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

The Conference theme is Celebrate Children.

To be held on  Sat 20th February 2010 at Wesley Conference Centre 220 Pitt Street, Sydney

You can expect inspiring keynote messages - A large number of workshops to choose from that will help you upskill – Fun, fellowship and networking with hundreds of children’s ministry workers – Resources covering every aspect of children’s ministry – Opportunity to meet various leaders of children’s ministry organisations and churches.

The most important reason – This is your opportunity to be refreshed, inspired and blessed!

For more information and to download a registration form please go to http://kidsreach.org.au

What might this mean for children’s ministry at your church? How can you reach out to families with babies and young children living near you?

“These figures are fantastic and just confirm what we have been saying for quite a while now- Australian kids want their own free to air channel. The response to the first three days of ABC3 make all the hard work worthwhile.”

Have you seen the new ABC for children? Try and find time to watch it sometimes so you can talk to the children and families about what they watch on TV. Many of the shows can also be seen on the ABC3 website if can’t watch digital TV.

via The Australian

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.

PIECE IT TOGETHER ….

is the theme of this years camp

WHEN? 12pm Saturday 13th – 1pm Sunday 14th March

WHERE? Wedderburn Christian Campsite – 208 Minerva Rd, Wedderburn NSW 2560

WHO? Children in  years 3- 6 in 2010 (Children in years 7-12 can come along as assistant leaders and congregation helpers)

To find out more about the facilities and to view a map to Wedderburn Christian Campsite please visit their website www.wedderburn.org.au

Download your forms now!

Registration Form 2010

Leaders Handbook

Commissioning Service Resource

KCO Group Registration form

KCO All Campers Form

Attachment 4 – Prohibited Employment Declaration

• Registrations are due by the 1st March 2010, however, it does help the organising committee if you have them in earlier.
• If you are emailing or faxing your forms into our office please remember to bring the originals with you to camp.
• Anyone over 18yrs of age must fill in an Attachment 4 form

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Rowena on 8267 4295 or email rowenat@nsw.uca.org.au

• Clear, informative signage
• Welcoming and inclusive
• Safe environment – clean, well-maintained, well fenced, safe storage
• Child-protection policy
• Special needs accommodated
• Membership information, costs, requirements including insurance and policies are clearly explained
• Privacy of information respected
• Managed responsibly, either an individual coordinator or team, paid or voluntary
• Invites and values feedback
• Encourages participation
• Information about other family services available
• Range of play experiences provided
• Good quality toys and equipment
• Clean toilet with nappy change table and provision for disposal of soiled nappies
• Safe food handling practices
• Encourages healthy food choices – fruit for morning tea
• Offers choice of beverages for parents
• Risk management in place e.g. Emergency Evacuation Plan & First Aid box available, screening for volunteers, limit on numbers
• Commitment to play-based learning
• Sun safe policy regarding wearing of hats and sunscreen

(A short talk given by Judyth Roberts at the Breathe Conference, August 2009)

Why talk about playgroups?

Because playgroup is what happens when you put a child in the midst! (Mark: 9:36-37)

• Families with young children in our society are hungry for our hospitality …
• Searching for safe places for them and their children …
• Waiting to be welcomed…

Here are 10 compelling reasons why every church should consider having a playgroup:

1. It is how we can keep our promise to baptism families and to God, that we will support them as their child grows up. Playgroup is a good place to display information about baptism for families.
2. Research into the development of babies’ brains has revealed that most growth and the connections inside the brain that affect intellectual and emotional development are 85% complete by the time a child is 3 years. If churches aren’t interested in children until they start school, then most of the early years for forming relationships and nurturing faith are lost.
3. Both child and adult come to playgroup and stay, so the scene is set for playfulness and relaxed conversation about things that interest them. Many groups support children or parents but only playgroup is equally for both (but it’s the adult who decides whether to come or not each week).
4. It will get your church talked about in the community, in a good way. People who come will identify with your church; ‘that’s my church!’ they’ll say as they drive past. The partners and friends of people who attend your playgroup will hear all about it and may contribute skills or material things to your group. Your church becomes relevant to many people and moves from the margins to the centre of community life.
5. Churches tend to have many older people with well-honed parenting skills. Women can share their experience and skills to encourage and support younger women at playgroup.
6. Starting a playgroup is cheap and uses resources you should already have – hospitable people who can make a good cuppa, a comfortable space and a heart for children.
7. Having a playgroup means your church can apply for lots of community grants which will not only benefit playgroup, but will also add to the amenities and resources of your church for everyone and alert the local council etc to the fact you are there and a community resource.
8. We are called by God to respond in love to the needs of young families and share our faith with them. We can counter the negative effects of our culture (eg. isolation, consumerism, competitiveness) by creating a supportive loving culture at playgroup.
9. Playgroup’s experiential – enabling people to live well. Parents are sick of being told what they need to learn and do to be a good parent. They want to experience what it feels like to enjoy their child.
10. It’s sensory fun – playgroup is a sensory banquet for young children to taste and see that the world God made is good.

 Download the questionnaire to help you gauge How Child Friendly your church is.

How Child Friendly is Your Church?