Any Christians doing children's work interested in a sharing support/ideas thread?

[Lovelydiscusfish]

Just that really. Dh and I about to start running Messy Church in our parish, with a couple of other families. We have a lot of faith, and wonderful guidance from our vicar, but it feels a bit daunting nonetheless. I am also doing the talks for our lay-led family service once a month, which again, is wonderful, but can be daunting at times. Just wondering if anyone else is doing similar work and wanted to share anxieties/ideas/moans/prayers etc.

Hi Cheapskate mum! Thanks for your kind words. Our harvest festival was relatively well attended, though there weren't many under 16s. Ah, well. People seemed to enjoy the apples, olives and grapes I gave out as part of the activity, any way!
Our first Messy Church is tomorrow. Have bought loads of food today, I'm sure far too much, but I hate the thought of having to turn anyone away because we haven't got enough. Am feeling calmer now - am going to pray, hope and not worry!

Our first Messy Church was brill. 20 kids there (which is amazing for us) plus loads of adults. Couldn't be happier. Thanks to all who've given tips and hints on this thread - it has been so useful.
Now to start planning the next one...

That's brilliant Lovelydf well done!

Hello everyone (if you're still here!) can I join in too? I'm part of the children's team at a large non-denominational church. On a Sundays we have a crèche, a pre-school group, two kids groups (Yrs R-2 and 3-5) and two youth groups (Yrs 6-8 and 9+). I'm mostly involved in the pre-school and kids groups which are run in the same room, starting together and then splitting off into smaller groups for teaching and craft. I'm also involved in co-ordinating craft activities (and sorting out the tip kitchen where the craft stuff lives) for those three groups. I teach in either the preschool group or YR-2 about once a month.

I've recently started organising worship in Children's Church, which I find terrifying and rewarding in equal measure. Last Sunday was great, as we (me and the kids) taught the congregation a kids' song we'd been learning since the summer. I was really nervous no kids were going to come on stage, but in the end, we had most of the R-5's, and one pre-schooler up there doing the actions.

After Christmas, once my uni schedule becomes a bit saner, I'll get involved in the parent and toddler group and the mid-week YR-2 group again - I've been missing them this term!

Hi, TheObligatory... - my word you sound busy! Must be very exhausting, though rewarding too.

Here we are gearing up for our second ever Messy Church - we have chosen a remembrance theme, which I'm now feeling was quite a challenging one, but we'll see it through. Living in a very small community, as we do, I got quite excited today when dh told me that a (lovely) woman he knows, who I know is currently atheist, is planning on bringing her dc along. I just keep clinging on to the hope that we are creating more disciples, although they may not all (ever) be church goers.

Prayers for you all in your work!

I'm still here as well TheO, agree with LovelyDF that you must be very busy! What's your uni schedule? Are you a student?

We had a bonfire & fireworks party and a lovely family that are not believers but have been coming to Messy Church regularly came along. Like you, LovelyDF we live in a small community. We're all processing to the "big church" (C of E) from the war memorial tomorrow. I'm looking forward to belting out a few ancient hymns there.

I'm so glad your MC went well, *LovelyDF8. When is our next one?

We had ours on Friday - we did a light in the dark kind of theme because we felt that Remembrance was just too heavy for the, mostly, very young kids that we get. it was great fun. A lot of the folk who come are not believers and have absolutely no other church connections. My prayer is that perhaps we will be able to plant a tiny, wee seed in their hearts that God will be able to grow. Even if that doesn't happen, I like to think that we are at least getting the message out there and kind of "demistifying" the church for folk, perhaps taking away some of the ideas that the church is a scary, weird place and that Christians are all strange and barmy.

I am taking my BB company to church today - hopefully all 42 of them, but I'll be happy enough if more than 30 appear.

Then our next MC is on the 28th when we will be celebrating Christmas.

Does anyone know any good, modern kids Christmas praise songs that I can get the BB to sing at Advent Sunday worship - along the lines of Superhero or Every blade of grass and the like? I like to use these kind of services to involve the boys and to introduce the congregation to new songs

Hi cheapskatemum - yes I'm a second year education studies student. My schedule isn't too bad (there's just an awful lot more work this year!) - I have one lecture on a Tuesday, one on a Wednesday and two on a Thursday - but both the parent and toddler group and midweek kid's group are on a Thursday. Next term I'm in Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, so I'll be able to do those again.

How did Church go with the Boys' Brigade, stressedHEmum? Are you looking for something congregational for BB at Christmas, or a performance piece? I have a growing Contempory Christian Christmas playlist on Spotify which I may or may not have created in July because I love Christmas , but I'm not sure many of them could be congregational...

Sorry, StressedHE, I can't think of any songs which fit your brief. The more worship songs I encounter, the fewer I realise I know, if that makes sense!

I wanted to tell all on this thread about something that happened at our last MC. A local family came for the first time since our Bank Holiday BBQ, so it was their first time actually in church. DM, DF and 2 young DDs spent most time at the craft table I happened to be at and I was loving the interaction as I don't have any DDs, only 4 DSs. Anyway, the craft activities ended, we sang "Father Abraham" with usual ensuing hilarity. Then the MC co-ordinator said it was time to read out the prayers people had contributed. The DF of the family I was with yawned loudly! My heart sank a bit. Then the first prayer was read out: "Dear God, thank you for Daddies, Amen". Dear God, thank you indeed and for your immaculate sense of timing.

Obligatory, I'm not sure, really. Something that the boys can lead and then the congregation could join in with if the wanted. We usually do things like Superhero, 10, 9, 8... and the like, ones with good actions, a lot of jumping around and easy words. Ours is a very traditional CoS, especially music wise, so these kind of songs are always new to the congregation and add a bit of life to the service.

Cheapskate, God is indeed good with his reminders. it can be a bit disheartening, though, can't it, when the folk that come along just don't seem to be interested in the actual message. We just have to trust they we are planting a small seed that God can grow.

Cheapskatemum, I think that (in a way!) that's a lovely story. Did he look shame-faced at all?
I have a friend who is very good at reminding me (when I get moany and frustrated, as I sometimes do) that whatever brings people into church, even if it's a free feed, or they're attending their craft club, or coming because it's a festive thing to do, or whatever, the church still acts as a witness of God's love, so it is all good!
We had lots of people come to a secular concert held in our church recently, and my dh and another lady heard a number of them openly saying they would never have come in for a service! Which I suppose is how some people feel, fair enough, but did feel a bit hurtful put like that in that context and setting!
Anyone got anything exciting planned in their children's ministry for Christmas? Any super-cheap craft ideas, especially, would be enthusiastically appreciated by me!

Thanks, Ldf he did look shame-faced, bless him. I think it was his wife's idea to come along, but I think it was great that he came along as well. I agree that whatever gets them in is good as the church acts as a witness of God's love - couldn't put it better myself.

I think there must be a messy church website as our MC co-ordinator told me today that junk modelling was coming up again in December - build your own stable. It's super cheap, you just need to get your congregation bringing in their clean, empty packaging (eg cereal boxes, yoghurt pots etc). Though small, we've amassed a cupboard full already. The children then cut and stick the "junk" together to make their own stable. They can always paint them at home. I'm looking forward to that one myself!

Just found this thread. I attend a large evangelical CofE church with lots of children's work of which I'm only regularly involved in a small part, namely helping to lead a weekly group for toddlers/pre-schoolers and their carers based around a bible theme, plus a similar thing monthly on a Sunday morning, plus leading an age group at the annual holiday club.

Without the internet, I don't think I could do the toddler work as I am not particularly creative, but can put something together if given a few ideas to start me off. We usually include a bible story, craft, prayer activity, game and songs in each session. I google a lot, but find myself using Mission Arlington and Mission to Children resources the most. We also use the Tiddlywinks books from Scripture Union (aimed at under 5s) - we rarely use more than one or two ideas from each session, but it still helps a lot - there is a website but the books contain more as far as I can work out.

Welcome Alimonkey, and thanks both for the craft/resource suggestions - all good stuff!
I'm currently getting very excited about Christmas, organising our carol service: forcing people to bake things for the refreshments afterwards, designing posters which look like my two year old has done them etc...But I just love it!

It looks like Christmas is beginning this Sunday! We normally have the first two Sundays of Advent down for Christmas prep, then the 3rd is the All Age Service, with lots of items from the kids & youth (last year we had dances from the kids, instrument playing in a carol from the preschoolers, and a donkey sketch from Toast (y6-8), followed by the resurrection of Sally the 10 humped camel...) and then the 4th Sunday is carols in the afternoon, lead by the local community choir. But this Sunday I've been asked to teach the children the chorus to breath of heaven which they'll be singing in the all age service. I'm not sure what else is planned yet - early idea bouncing included "donkeys are better than people" ala Frozen.

I taught the 4-7 year olds last Sunday, for the first time since the 7yos were 4! Had six kids, all of whom I had taught when they were preschoolers, which was pretty awesome. We're doing Acts this term, and this week it was Saul's conversion. Last week they'd looked at the persecuted church, in Acts 7/8 and then used some materials from Open Doors, which the leaders said had shaken some of them up a bit, particularly the 4-7s, as they'd all pretty confidently asserted that modern day Christians weren't persecuted at the beginning of the session. We started by all watching a video of Saul's conversion, and then I started to read the version of the story that we had, the first line of which was "Saul loved God" - cue mass outcry from my kids "no he didn't!" (And "Saul's a baddie!" from one of the 4yos, who might just possibly be my favourite ). So I explained to them how Saul did love God, but he didn't understand about Jesus etc, and the thought he was doing the right thing. I think some of them got it, and in the game later, one of the questions was "what was Saul's religion?" and one of the boys asked me "at the beginning or the end of the story?" So I know he really got it. I'd forgotten how rewarding it can be when you know you've really taught them something - sometimes I find with the preschoolers that you're never quite sure if they've taken it it.

I'm teaching the 4-7s again this week - looking at Paul and Silas in prison, and how they still worshipped God. We're having a big focus on worship, so I'm teaching them a new song, as well as getting them to think about how many different ways they can play the percussion instruments, and how all those ways are equally valid - just as there are lots of ways we can worship, and they're all equally valid.

Oh, and welcome to the thread, Alimonkey :)

TheObligatory, what a lovely story - the boy's question must have been one of those moments when you think "Wow, they've really got it!". And from one so (relatively) young, too! You are clearly doing a brilliant job - well done you.

Hello people, are you feeling Christmassy yet? . We had our first prep session for the Christmas All Age Service yesterday - filming the preschoolers telling the Christmas story, and sorting out the costumes for everybody else - they'll be telling the Christmas story through shilouetes. My favourite part of the video is one of the leaders finishing his rendition of the Christmas story with "and, as it says in Matthew, Mary treasured up all these things in her head"... Um, yeah, not quite...

I'm feeling v Christmassy! We had a fab Advent service, with loads of people there, which I am still v excited about. I gave out playdough (it was the reading from Isiah - You are the potter, we are the clay etc) - and the children listened so attentively to the rest of the service, with a bit of playdough in their hands - quite a number of the older congregation have suggested we give it out every time!
For Messy Church, I have purchased a set of Nativity moulds (for making plaster of Paris figures for the kids to paint). It's terrible - DH and I keep casting figures, and more than half of them turn out lacking a face, or indeed an entire head. We have a small group of figures done now which are fit for purpose, and have tasked DH to do some more next week. My dd has become obsessed with them, especially Mary. She says she wants to paint Mary in green, and wants me to do Jesus in his crib in purple. Am sure this has a Church significance which is lost on me (or maybe not)!

LDF I went through a phase of doing a lot of plaster of Paris modelling as a child (had quite forgotten that until you mentioned it!) and I remember that the trick to get the wet plaster down into extremities is to gently squeeze repeatedly the outside of the mould as you're pouring it in - particularly the end - in the case of figures this is usually the head. Hope this helps. Green Mary and purple Jesus sound wonderful

Having partaken in 2 nativities, I now feel Christmassy!

Thank you Cheapskatemum - dh has promised me he will do so e more figures tomorrow, so will pass on your tips! 2 nativities already sounds like good going - were they at your church? Hope all went well.
We're gearing up for leafleting to advertise our carol service - feels a bit daunting. Just keep telling myself that even if a couple of families, or individuals/couples, come who otherwise wouldn't have, it will surely be worth it.

The good thing about delivering leaflets house to house is the discussions you have along the way, I find LDF, enjoy! I'll be praying for you and I hope God grants you clement weather for it.

The nativities were in schools. Have you heard of Open The Book? We've just started doing it (taking Bible stories into primary schools) in our local school and the last one of term is the nativity. The second one was a local spin off called Open the Tent. 5 characters involved in the nativity (Mary, Joseph, innkeeper's wife, shepherd and king) tell the story as it pertains to them to small groups of children. It's multi sensory and characters have to speak very softly, as you're all in the school hall at once. I was at the thought of learning a monologue, but God granted me grace to achieve it (I played the shepherd) and the event, which was attended by 3 different schools, went well, thanks be to God.

We had our all age Christmas Service today, which was equal parts stressful and awesome. We asked the kids to arrive at 10 (service starts at 10:30) so we could get them into costume and rehearse the song, which is my baby (I've been leading worship in Childrens' Church since June, and this is the 2nd time since then we've had the kids singing on stage). We wanted the CD with the backing track back from PA to rehearse, and they'd only gone and lost it! So I ran the chorus twice a capella (verses were solos by one of the kids and one of the teenage leaders with the kids singing the chorus) whilst the CD was located, and then we found something which it would play on, so we could practice the whole things and I never mind the kids! could figure out the timings.

The into the service, where the under 5's telling the nativity video was well received, including one of my favourites who am I kidding, they're all my favourites asking "but where's the video?" at the end of his story telling, because he had been told they were going to make a video. There were some interesting moments in the silhouette nativity, where someone dropped the angels, the kids threw baby Jesus into the manger and then chucked a blanket on him, and we forgot the sheep and they had to come to later. The song went well - no one refused to get on the stage, I managed to bring them in in the right places, and the choir mics picked them up enough so the congregation could hear them.

And breathe... Next week is the carol service in the afternoon, which I thankfully have no part in. Prior to this week, I've been out in Children's Church for four weeks running (and for two of those weeks I didn't even make it into the service for the worship at the beginning), so time for a break, methinks...

LDF , have you had your Messy Church yet? How did it go?

How was everyone's Sunday?
We had a fab Messy Church, with a number of new families attending, and the crafts which the lovely lady who co-coordinates it with me organised were brilliant - including little Baby Jesus in a walnut shell - lovely! And so many great comments from families when they were leaving about their intention to come again etc - feel we have been very blessed in our work.
We have picked "New Beginnings" for our January theme - if anyone has any good crafty type ideas for this topic, they'd be gratefully received!
God bless you all.

The Obligatory, well done you! Sounds wonderful, and maybe now you can relax a bit? I'm slightly ashamed to admit that a small part of me can't wait until our carol service on 21st is done, and then I'm not involved in organising anything else, and can just enjoy the Christmas services as a member of the congregation.
Have to add, the children at your church sound awesome! The chucking of a blanket on Jesus - well, at least he wasn't going to get cold in that manger! It's a nice touch.