Kids church summer curriculum and suggested ideas to continue at home

Dear Kids Church Parents

This summer term we have started to look at some exciting themes using the connected hearts curriculum. We have been allowing more space for the kids to connect with God, hear from God, pray for themselves and each other.

For an idea of what we have covered please look below, you can also see some suggestions of how to continue at home. Please let us know how it goes!

Date	Theme	Related material + ministry	How to continue at home
19/4/15	God	Our theme this week was: God. We explored the creation story in  Genesis 1 and how God feels about us. We learnt, through Psalm 139 that God thinks we are good and that He knows everything about us. In ministry, we drew pictures of us and God. Then we asked Father God to show us in our minds where He was in our pictures. God showed us how close He was to us so we changed our pictures.	If you want to explore this idea more, at some point this week have an ice lolly with your child while you are out for a walk. (In our session to remind us of God we are using water to describe The Trinity - ice, steam and water) Share where you see God at work in your life and in the world. Then take turns on your walk to point out things that remind you of God. Have fun.
26/4/15	Jesus	Our theme this week was: Jesus. We learnt that Jesus came to tell us how much we are loved using Mark 10:13 the idea that when we are filled up with His love it flows out of us and affects the people around us.	We used water to remind us of Jesus this week. So, if you would like to explore this idea more, at some point this week, share a water based activity with your child weather is good. If not, go somewhere you can throw stones into water and try and skim them (fun is in trying together). Talk about how it feels for you to know that Jesus loves you. Share an example of when you love to someone else.
3/5/15	Holy Spirit	Our theme this week was: Holy Spirit. Through the story of Pentecost in Luke 24:502:1 In the response time, we asked Him to fill us up with His presence.	Try and make the time this week to make a hot drink with your child for each of you. Then sit and watch the steam together while they cool. Talk about a time when you have experienced the Holy Spirit in some way. It may be as simple as experiencing peace or it may be you for sure in your heart, like the time you chose to ask Jesus into your life. Why not ask your child if they would help you to be filled with more of the Holy Spirit? Explain that all they need to do is put their hand palm facing up and ask the Holy Spirit to fill their hearts..
10/5/15	Adopted	Our theme this week was: Adoption. Today, we thought about  what it means to be a child of God. We used Matthew 19:13 to think about what it means to have access to the treasure of heaven and the birth of the royal princess to know we are all princes and princesses in Gods eyes.	If you have the time this week, ask your child if they would like to help you make a crown for yourself. You take a simple band of card, some colouring pens and a stapler (to fix the cardboard band together.) Ask the child if they would like to wear their crown while you do this. Then, ask your child to choose colours to represent the different treasures God wants you to have.
17/5/15	God is good all the time	Our theme this week was:  The story of Joseph in Genesis 37: 39. God uses the bad things that happen for our good and the good of others.	If you have time this week, have your child and you select two times on a clock in your house. When the clock is at your selected time, run to your child (or your child runs to you) to say out loud, a blessing from that day. You can repeat this over a number of days if you choose. Hopefully it will have you both laughing and remembering God loves you both.
24/5/15	Nothing is impossible	Looking at the feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21).	If you have time, we would encourage you to spend some time drawing with your child this week. Draw some of your dreams, share them with your child and ask them about their dreams. Or draw pictures of impossible things you have seen God do and share stories of them with your child. Ask what impossible things they would like to see God do.
31/5/15	Suffering	Looking at Adam and Eve in Genesis, we explored how suffering entered the world and the idea of free will. Also  that, when we suffer, God is with us. In ministry we let Jesus come and take any sadness in our hearts away. We practised letting Jesus come close to us when we are upset so He can make us feel better.	If you want to explore this idea more, at some point this week, play Lego with your child and describe a time when Jesus has helped make you feel better when you were sad.
7/6/15	Forgiveness	Mini and Kids together. Using the topic of forgiveness, we will have several prayer stations which will encourage both older and younger children during this mixed aged service. We will pick up again in 2 weeks time, see below.
14/6/15	Grace – you’re not in trouble	Our theme this week was: Grace. Through the story of the woman who made a mistake in John 8:1 .In ministry, we said sorry to God for our mistakes and asked The Holy Spirit to help us walk tall and feel how pleased God was with us.	If you would like to explore this idea more at home, build a den together and sit inside. Talk about how, when you do something wrong, it can feel like we want to hide from the world. Share a time when you wanted to hide. Talk about chatting to God to say sorry and how it made you feel better, so you could walk tall and not hide.
21/6/15	Fathers Day	All family service
28/6/15	Grace- forgiveness	Our theme this week was: Showing Grace to others + forgiveness. We used Acts 9:1 . We explored how hard forgiveness can be and that God can help us forgive others who hurt us.	If you would like to explore this idea further, have your child choose a candle from your home or buy a new candle together. Light the candle and watch the flame. Explain, it week, we learnt about how hard it can be to forgive. Say you sometimes found it hard to forgive others that hurt you. Then ask  your child if it would be ok if you pray for each other and ask God to help you forgive. Pray something simple like, child for you. Let us know how it goes.
5/7/15	Chat	This week we have been chatting to God. We can chat to God anyplace, anytime, anywhere. Amen!	To help us practise chatting to God, please can you chat to God this week with your child. Take any opportunity; you might be cooking together, watching TV, out for a walk. Feel free to weave it into everyday life.
12/7/15	Catch	This week we have been learning that we can hear from God in all sorts of ways.	Our challenge this week is to practise catching from God again. You could do this together with your child. Sit together and think of a question each to ask God. Ask God the question in your mind and wait for an answer. Write or draw it and then share it with each other if you are happy to; remember we are teaching the children that what they say to God and what He says to them is private, so they don’t have to share.
19/7/15	Social week	Social week
26/7/15	All age service	Party week, summer is here

 

Looking for ideas to continue Tots / Mini teaching at home?

God has a plan for my life

Take home ideas

During the first summer half term we have been exploring and learning more about the wonderful plans God has for our lives. Here are just a few ideas of how you can continue this theme together as a family at home – Have fun!

Find all our 0-5s session plans & stories for this half term as well as more Kids & families resources at; stbkidsandfamilies.blogspot.co.uk

Looking for inspiration?

Parenting is awesome but it's also hard. If you would like some fresh inspiration and encouragement then look no further than Care for the Family's ParentTalk conference.

Click here for more information!

God loves you

God loves you

It's exciting here!

Watch our new video about what life is like in the kids and families ministry here at St Barnabas.

Pastries and prayer

We want to pray more and here is one way we're going to be doing that...
VIDEO LINK

The Mission

Something to say:

Matthew 3:14-15

14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

Jesus had a mission, a purpose to fulfill, that he would take away the sin of the world, yours, mine, even those who would eventually kill him. He has offered to take the burden of all your sin, everything you've ever done wrong, so let's let it go!

Something to show:

The boulder (exercise ball, acting like its a heavy boulder), the burden of my sin. But Jesus came to take that burden away, now it's as light as a feather!

Something to pray:
Think of some things that we've done wrong, write them on post-it notes, stick them onto the ball and lift it above our heads together to give them to Jesus. We'll pray it out loud together.

Notes:

- Centurion drama, "this boulder"

- What you've done wrong? (pump it)

- A man with no boulder (story)

- He takes our boulders

Talk:

Begin by clearing a path down the middle of the children, by saying "make way! make way! Soldiers of the empire, make way for soldiers of the empire. Then begin pushing the 'Boulder' like it's really heavy, towards the front of the room. When I finally get there I take a break, a lot of breathing, I'm exhausted.

"For Ceaser! *do a gesture to my chest*

"Let me tell you. It's a hard life for a Centurion. My name's Autolycus and I'm a man with a lot of troubles in my life. First of all I've got a family to feed. That's right, 2 boys, one girl and my wife. That's a lot of mouths to feed. Not to mention the house needs a lot of fixing up at the moment. I mean, I shouldn't complain. We get by. But it's not an easy life.

Taxes are at an all time high these days. Building the greatest empire in the world doesn't come cheap I guess. We pay more than 50% of our wages back to Ceaser. I suppose some of you guys get pocket money do you? Any of you willing to tell me how much? *take suggestions and tell them what they would get after Caesars' tax*

That's more than half! Every two danari I earn, I have to give one back! Still. Caesar takes care of his own.

Not an easy job mind you. You know some nights I don't even get to go home? Sometimes we're out camping or drawing up battle fronts. If it's not evicting people from their houses when they can't pay, it's controlling the crowds when they get rowdy. Guarding the library, training for battle. That's right, sometimes we go to war. Sometimes we have to fight. That's not easy either. I don't always know if I'll be coming home at all. Not today though, we've been given training today *gesture the boulder*

You're probably wondering what's with the boulder? It's our General, his new 'thing'. He says to us, pushing boulders builds character. Pushing boulders builds character?! I put up with it for a few days but then I started to get a bit fed up so I said to him. General, why have you got us pushing these boulders around? We're not even doing anything with them. I'll never forget what happened next. He just leaned in towards me and said. "Autolycus". Yes I replied. Tell me, have you ever lied to your commanding officer? I said "No sir, never". He said, have you ever lied to your family? I said "No sir, I wouldn't do that". So then he said, "Then tell me this, honestly. Have you ever lied to anyone?" I said, "Well, yes sir I have. I did jus the other day in fact, the governor wanted us to take control of someone's house, we had to forge some papers to make it possible but we did it. Owner wasn't best pleased but what could he do, "for Ceaser" and all that right?

"This boulder, he said, is the burden for your sin. I said "the what?" He said "the burden for your sin". What's that I said?

He said, "every time you've ever done something bad, lied to someone, hurt someone, bullied someone, stolen from someone, were unjust with someone, this boulder has got bigger. And you must carry around your mistakes wherever you go to pay for your crimes" he said. At first I thought, well that's a bit harsh. I'm not that bad am I? Everyone does it right? But then that got me thinking, if everyone does it then maybe everyone is carrying a boulder around with them. If the General has us pushing these boulders around because of all the things we've ever done wrong. Then that would explain how the boulder has become pretty big by now. See I look out into you guys and I see some boulders as well. Maybe not as big as mine, but there are definitely some troubles out there. Tell me one of you, try to be honest with me, give me one mistake that you have made in your life? Something you did wrong?

[start taking examples, pretend to inflate the boulder a little more every time] So as you can see, we've all got boulders. We've all got burdens to carry haven't we?

Have you ever met at man without a Boulder? Any of you? See that's the thing isn't it? Everyone has a boulder. Everyone... except one.

Let me tell you a story. You probably heard about this guy John. John the Baptist they all call him. Initially I thought, "bit of a trouble maker". A strange man too.

 Well I was on duty at the River Jordan a while back, and I saw this chap John. Doing his thing, you know. Baptising people. There was a large crowd gathered and he said to them, "I baptise you with water, but there is another one coming, much greater than I, whose sandals I am not even worthy to tie. And he will baptise you with fire and in the Holy Spirit."

Now don't get me wrong, John was carrying a boulder too, like the rest of us. You could tell he wasn't perfect. But he's saying that another man will come who is so righteous, that John himself wouldn't even be worthy to tie his sandals.

 Explain the story..

So the story goes, this man Jesus has 'begun his ministry'. He's been going around taking people's boulders off them. Telling them their sins have been forgiven. I don't know about mine though, it's pretty big. I'm not sure even a man like this Jesus could take my Boulder away, it's just too heavy. What do you guys think?

- Post it note prayers

- Lift the ball together

- Finish

The light of the whole world

Props:

·    Blanket(s) – one per 4/5 children – big enough for them to sit under and for it to be dark

·    Battery operated LED lights

·    Flipcharts with “Where would you like Jesus to shine his light” written on

·    Pens

·    Jesus storybook bible “The light of the whole world”

Something to Say

Hopefully we have all had a lovely Christmas time with our families and eaten lots of nice food, received lots of presents and had lots of fun. But we know there is more to Christmas than this, it’s Jesus’ birthday! Jesus came born as a baby like you and me so we could be best friends with God forever. It says in the bible that Jesus said "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

A story about a baby who was the light of the whole world

Let’s watch a story about baby Jesus -  the light of the whole world. When you’re watching, think about where there is “light” and where there is “darkness” in the story and also in the world.

·    Title “The light of the whole world”

Did you hear that at the end? It said that Jesus came to take away all of the darkness! WOW! Even though he was born a little baby just like you and me, he came so we could be best friends with God forever. He is the light of the world! Remember, that who ever walks with him *will not walk in Darkness*. Where would you like Jesus to shine his light?

Something to Show: 

Ask the kids to create posters “I would like Jesus to shine his light...”

Prepare a poster with a picture of a candle and the question “Where would you like Jesus to shine his light?”. Get the children into 2 or 3 groups and give them some pens. Have them think about Christmas and where they have been, ask them to think about any places where they think Jesus could shine his light. For example, I went to my Uncle's house who is very sad and angry and shouts a lot and I would like Jesus to shine his light there. Don't let them hold back – its ok to put whatever comes to mind!

Something to Pray:

·    When they have completed that, ask the children to gather around each poster and say all of the things they have written or drawn and see if anything is unclear. Ask for them to pray out loud for the situations written on the posters.

·    If the group is small enough, or if you have several helpers to allow a few groups of no more than 4/5, get some blankets and have the children get under each blanket. This is good if the kids are mixed ages eg 3+, as they often are in the Sunday following Christmas. Call out the prayer points from one poster and pray “Dear Jesus, please shine your light on...the park....” – then use the battery operated LED lights to come on when you say “Shine your light”. If children want to join in with prayer points not on the poster at this point that is also fine.

·    Ask the children to lie down and ask the Holy Spirit to come. See what words and pictures He gives the children.  Recap in a group.

A verse to remember:   John 8-12:  “"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

Fighter verses to combat the devils tricks and lies( Luke 4:1-13)

Props:

·         Jesus Storybook Bible: Let’s go

·         Bread

·         Stones

·         Globe (not essential)

·         A4 paper card cut length-ways into 2” wide strips with fighter verses on (see below)

Something to say

Have you noticed we seem to have a lot of TV shows at the moment that focus on getting famous? Can anyone think of one? (X factor, I’m a celebrity, the Voice, Strictly etc ). Why do you think people like to get famous? Some of them think that by getting famous, they will have lots of friends or will get lots of money. And they think that people might love them more and that might make them happy. Will that make you happy?

Have you also noticed that sometimes we think that if we buy more ‘stuff’ - get the next best toy or the best pair of trainers, even a fast car, we will be happy and our friends will like us even more. Will that make you happy?

Lots of adults are also really interested in getting more and more power, maybe its through politics or money. Maybe they think that if they get more power they will be happier too because they will have more influence. Will that make you happy?

What does the bible have to say about people who want to be famous, powerful or wealthy? Well, in the next story we will see Jesus tempted by the devil. Does anyone remember Jesus being baptised by John the Baptist? Well after that, he went to the desert for 40 days and he was really hungry. He was tempted by the devil who lied to him and tried to get him to follow a different plan from Gods. Let’s see what happens.

Something to show

Jesus Storybook bible DVD “Let’s go” (show it ½ way through)

See Jesus was tempted too. He was hungry and the devil said “if you are the son of God, turn these stones into bread” (hold up a stone and point to the bread). Jesus knew that the Bible says we don’t just survive on bread, but we need to rely on God. He knew the Devil was tempting him to do something wrong.

The Devil tempted Jesus to seek fame by jumping off the temple showing his power to lots of people. But Jesus knew the devil was tempting hi to do something wrong and that we should no test God but trust him. 

The Devil also promised him all the power in the world, (hold up the globe) but Jesus knew he was him to do something wrong and that we should worship and serve only God.

Let’s see what it says in the bible. I'm going to read Luke 4:1-13 to you. Listen well, because at the end we’re going to have a game. This story shows how Jesus used verses from the bible to fight against the devils tricks.

Let’s have a game where we can match the things Jesus said with fame, power and food:

Fighter verse Game: 

Write out the words below and cut them up into strips so the kids have to match each of the following:

·         Temptation

·         “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone” Deuteronomy 8v3

·         TRUST GOD

·         Seeking power

·         “It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only” Deuteronomy 6v13

·         WORSHIP GOD

·         Seek fame

·         “It is said: Do not put the Lord your God to the test” Deuteronomy 6v16

·         HAVE FAITH IN GOD

Once finished, see if any of the kids thought that ‘trust God’ went with all three situations. How about ‘worship God’ and ‘Have faith in God’?

It’s ok to want to have a Coca Cola or some Chocolate. But its worth remembering that we don't need this to survive. We need first to worship, pray and speak to God.

It's ok to want to go on X factor, but it's not ok to believe that being famous is the most important thing in the world. It is more important to trust in God.

Its ok if you want to have some power to change the bad in the world for good, but not if that is more important to us than worshiping God.

Something to show:

Remember that the world we live in does not put God first. When you go out this week, I want to see if you can spot any lies. For example, who thinks that by drinking Coca Cola we will be happier? Well watch this TV advert, and see if you think you will be:

You TUBE Cola Cola advert “Open happiness”

What do you think? Will you be happier? It looks so beautiful with the animals but really they don’t care about coca cola.!!!

Something to pray:

Ask the kids to lie down and welcome the Holy Spirit into the room. Ask Him to reveal himself in words and pictures for the kids. Ask if God spoke to anyone afterwards and what did He say?

Pray for the kids to know the difference between the lies and the truth. Pray that they know the true meaning of 'happiness'  which comes through trusting God and not through the things that we are sometimes promised on TV like having more things or money or by being famous. That they will worship and trust God and have faith in Him all their lives, and seek Him forever. Amen.

The meaning of Christmas

Something to say and show (crackers)

What's your favourite thing about Christmas? (tree, food, being with family, presents?) Let me tell you what I really love...Christmas Crackers! You can get so many different ones, big ones, small ones, even ones that come with a free pair of nail clippers. The reason I love them is because they remind me of what Christmas is all about.

Choose some volunteers to come and help you open the crackers. Count down 5..4..3..2..1 Bang! What's inside? Oh look it's a hat but look it's not just any hat it's a crown, the crown of a king. At

 Christmas we remember the King of heaven came down, born as a baby just like you and I and the reason that King Jesus came was to help us become friends with God. So when you wear this hat at Christmas remember that on Christmas day a king was born who came to help you become best friends with God. The message of Christmas is that God loves us and Jesus is that message of love

Ok lets pull the next cracker. Count down 5..4..3..2..1..Bang! What's inside? Oh look it's a joke. Christmas jokes can be great fun but Christmas is no joke! The message of Christmas is that God's son King Jesus came to earth and was born as a baby, born as a baby just like you and I and the reason that King Jesus came was to help us become friends with God. The message of Christmas is that God loves us and Jesus is that message of love

So let's pull another cracker. Count down 5..4..3..2..1..Bang! What's inside? Oh look it's a gift. Everyone loves getting gifts at Christmas. Gifts were given on the first Christmas. When the wise men visited Jesus they gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrhh. The gift in this Christmas cracker reminds us that on the first Christmas God gave us the best present ever. He gave us the gift of Jesus. The gifts we receive at Christmas will eventually wear out or we'll get bored of them but the gift of Jesus lasts forever. The message of Christmas is that God's son King Jesus came to earth and was born as a baby, born as a baby just like you and I and the reason that King Jesus came was to help us become friends with God. The message of Christmas is that God loves us and Jesus is that message of love

Something to pray 

Ask the children to lie down  and close their eyes and say "I thank you Father God that you sent your son Jesus, the king of kings, born a baby, just like me, so that we could be friends with God forever. I believe that the Christmas is no joke but the message of love in Jesus that out lasts all other gifts."