Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

This week we took a look at the story of God calling Samuel when he was a child in the temple.  We were very busy! Games: We thought about having to listen so we had a great game of musical statues.  Next we got the boomwhackers out and took turns to tap out a rhythm and get everyone else to copy. Another game we tried was shaking containers of dried food (rice, pasta, sugar) and asking the children to guess what food was in the tub from what they could hear.  After telling the story, we thought about how God talks to us and how we talk to God.  We then tried out lots of different ways of praying! Reflection bottles We made prayer stones to hold when we spoke to God Prayed with Skittles...  Prayed for our friends and family... Tried out forgiveness fizz... Did some reflective colouring.. And asked God to forgive us!

Here are some ideas to help you to explore the themes of the story of Abraham's hospitality to the three strangers by the Oaks of Mamre (Genesis 18:1-15) with 3-5 year olds.  I've also incorporated Genesis 21:1-7, when Sarah gives birth to Issac.   The best idea is to tell the story and then to play!! Build a tent or shelter out of tables, chairs, cushions and blankets and think about what is was like to live in the desert. Explore themes of hospitality by playing with play food... ...making 'food' with play dough...  ...making 'special' food for important visitors. Put spread bread and then add a layer of jam or sugar strands.  Cut into shapes with cookie cutters if you want to make it extra special! Think about God's love for Abraham and Sarah and his gift to them by playing with hearts and gift boxes or gift bags. Play with baby dolls to remember the special baby that God gave to Abraham and Sarah Other ideas:  ...

This is a really colourful way to pray for people and situations where you'd like to see God's power breaking through. Visual pray-ers will love it! You will need: shaving foam, a tall glass, water, food colouring in two or three colours, small dishes, teaspoons or droppers. Pour a couple of tablespoons of water into each small dish.   Colour each dish of water with a different food colouring.   Don’t water the colouring down too much because the more intense the colouring the better! Fill the glass half way with water and squirt shaving foam to make a ‘cloud’ in the glass above it (this will probably fill the other half of the glass).  Think of a person or situation you'd like to pray for and choose a colour of water you'd like to use to represent that prayer. Ask God to help them and then use a teaspoon or dropper to pour a small amount of coloured water on top of the shaving foam cloud.   The colouring will slowly seep down thro...