Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

 I work with a group of clergy and lay leaders who (in non-Covid times!) go into a variety of schools for collective worship and lots of other things. We got together this afternoon to film a Zoom Nativity to show in our schools, since we can't be there in person. The whole nativity is 3-4 minutes long and is suitable for primary school audiences. It works by everyone naming their Zoom profile with their character name and switching their video off unless they are taking part in the scene. The script is very clear about when to switch on and off! Click here if you'd like to use the script :-)

This Sunday will be Remembrance Sunday and, because of our new restrictions, we will have to do things differently this year. Here are some resources to help! This is the family service video I made for our diocese this week, including a short story of a real soldier who died in WW1 and what the Bible says in Isaiah 2: 4 about the hope that God will bring Peace between nations.  Click here for the simple liturgy, if you'd like to follow along with the words. This is the story of the soldier just by itself:  Here is a 2 minute video of images to help visual children (and adults!) to reflect during the 2 minutes silence. This is a play dough mat using a verse from Revelation to help explore Remembrance day themes. Here are some prayer ideas for people and places in conflict: Play dough prayers for peace Flying dove peace prayers Praying for peace with zips

 It's been really busy recently reopening the church and doing many risk assessments. Not everyone is able or confident to return just yet, though, so we are continuing with our weekly online family services. This week we are taking a look at the story of Jesus and the 10 lepers and exploring the theme of thankfulness. If you fancy joining in, here are some links to the resources we are using: The video of the service including sorry and thank you prayers, story, wondering questions and creative prayer activity. The service liturgy if you'd like to join in can be printed off by clicking here . Click here to print off the play dough mat: Click here for more ideas on saying thank you.

Although some churches are open for socially distanced worship now, we have made the decision to remain closed for the time being. If you are in a similar situation and are looking for something that families can do at home this Sunday then here are some resources to help with the lectionary reading of Jacob's ladder in Genesis 28. Video of a 12 minute family worship service including 'sorry' prayers, 'thank you' prayers, story with wondering questions and a creative prayer activity (see above). Click here for the service words if you'd like to follow along. Click here for a colouring sheet. Click here for a play dough mat. Click here for more creative ideas.

During the Coronavirus crisis, while churches have been closed, I have been part of a project to help families in our diocese worship at home. Each week we produce a video with a short service including sorry and thank you prayers, a story and a creative prayer activity that people at home can easily join in with. For this Sunday we're looking at the story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac and how God provides what he needs. Click here to see the video. Click here to download the words to the simple liturgy if you'd like to join in the words. Click here to access a set of resources to accompany the story, written by a collection of children's ministry bloggers, hosted  by Kate at Jesus Without Language. Enjoy worshipping together!

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!

This Sunday the lectionary leads us to the story where Thomas meets Jesus after the resurrection. It's hard in times such as this not to be sympathetic towards Thomas. It's hard, sometimes to see where Jesus is when there is pain and sadness all around. That is why I've chosen to focus on Hope this Sunday. How do we find God and have faith in all of this when we can't see him face to face as Thomas does? We can look for the people bringing hope and compassion and love and light in the darkness and that is where we will see God at work. This play dough mat will help children to explore this idea of hope as a sign of God. As usual, print it out ( click here ), laminate for future repeated uses and have fun!