Mini Church Sessions - Autumn Term

Autumn 1 Week 1 - God Made Light & Dark

Play	Core activities: Building blocks, cars & mat, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: torches and dark tented area
	Craft Table: Hanging stars, glitter glue, star stickers, metallic crayons
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Listen	Mr Star was looking out of his bedroom window last night at bedtime and he could see some shiny things up in the sky – does anyone know what they could have been? Yes, the moon and stars. His mummy read him a bedtime story from his Bible which told him all about how the stars got up in the sky. (open/show Bible) It was very dark before God made the world. He wanted the world to look beautiful, but it needed some light to see (because when it is dark you can’t see anything can you? – put your hands over your eyes) So God made lots and lots of stars and threw them up into space (make throwing actions) and He made the moon to light up the sky. He decided to call this time NIGHT. Then God made the sun to light up and warm up the daytime. ‘I love this’ God said, ‘I am going to call this DAY’. God was very pleased with what he had made. It’s beautiful isn’t it the world that God had made for us. Do you like looking at the stars and the moon at night?  Do you like the warmth of the sun on your skin in the summer? Go into the tented area with torches/glow sticks. Father God, thank you for  the light, it helps us to see all the beautiful things that you have made. Sing  twinkle, twinkle little star.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Autumn 1 Week 2 - God Made Land, Sky & Water

Play	Core activities: Building blocks, cars & mat, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Sand and Water play
	Craft Table: Sea life cut outs
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Listen	Mr Star’s mummy opened his Bible and read him a story from the very beginning of the Bible, when God made the world.  Right at the beginning of time God made the world. God made the earth and then he made water and the sky. (Use the musical instruments to make a really gentle, quite tinkling sound) God made the water lots of different colours – blue, green, silver, grey, turquoise. God made water for us to use to drink, wash (actions for drinking and washing) God made water for animals and plants too (Use the musical instruments to make a really gentle, quite tinkling sound) But after God had made the water he needed something to make it stay in one place. So he decided to make some dry areas, which he called ‘land’ and then he called the water around the land the ‘sea’. Has anyone ever been to the beach?  Have you stood on the land and put your feet in the sea?  Has anyone been swimming in the sea? God made all types of land, flat land and high, mountain land. Hilly land and bumpy land.  God had made the earth, He had made the water, He had made the sun, the moon, the stars, and then he looked up at the big blue thing above him (look up) what could he call that, He had names for everything else – what could he call that big blue thing? Do you know? That’s right He called it the sky and in the sky he put some clouds and the sun in the daytime and the moon and the stars at night time. God was really pleased. His world was beginning to look amazing. Thank God for the land, sky and sea using actions. Use a parachute put up  high for the sky, flat for the land and create waves for the sea. Each leader pray a blessing for each of the children.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Autumn 1 Week 3 - God Made Plants

Play	Core activities: Building blocks, cars & mat, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Seed trays, compost trays and gardening equipment
	Craft Table: Planting cress, seed pictures
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Listen	Mr Star was doing some painting yesterday, he loves bright colours – his favourite colour is red. What’s your favourite colour? God loves bright colours. Mr Star’s daddy read him a story from his Bible last night at bedtime about when God made all the plants on the earth and the fun he had choosing the colours for them. First of all God decided to make some tall trees (stand up pretend to be trees) big, solid brown trunks, with brown branches and bright green leaves (sit down again). Then He made some bushes and grass (wiggle fingers like blades of grass). Then he decided that He wanted more colour so he decided to make some beautiful flowers in lots and lots of different colours. What colours can you think of? God was really pleased with his world, He loved all the colours. Thank God for all the beautiful flowers and plants in our world (children can sign -Thank you see blog video).Ask the children to make themselves as small as a tiny seed. Pray for each child that they will grow up knowing and loving the Lord throughout their life.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Autumn 1 Week 4 - God Made Big Animals

Play	Core activities: Building blocks, cars & mat, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Big animal small world
	Craft Table: Animal masks
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Listen	Mr Star and his daddy sat and watched ‘The Lion King’ on television yesterday. It is Mr Star’s favourite film. He really likes the big lion in it called Simba.  Simba is really naughty when he is little. A bit like Mr Star sometimes. Mr Star’s daddy read him a story from his Bible at bedtime all about when God made all the big animals like Simba the lion. God had already made many amazing things for the earth, but He was still missing something. Just at that moment He had an amazing idea. ‘Animals’ he said, ‘wouldn’t it be wonderful to have some animals on this beautiful earth that I have made’ So God set about making some animals, some really big animals. He made some animals with long fur and some with short fur. He made some that were fierce and some that were gentle. He made some that were fast and some that were slow. He made some that were quiet and some that were very noisy.  (Act all of these out) He made lots and lots of animals, can you think of some really big animals? (Try and act out or make the noises for the suggestions) Aren’t they all amazing? God was so pleased with all his animals. Father God, we like the animals you have made, we like the (ask a child for an animal), we like the (ask a child – use pictures to help, act out animal) etc. Thank you God.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Autumn 1 Week 5 - God Made Little Animals

Play	Core activities: Building blocks, cars & mat, books, puzzles etc
	Craft Table: Insect cut outs
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Listen	Mr Star was watching a little bee buzzing around his garden yesterday. It was so tiny and so beautiful. It was yellow and black striped and looked a bit furry. It was sitting on one of his mummy’s flowers for a long time. Then it flew away really quickly buzzing as it went. (bbbuuzzzzzzzzzzzzz) He asked his mummy all about these little animals. His mummy read him a story from his Bible about when God made all the little animals in the world for us.   (open the Bible) God was just sooooo busy making the world, He had done so much yet he was sure there was still something missing. What could it be? He loved the animals He had made, but there was a problem, they were all sooo BIG. I know He thought, I will make some little animals. They will look wonderful in my world. So God thought about what small animals he might need and He made a little mouse (squeak, squeak), and a little bee (buzz, buzz) and a little cat (meowww) and a little frog (ribbit, ribbit). Can you think of any other small animals that he made? (make the noises) God made so many little animals, they were very beautiful, He was very pleased with them. Sit in a circle and place the pictures of all the little animals we have been learning about in the middle. Children choose their favourite little animal and move their body like them.Thank God for all the little animals, point and mention by name. Ask the children to make themselves small like a snail and pray blessing over each child.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Autumn 1 Week 6 - God Made People

Play	Core activities: Building blocks, cars & mat, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Babies, dolls, pushchairs
	Craft Table: Face cut outs
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Listen	Mr Star’s mummy was tidying up the other day and found a book of photos of Mrs Stars family. Mr Star and his mum sat down and looked at all the people in the photos. There were so many. Mr Star has a big family. Lots and lots of people in it. Look around, can you see lots of people? Have you got photos at home of lots of people? Let’s look in the Bible to see the story of when God made the people with Mr Star (open the Bible) God still wasn’t finished making his world. He had made so much, yet there was still something missing. What could it be? Then God had this gigantic amazing thought PEOPLE, my world needs PEOPLE in it. People will be able to look after my world, making sure everything is how it should be. So God set about making some people, the first people on earth. He wanted people to be just like himself. Very soon he was finished. ‘Here they are’ said God, ‘Here are the first people on my earth, a man and a woman’ (ask two children to stand up – boy and girl) and they looked just like this. God was so happy he danced around with the biggest smile on his face. ‘I am so pleased with my world’ he said. Pray for our families, use family picture cards to help. Give children a paper  circle and ask them to draw someone in their family they would like to pray  for or Children can point/say out loud to who they would like to pray for. Pray a blessing for each child by name.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Autumn 1 Week 7 (Extra Plan) - God Made Rest

Play	Core activities: Building blocks, cars & mat, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Play Sleeping Bunnies, Tent with sleeping bags
	Craft Table: Night time pictures, moon and star stickers, glitter
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Listen	Mr Star was getting ready for bed, he had washed his face, brushed his teeth   (actions) and was climbing in to bed ready for a story. His mummy read one of his favourite stories ‘Peace at last’ – Read story by Jill Murphy (use pictures to help). The bear in the story finally got to sleep! Our sleep is so important to us in fact God told us how important it is for us all to rest! God had been working very hard for 6 days creating the world. He had created the sun, moon, stars, sky, water, animals and people and he was so tired. So on the 7th day he decided to have a rest! God showed us how important it is for us to rest and he loves to rest with us. Let’s have a rest now and ask Jesus to come and rest with us. Put a duvet/blanket on the floor, ask all the children to lie down and ask Jesus to come and rest with us. Pray the peace of God over each child.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Autumn 2 Week 1 God Loves Me - Families

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Noah and his boat, dolls house and family, babies and buggy
	Craft Table: Decorate picture frames
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Run Around Families – Fix a picture of a Mum, Dad, little boy and little girl to the wall in different places round the room. Call out, MUM, DAD, SON, DAUGHTER, and let the children run from one base to another.
Share	Who is in your family? Do you have brothers/sisters? Share about or show photos of your family
Listen	Mr Star and his Mummy have been looking at some family photos this week. Would you like to see them? (Show the photos) Here is Mr Stars’ Mummy  and Daddy, here is Mr Stars’ Sister, here is Mr Stars’ Brother, here is Mr Star’s Grandfather and Grandmother and here are his cousins. Noah and his  family had to go on a big boat because God had sent a flood. Noah’s wife,  his three sons Shem, Ham and Japheth and his son’s wives. They went on  board the boat so God could keep them all safe. Here is a picture of Noah  and his family. How many people can you count?
Pray	Cut out large cross on the floor ask the children to sit round the cross in a circle. Place the pictures of different family members (use picture cards)  around the cross and pray for each of them. Encourage those who can to  pray for one of their family members out loud pass round Mr. Star. Pray and  blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow  Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Autumn 2 Week 2 God Loves Me - Homes

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Lego/blocks for house building, home corner role play
	Craft Table: House cut outs, foam shapes
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Sit in a circle with legs open in v shape and leader in middle, roll a ball into the v shape and let the children roll it back. Encourage the children to say thank you each time they get the ball.  Also encourage to use the person who has rolled the ball to them name.  Thank you Max etc. Take it in turns to be in the middle.
Share	Who are your special friends? What do you like to do with them? Share about or show a photo of a special friends you have, why are they special?
Listen	Mr. Star was very excited because he was going to a friend’s house to play! He was thinking about all the lovely things they would do together. Mr. Star’s mummy said that Jesus loved to visit people in their homes too and one day he went to visit his friend Martha. As Jesus and his friends were travelling, they came to a town where Martha lived with her sister Mary. The sisters welcomed Jesus into their home. While Martha busied herself making the meal, Mary sat with Jesus and listened to his stories. Jesus went to visit lots of different people in lots of different homes. There are so many different homes around the world. Of all shapes and sizes, big and small, square and round. Thank you God for our homes.
Pray	Use the lego houses that the children have built or made in the craft or your own example, look at all the good features of our homes, roof, doors, they keep us warm and dry etc Thank God for our homes and the wonderful times we have in them, please help find homes for those who need them. Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Autumn 2 Week 3 God Loves Me - Food

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Pretend food, kitchen role play
	Craft Table: Fruit & Vegetable cuts outs
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Play cabbages, dance around the room to music. When the music stops lie down and cover your eyes. Cover one of the children in a blanket and ask the others to guess who the cabbage is
Share	What’s your favourite food? Share about or show example of your favourite food
Listen	What do you think Mr Star’s favourite food is? Yes its beans! (GET OUT BEANS)Does anyone else like beans? Do you know Mr Star was reading in his Bible yesterday about some of Gods special friends who didn’t have anything to eat for a long time. They were travelling through the desert and there was no food to eat and no shops to buy any food in. They were very hungry. They spoke to their leader, who was called Moses. Moses spoke to God, and God told Moses that he would make sure that these people would have food to eat every day. God gave them bread to eat in the mornings and meat to eat in the evenings. Wasn’t that great? God always looks after his friends. Do you think God gives Mr Star his beans? Of course he does. His Mummy buys them at the shops but God makes sure that his Mummy always has enough money for food for her family. Isn’t God GREAT!!!!!
Pray	Using plastic food, pictures or play dough food made by the children thank God for all the food we have to eat and ask God to give everyone around the world enough food to eat. Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Autumn 2 Week 4 God Loves Me - Clothes

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Dressing up
	Craft Table: Dress the Bear
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Sock shapes cut out of coloured paper.  Hide them round the room and ask the children to find a pair.
Share	Do you have a favourite jumper, coat, skirt? Share one of your favourite items of clothing
Listen	Do you like Mr Star’s hat? His Granny made it for him – its great isn’t it! What a clever Granny she knitted it for him. Mr Stars Granny sent him a note with the hat that said he should read a story in his Bible about Adam and Eve. In the very beginning God made Adam and Eve and put them in the Garden of Eden, they were very special to God. God gave them everything they needed, a beautiful place to live, food and clothes to wear. Because God loves us so much he wants us to be safe and happy.
Pray	Tell God what you like to wear. Hand round Mr Star. Thank you for our  clothes,thank you that you can do anything! Pray and blessing over each  child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Autumn 2 Week 5 God Loves Me - Parties

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Set up a party table, hats, balloons, hat, teddys and dolls as guests, party blowers etc
	Craft Table: Decorating biscuits
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Party Games; Musical statues,  pass the balloon, musical bumps, musical chairs etc
Share	Do you like parties? What do you like doing at parties?   Playing games, eating food, dancing…..
Listen	Mr Star was really excited. It’s his birthday soon and he is going to have a birthday party! He is trying to decide who to invite to his party. He has so many friends, they can’t choose. Parties are so much fun when lots of friends come. Mr Star has been reading a story in their Bible about a party. Jesus told a story about a man who was having a really big party. With lots and lots of food. But all the people he invited said they were busy and they couldn’t come. The man was very upset that his friends would not come to his party. So, do you know what the man did? He just went out into the street and invited everyone there to his party. They all came and they had a really great party. Jesus loved parties. He went to lots of parties.
Pray	Lord Jesus, thank you for all the fun we have at parties. We are glad we will have a party with you one day. Pray and blessing over each child that  they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Autumn 2 Week 6 Christmas – An Angel Visits Mary

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Angel dressing up, swords and shields
	Craft Table: Hanging Angels, nativity stencils
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Play a game like 'pin the tail on the donkey'. Fasten a large picture of a Christmas tree on the wall, at child's eye-level.  Ask the children to close their eyes and try and place the star on the tree.
Share	Do you have dreams when you are asleep? Share a dream you can remember
Listen	Mr Star had a dream last night while he was asleep. He dreamt that an Angel was in his bedroom and the Angel told him how much Jesus loved him. Mr Star told his mummy about his dream and his mummy reached for her bible and told Mr Star all about Mary and when an Angel visited her. An Angel came to visit Mary in her house, she was a bit scared at first because the Angel was very big and shiny. But it was OK, the Angel was very friendly and he said to Mary ’Don’t be afraid Mary I am an angel. I have come to give you good news. God has chosen you specially. You are going to have a baby’ The angel said ‘Your son will be called Jesus. He will be a very important man. He will be the Son of God’ Mary looked up at the angel. He was beautiful and his eyes were smiling. ‘I will do whatever God wants’ she said ‘I am his servant, and now he has blessed me.’
Pray	Father God we thank you for sending Jesus to be with us. Help us to listen to all you have to say to us (grown-ups take a minute to listen on behalf of our tots), just like Mary did. Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

 Autumn 2 Week 7 Christmas – Welcome Baby Jesus

Play	Core activities: Soft play, slide, baby toys, mat, blocks, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Nativity dressing up, baby doll and crib
	Craft Table: Decorate Large Stars/Nativity Stampers and paint pads
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Place children in one line. Help each child stick a Christmas bow onto his/her nose. On 'go', the children try to race to a designated spot without losing their bows. Try different things with the bows, like two in the hair and one on each ear. Or have each child carry as many as possible under his chin.
Share	What do you like about Christmas? Say or show something you like about Christmas
Listen	After the angel had visited Mary (last week) with the exciting news that she was going to have a very special baby Mary and her husband Joseph had to make a long journey to a place called Bethlehem, where Jesus was to be born. Mr Star is very excited, Christmas is coming and he is really looking forward to all the amazing presents he has asked his Mummy and Daddy for. He has asked for a bike and a train set. Mr Stars Mummy reads him some of his Bible – all about the best, best Christmas present we could every get. She opens the page to where Jesus has just been born and tells Mr Star that God gave us the best Christmas present we could ever want or need. And that is His Son Jesus. We celebrate Christmas not just for presents but we are remembering the day Jesus was born. Lots of people can to visit Jesus when he was born. There were lots of animals – (make noises) sheep, cows, pigs, horses etc There were some shepherds who look after sheep (more sheep noises) And there were some wise men (stand up, bow and say ‘Your majesty’) And there were some Angels (shout ‘Hallelujah’) Jesus is God’s best present to us.
Pray	Give each of the children a small wrapped up present. Ask each child to put their gift by a crib with baby Jesus in it to say thank you for giving us Jesus and we love you. Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission