Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

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.

Next week our younger children will be exploring Psalm 121 and thinking about God's help and protection.  They really enjoy doing anything related to food, so here is an activity I have planned for them.  As it's about God's protection it would work equally well with any story that has that theme: Daniel in the Lion's Den, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Jesus calms the storm...  You will need: undecorated cupcakes, a knife or spoon, small sweets e.g. Skittles, fondant icing, rolling pin, circular cookie cutters. Cut a hole in the top of a cupcake with a spoon or a knife. Fill the hole with sweets. Roll out some fondant icing and cut out a circle of it that is big enough to cover the top of your cupcake. Cover the cupcake with the fondant and decorate it (maybe with the initial letter of your name). The sweets will be hidden under the icing and protected by it. Bite into the cake to reveal the protected sweets! Talk about:  Link the ...

This is a great visual illustration for thinking about God's protection and can easily be used in a school assembly. You will need: An orange, a deep, clear container, water.  Also useful are items such as sun cream, a bike helmet and a hi-vis jacket I used the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace but any story involving God's protection is good- Daniel in the Lions' Den, for example. Tell the story and get the children to participate with sound effects and actions if possible! Next bring out your 'protection' items and talk about what we do and wear to keep us safe in the sun, on the road etc.  What about people who help us to feel safe?  Talk about God keeping the characters in the story safe and speak about times in your life when you ask God to keep you safe. Put an orange in the container of water and watch it bob along the surface.  Then peel off the skin and watch it sink.  The peel is what protects the orange and stop...

I know it's a bit early to be thinking of Pentecost, but I like to be ahead of the game and there are so many stories where flames are useful! This is a really great idea for all ages.  We ended up working on the kitchen floor and even the adults decided to join in. Some of the children got incredibly creative... It's quite a reflective activity and lends itself to silence if that's an option for you.  Have fun! You will need: yellow, red and orange paint, foil (for easy clean-up afterwards!), plastic forks, card or paper (we used black for a great effect).    Use a fork to blob some paint onto the paper and then swirl and pull or brush with the fork!  Encourage colour mixing as the flames flicker together... Talk about: The power of fire reflecting the power of the Holy Spirit. What is fire like?  What can it do?   How might the disciples have felt seeing tongues of fire above their heads? How would you have felt? Wh...

Here is a very visual way to illustrate the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace with a verse to remind us of the power of God to protect and save.  It's quite fiddly so it's probably best for older children or as a teacher's tool to help tell the story! Print off the picture sheet (click here ). Cut out the square and the two pictures  Stick picture 2 in the centre space like so...  Cut along the lines of picture 1 to make 4 triangles.  Fold the corners of the main square into the middle of picture 2  Stick the triangles of picture 1 onto the folded flaps like this. Now you can tell the story of the 3 men being thrown into the fiery furnace and then lift the flaps to show... ...the fourth man in the furnace, sent by God to protect them from the flames!