Mini Church - Spring Term

Spring 1 Week 1 God has a plan for my life – God’s Promise to Abraham

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Baby dolls and pushchairs
	Craft Table: Make Star hats from Paper plates
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Hunt for stars. Hide different coloured stars around the room before the session begins. The children need to collect as many pairs of the same colour as they can – the child with the most pairs wins.
Share	Have you ever broken a promise? Or has anyone ever broken a promise they made to you How did it make you feel?
Listen	Mr. Star was feeling sad. His friend had promised to come and play at his house but he had not come! Mr. Star’s mummy gave Mr. Star a BIG hug and reminded him that God never breaks his promises and told him a story about a man called Abraham. One day the Lord came to talk to Abraham. God promised Abram and his wife Sarah that one day they would be parents, even though they were old and had no children. God wasn't sure that Abraham understood.  So that night He took him outside, and said, "Do you see all the stars that are in the sky"?  When Abram looked up, the whole night sky was full of stars, so many in fact that he would never be able to count them.  Then God said, "That is how many children you will have". Some years later God told them again that they would be parents and that they would have a boy. This time Abraham laughed, we are too old! One day three visitors came to Abraham's house.  While the visitors were eating, they asked Abraham, "Where is your wife Sarah?"  Abraham thought this was a little strange, but he replied, "She's in the other room". Then one of the men spoke and said, "I will come back to see you at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son. Sarah said to herself, "How can I have a child, I'm almost one hundred years old?" Sure enough a year later Sarah had a son.  She and Abraham named him Isaac, which means "he laughs."  They were very excited, and remembered to thank God for Isaac. God kept his promise to Abraham!
Pray	Give each child a laminated star to stick up, write their names on each one. God made all the stars in the sky and he made each one of you and just like your mummy’s and daddy’s love to listen to you when you talk to them our father God loves it even more when we talk to him, he will never be too busy to listen! Thank you God that you listened to Abraham and that you kept your promise to him and Sarah. Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Spring 1 Week 2 God has a plan for my life – Joseph the Dreamer

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Pharaoh dressing up/Crepe paper jail
	Craft Table: Make an Egyptian Collar
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Try to drop Joseph into the well! Use a paper cup and a small figure. Children sit on the floor and attempt to drop Joseph into the well from the height of their arm.
Share	Do you have any brothers or sisters? Do you always get on with them? What do you like to do with your family?
Listen	Mr. Star had been fighting with his little brother! Mr. Star’s mummy told him that he should be kind to his brother and she told him a story about a man called Joseph whose brothers were very unkind to him. Joseph was sold to Potipher, an helper to the Pharaoh (king) of Egypt by his brothers. He was a slave, but the Lord was with Joseph and He helped him do everything right. So Potiphar made him his very important helper, and put him in charge of everything that he owned. But Potiphar's wife lied about Joseph to her husband, so Potiphar had Joseph put into jail. While he was in jail Joseph helped the prisoners to understand their dreams. Joseph was brought to Pharaoh. "Can you understand dreams?"  Pharaoh asked.  "Yes because God helps me."  Joseph replied.  Joseph helped Pharaoh to understand his dream and told him what to do. Pharaoh believed all that Joseph told him, and put him in charge of all the land of Egypt. People came from all countries to buy grain from Joseph, because the whole world was in need of food.  Some of those people were Joseph's brothers. Then Joseph said, "Come here.  I am your brother, the one you sold!  Do not worry, and do not be angry at yourselves for selling me, because God has put me here to save people from starving." God had a plan for Joseph even when bad things happened to him!
Pray	Joseph forgave his brothers even though they had been horrible to him. God had a plan and looked after him. Write the name of the child’s brother, sister or other family member if they are an only child on to a hand print, stick up and prayer for each of them by name, thanking God for giving them us and always looking after us even when things are hard. Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

 Spring 1 Week 3 God has a plan for my life – Moses’ Journey

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Making Manna with play dough
	Craft Table: Make a flying quail http://bibleclasscreations.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/manna-and-quail.html
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Catch the manna/quail – using laminated manna/quail children attempt to throw/catch manna & quail in a bucket. Can be made into a team game.
Share	Look at different types of bread, describe the bread, touch, taste (check for allergies!) smell. What is their favourite?
Listen	Mr. Star was very hungry and tired! He was going to visit his Grandma and Grandpa and had been in the car for a long time! Mr. Star’s daddy promised that they would stop for something to eat and while they waited he told him about how God looked after a man called Moses when he and his friends had to make a long journey. Moses and his people had walked for weeks across the desert; they were walking to their new land that God had promised them. They were hungry and starting to grumble! God heard the people grumbling and said to Moses ‘Tell the people I will give them meat to eat every evening and bread every morning’. That evening flocks of birds, called quails landed on the people’s tents and they were easy to catch. So that night everyone ate roast quail! In the morning the ground was covered with small white seeds. The people collected them, ground them into flour made it into bread and baked it! They called the bread ‘manna’ because it was food which came from Heaven. It was very good to eat and tasted like honey! Every day the same thing happened. The people ate bread in the morning and roasted quail in the evening! God looked after the Hebrew people all the years they were travelling to their new land!
Pray	God will give us everything we need just like he gave Moses and his people everything they needed in the story. Use some visual aids – God gives us food (bread), our clothes (clothes) water to drink (water) but most of all he gives us love (laminated heart). Thank you God that you give us everything we need Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

 Spring 1 Week 4 God has a plan for my life – David the Shepherd King

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Make shakers, cups with lids in the big tray and different seeds, objects to put inside the cups to make a new sound!
	Craft Table: Making David’s harp
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Play musical statues
Share	What is your favourite musical instrument? Listen carefully to some different musical instruments, what do they sound like? Loud, quiet? Can you play them in different ways? Explore the instruments.
Listen	Mr Star was playing with his musical instruments one day, ‘I love making my own songs’ Mr Star said to his mum! His mum told Mr. Star about a little boy in the bible who loved to write songs to God – his name was David and he became an important King!  One day a man called Jesse was sent by King Saul to visit David’s family. Jesse was looking for the next King! Jesse met all of David’s brothers from the youngest to the oldest but couldn’t find the person God wanted to be the next King. David was out in the fields looking after his sheep when he was called to meet Jesse. God told Jesse that David was to be the next King, he was especially chosen by God! Even though David was the youngest in his family God chose him. He had a plan for David and he has a plan for you!
Pray	Give each child a ‘sticker’ which says ‘God has chosen me!’ Just like God chose David for a very special job God has also called us by name and chosen us to be his children. Thank you God you have chosen me and that I am very special to you – John 1. Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Spring 1 Week 5 God has a plan for my life – Daniel and the Lions

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Wild animals in large sand tray/building dens for lions
	Craft Table:
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Play sleeping lions - All of the children (except one or two hunters – leaders to start with) lie down on the floor in sleeping positions. Once they are settled, they are not allowed to move. The hunters walk through the room and try to make the sleeping lions move by making them laugh, telling them jokes, and so on. The hunters are not allowed to touch the lions. Once the lions have moved, they get up and join the hunters.
Share	Have you ever been to the zoo, an animal park or even on safari? Look at some pictures of animals that they might have seen.
Listen	Mr. Star and his family went to the Zoo. They saw lots of different animals but Mr. Star’s favourite animal was the lion! Mr. Star’s daddy told Mr. Star a story in the bible that had lots of lions in it and a brave man called Daniel. Daniel loved God and always talked to him and followed what God said. The King of a place called Babylon saw that Daniel was a good man and gave him a very important job to do. Lots of people were very jealous of Daniel. They told the King to make a new law so that anybody who disobeyed him would be thrown into a den of lions! The people who were jealous of Daniel spied on him and told the King that Daniel was praying to his God who he thought was greater than the king! This made the King very sad because he knew that he would have to punish Daniel and throw him into a pit of lions! In the pit of hungry lions Daniel still prayed to God and obeyed him even though everything was going wrong! The next day the King went to see what had happened to Daniel. Daniel was alive. God sent angels to close the lion’s mouths so they couldn’t hurt him!
Pray	God loved Daniel and when he was in trouble he helped Daniel, he stopped the lions from hurting him. God loves you (name each child by name). Ask the team, parents to bless each child asking God to keep them safe just like Daniel in our story. Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

 Spring 1 Week 6 God has a plan for my life – Jonah & the Big Fish

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Water play with sea animals in the big tray
	Craft Table: Whale socks/collage paper plate whale
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Move	Lucky dip! The whale has swallowed lots of things - but can you find the figurine of Jonah? Bucket filled with shredded paper
Share	Ask children to put hands in the tray of water (gently!), what does it feel like? Is it cold, hot?
Listen	Mr . Star had been given a VERY important job to do! He had to give his mummy a very important message from his teacher at school! As soon as Mr. Star saw his mummy he told her his message. Mr. Star’s mummy told Mr. Star about a special person in the bible who also had the job of giving people important messages from God! His name was Jonah and he was a Prophet. One day Jonah had been told by God to go to a place called Ninevah. But Jonah didn’t want to go! He did not want to help the people in Ninevah because they were not nice people. Jonah thought ‘Why is God sending me to Ninevah to speak to people who don’t listen to him!’?  Jonah was very grumpy and decided to ignore God. He got on a boat and travelled across the sea away from Ninevah! But God had a different plan!  Because he loved the people in Ninevah so much he wanted to help them say sorry and live good lives so God sent a storm (Get the children to rock side to side, make storm noises using their instruments). Jonah realised that God wanted him to go to Ninevah so to stop the storm Jonah let the sailors throw him into the sea! The storm stopped and the sailors were safe. Jonah sank deep into the sea, where a big fish came and swallowed him up!  Jonah knew that God had sent the big fish ‘help me, help me!’ he prayed. The fish spat Jonah onto dry land and this time Jonah went to Ninevah. Jonah told the people of Ninevah that he had an important message from God and that they needed to stop all the bad things they were doing. The King heard the news and he ordered everyone to stop being bad. God forgave everyone.
Pray	God spoke to Jonah in our story. God loves to speak to us and we have to learn how to hear what he is saying. Let’s ask God to help us to be able to hear him when he speaks to us. Ask the children to touch their ears and ask adults to pray over each child that as they grow they will be able to hear God speak to 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

Tots Church Spring Term

Tots Church Sessions Spring Term - God has a Plan for my Life

Spring 1 Week 1 God has a plan for my life – God’s Promise to Abraham

Play	Core activities: Blocks, cars & mat, dolls house, kitchen, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Baby dolls and pushchairs
	Craft Table: Make a Star Wand
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Listen	Find Mr. Star. Mr. Star was feeling sad. His friend had promised to come and play at his house but he had not come! Mr. Star’s mummy gave Mr. Star a BIG hug and reminded him that God never breaks his promises and told him a story about a man called Abraham. One day the Lord came to talk to Abraham. God promised Abram and his wife Sarah that one day they would be parents, even though they were old and had no children. God wasn't sure that Abraham understood.  So that night He took him outside, and said, "Do you see all the stars that are in the sky"?  When Abram looked up, the whole night sky was full of stars, so many in fact that he would never be able to count them.  Then God said, "That is how many children you will have". Some years later God told them again that they would be parents and that they would have a boy. This time Abraham laughed, we are too old! One day three visitors came to Abraham's house.  While the visitors were eating, they asked Abraham, "Where is your wife Sarah?"  Abraham thought this was a little strange, but he replied, "She's in the other room". Then one of the men spoke and said, "I will come back to see you at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son. Sarah said to herself, "How can I have a child, I'm almost one hundred years old?" Sure enough a year later Sarah had a son.  She and Abraham named him Isaac, which means "he laughs."  They were very excited, and remembered to thank God for Isaac. God kept his promise to Abraham!
Pray	Give each child a laminated star to stick up, write their names on each one. God made all the stars in the sky and he made each one of you and just like your mummy’s and daddy’s love to listen to you when you talk to them our father God loves it even more when we talk to him, he will never be too busy to listen! Thank you God that you listened to Abraham and that you kept your promise to him and Sarah. Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Spring 1 Week 2 God has a plan for my life – Joseph the Dreamer

Play	Core activities: Soft play, slide, baby toys, mat, blocks, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Dolls house with family figures
	Craft Table: Decorate Hanging Love Hearts – Thank You God for my family and always looking after us
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Listen	Mr. Star had been fighting with his little brother! Mr. Star’s mummy told him that he should be kind to his brother and she told him a story about a man called Joseph whose brothers were very unkind to him. Joseph was sold to Potipher, an helper to the Pharaoh (king) of Egypt by his brothers. He was a slave, but the Lord was with Joseph and He helped him do everything right. So Potiphar made him his very important helper, and put him in charge of everything that he owned. But Potiphar's wife lied about Joseph to her husband, so Potiphar had Joseph put into jail. While he was in jail Joseph helped the prisoners to understand their dreams. Joseph was brought to Pharaoh. "Can you understand dreams?"  Pharaoh asked.  "Yes because God helps me."  Joseph replied.  Joseph helped Pharaoh to understand his dream and told him what to do. Pharaoh believed all that Joseph told him, and put him in charge of all the land of Egypt. People came from all countries to buy grain from Joseph, because the whole world was in need of food.  Some of those people were Joseph's brothers. Then Joseph said, "Come here.  I am your brother, the one you sold!  Do not worry, and do not be angry at yourselves for selling me, because God has put me here to save people from starving." God had a plan for Joseph even when bad things happened to him!
Pray	Joseph forgave his brothers even though they had been horrible to him. God had a plan and looked after him. Write the name of the child’s brother, sister or other family member if they are an only child on to a hand print, stick up and prayer for each of them by name, thanking God for giving them us and always looking after us even when things are hard. Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Spring 1 Week 3 God has a plan for my life – Moses’ Journey

Play	Core activities: Soft play, slide, baby toys, mat, blocks, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Making Manna with play dough
	Craft Table: Stick on a paper plate the different things that God provided.
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Listen	Mr. Star was very hungry and tired! He was going to visit his Grandma and Grandpa and had been in the car for a long time! Mr. Star’s daddy promised that they would stop for something to eat and while they waited he told him about how God looked after a man called Moses when he and his friends had to make a long journey. Moses and his people had walked for weeks across the desert; they were walking to their new land that God had promised them. They were hungry and starting to grumble! God heard the people grumbling and said to Moses ‘Tell the people I will give them meat to eat every evening and bread every morning’. That evening flocks of birds, called quails landed on the people’s tents and they were easy to catch. So that night everyone ate roast quail! In the morning the ground was covered with small white seeds. The people collected them, ground them into flour made it into bread and baked it! They called the bread ‘manna’ because it was food which came from Heaven. It was very good to eat and tasted like honey! Every day the same thing happened. The people ate bread in the morning and roasted quail in the evening! God looked after the Hebrew people all the years they were travelling to their new land!
Pray	God will give us everything we need just like he gave Moses and his people everything they needed in the story. Use some visual aids – God gives us food (bread), our clothes (clothes) water to drink (water) but most of all he gives us love (laminated heart). Thank you God that you give us everything we need Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

Spring 1 Week 4 God has a plan for my life – David the Shepherd King

Play	Core activities: Soft play, slide, baby toys, mat, blocks, books, puzzles etc
	Themed activity: Musial instruments in the baby area
	Craft Table: Decorate David’s crown
Praise	Tots & Mini Church CD
Listen	Mr Star was playing with his musical instruments one day, ‘I love making my own songs’ Mr Star said to his mum! His mum told Mr. Star about a little boy in the bible who loved to write songs to God – his name was David and he became an important King!  One day a man called Jesse was sent by King Saul to visit David’s family. Jesse was looking for the next King! Jesse met all of David’s brothers from the youngest to the oldest but couldn’t find the person God wanted to be the next King. David was out in the fields looking after his sheep when he was called to meet Jesse. God told Jesse that David was to be the next King, he was especially chosen by God! Even though David was the youngest in his family God chose him. He had a plan for David and he has a plan for you!
Pray	Pray and blessing over each child that they would know God love and follow Jesus.
Rest	Water & Rich Tea Biscuit for those with permission

“Jesus is bigger than our fears” Mark 4:35-41

Props:

Some fish

4 blankets

Jesus Story book bible DVD “Jesus calms the storm”

Something to say

We all tend to worry about different stuff, some big stuff and some little stuff. What am I going to have for dinner, will I make it into the football team, will my mum buy me that new jumper/pair of trainers I want, what would I get for Christmas, will I pass my exams, what if I get that question wrong?

Q: What are you worried about? Ask the children and see what they say, encouraging them as they say it.

Now we’re going to watch a story about when Jesus’s followers got REALLY scared. What do you think Jesus did?

Something to show

Show the DVD “Jesus Calms the storm”

Something to do:

Once the DVD is finished, act out the scene by getting a blanket for the boat, three for the ‘lake’ ‘storm’. Ask for someone to volunteer to be Jesus and for three volunteers to play the ‘friends’ in the boat who were scared. Make swishy water noise for waves and (cant hear you!!! Louder!!!), pop the fish in the blankets when the waves are high for fun effect and ask Jesus to “calm the storm” when the swishy noises will get quieter and quieter and quieter.... 

Something to do:

Ask the children to split into 3 and create a big picture of the boat, putting inside the boat all their fears such as spiders, sharks, snakes etc.

Something to pray Ask the children to sit and close their eyes. Ask them to think about the things that worry them, all the things that bother them, no matter how big or how small. Now ask them to picture God there with them, and ask them to hand over all their worries and concerns to him and trust him to take them away.

Memory Verse: "When I am afraid, I will trust in you." Psalm 56:3

“Jesus Loves Everyone” Luke 19

Props:

·         Pictures of Despicable me characters

·         World map

·         Flipchart and pen

·         Jesus storybook bible “The man who didn’t have any friends (none)”

Something to Say

Today we’re going to talk about friends and I wanted to ask:

·         Who has a best friend?

·         What do you like about your best friend? (walk around and repeat what the group says)

We’re going to do a quiz to see if you would like to be the best friend of the following people:

Something to Show: Baddies v’s Goodies Despicable me Game:

Has anyone seen Despicable me? 1 and 2?

We’re going to play a game and I need your help! We’re going to see what we think –who would like to be the best friend of: (put up Despicable me pics). Let’s have some votes! Write on a flipchart the votes for each of the characters - Tally up the scored votes to see who is more popular, (Agnes scores the most on both occasions!)

·         Agnes: Sweet and cute

·         Margo: Smart and caring

·         Gru: is a convicted criminal and now wants to steel the moon (imagine Gru from the start of Despicable me 1)

·         Dr Nefario: is helping Gru to steel the moon

·         Vector: is a convicted criminal who has stolen the Pyramids

But what happens to the baddies (like Gru at the beginning). Who wants to be their friend? What do you think Jesus would say to these baddies? Lets watch a story about a man who stole and didn’t have any friends. Let’s see what Jesus does...

A story about a man who stole...

Let’s watch a story about a man who didn’t have any friends...

·         Title “The man who didn’t have any friends (none)”

·         The Story of Zacchaeus The tax collector  Luke 19

WOW! Even though he stole from people, even though people didn’t like him because he stole from them and kept the money, *he recognised who Jesus was* and he saw that what he had done was wrong. He promised to pay back to people FOUR times the amount he owed them! Jesus loved Zacchaeus and cared for him, even though he had done bad things. *Jesus still had time for him and wanted to be his friend even when no-one else did! You see, Jesus loves everyone!*

Something to Pray:

·         Pray for people in the world who do bad things like steeling from the poor, to know Jesus, and to know what they are doing is wrong. Jesus loves us no matter what we do, He just asks for us to be his friend.

·         Put out the world map and get children to pray for each of the countries if they need help add “Dear Jesus, we pray for people who steal from the poor to know you and know what they are doing is wrong”

·         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:  Ephesians 2: 8-9 “for it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the Gift of God, not by works, so that no-one can boast”

Let the children come

Something to say:
Matthew 18-19, Mark 10, Luke 18
The disciples were arguing over who was the best and most important in the kingdom. When some children approached Jesus, the disciples tried to send them away but Jesus said no and to let them come to him. He told the disciples that the children were the most important because of their child-like hearts. The children knew they didn’t need to be rich or clever or important to be loved by Jesus. We matter to Jesus and he loves us exactly as we are...children!

To show:
- The job interview drama
- The art exhibition drama
- The ballot voting drama
Jesus is nothing like the people in these drama's, he says that we need to be...like children!

To pray:
- That we would continue to dance and sing and be joyful because Jesus welcomes us all as children!

Talk:
*Setup table, big chair on one side, small on the other, without saying a word, gesture a child to come up and sit on the small chair*
"Hello candidate 3056. Please say your name for the benefit of everyone here.. you may sit down..

Now, first of all. I want to be clear about the job that you are applying for. This job, is a very important job, one that our company takes very seriously. So we need a good worker, who is very skilled, who will work hard, and is very, very.. very, serious.

Now. When you applied for this job I notice you wrote your on the application form that your name was 'Mickey Mouse'. *hold up the application form with massive letters*. Now I have already asked you your name, and it wasn't Mickey Mouse was it? So my first question to you, is. Why did you give your name as Mickey Mouse?.. lead them into 'so this was just a spelling mistake then?' Ok, very well then. We all make mistakes... sometimes.. but in this company we don't accept mistakes!!! Your flying dangerously low my friend!! Dangerously low!

Right, you have also written here that you are very good at animal impressions. Is this true? I want proof. What animal impressions can you do? Let's see some. Hmmmm.. I'm going to write 'is "OK" at animal impressions here'.

Now one final question, your age. How old are you? You see.. we have very strict policy in this company *show diagram*, the oldest person is always the most important here you see. So you, being ... years old, will be at the bottom of the company. Where as me, being 25 years old. I will be at the very top. And it's important that you never think of yourself as being more important than you are you see? How do you feel about that?

Right! Well that's the end of this job interview, I'm afraid you have not got the job on account of your being too young and too much fun. This job is for someone older and less fun.

*Setup second situation, object on chair under cloth. Put on bodyguard shades and start preventing the kids from being able to see the object under the cloth*

"Do any of you lot actually want to see the ancient artefact of Pharaoh? *choose 3*

"Right then, line up here for me. Now, you at the front. What's your name? Do you know how much money this ancient artefact is worth? *Take guesses* It's worth, 9 bazillion dollars! So if you really want to take a look at it. You're gonna need to have a lot of money! How much money have you got then?" I want proof/that's not nearly enough to see the ancient artefact! This artefact is for rich people only. Those people who can really understand how important the artefact is. Art, is not for the likes of you poor people etc, eventually shoo them away.

*set up scenario 3* "Welcome all you council members to the big vote! We are gathered here today, to decide whether or not to destroy the local park in order to build a car park" *conduct voting with hands up and hands down* "so you have voted against cutting down the local forest. But you know what, I already spoke with the mayor and he said he wants to cut down the forest so we're going to do it anyway because his opinion is most important here. Your opinion doesn't matter I'm afraid.

* Take off suit, scenarios finished *
- So what do you think of the man with the tie, the security guard with  the glasses and the mayor of the town?

I think Jesus wouldn't be too impressed with their attitude, a bit like the disciples really!
- Recap the story
* Go around opening up each situation by tearing paper/revealing the artefact, revoking the ballot etc

- What do you think Jesus loves about you?
- I've got loads of things that I love about you:
- Fearless
- Honest
- No money (you trust and depend on parent/guardian)
- Respect for the leader
- A teachable heart
- No holding back!! (worship)
- Humble (you know what that means?)
- He says we should all be like that, he is our too father don't forget!
- And he takes your opinion seriously. What you think matters to Jesus. I know us adults aren't always as good at listening to you guys but remember that what you think is important. It really matters. The mayor of the town doesn't know what he's talking about.
- Jesus absolutely loves you!!
- Pray

Offering in Kids Church

Our fabulous offering pot 'Milky' the milk machine died recently (broken I mean) and we have been looking for a replacement to help encourage our kids to get into a good habit of being generous with their money (1 Chronicles 21.24) and use some of it to worship God, a practice that is more common to us as adult Christians. We challenged the kids to design their own 'offering' pot to use in Kids Church and this is what one of them came up with. Meet "The Money Machine"...

God looks after us

Matthew 5.25-34 

Something to say

We all tend to worry about different stuff, some big stuff and some little stuff. What am I going to have for dinner, will I make it into the football team, will my mum buy me that new jumper/pair of trainers I want, what would I get for Christmas, will I pass my exams, what if I get that question wrong? But Jesus tells us not to worry about anything. He said to look at the world all around us and see how he provides for us and everything in it. He provides for all creation, the animals, the birds, the flowers - They don't worry and he provides for them and they look beautiful and have what they need. He provides for them because he loves them.

But you know what God loves most in all of creation? It's man – you and me. He loves us most and sent his son to come and save us. Jesus said something amazing - he said that if God provided for and took care of all the birds and all the flowers and gave them all they needed to survive and be beautiful, how much more would he do for us who are his number one creation. So we shouldn't worry God takes care of us. The people who worry are those who do not know about God and his amazing love for us.

Something to show

Pick some different flowers or buy a bunch of flowers to show the children how beautiful the flowers look. Do the flowers looked worried? Show a picture of a bird or bring a soft toy bird to show the children. Does the bird looked worried about what they will eat? The bible says that God cares for the flowers of the field and the birds of the air. How much more will he care for us?

Something to pray

 Ask the children to sit and close their eyes. Ask them to think about the things that worry them. All the things that bother them, no matter how big or small. Now ask them to picture God there with them, and ask them to hand over all their worries and concerns to him and trust him to take them away. Now ask them to picture a field of flowers in the summer, all beautiful and swaying – if God has taken care of the worries of these flowers, we can trust him to take care of our worries and concerns.

Filled Full!

Something to say:

Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9

In this story there were lots of people that needed feeding. A boy offered Jesus his packed lunch. It was something really small (5 loaves and 2 fish). It was all he had to offer but Jesus turned it into something great, a meal for 5000 people! It was an incredible miracle. When we offer ourselves to God (even if all we have is something small) he can use us to do great things!

Something to show:

The Superhero Groups see below - we all have our powers, but God will use us whatever! It doesn't matter who you are, what your skills, what you've done or where you come from, he'll pick you!

To pray:

For the courage to put our hand up and be used by God. For the faith to step out and know that he will provide, and for the eyes to see beyond the 'groups'

Notes:

- Grouping games

- Video 1st Half

- Superskillz

- Video 2nd Half

- Jesus uses us all, superskillz or not!

- Pray for the superhero next to you

- Finish

Talk:

(Dressed as a superhero). Good morning kids church! And welcome to my school for superheroes! *do silly actions*. Now as I look around this room I can definitely see a lot of superhero potential, I can see superpowers that have remained undiscovered until now. But this morning we are going to find your super power, bring it out, and even think of a cool name to go with it!

So to begin day one of your superhero training I'd like to start with something a little different, and for that I need you all to get onto your feet because I have a few challenges!

• 1: The first challenge I have for you, is to get into a line in order of how tall you are. So I want the tallest at one end and the smallest at the other end. You've got 60 seconds go go go!!!

Right fantastic work, now you (tallest) come sit here, and you (smallest) come and sit here. You two don't need to take part in the next challenges.

• 2: For the second challenge I'd like you all to get in a line in order of age, the oldest at this end and the youngest at this end, don't worry about the months just the year.

Good work everyone, now you (oldest) and you (youngest) can sit here please. You don't need to take part in the next challenges.

• 3: Now, for the next challenge I'd like to see how high you can jump. So on 3, I'd like you all to jump as high as you can! (Same again, highest, lowest)

• 4: Running (fastest and slowest)

• 5: Most breakfast  (least and most)

Feel free to add other superpowers 

Tallest, smallest, oldest, youngest, highest jump, lowest jump, fastest, slowest, most breakfast, least breakfast!

Right, now that you're all grouped up this is perfect timing because we have just received an emergency incoming transmission! *Play first half of video* (Jesus story book bible 'Filled Full)

Right guys, the situation is that there are 5000 people on the hill, they've been there listening to Jesus all day and need feeding but we haven't got any food. This is going to be a tough one, we need to see what skills everyone has, let's start over here.

Take a look at this, we have our tall guy here. What kind of things can they do because they're so tall? What advantages do they have?

* Reach high places, look out for trouble

Ok very good, you can sit down for me, now how about our small guy here? So maybe they can't reach the high places, but being small has its advantages, can you guys suggest what advantages they might have?

* Nippy!! Quick on there feet

Get the children to think of advantages for all the different children

Oldest

*wise 

Youngest

*quick, has energy, can help the elderly

Highest jump

*can escape from tricky places, climb out of trouble

Lowest jump

*can get through small gaps

Fastest:

*can escape from trouble

Slowest:

*is careful, cautious

  

Most breakfast:

*good at finishing the plate- can always be relied on

Least breakfast:

*good at storing food, like a squirrel- never greedy

Ok fantastic, so I think we've got this sorted guys. We can feed these 5000 people with our super skills. But hang on, I'm just receiving another incoming transmission. Let's see what happened next! *Play rest of video*

So.. that little boy. With his little lunch box who would have thought that he could feed 5000 people! I mean he's just a little guy with a little lunchbox right? That's like me trying to feed everyone in this room with a rice crispy! It's madness! How could the little guy, with his little lunch box possibly help? I thought he would need our speed runner and our high jumper.

But here's the thing; that little boy was just like all of us! He didn't look any different to anyone else. Didn't wear a cool cape or have a superhero name. But what he did have was a heart that God could use! He was ready to be used by God wasn't he? It didn't matter what skills he did or did not have. God just needed someone who was happy to serve him. You see when God looks at all of us at the tallies and the smallies, the big eaters and the small eaters, the high jumper and the low jumpers. And he absolutely loves those things about us. But you know what, even if you didn't have those things he would still love you and still wants to use us to do great things for him. All he asks for is a heart that says yes!

- Bring group together

Turn to the superhero next to you, and pray with me...Jesus thank you that you love (name) and you have a plan to use them for your great work, help them to have a heart that says YES to you!

Jesus chooses us

Matthew 4v1-22

Something to say

After Jesus was baptised he went into the dessert and there the devil came to him to tempt him and try and distract him from what he had come to the world to do. He tried to get Jesus to disobey God just like he did to with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden – but Jesus didn't fall for it. Jesus was set on doing God’s will. He had a mission just like a super hero and was going to accomplish it, but to do this he was going to need some people to help him along the way (ask the kids about their favourite super heroes or characters and their sidekicks – e.g. batman and robin, Jake and the Neverland pirates etc).

Jesus went out and asked 12 ordinary people to follow him on his mission. He chose them to be his helpers – these are the people we know as the 12 disciples. At the time it didn't seem like there was anything special or extraordinary about these guys – they were fishermen mostly, but they obeyed Jesus because they realised they needed him and that was all Jesus was looking for. Jesus chooses us, not because of how we look, or how good we are, or because we are the best at football, or the best dancer, he chooses us because he loves us.

Something to show

Choose a couple of children to come up front. Their mission is to save the world and ask them to choose 3 or 4 people to be on their team as their helpers. They can choose anyone (fictional, real life, dead, alive etc) Ask them to give the reasons why they have chosen each person (e.g. maybe superman because he can fly). Now explain to them that God chooses us for a very different reason. He does not look at the outside, or our abilities, nor does he choose us because we have been good. He chooses us because he loves us.

Something to pray

Lead the children in a prayer and for them ask God to show them that they are chosen by Him, because he loves them. Ask God to remind them of this truth always and to let them know that they are always special to God and it is not based on any other thing than the love God has for them.

Listen to Jesus

Matthew 3

Something to say

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus and told people that they needed to be rescued. John baptised people and one day Jesus asked to be baptised too. As he came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit came on Jesus in the form of a dove and God spoke, telling everyone that this was his son who he was really pleased with. Later on when Jesus is transfigured on the mountain God told everyone to listen to him. Do we listen to what Jesus tells us?

Something to show

Drama:

Hello class, my name is Professor Eisenstein! Now I know some of you have come a very long way to get here today, just so that you can see my new invention. And I can understand why you would travel so far to see my invention because it will absolutely revolutionise the way that we listen and speak to each other.

I call my invention: *unveil* the two-can, one-string, long-range, talk-a-tron3000! Pretty snappy don’t you think?

Now, in order to demonstrate my new invention, who would like to be my wonderful assistant? You there, come on over here. Take this (can), and walk to the corner of the classroom. You have the easy job, your job will be talking.

Now I need another volunteer. You have got the hard job, the dangerous job. What I'd like you to do is to LISTEN! Now unlike speaking, which only requires your mouth, for listening we'll need some specialist safety equipment to ensure there is no cheating! *one at a time* These safety headphones and glasses will help make sure that there is no cheating. *Once headphones are on, mime; "Can you hear me?"

Oh good that's working then.

Now it is of the up most importance, that you keep the line between you nice and tight! Right, I'm going to show you a word over there. And I would like you to speak that word into the can. You need to listen carefully into the other can... to see if you can work out what word they are saying.

*do this three times*

So I know what you're all thinking. This is a pretty amazing invention. But it only works across the room right? That's not so impressive. Well let me tell you, that I have ambitions beyond one room. You see, by adding more string we could get it between two rooms! What do you think?

Ok, but remember if I add more string I could do it between two buildings! And more still, maybe it could work across two countries! Can you imagine that? Being able to talk and listen to someone who is thousands of miles away?! Now that would be pretty incredible wouldn't it? Truly revolutionary!

But there's still one thing I want to do with it, but I can't quite work out how. How I can use my device to listen to Jesus.

You see, I was reading a story earlier today about a man named John the Baptist. And in that story, this man Jesus came to John and asked him if he could be baptised. When he was baptised, the bible says the heavens opened and a dove came down and landed on this chap Jesus and a massive voice came from heaven saying 'This is my Son with whom I am well pleased, listen to him'

Now I've heard many different voices in my time, some through the one-string, two-can, long-range, talk-a-tron3000, some face to face like I'm talking to you now, but I have never heard a voice come from the heavens before! Now that's a voice I'd like to listen to. But it doesn't stop there because I’ve heard even more incredible stories about this man Jesus, miracles that he has performed, people whose lives have been totally changed by listening to him. And that got me thinking; how can I listen to this man Jesus? Because he's definitely a man worth listening to, very wise, I mean the heavens themselves even said so. But the problem is that I hear he went up to heaven, and I can't get my two-can... to reach the heavens?

So I'm a bit stumped with that one. Have any of you heard of this man Jesus? How do you listen to Jesus? Do you use a one-string, two-can...? No? How do you do it then?

So you're saying I don't need an invention to listen to him? I can simply read from the bible? Or even just pray and listen to him?

Well I guess I won't need these then! *throws one-string away and spins around* now in my normal voice* what did you think of that then huh? Professor Eisenstein. Pretty smart guy? You know as I walked in here I heard you giving him some advice about listening to Jesus. That sounded great because it's not always easy to listen is it? We like to talk. But look at you guys listening to me now, you're really good listeners.

Something to pray

Ask the children to touch their ears. Jesus help us to be good listeners to take time to listen to you just as we do with our friends and family, because what you say is very important.

Leave some time and space for the children to listen to Jesus and share what he is saying.

A verse to remember

“This is my son, whom I love. Listen to him.” Mark 9v7

Jesus Heals

Something to say

Isn't it exciting when you hear good news stories of something amazing God has done? Ask the children if they have any good news stories. Perhaps you have a story you can share with the children.

When we hear stories of God’s power at work this helps build our faith to pray more and expect more.

Sometimes we need to be patient when we are praying for someone to be healed as God doesn't always answer our prayers in the way we expect.

In today’s story we’re reminded of how powerful Jesus is. He healed one woman how had been sick for a long time. Not 12 minutes, 12 days or even 12 months but for 12 years. Then he travels to Jairus’ house and raises his daughter from the dead. Jesus is so powerful!

Something to show

Invite the children to split into groups so that they can talk about the story with each other. Encourage them to take some quiet time and close their eyes and have a quiet chat with God, asking God to show them people they know who need Jesus’ healing power, family, friends or even themselves. Hand out some sticky notes, pens and crayons to each child. The children can then put a word, draw a picture, draw a person, a body part for the person that they want to ask Jesus to heal. Perhaps this person is feeling sad, or hurt, or angry. You could write a word to describe it or even the initial of their name.

(Gather children in a large circle, place Jesus in the centre for the children to focus on and have a time of prayer)

When everybody finished writing, play some quiet music and pull out a cardboard cut-out with the words Jesus written across. One group at a time can come forward and bring their sticky notes with their requests for healing - we then all stick the post it’s on the figure. These are our prayers to Jesus asking him to bring his healing power.

Something to pray

Jesus thank you that you are our friend and you know what is important to us. You know everything that is on these sticky notes. Thank you that you are a God who heals! We ask you to bring your healing power into the lives of all these people we have been thinking about. In Jesus name Amen!

A verse to remember

 ‘He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.’ Psalm 147v3

Child Protection Policy

Please find below the link to our child protection policy.

http://www.london.anglican.org/kb/safeguarding-in-the-diocese-of-london-policy-document/

A message for our 0-5's leaders

Watch our short video to find out what's so special about serving our 0-5's.