Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

If you are exploring the story of Jesus the Good Shepherd (and the Gate!) this Sunday in John 10, then this play dough mat may help! This mat helps children to think about what the Good Shepherd might look like, do and say.   Click here to print out the mat, put in a plastic folder for repeated uses and have fun!

Celebrate the new life of resurrection with this butterfly craft. You will need: two squares of coloured paper (one smaller than the other), string. Easter Egg Prayers Easter Day colouring sheet Easter Day Play Dough Mats

For anyone who is looking for something to do at home this coming week, here is a playdough mat that ties in with our Mothering Sunday readings. Just click here , print out and laminate for further use in the future!  Think about: What does being safe feel like? Who keeps me safe? Who do I help to feel safe? Have you ever asked God to help you feel safe? Pray: Use the play dough mat to think about people who keep you safe and say thank you to God for them.

This prayer activity would work really well if you are looking at the Armour of God or any story involving God's protection. You will need: oranges or tangerines/ clementines (one for each child plus a couple of spare ones), permanent marker pens, a tall, clear jug or vase. Peel an orange or tangerine and put it into the water. It will sink to the bottom of the jug.  Then put an orange with the peel left on into the water. It will float. The peel is actually like armour, keeping the orange safe from sinking.  Ask children to write or draw on their oranges things that they would like protection from in life- maybe things that scare them. Float the decorated oranges in the water as a celebration of the protection and strength God can give.

I've been thinking about the armour of God recently and this is a fun activity that really helps to emphasize the idea of 'standing firm' in the strength that God gives. It also really takes me back to my childhood of playing with 'Weebles' (they wobble, but they don't fall down!) You will need: permanent marker pens, plastic Easter eggs that can be opened up, blue tack, marbles, small decorative stickers. An important attribute of the armour of God is that it helps us to stand our ground and to stand firm against the things that might try to upset us and throw us off course. These ‘weebles’ might wobble, but they will stand their ground and not fall over!  Open up a plastic Easter egg and put a blob of blue tack on the inside, at the bottom. Wedge a marble on top of the blue tack so that it stays in place.  Close the Easter egg and decorate it with the permanent markers and stickers to reflect your personality. ...

Last week was a busy but amazing week! I spent most of it in our local primary school in the prayer space we had created with some inspiration from Prayer Spaces in Schools . We were given a classroom for a week and turned it from this... To this... Each class spent at least one session in the room and lunchtimes, when children could make their own way there, were very busy! We had some amazing conversations about life, death, families, worries and everything in between. Here are some of the things we got up to... Unfolding Hopes and Dreams Water Prayers Play dough thank you prayers Whiteboard worry prayers Bringing light: How can I help to make the world a better place? Saying sorry sand prayers- drawing things to say sorry for in the sand and then smoothing it over as a sign of God's forgiveness Cardboard box prayers for people who have no homes Pipe cleaner people thank you prayers ...