Worship
Providing Worship tips on pew cards may be a help for families in your congregation.
Children’s Addresses
A children's address is a valuable part of worship. The children have the opportunity to respond to the message of the day or worship events in their own words and their own style.
Children love to use their senses. Anything visible or tactile that can be used to present a message should be used. Here are a few ideas you are welcome to adapt for your own context.
Ideas for General Use
Baptism
A baptism is a great teaching opportunity for children.
- If appropriate invite the children to gather around the font and see the baptism up close.
- Talk to the children about their own baptism day and splash them with a bit of water!
- Discuss what “anointing” means and anoint children with the oil, just as they would have been anointed at their own baptism.
What can you see today?
Use visual props around the church to illustrate the message for the day: banners, paraments, harvest thanksgiving display, Christmas tree, symbols on the furniture and art works on the walls.
Recognising Jesus
How do we “recognise” Jesus in the world today? We talk about Jesus being with us and coming to us but where do we see him? [Promise the children a special device to show what Jesus looks like then produce … a mirror! Let them look at their own faces.] God has called us to be the face of Jesus to those around us. We are Jesus' presence in the world! We show the love of Jesus and share the words of Jesus with others.
[Especially relevant for Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem but the people didn't really recognise who he was, but will suit many other Bible stories and readings.]
Advent-Christmas
- Jesse Tree Advent-Christmas program, adapted by Pastor Stephen Pietsch, which can used for Children's Addresses over the four Sundays of Advent, plus Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
- Advent Boxes: Display four gift boxes (or stick to the wall) and over the weeks of Advent open one box each Sunday and discuss the contents inside.
Easter Sunday
Label a heap of Easter eggs with the words “CHRIST” “IS” “RISEN”. Hide the eggs around the sanctuary and ask the children to find a set of 3 eggs – one of each word. Have a poster with the words written out to help non-readers recognise the different eggs. Talk about how the egg reminds us of Jesus’ resurrection. (Alternatively, arrange this activity for after church.)
Christian web sites for kids
[Links open in a new browser window]
- Red Boots for Christmas contains games and activities for children inspired by the book. Hear the Red Boots for Christmas story read along with pictures, watch the movie, listen to song, colour in, send e-cards and more.