. Carloynn over at the Spiritual Child Network  has put together details of how liturgy boxes work with some great  examples .  Using those ideas as a springboard I've come up with a selection of items to help children interact with parts of the Communion liturgy.  It probably works best with some guided adult interaction to start off with, but children will become more familiar as they get used to the objects and symbols!  Have a go and let me know how it works for you... Gathering/ worship/ awe and wonder: Dancing ribbons, shakers, a simple kaleidoscope and a reflection bottle. Confession: A holding cross Word/ Bible reading: Bible story books Intercessions: Play people and a globe ball Eucharistic...

This activity came about by accident when I was helping to run activities for under 5s at a church camping weekend.  A friend had made some Moon Sand and children had proceded to mix loom bands in with it.  Searching for the hidden loom bands became a great game and the added bonus of sensory play was brilliant! Use this for exploring the 'searching' element of the Lost Sheep or Lost Coin stories. You will need: 8 cups of flour and 1 cup of baby oil (or vegetable oil will also work- see here for a recipe ), loom bands, a tray with sides to keep the Moon Sand in. Mix the oil and flour thoroughly.  You will end up with something resembling shortbread mixture, dry but forming clumps when you press it together.  It will easily crumble back when you have finished pressing it! Hide the loom bands in the mixture and then encourage the children to find them.  You might want to turn it into a game and see who can find the most.  It will get a bit messy ...

This is an easy but inventive way of exploring the journey of the Israelites in the wilderness... You will need:  Watercolour paints, a white crayon, white paper or card, water Get children to draw a thick line on the paper with their white crayon.  The line should start at one point on the paper and finish at another but can go in any direction and any wandering that the child wants to take!  The more wandering the better. Swap papers with another child and paint over the paper, covering the whole page and revealing the full journey of the line. The full journey of the line will only be seen when the paper has been covered in paint.  God knows where we are going, even if we sometimes don't! Talk about:   The Exodus story and the journey through the wilderness.   How would you have felt to be journeying for so long? What is the longest journey you have been on?  Have you ever been on a mystery journey? Have you ever start...

This is a storytelling idea that is easy, portable and flexible for many stories. You will need:  4 Card strips (judge size depending on how close the children are going to be and how big the group is.  You will probably need bigger strips for a bigger group, but expriment with what works best for you!), paper fasteners (split pins), something to make a hole with. Make a hole in the end of each piece of card and join the pieces with split pins so that it looks as shown.  You now have your storytelling equipment! This is how you might use the strips to tell the story of Joshua and the walls of Jericho. The walls of Jericho were closed to God's people.  No one could get in or get out. The walls were very tall so no one could climb them either! God told Joshua that there was no need to worry.  He would give the city to Joshua and the Israelites if they trusted Him and did what He said.   God told Joshua and his army to walk around t...