For Playgroup:

• Collage tie – cut out some cardboard ties which can be put around the neck with elastic.  Each child can paint or collage a tie for their dad or grandpa.
• The same ‘little fingers’ poems from Mother’s Day can be adapted for Father’s day.
• At least put out some cardboard and stickers so children and parents can make their own cards.

For Kids’ Club or Sunday morning:

Download the easy to print-off coupons which can be made into books or put in a hand-decorated envelope, the certificates that can also be decorated and the lolly bags are fun to make!

Father’s Day Coupons
Father’s Day Certificate     
Father Survival Kit  (lolly bags)

Cheers, Judyth

1st – 8th August 2010.

The theme for this year is: Learning for Sustainability.

Education week is a time for all to celebrate the valued place of our NSW public schools. As part of this week of celebration, the NSW Department of Education and Training, along with the Director-General’s Consultative Committee on Special Religious Education have provided an Inter-Denominational Christian order of service for use by churches and/or schools*. This could be used in your regular worship service or you could combine with neighboring churches for this special occasion. This is also a great opportunity to offer to host a service for your local school/s.

There are two orders of service (one designed for younger children) and suggestions for the use of these services here.

We encourage you to take the time to acknowledge and pray for the education of our young people and the dedicated staff who make this public education possible.

*Please see the ’suggestions for using the order of service’ for more information on the use of a worship service in a public school.

Here are some suggestions and your ideas and feedback would be appreciated.

For babies:

Baby Blessings Bible by Alice Joyce Davidson

A board book with removable soft cover. Brightly coloured and textured, so babies can look, hold, chew, taste and get to know this Bible. A great gift at baptism because it is likely to be read and enjoyed by the family and not put on a shelf to gather dust.

For young children:

The Little Children’s Bible retold by Anne de Graaf and published by Scandinavia Publishing House

A charming version of many Bible stories with things to do that help children relate to the story.  For example at the beginning of Genesis when God changed the darkness into light, it suggests turning the light off and on again. When Mary is visited by an angel, it invites children to close their eyes and hold their breath and imagine an angel standing next to their bed. Or when talking about the fact that nothing is more important than the love of God, to hug someone you love.

Scripture Unions

The Big Bible Storybook by Maggie Barfield contains 188 Bible stories to read with young children.

Another good one is The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm.

Zondervan have recently published a version of the Bible for children called Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones and they also have Faithgirlz and The Adventure Bible for older children in backpack versions.

For children who are learning to read there is the Learn to Read Bible for Rocket Readers by Paul Bellet. For children who are visual learners try The Lion Graphic Bible and for older children the Comic Book Bible and Manga Bible.There are a range of magazine format Bibles (Biblezines) for different age groups including preteens and these make good graduation presents for primary age children starting high school: Blossom for girls and Magnify for boys, and Refuel for teen boys and Revolve for teen girls.

Of course most children now get information from a computer screen and so the Sandbible.com website and the Zondervan Jesus Storybook Bible are available on line. The Children’s Animated Bible is available as two DVDs.

Ruth Bible card

Naomi Bible card

Boaz Bible card

Andrew tours extensively around Australia, New Zealand and North America, visiting schools and parishes, sharing his faith through music. To find out more visit www.butterflymusic.com.au

Here’s a list of links you may find helpful:

Fridge Faith for Families – Lent Calendar that will engage the whole family

Children’s & Families Ministry - Lent & Easter Resources
Synod of Victoria & Tasmania

World Vision Lenten Resources – FREE Downloadable Bible Study and Youth Activity for Lent!

Mission Resourcing Network – A page full of resources for Lent & Easter
UCA Synod of SA

Lent Event – offers a great resource for use in congregations throughout Lent.

Christian Aid has a `Count your Blessings’ calendar along with their children’s activities

CAFOD offer ideas for reflection on the Gospel reading with children, along with intercessions and suggestions for preparing the worship space

Step 01

Give each child a noodle box and some Christmas stickers and explain that we are going to be sharing an edible Christmas story.

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Step 02

Give each child a copy of the main points and begin with the rocky road.  Ask the children to think about the rocky road in the Christmas story… usually they will identify the road to Bethlehem that Mary and Joseph took, but you could also remind them that the shepherds and wise men also took a rocky road into Bethlehem.  Ask them if there are rocky roads in their lives, things that can be hard to get through, and while they are thinking about this do step 3.

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Step 03

Into melted chocolate and copha, ask the children to add some large marshmallows and talk about the big rocks that sometimes can block our way, then add small marshmallows and say sometimes it is the smaller things, or gravel that cause us to slip, and then add some ripe raspberries and say sometimes it is the hard things that hurt us.  I usually ask if they have ever had a stone in their shoe and how even a small hard thing can cause so much discomfort and make it hard to keep walking.   By this time the rocky road is mixed but make sure everyone has a stir of it. Then it can go into a freezer for about 10 – 15 minutes to set while the rest of the story is told.

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Step 04

The next point is angels, so ask the children how many angels there are in the Christmas story.  Of course there are countless angels who appeared to the shepherds, but there are several other key points where angels deliver news to people.  Ask the children what’s the first thing angels say to people?  It is “Don’t be afraid!” so that tells us angels can be quite scary.  I usually make the point that angels are not fairies and not human, but are God’s messengers.  While this discussion is going on I give out a shortbread in the shape of an angel to each child and invite them to decorate it. The easiest way is to use the coloured icing in little tubes from the supermarket, but small bowls of icing and pop sticks can also work.  Silver and gold cachous, and sprinkles can be provided.  Children will often take some time to decorate a biscuit – it is like edible art, so don’t rush and use the time to talk about angels.  When the biscuit is finished, it can be placed in the noodle box.

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Step 05

The next point is a star, and all children know the star in the Christmas story.  I again ask the group to think about the star and the wisemen and ask exploratory questions like who follows stars today?  While talking each child is given a star shaped biscuit (I usually use gingerbread for this one) and again can decorate it, or if time is short you can give them stars that already have rainbow choc chips or cachous on top.  Then the finished biscuit is placed in the noodle box.

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Step 06

The last point is the baby in a manger.  I ask the children what a manger is, and what is kept in it.  I give each child a small patty pan, explaining this can be the manger.  Then each child is given a few mini shredded wheats to crush and make straw for the manger.  Then I ask about putting a little baby on straw and what would be needed to keep it warm and protected.  Each child is given a strip of fruit roll up for a baby blanket and a jelly baby and shown how to wrap up the baby and place it in the manger. During this process we talk about how it must have been for Mary and Joseph away from home, in a stable with a new baby.  This is then placed in the noodle box.

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Step 07

By now the rocky road should be ready, so get that, cut it into squares which are then placed in a foil patty pan or square of alfoil and also placed in the noodle box.  Each child can then roll up the story points and put that in the box before closing it.  I ask each child to share the story with someone before eating it, so they take it home and share it with their families and friends.

Note:  Always ensure children have clean hands before beginning.  Also check for food allergies.  It is hard for young children to wait to eat while handling food, so I always have extras and permit them to have a nibble as the story is told.

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Recipes for shortbread, gingerbread and rocky road below

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Short Bread

Mix together 4 tablespoons margarine and 1/4 cup sugar, then add 1 egg and a few drops of vanilla essence. Add 1 1/2 cups plain flour and 1/2 cup SR flour.  Knead and then place in fridge for a few hours.  Roll out on a floured board and cut out shapes about 1/2 cm thick.  Bake in a moderate oven 10 -15 minutes.

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Gingerbread

This mixture must be made the day before it is needed and can be kept in the fridge for weeks.

Melt together 2 tablespoons margarine with 1/2 cup brown sugar and 4 tablespoons golden syrup in a microwave.

In a large bowl put 2 cups plain flour, 1 teaspoon bicarb soda, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon mixed spice.  Add melted mixture and 2 tablespoons milk and stir until combined.  Put in the fridge until needed.  Then roll out on floured board, cut out shapes about 1/2 cm thick and bake for 15 minutes in a moderate oven.  These can be decorated before cooking with cachous or rainbow choc chips.

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Rocky Road

In a large bowl put 1 tablespoon copha and 2/3 family block of plain milk chocolate and melt in a microwave, stirring to avoid burning.

Add half a large packet of marshmallows and half a packet of small marshmallows and about half a packet of ripe raspberries.  Stir until everything is chocolate coated.  Put in a shallow tray and place in freezer to set.  Cut into squares and wrap in alfoil or cellophane bags.

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Advent Water Prayers

As you take a sip of water, thank God for fresh, cool water to drink.

Pray for those around the world without  safe water to drink.

Choose a word from the bottom of the water bottle and use it as a prayer thought.

Touch the star and remember the magi who followed the star to find Jesus.

Pray that you too will be wise enough to find Jesus in Christmas.

Note: Aqua Pura spring water bottles are embossed with the star and the words “Thankyou”, “Peace”, “Trust” and “Love”. This brand is available from major supermarkets.