Exploring Communion Liturgy Through Play

I had a lovely time recently, learning about liturgy boxes and how toys and other items can help children (including under 5s) to interact with parts of liturgy, especially when there are no formal children's activities.

Carloynn over at the Spiritual Child Network has put together details of how liturgy boxes work with some great examples. Using those ideas as a springboard I've come up with a selection of items to help children interact with parts of the Communion liturgy. It probably works best with some guided adult interaction to start off with, but children will become more familiar as they get used to the objects and symbols! Have a go and let me know how it works for you...

Gathering/ worship/ awe and wonder: Dancing ribbons, shakers, a simple kaleidoscope and a reflection bottle.

Confession: A holding cross

Word/ Bible reading: Bible story books

Intercessions: Play people and a globe ball

Eucharistic Prayer: Wooden bread, a cup and a battery operated tea light

Sending out: Hearts as a symbol of going in God's love

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Button Prayers

If you are looking for an active, kinaesthetic, way of praying in a small group or even with the whole congregation, then this might be for you! You will need: A collection of buttons of different shapes, sizes and colours- at least one button for each person praying. Give everyone a button. Feel the hardness of the button and think about people who are going through hard times. Ask God to help them. Buttons are used to fasten clothes together. Ask God to bring together people who have fallen out and moved apart from each other. Pray that He will bring peace. Look at your button and see how many holes it has. Think of that number of things you would like to say thank you to God for and say Thank you prayers. Look at the colour of the button and say thank you to God for something that is that colour Find someone who has the same colour button as you. You might want to make a small group of people with the...

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