New Private Facebook Sunday School Group!
This group is a platform for families to interact with our Sunday School teachers! This group will have content shared from our teachers and things shared that they enjoyed and want to share with our families and children! But, do not fear, if you do not have Facebook all our original content will be shared on our website, along side any videos and songs we want to share with you!
All the content on this group, will be found on this page, just stroll to the bottom!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/stmaryssundayschool/
Holy Week!
This is a quick Guide:
- Palm Sunday – Sunday before Easter. Celebration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Observed with palm branches, parades and celebration.
- Maundy Thursday – Thursday before Easter. Commemorates the Last Supper. Often observed with foot washing, stripping of the alter, and overnight prayer vigil to keep watch with Jesus in the garden of gethsemane.
- Good Friday – Friday before Easter. Most solemn day of the church year. Observes the day that Jesus was crucified. Observed by praying the Stations of the Cross and three hours of silent prayer while Jesus was on the cross.
- Holy Saturday – Saturday before Easter. Observes the day Jesus was in the tomb. This is a day of sombre reflection, reflecting on what we’d miss in a world without Jesus.
- Easter Sunday – Hallelujah! Christ has risen! This day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Sing hallelujahs and celebrate with great joy.
With Holy Week in mind, each day I will be sending out activities, prayers and thoughts to you all. This will see us all through Holy Week, so we can all celebrate in Jesus’ resurrection together in a weeks time! Even through this dark and confused time, Jesus can still be the light for us all! Please take the time to look at the daily activities.
Also, as most of your young ones will be getting eggs or something like this, I encourage you to do an Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday! I have attached a sheet to this email, that has tokens that represent certain things in the Easter Story that run up to Jesus’ resurrection. Throughout the week, I suggest that over the week you all collect something that represents each token and put them with one egg on their egg hunt to bring them all together; this way they can put the East Story together. Just a thought!
Alongside this, there is a daily prayer live on Facebook at 4pm, and daily reflections that you are all welcome to at 7pm. There is also a group of Facebook called Praying in Burley, that we would love you all the be part of, to share prayers with each other. If you would like more details about this, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with myself or Alastair.
Palm Sunday
Maundy Thursday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaiYNF5uchA
Good Friday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88vJ5A_oLRM
Holy Saturday
Easter Sunday!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc2NtYSI7oE
Response to Covid-19
We don’t know why this terrible virus has spread and infected and sadly killed so many people. What we do know is that we can still trust in God whose character is powerful and loving. God is love. He loves us so much He sent His son to die for us. God’s love is greater than our fear. He cares when bad thigs happen. Jesus cried when his friend Lazarus died and right now, He is besides you and all those in need of Him.
https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches
Baring this in mind, we know that a lot of families and children will be isolating and this is indefinite. So, below you will find links to different kinds of resources, which are both faith related and non-faith related activities to keep the little ones occupied.
We know that lack of ideas and resources can make this period of isolation difficult, so please do not hesitate to get in contact with us if you are struggling through this difficult time.
Worship Songs:
Keep your little ones dancing and worshipping at home. Try listening to a few of these child friendly songs on YouTube. Below are a few links to a few songs and playlists that are upbeat that will get your children dancing, bringing a bit of Sunday school and Tea and Toast home to you all.
Keeping Active at Home:
We know that little legs have got to run and keep bouncing around, with this in mind Joe Wicks and other fitness instructors have done child friendly programs for those that are staying at home and staying safe! Find below a link to the first Joe Wicks live school workout that is daily at 9am.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz0go1pTda8
Keep learning…
As most children, apart from those whose parents are key workers, they will be at home. Most schools will have sent home many resources to keep their education going, but this can be a great task and can feel stressful for parents. There are many useful websites and book available, however I would recommend the BBC Bitesize website (link attached below) as a source of educational resources, games and quizzes for many ages.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
If anyone is struggling to find resources or need new ideas, please do not hesitate to get into contact. Contact details for our family and children’s worker is above.
Bringing Sunday School home…
We know how important Sunday school is for the little ones in our community, with this in mind there are so many resources that are available for you and your children. Find below some links to a website called Flame Creative – there are many activities that can be done at home with things you find at home! How easy is that?! Find attached activities to do with hope, healing and trust. Something that in these next few weeks we will all need to be thinking about.
http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/search/label/hope
http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/search/label/healing
http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/search/label/trust
Furthermore, we know that during this Easter period, telling the Easter story is important. So find some videos and playlists that will keep your child’s spiritual journey going, whilst Sunday worship is postponed for the time being.
Colouring and other activity recources…
Find below links to printable colouring in pages that are faith based for reflective times and for those children that might be anxious. Colouring will help them centre their minds and relax whilst being at home. If you struggle or are unable to print any of these off, please contact us and will be more than happy to help families out with resources.
http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html
Email maxie4@live.co.uk for more resources, tricks and tips to keep your little ones occupied.
We will be updating the website regularly to keep things new and fresh with new activities, songs, videos and games! So you and your family can get the most of the isolation.
Blessings to you all from us all at St Mary’s!
St Mary’s welcomes all children!
Parish Communion: Sundays at 9.15 in church. We have books and activity bags to entertain any children who come along. The helpers at the back of the church will be happy to show you where these are kept.
Tea & Toast – an informal, all-age cafe style church with refreshments from 10.30. The service at 10.45 includes a band, children’s activities and a creche for the little ones.
Choir – Our boys choir and girls choir sing at alternate services at 9.15, and there is normally an activity specifically for them to fit round their particular ‘duties’!
For more information or to chat about children’s work at St Mary’s, or find out what’s happening on a particular week, contact our Family and Children’s Outreach Worker Maxie Barker (Mob: 07588654125 or email: maxie4@live.co.uk).
SUNDAY SCHOOL PACKS!
Shadrach, Meschash and Abednego from the Book of Daniel!
Find the story told by our fabulous Sunday School Teacher Paul! Paul’s video inspired this weeks pack!
He has also videoed himself showing you a little song with some actions!
And with this, Lizzie has given us a lovely little painting activity to do!
Draw some paper people shapes, then cut them out. Place them onto a piece of paper (maybe blu-tak them down) and paint or colour round and over them in flame colours. Remove your paper people and see the result – looks like the shapes Nebuchadnezzar saw in his fiery furnace! See the little example below!
✨If you enjoyed this, please let us know! We’d love to know and see how you get on! ✨
Forest Week!
This week is Forest Church. As we can’t do this in groups, we can do it in families. I have attached a small little guide to this weeks Sunday School and I really hope feel how sacred nature is during this week.
I know we are having some interesting weather, so if today turns out to be rainy, so this on another day. But, please take time with your family to really connect.
We have also added a little extra fun, inspired by our Sunday School Teacher Mary! We have added a BIG BUBBLE RECIPE! Here is Mary’s recipe:
– 6 cups water
– half a cup of a good thick washing up liquid
– half a cup of cornflour
– 1 tablespoon baking powder
– Can be mixed the night before
– Use wire coat hangers or shape some wire for blowers for really big bubbles or any normal type will do.
You could do this before or after your Forest Church Experience or on any day this coming week!
The Lost Sheep
It is another Sunday in Lock down and our Sunday School team have put together another pack for you! This week is all about The Lost Sheep.
Below is a little story for you the enjoy!
Following this, Paul and Irene have a song they want to teach you, found in this link below:
Annette has a bible reading for you, she has shared it on our Facebook group a few days ago!
Following this we have some activities for you, given to us by Lizzie!
Sheep buns – they will quickly get lost in your tummy!
Just coat a bun in icing sugar and stick on mini marshmallows and a chocolate button to make a sheepy treat. This could work with biscuits, too.
Sheep Mask!
All you need to make this mask is a paper plate, paper, glue and cotton wool balls
Another Forest Church!
This week fro Sunday School whether its rainy or sunny… get your wellies on and be back into nature! Take your family into nature, whether that be a field, a forest or the seaside!In general, simple is good. It is all too easy to over complicate to the point where there isn’t enough space and time for engagement with nature and God so start with a little prayer. This may be familiar to those that did our last Forest Church Session!
As we gather in this Place – God is here
Praise him in this outdoor space – God is here
Down the valleys, up the hills – God is here
Praise him all you flying birds – God is here
Praise him all you digging worms – God is here
Praise him all you lofty trees – God is here
Praise him bettles, bugs and bees – God is here
Praise him clouds, and sun, and rain – God is here
All creation sings God’s praise – God is here
We join in that praise and say – God is here.
Biblical resources for those that want them for reference.
· Jesus’ many nature parables, the way Jesus uses insight from the natural world to teach of God. We can follow Jesus’ example in hearing God’s voice in the natural world.
· Nature Psalms eg Psalm 19· Job 12.7-10 Creation teaches us about God
· Col 1.15-23 All creation is held in Christ, all creation is redeemed by the cross, not just humanity.
· Romans 8.18-25 All creation waiting to be liberated into the fullness in God that we hope for.
· John 3.16 remembering that the ‘world’ that God loves is the cosmos, not individual human beings.
· Old Testament theology of the land.
These activities today are to really appreciate nature for the brilliance that it is and the appreciate God’s creation.
The first activity in a Summer Scavenger Hunt:Head to the woods on a summer’s day and look out for…
- Brightly coloured wild flowers
- fluffy dandelion clocks
- nibbled leaves
- a soft feather
- spotty ladybirds
- a four leaf clover
Take a pen and pencil and draw what you see or better yet try and collect what you find and bring it home – maybe leave the ladybirds where they are happy! When you collect these different things try and think of one thing that you like about them. (Colour, smell etc).
THE NEXT ACTIVITY IS A TINY TREASURE HUNT:
You will need a small box or match box for this activity:You’ll need to keep your eyes peeled for this activity. Hunt for really small things you can fit into a matchbox. Collect little leaves, blades of grass, small snail shells, tiny twigs, feathers and pebbles. Turn it into a competition with your family – who can fit the most items inside their box?You can take a magnifying glass on your scavenger hunt to help children to investigate their finds. Can they see intricate patterns, subtle colour changes and interesting textures? All these little details make them individually made in the way that God intended, just like you and you’re family! Take a minute to really look at the details and what makes it individual.Everything you see, touch or smell really try and appreciate them for what they are and how God created them – just like he created you! Take the time to be a part of nature and feel God’s presence there. And as you’re in nature and coming to a close on your family adventure say this little prayer:As we leave this place may we breathe in and take this peace with us.As we leave this place may we breathe in and take this beauty with us.As we leave this place may we breathe in and take you with us Jesus into this day.Thanks be to you for speaking to us through your amazing creation.Amen.Us all at Sunday School hope you enjoy this week! There a few songs attached if you want a good sing-a-long aimed at the younger ones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imO2NiKo_AQ&list=PLONnQ-KywMA2ZA0YiZLXlY21z7XB5WZwy&index=24https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2R4D6qhaD8&list=PLONnQ-KywMA2ZA0YiZLXlY21z7XB5WZwy&index=5https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJwUvjVq9k4&list=PLONnQ-KywMA2ZA0YiZLXlY21z7XB5WZwy&index=17