Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

This Sunday's Gospel is about God's provision for creation- the birds of the air, the flowers of the field, and us.  Here's a printable colouring sheet to download and colour in, inspired by the passage.  Click here to download:  Link this to the activity here for more exploration of the text.

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 ...

In light of current events in Ukraine, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have asked that Sunday 27th February is used as a day of prayer for peace. Here is a reflective colouring sheet if you like to pray with colour. One version is the image only and the second version is a sheet with the Archbishops' prayer for peace copied at the bottom.  For the colouring sheet on its own, click here . For the colouring sheet with the Archbishops' prayer for Peace in Ukraine, click here.  

Colouring is a really good way to help children to take time to sit and reflect. It also provides a great opportunity for us to chat informally with them about what they think and are learning.  I made these colouring sheets to help children to focus on the words of the Apostles' Creed and they might be especially useful to you if your church says the creed every week!  The creed is quite long (though it's actually one of the shorter creeds!), so it's been split over 3 sheets. Click here to print sheet 1 Click here to print sheet 2 Click here to print sheet 3

We are running a series on parables at the moment so this week I have made a colouring sheet for the parable of the persistent neighbour in Luke 11.  To print the sheet, click here . Have fun!

Tomorrow's lectionary gospel reading is from John 14, so here is a reflective colouring sheet to help children engage with some of the verses.  We'll be using this, amongst other things in our children's activities. Click here to print off the sheet and enjoy colouring!

Here is a reflective colouring sheet to go with the story of Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14). The  picture shows the reassuring words of Jesus and a foot stepping out into the water.  Click here  to print off the sheet! Talk about:  What might the disciples have been thinking/ feeling when they saw Jesus? When have you needed to have courage to step out? How does it make you feel? Who helps you when you feel like you might sink? Leaders give testimonies of times when Jesus has helped you to have courage Pray: Draw around feet and cut out the shapes.  Draw or write situations on them where you would like Jesus to help you not to be afraid. Pin the shapes to some blue fabric to make it look as if the feet are walking on water

Here is a new reflective colouring sheet which focusses on Psalm 27:1- one of most favourite Bible verses: The Lord is my light and the one who saves me. So why should I fear anyone? Here are some ideas: Use the time you spend colouring to... Talk about:  What/ who is the strongest thing/ person you know? Why is light important and useful? How can God/ people be like light for others? What does it mean for someone to save us? How do you think God saves us? What makes you afraid? What helps you when you are afraid? Have you ever asked God to help you? Pray As you colour, pray for people who are afraid and ask God to help them and save them.  Children might want to ask God to help them with specific fears. To print off the colouring sheet  click here .

I was very excited, this week, to be given a review copy of the new resource from Illustrated Children's Ministry - An Illustrated Earth for Families  and I have to say that we wasted no time in trying it out! An Illustrated Earth For Families is a downloadable resource that includes 12 separate sessions for the whole family to use together.  Each session includes a Bible story, questions, storytelling cards, a prayer and two colouring sheets- a simple one for younger children and a more complex version for older children and adults. The sessions are split into 3 sections (Water stories, Plant and Food Stories and Animal stories) and each section finishes with four practical ideas for the family to do together. Some families from church had a go at one of the sessions and it's fair to say that they had a great time! Here's a review from Emma and her two boys.. C (aged 5) was very excited when he saw the colouring and when I said 5000 he knew the story from School....

Here is a new reflective colouring sheet of Bethlehem houses to help children to think about Jesus as 'God with us' in our world, our homes and our families. Things to think about: What is it like to be part of a family? How do people make friends and get to know others? Who is your best friend and why? What would it be like if Jesus was one of your friends or part of your family? Why do you think Jesus was part of a human fam ily? Click here to print out and have fun colouring!

Today I'm really excited to bring a  guest blog from Adam at Illustrated Children's Moments .  This is a new resource that will really help children to engage with the Bible.  There are free resources too!  Be sure to check out the website... I’ve often come to Flame Creative Kids for ideas and resources for my ministry in the past, so it’s a great honor to be here today sharing with you about Illustrated Children’s Moments. Through this new venture, I’m creating original artwork for use with children’s ministry and helping to bring the Bible to life for kids. On November 16, we are releasing four brand new products: 1) Advent materials and resources for churches, 2) engaging and interactive Advent materials for families to use at home, 3) Five Advent coloring sheets, and 4) an Advent Coloring Poster pack. I wanted to share with you about two items today that will hopefully give you an idea of what we’re all about. Illustrated Children’s Moments Children’s M...

Here is the reflective colouring sheet we used in our 'worship' based Messy Church this month.  It really fitted in with the celebration and both adults and children made use of it during the afternoon. Click here to find and print the PDF.  Have fun colouring!

This week the lectionary pointed us to the story of Jesus telling the people that he is the Bread of Life (John 6).  As a response, here is a reflective colouring sheet to help children to think about Jesus' words.  I know that this comes a little late if you looked at this story on Sunday, but who knows when it might come in handy in the future! Click here  to print off the sheet.

This is the last sheet in the series of reflective colouring based on Holy Communion.  This sheet explores what it might mean to be 'sent out' in God's name.   Click here to print out the sheet. Have fun reflecting!

A while back, a friend suggested that it would be good to have a reflective colouring sheet to fit different parts of the communion service.  This would help children, hopefully, to recognise parts of the liturgy and to reflect a little on what was happening.   Always one to rise to a challenge, here is the first in the set: the gathering... Click here   to print off the sheet and get colouring! Things to talk about: Whay do we come together in church?  What does it mean for the Lord to be 'with you'? Have you ever felt that God is with you? Pray: That God will be with us, our family and friends in the coming week.

Here is a reflective colouring sheet for Easter day.  I'm posting it a few days early so I apologise to those who are still burying the Alleluias!  Click here to print off the sheet. Happy Easter when it arrives!

Recently I had a request for a colouring sheet for this particular verse so here it is!  Click here  to print off the sheet and enjoy colouring...

I've been thinking recently about the symbols of Holy Communion and how we can help children to connect with the liturgy and actions of the service.  Here is a reflective colouring sheet I've come up with as part of that process! Click here to print out the sheet and get colouring!

Here is a reflective colouring page based around the Nativity story.  Although the Wise Men who follow the star don't actually appear in Luke's gospel, where the verse is from, I felt that the star was also a reflection of God's glory! Click here to print off the page and enjoy colouring!

I 'm in the process of putting together a set of lesson plans for 'The Fruit of the Spirit' so, to add to the collection, here's a reflective colouring page based on Galatians 5:22-23 Click here  to print off the page.  Enjoy colouring!