Lent is more than giving up some food or activity, it is a time of reflection and repentance, a time to study God’s word, live simply and explore Lent traditions that have helped Christians in the past come closer to God.

Download the Fridge Faith for Families 2012 Lent calendar

You might also like: The Grace Cube

The Grace Cube can be cut out, folded up and glued into a cube, each side providing you with a different way to say grace at the meal table, take it in turns to throw the dice before you eat and say the prayer on the cube.

A Grace is a prayer said before meals as a simple way to thank God for our lives and for providing us with the food we eat.

Download the Grace Cube

Below is a sample commissioning service and an additional prayer you might like to use as a starting point, and adapt for your situation. If you use a data projector at church, use some photos from the previous year – maybe playgroup, maybe a camp or Sunday school event, and show them to the congregation. Interview a leader, showcase the work you are doing and take the opportunity to thank the congregation for their support. Sometimes people are unaware of what you are doing, so use this service to raise awareness.

Open-eyed prayer for a Children and Families’ Ministry Commissioning

Today let’s use our eyes to pray.

First, let us look up and around and out … and in silence give thanks to God for the things we see that God has given us, and the things which remind us of God.

Now take a look around us at the people in this place, and especially the children, and in silence give thanks for their special qualities and for the way they help us see God.

Let us now close our eyes and cover them with our hands. In silence let us confess to God the times when we choose not to see …

When we choose not to see injustice or suffering or needs around us. When we ignore children and families, young people, people with disabilities, the elderly, migrants, people begging in the street. Let us confess the times we choose not to notice the hurt we ourselves cause to others or when we choose not to look for the good in those around us… and when we choose to not see our own self-centredness.

Let us look at the darkness before our eyes and feel the isolation of blindness. (wait a few seconds)

Now let us open our eyes and rejoice in the light! God is light and in God there is no darkness!

When we walk in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Let us be assured that through Christ our sins are forgiven!

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Download as a Word document.

Feel free to adapt this to your setting. I printed these words for people to read:

Christmas is when we joyfully celebrate the birth of a baby. But Jesus grew up … how do you imagine the face of Jesus?

Lots of artists have tried – which face do you prefer?

Look at that face and try to imagine what Jesus might say to you this Christmas.

Light a candle and say a prayer.

Jesus said “I am the light of the world”

I provided several different faces of Jesus to look at. These can be downloaded from rejesus.co.uk

Star Prayers

Another idea for reflection is ‘Star Prayers’. Hang a large cardboard star (available from dollar shops) with curling ribbon hanging down. Children and parents are invited to write a prayer on a sticky star notepad and stick it to the ribbon.

If this is used in Sunday school or a Messy Church, the prayer star can be taken in to the worship service and children can be invited to read out their prayers if they wish, or the prayers can be offered silently to God.

Through the online story books/videos, games and downloadable youtube videos you can learn more about fast-changing world. Young people (and adults!) are not only connected by computers and laptops with internet, but the explosion of social media and mobile phone online access anytime, virtually anywhere!  Particularly young people can be oblivious to the dangers and just how public what they are ‘posting’ even to friends can be.

This website and resources have been developed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Cybersmart is part of the Australian Government’s cybersafety program.

To check out Cybersmart, follow the link below or cut and paste into your browser:
http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/

About this time of year schools are already planning for the next intake of kindergarten children, and most schools will have parent information evenings and one or more “orientation” days for the new kindergarten children to have a taste of “big school”. These may already be taking place, but will certainly be taking place soon after the holidays.

This is a most opportune time for SRE coordinators and advocates to speak to school principals or staff SRE coordinators about informing the new parents about SRE. Many new parents still refer to it as “Scripture” or do not know it even exists.

ICCOREIS has produced a Kinder Orientation Pack which could be used in a number of different ways. 

• There is a brochure which can be customized with information about your school to be given out to parents. 
• There is a PowerPoint which could be used at a parent information session.
• There are sample letters to be given to parents and to the classroom teacher.

These resources can be downloaded from the links below.  Read the Orientation Pack Overview first as it outlines what is contained in the pack and how it can best be used.   

These resources are editable so they can be customised for your particular school and with the appropriate local details. If you would liek any more information please feel free to contact Emma Parr (02 8267 4290; emmap@nsw.uca.org.au )

SRE Kindergarten Orientation Pack Overview - Advice on how to use the resources below

SRE Orientation – Powerpoint Presentation - a slide show for use on computer or data projector

Sample letter for Class Teacher - template for a letter from the SRE teacher to the classroom teacher.

Sample Letter for Parents – template for a letter from the SRE teacher to the parents/carers of children in their class.

SRE and your Child - a tri-panel brochure for parents outlining what available at your school

Dad’s Survival Kit

A fun surprise for a father or grandfather needing a lift!

How?

Take a clear plastic or cellophane bag and put in:

• a packet of Smarties
• a Time Out bar
• a sherbet lolly or packet
• a red, green or chocolate frog
• a banana lolly
• a Mintie

Print out the Survival Kit instructions on bright paper and attach it to bag.

Survival Kit

Rations to help you in times of stress

Mintie – for one of those ‘moments’
Sherbet – for when you lose your fizz
Banana – for when you’re going around the bend
Frog – to keep one jump ahead
Time Out – for when you need it
Smarties – for when you need to be extra smart!

Father’s Day Star Biscuit

How?

Make some large star shaped plain biscuits, at least one for each child. I usually make some smaller ones for children to practice on, and then they can make the larger one as a gift for Dad.

Provide children with paper plates and a pop stick. Let each child decorate their biscuits. You can provide icing mixture and sprinkles or use the icing tubes from the supermarket that minimise mess. There are a variety of toppings including rainbow choc chips, silver cachous, mini-marshmallows to allow children to create their own masterpiece.

When the biscuits have dried, place them in a cellophane bag and tie with a curling ribbon. Attach a card saying “You’re a star Dad!”

A Tie for Dad or Grandpa

Cut out a large cardboard tie (or bowtie) and punch small holes at the top. Decorate with collage or stickers or paint. Thread thin elastic through holes so it can be worn.

Father’s Day Hug

Get long strips of paper (from a brown paper roll or cash register roll tape) and measure each child’s arms stretched out.

Then get each child to trace around their hand on a double folded sheet of coloured paper. Cut out hand shapes and attach to ends of strip of paper with tape.

On the strip of paper write “Hugs for Father’s Day, love from …” These can be folded in an envelope which can be decorated with star stickers and given (or posted) to someone special.

 Other Ideas

Father’s Day Coupons

Older members can remember the momentous event when three separate denominations joined together to form the Uniting Church in 1977. But it is worth taking the time to tell the story to younger generations or new members, so that the joy of that occasion and all that has been achieved is not lost.

Here are few suggestions for telling that story using the UCA logo and a variety of materials:

Story in felt

I used this recently in a church worship service and not only the children but adults too were fascinated to see the logo emerge…

I have a story in this box (Hold up box, but leave lid on) – I wonder if the colours of the box are a clue? What are the colours? Mmm, three colours in one box. Let’s see what is inside.

(Place black felt circle on the floor and smooth it out slowly) What does this look like?  (Usually someone will say “it is a black circle”) Yes, well the person who first told this story said this is like a darkened earth … (Move your hand over the felt in a slow circle) Have you ever seen photos of planet earth in the dark?

(Get the next piece out of the box, a white felt u-shape, and place it on) This makes a difference. What does it look like now? (Usually someone will say “a smiley face”) It certainly looks brighter now.  What could it mean?  I wonder if this is a bowl … or a letter ‘u’…?

(Get the next piece which is a long white strip of felt) I wonder what this means? (Someone usually says it is like an anchor or boat) It could be those things, but what happens when we add this? (Place the other strip of felt to form the cross)

(At this point it looks strikingly like an anchor and you can agree with that suggestion, and perhaps point out that it also looks like a boat without a sail. Sit back and pause, looking puzzled) Hmmm, this is good, but it needs something more.

(Get the red felt dove out and place it in the middle) Ahh, this makes all the difference! This brings it to life! What do you think it is? Yes, it is a bird, but not just any bird. This is a dove, a sign of the Spirit, and it is red, like Pentecost. The red dove is flying not resting. Do you think it looks like a red flame too?

(By now people realise it is a familiar logo and they are intrigued) The three colours represent the three churches that formed the Uniting Church – Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational. The darkened earth has received the light of the cross, the u-shape stands for the Uniting Church but also helps form an anchor or a boat, both early symbols of the church. But the red dove expresses the movement of the Spirit, and just like it brings this logo to life, it brings the church to life.

(Get out some small red feathers) In the box there are also some red feathers, from the red dove, so take one and remember the red dove and what it means, and when you see this logo on a building, it might be a school or a church or an aged care centre or a shop, you will know what it means.

The story in a biscuit (sweet)

Take a plain dark chocolate biscuit like a wheaten.

Using white icing, either roll it between your hands to form shapes, or roll it out on a board and cut it out in shapes, form a u-shape on the biscuit.

Next add the cross the same way.

Then add the red dove, either cut out of fruit strap or using red icing in a squeeze tube.

See the felt story above for the meaning of the logo. Tell the story as you decorate the biscuit, then let children make their own.

The same technique can be used to decorate a cupcake. If desired a large round cake can be iced with dark chocolate and decorated with whipped cream in a can and fresh strawberries or frozen berries to form the UCA logo. This makes a spectacular morning tea after a church service.

The story in a Jatz/vegemite/cheese style (savoury)

Take a plain Jatz biscuit or something similar, like a round water cracker.

Spread with Vegemite.

Add the u-shape cut out of cheese or bent with string cheese. Add the cross in cheese.

The red dove can be cut from tomato or red capsicum or even a squeeze of tomato sauce.

See the felt story above for the meaning of the logo. Tell the story as you decorate the biscuit, then let the children make their own. They might like to make lots for morning tea for everyone!

Colour-in Uniting Church Logo

Download a colouring in version of the Uniting Church logo

Uniting Church wrist band

The three colours represent the three churches that came together to form the Uniting Church – the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches.

Children can plait together three colours of ribbon or dyed leather straps to form a wrist band.

Black and white and red beads can also be used to remember the three denominations that formed the Uniting Church.

You might also be interested in Pentecost ideas

Flame Hats

In other Christian traditions, people like popes and archbishops wear flame shaped hats, representing the flames seen hovering over the heads of the people gathered at the first Pentecost, as described in the Bible.  A simple way of remembering this event is to make a cardboard headband and children can cut out flame shapes in red, yellow and orange and attach them to the band.

Sheets of coloured paper or light card can be folded into a flame shape as well.

Flame Collage

A simple and quiet activity children can engage in cooperatively during a worship service is to make a large group collage of flames.  Cut red, orange and yellow cellophane into a flame shape and have them in a large container.  Give each child a glue stick and encourage them to add to the flames on a large cardboard poster.  This can be displayed at the front of the church once it is finished.

Church decorations and worship ideas

It can be hard to decorate a space as big as most churches to make an impact, but one way is large swathes of fabric.  One year I bought 12 metres of cheap red fabric and draped it across the front of our church.  This fabric has since be used many times in a number of ways but always makes a dramatic back drop on Pentecost Sunday.  I have also used large shiny red gift boxes out the front, stacked up and with red ribbons tied around them – representing the gifts of the Spirit.  Red balloons, either helium filled or air filled and tied with red ribbon are effective decorations.  I have given young people and children noise-makers and novelty party blowers to re-enact the noise of rushing wind, and they have thrown streamers to dramatise the events being described in the Pentecost Bible reading.

It is fun to remind people the week before to wear red, and have some red stickers, ribbons or flowers for people who forget.  During the service encourage everyone to say the Lord’s Prayer in their own first language and hear the sounds of many voices using different languages to say the same thing.

A dramatic climax to a worship service for Pentecost is a large birthday cake with candles or sparklers which can be shared at morning tea.  If you use candles that can’t be extinguished (available from party shops) then this can illustrate the inextinguishable Spirit of the church.

Children’s Talk with Popcorn

Sometimes the best way to think about something as complex as the action of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, is to use a really simple analogy.

Here in my hand I have a few small corn kernels: they are closed, tight, hard. You can fit them in a small space.

They remind me of the first disciples: although they had witnessed the resurrection, encountered the risen Christ and seen first hand the power of God, they remained small, frightened, unsure and (literally) dis-spirited.

We place them in a small place, a small upper room (put them in the popper) a room where they might re-enact a meal, a ritual of when Jesus was there.

To these small items, we add something powerful: the word of the Holy Spirit: a mighty wind(turn on the popper) and we begin to see a transformation: we cannot see the Holy Spirit herself, but we can see the action she has on the disciples.

(The corn begins to pop) An explosion of energy! A rapid expansion! Beyond the confines of the upper room and into the world, the disciples are no longer tight, hard, withdrawn, but open, fluffy, delightful!

Some are spread far and wide into the world (making a mess on the  floor). It transforms the ritual of bread and wine from a simple memorial to a living re-enactment – as the Holy Spirit brings Christ present in our midst and the body and blood of Christ feeds the dynamic, living world of faith.

My dear friends, the Holy Spirit is here with us today, and can transform you in equally dynamic ways; the Holy Spirit can take that inner hardness, reticence, fear and doubt and help you to be open, fulfilled, released into the world to make a difference.

The Psalmist wrote “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps 34:8)

For it is through experience, not deduction or logic that we know this to be true. Taste and see my dear friends, and you will know that by the work of the Holy Spirit, we are transformed, we are like those first disciples, we are bursting with the energy and the love of God.

(Eat popcorn) We have tasted, and we know. Come Holy Spirit. Come. (Yummy!)

Amen.

Kites, wind catchers, sun catcher

For young children to enter into the Pentecost excitement, a variety of simple crafts enable them to create something to take home.  Simple decorative kites can be made from red cardboard and curling ribbon but an easy kite that actually ‘flies’ can be made from a paper bag and string and can be customised by each child. An alternative is to go to a $2 shop and purchase a DIY kite kit for each child.

Wind catchers are also simply made by rolling a piece of paper and attaching streamers to the end.  These can be hung in a window to catch the breeze.

Cardboard tubes can also be decorated with streamers, wand waved energetically to create ‘wind’.

A paper plate can become a beautiful sun catcher with ‘flames’ in the centre.

Windmills

When the Spirit of God came the first disciples heard a noise like roaring wind! Make a windmill to remind you of the power of wind to make things move, and the power of the Spirit in us. Instructions

Holy Spirit Sparkle Cakes

Pentecost is the church’s birthday -decorate cupcakes in flame colours, then put a sparkler on top and watch it sparkle as you sing ‘Happy Birthday!’

Fruits of the Spirit Smoothie Bar

The Bible tells us the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Mix a ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ cocktail or smoothie.

Flame Tree Prayers

Take a flame shape and write a prayer or wish. Hang the flame on the tree.

Spirit Signing

Check Auslan to find ways to communicate using Auslan – see if you can sign The Spirit, or Jesus, or God.

Red flame dove 1

The red dove that features in the Uniting Church in Australia’s logo can be added to kites, helicopters and spinners to symbolise the Holy Spirit as a dove and as flames. For ideas for helicopters see here

Red flame dove 2

The red dove that features in the Uniting Church in Australia’s logo can be celebrated by seating children in a circle and gently allowing some red feathers (available from craft shops) to float down over them. Encourage each child to pick up a red feather and say a prayer either aloud or silently and then blow the feather in the air. They can keep the feathers to remind them of the Holy Spirit’s role in enabling us to pray.

Bubbles

A simple and fun way to help young children celebrate Pentecost is to give each child a small bottle of party bubbles and show them how to blow gently to create bubbles. Bubble prayers are ‘breath’ prayers you say when you are blowing bubbles, and can illustrate the way our prayers make a beautiful offering to God. Or you could pass a pot of bubbles around the circle. As each individual blows a bubble, they say a prayer, either silently or aloud.

Links

SA Synod, mission resourcing network, all age worship, Pentecost

Year A – Day of Pentecost (June 12, 2011)

Barnabas in Churches – Christian Year – Pentecost

If you can make some simple biscuits or know someone who can, this is a great idea.

Prepare a batch of heart shaped plain biscuits (eg shortbreads) for children to decorate. They will love to ice them and sprinkle them and give them to their mothers as a gift.

Older children love ‘writing icing’, coloured icing in tubes that can be squeezed out, and it isn’t as messy as most icing experiences. There are lots of colourful sprinkles available from hundreds and thousands or stars, flowers or rainbow choc chips. Older children might also like to try to make a marshmallow cup with life saver handle, but these don’t transport easily.

Younger children love to dip a popstick into creamy icing and can usually manage to spread it and sprinkle it – mothers appreciate the effort even if the result is a little messy.

Put the biscuits into a clear cellophane bag or a little noodle box if they are being taken home as a gift.

A heart says “I love you”

Sticky heart shaped paper notes can be bought at supermarkets or newsagents, and these can be stuck together to make a gift card or stuck onto other paper for a bigger card.

Planting seeds of love

Make a card for mum by printing off these words and attaching a packet of seeds inside.

Download the files: Mothers Day Card PDF file | Mothers Day Card Word Document

Handprint

A perennial favourite for mothers is a handprint – easy to do on a paper plate, and you can stick this poem on the bottom and tie it with a ribbon ready to hang on the wall.

My Hand

This is my hand.
My hand will do
A 1000 loving things with you
And you will remember
When I am tall…
That once my hand
Was just this small.

The Grace Cube can be cut out, folded up and glued into a cube, each side providing you with a different way to say grace at the meal table, take it in turns to throw the dice before you eat and say the prayer on the cube.

A Grace is a prayer said before meals as a simple way to thank God for our lives and for providing us with the food we eat.

Download the Grace Cube

Other Lent Resources

Barnabas in Churches

Count your Blessings

DVD: Why does Easter matter?