Exodus Story Cloud-Spotting with Printable Activity Sheet

In the Bible, clouds are often a sign of God's Presence. When the people of God find themselves on their Exodus journey, they are led by a pillar of cloud during the day and Moses goes up the mountain and disappears into the clouds where God is.  This activity is an active way of exploring this story and thinking about how we each experience God's presence with us.

Download and print the cloud spotting sheet here.

Go outside to spot cloud types, maybe after hearing one of the stories about clouds in Exodus, and have a think about the discussion questions on your walk:

• What shapes and pictures can you see in the clouds
• Where do you feel that God is with you?
• What can you see that reminds you of God?

On our walk the clouds were fairly dramatic and rainy and we cut a viewing window out of the centre of the sheet. Fortunately, we didn't get too wet!

This activity could be adapted for the Ascension story or for any story that contains clouds!

Simeon and Anna (or angel!) Luminaries

This Sunday we are celebrating Candlemas or the presentation of Jesus in the temple. The story of Simeon and Anna is one of my absolute favourites and I love how this simple craft gives the impression of a person holding the light that Jesus represents, just as Simeon takes Jesus in his arms in the story. 

You will need: A copy of the templates, glue, scissors, paper (if patterned make sure the pattern is on both sides).

Use the templates to cut out a person shape. Glue along edge B and create a circle with edge A. You can colour the shape in as desired or even write the words of the Nunc Dimitis on it:

“Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant, die in peace as you said.
30 I have seen with my own eyes how you will save your people.
31     Now all people can see your plan.
32 He is a light to show your way to the other nations.
    And he will bring honor to your people Israel.” (Luke 2: 29-32).

You can also use the wings template to make an angel! 

If you want to be intricate, here's one I made with individually cut feathers for the wings :-)

Thinking about God's Love: Paper Cut Heart Circle

 

This is a fairly easy and impressive looking paper cutting activity that can be used to explore any passage or story focussing on God's love. I especially love the fact that the hearts form both a circle and a star because those ideas lend themselves to thinking about God's love being all encompassing and never ending, and also draw attention to the star that leads to the baby who is the ultimate expression of God's love.

You will need: Scissors, a square of paper (mine was patterned on one side and blank on the other), a pen or pencil, a flat, hard surface.

Lay your paper square flat on a hard surface.

Fold the square in half...

...and in half again.

Open out the last fold you made. There will now be a line down the centre of the triangle.

Fold one side of the triangle to line up with the centre line.

Now fold the other side of the triangle over the top of that. Be aware that the folded sides will not be of an equal size, but don't worry! This is what will lead the different sized hearts. There are ways to make the size of the hearts equal but I am aiming for easiness and I don't mind 2 different sized hearts if the craft is easier!

On the top of the folded piece, draw a version of the above. Make sure your pencil or pen lines reach right to the edges.

Cut along the pencil/pen lines. If you turn over what you are left with, it will look like this. You can see the lengths are unequal. Again- don't worry!

Open your cutting out!

Talk About: 

What shapes can you see? 

Do the shapes remind you of any Bible stories?

What is love?

How do you think that God shows love?

How do you show love?

Prayer:

Thank God for all the people we love and who love us.

Colossians 3: 12-14 Printable Reflective Colouring Sheet 'Clothe Yourself..."

This Sunday is Bible Sunday in the Church of England Lectionary and we get one of my favourite epistle readings. Seeing the words in a visual way really helps to keep the message in mind. I usually do something with labelled pieces of clothing and then cover all of them with a coat marked love. We have the chance to talk about the pieces of 'clothing' we find hardest to put on and the examples we see in the lives of other people we know. Here's a printable reflective colouring sheet if you'd like to use it.

Talk about: 

• What do these words mean? Kindness, humility, meekness, patience?
• Which are you good at? which would you like to be better at?
• what does it mean to 'wear' these things?
• Who shows these things to you?
• Why is love over everything?
• How does love bring everything together?

Pray:  Choose one of the virtues mentioned in the verses. Choose something that you wear every day e.g. socks, shoes, hair bobble. Every time you put that thing on over the next week, ask God to help you to wear your chosen virtue so that others can see it in you.