Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

I was at an amazing Baptism conference last week where we used Rosemary as a sensory way of remembering our Godparents and Godchildren as we prayed. I know that smelling rosemary has a real link to improving memory and I vividly remember using Rosemary oil during my exam revision at school! As All Souls Day is approaching, this Sunday we had our annual bereavement service and it struck me that we could use the Rosemary with children who have lost loved ones, to help them to bring their memories to God with thanks. Using the scent of the herb is a gentle and positive way to help children explore what can be an emotional subject. You will need: Rosemary stalks with plenty of leaves. Give each child a leave from the stalk of Rosemary and get them to rub it between their fingers to release the scent. Talk about their memories of the loved ones they have lost. Think about the sweetness of the smell. What happy memories do they have? What would they like to thank God for about that...

I got a new set of magnetic letters today so I could use them for some sensory style prayers!  Your letters don't need to be magnetic- wooden ones will do just as well. I just like the colours! Here are two ideas to incorporate them into prayer activities which your more hands-on children might enjoy... 1. Magnetic letter flour (or sand!) prayers You will need: A baking tray or tuff spot, sieves, spoons, flour or sand, magnetic letters Arrange the letters into words of people or places you would like to pray for.   Use the sieve to sprinkle the flour or sand onto the words as you ask God to bless them or that situation. Take the letters away to reveal the words left behind on the sheet or tuff spot base. 2. Magnetic letter hunt prayers You will need: a box or deep tray, shredded paper, magnetic or wooden letters Put the shredded paper and letters into the box and mix them all up together. Children take it in turns to pull a letter out of the box. ...