Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 August
Church of the Holy Spirit
247 Wallarah Road Gorokan 2263

Monday 20, Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22 August
St Johns
Sturgeon St, Raymond Terrace

For further information contact Robyn Pullin - 02 4961 1557

Download the flyer (PDF 166kb)

When? 30th June 2012
Where? Toronto Uniting Church, 118 The Boulevard Toronto

Last year, the Uniting Church in Australia launched Godly Play in Australia. Caryl Menkhus-Creswell was one of the International Trainers who came to help birth the new movement at an event held at the ELM Centre.

The Hunter has invited her, along with Jeff Creswell to present at our Children’s Ministry Expo at Toronto Uniting Church on Saturday June 30 and lead an Afternoon for Pastoral Leaders at Broadmeadow Uniting Church.

This is an opportunity for children and adults to experience what Godly Play and Messy Church are about and how it may be used.

For more info and to register for the event, download the PDF flyer.

Playtimes are an awesome tool for reaching out into your local community. Playtime ministry at a time when raising a young family can be daunting, overwhelming and exhausting.

Finding a nurturing community to help cope with these challenges is a God-send, literally. Playtimes can be just that. At a season when parents are looking for answers, the church can help them find The Answer: Jesus.

Bring your playtime/playgroup team along to be encouraged, equipped and trained at this conference.

For more info and to register, see the Christian Playtime website.

Please pray for the leaders and children who will gather at Narrandera 17/18 March to share life and faith and celebrate KCO.

Around Australia there is a growing interest in Godly Play. In July 2012 the National Godly Play Conference is being held in the beautiful Adelaide Hills. Last year the first National Conference was booked out so be quick to register!

There are four events happening as part of this Conference:

• Godly Play Open Day and Expo
  Sat 7 July , 10am – 4pm
• Godly Play Conference Dinner
  Sat 7 July
• 3-Day Core Training Provided by International and Australian Godly Play Trainers
  8 – 10 July
  For children’s ministry workers, teachers, school and aged care chaplains and ministers to receive the internationally accredited Godly Play certificate
• Trained Godly Play Storytellers gathering
  8 – 9 July
  For accredited Godly Play storytellers to network, practice storytelling, receive and provide feedback, and share ideas and resources

Whether you’ve only heard a bit about Godly Play or have already trained in it there’s something at this Conference for you!

To download the brochure or register online, go to the Mission Resourcing SA website.

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.

It is a shame that so many do not come to the conference, or if they come they do not bring their whole team! This is especially sad when I hear from so many in kids ministry just do not feel encouraged, or resourced.

Here are just a few of the top reasons for going to Kidsreach:

1. Networking opportunities – get to meet hundreds of others kids ministry workers.
2. Always lots of new, cool stuff to look at and examine in the resource centre.
3. Great speakers, presenters and workshop leaders. Have a look at the workshop subjects alone. There is something there for everyone.
4. It is only for one day – and such a good price.

Download the brochure

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.

Freshwater Uniting Church

Saturday Nov 19 5 – 7pm Advent theme ‘Getting ready to come close to the mystery of Christmas’

Umima Uniting Church

A family fun Christmas event on Saturday December 17th at 5pm

Oatley Uniting Church

Sunday 4 Dec 4 – 6pm

Gordon Uniting Church

Saturday 3 Dec 4.30 – 6.30pm see their website for details

Cromer Uniting Church

Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd December 2011 from 6:30 to 9pm. Come and explore the Christmas Story. Start the festive season out in tune with the Christmas Spirit. Play with light and make your own light masterpieces. Or just take some space to reconnect with the beaty and hope of Christmas.

Balmain Messy Church

Sunday 27th November, 4-6pm. Balmain Uniting Church @ The Circle Cafe, 344 Darling St, Balmain. Contact: Nicole 0438639258 or nfleming74@gmail.com