Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

This is a lovely activity to help children to reflect on who Jesus is and to explore how they relate to him. We did it when we were exploring what praise was with 3 classes in our local infant school (ranging in age from 4-7) and each class added to the poster as we went along. I must add that this is a church school, so children do have some knowledge of Christianity as a starting point. Making the poster does involve finger paint. so have some wet wipes or hand washing facilities available! You will need: Felt tip pens, a large sheet of paper (e.g. wallpaper backing) with 'Jesus' written on it in big letters, post it notes, finger paints Ask children to think about what they would say if they were telling someone about their amazing friend Jesus and to write or draw it on a post it note. stick all of the post it notes onto the big poster When they have all added to the poster share the things that people have written or drawn and invite children t...

Last week we continued our Messy Church theme of Parables and investigated the parable of the mustard seed. It's a tiny parable but has so much in it! 31  He told them another parable:  “The kingdom of heaven is like  a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.   32  Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”  (Matthew 13: 31-32) Here are the crafts we used to think about the story... Mustard Tree cakes (cupcakes with a hole scooped out of them. Plant a Smartie 'seed' in the hole, cover with butter icing and show a paper tree growing where the seed has been planted!) Decorating branches Building Lego homes Growing Seeds Making bird gliders (Kits from Baker Ross at a really reasonable price) Making a prayer tree with prayers on leaves and birds ...