Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

As part of our all age carol service today we had a creation station, and one of the activities was to make a host of angels. Adults and children took part at any point in the service they wanted to and we ended up with a great display. This was easy enough for even the youngest children to do and was very popular.  Indeed, it was more popular than I imagined it would be and I got into trouble when we ran out of pieces and had to improvise! You will need: A5 pieces of coloured paper or card, triangles slightly less tall and wide than A5, small triangles for wings, small circles for heads, glue sticks Stick the 'wings' point down, somewhere about 1/3 of a page down from the top of the card. Stick the large triangle over the top and add a circle for a head. As you can see, some chose also to add faces and speech! As they were being made, we gathered the angels together and created a heavenly host for the congregation to see :-) 

An agamograph is a piece of artwork that changes as the viewer shifts perspective. Basically there are two different pictures and you see a different one depending on how you are looking at the piece.  This is a special agamograph for Christmas! There are 2 original pictures- a star and an angel: Click here to print off the colour in sheet Colour the sheet in Score along each of the vertical lines so that it will be easier to fold along the lines Concertina the picture, folding along the vertical lines Open the picture up slightly and try viewing it from different angles

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 ...

This craft is likely to get a bit messy and certainly won’t look perfect or neat at the end but it is a great way to help younger children explore the concept of angels moving up and down the ladder! The paint outline around the stencil gives a bit of a ‘glow’ to each angel shape, which helps to reflect the ‘holy’ presence that Jacob feels during his dream. You will need: Angel shaped cookie cutters or a printed out angel template, card, paint, scissors, brushes, paper. If you have younger children then an adult will need to prepare the stencils by drawing round and cutting out angel shapes (cookie cutters are good for this).  Older children will be able to design and cut out their own shapes.  Show the children how to place the stencil on the paper and use a brush to paint around the outline.  Remove the stencil and see the angel shape. There will be an unpainted angel shape surrounded by a paint 'glow.'   Continue using different colours...

This is the second play dough mat in the Nativity story series I am putting together: Angels and Shepherds! Print out the mat, laminate it for future uses and get creatively thinking about peace on earth... Click here to print out the mat.

On Sunday, Sparks will be learning about the shepherds and the angels in the Nativity story.  Part of their play activities will be the option to dress up as Nativity characters.  I was going to buy some angel wings, but I wasn't willing to pay shop prices so we made our own.  Again, this is something that can really easily be done at home! Flatten out a cardboard box With scissors or a craft knife, cut a basic wings shape with a joining piece in the centre.  Cut an A4 sheet of paper into thirds width ways.  Cut slits up the paper and give them a curved edge.  You can do about 6- 8 sheets at once so it doesn't take long and it doesn't have to be accurate!  Stick the paper feathers in layers up the wings (start at the bottom and work up!)  Do the front and the back of the wings.  Make 2 holes in each side of the joining piece so that you can thread ribbon through... (I wish I'd made the holes and threaded the ribbon thr...

We're starting Christmas preparations this week with our 3-5s.  Over the next 3 Sundays we will look at different characters form the story and this Sunday will focus on Shepherds and Angels.  Here is the craft we will be doing but it's also something really easy for parents to do with their children at home! You will need:   A paper plate cut like so... Small 'face' and 'halo' circles and sparkly stickers or paper to decorate Assemble the angel as shown in the pictures!

Here is another item put together for the run up to Christmas this year.  As usual, it's based on a Pinterest idea.  It's very simple but will be fun!  Its only tenuous link to the nativity story is that it's in the shape of an angel but a bit of fun is not a bad thing! Each child has their own copy of the angel sheet.  Children need to take turns to roll a dice and colour in the number they throw.  The first child to colour in the whole angel is the winner!  Each of the dice numbers appears a different number of times so, for example, there are more 6s than 2s so there is bound to be a winner at some point! Click  here  for a printable pdf version.