Children and Families - Scripture Union NZ

I recently ran the evening devotions for an intergenerational camp, and it was wonderful to see people of all ages worshipping, exploring the Bible and praying together. So, I thought I would share these with you to pick up and use, or adapt to suit your own situation.  This resource is two 40 min sessions, suitable for all ages. It is based on Jesus' story of the wise and foolish builders, found int Matthew 7. This would work well for a weekend church camp or it could be adapted for a Sunday morning service.  Sand and Stone: Matthew 7:24-29 is one of Jesus’ most well-known stories. Two builders, two foundations, two houses. And the point of the story? The one who hears Jesus’ words and puts them into action is called wise. This resource includes reflections on the story of the wise and foolish builders, small group activities, key questions and stations to explore. It's all here for you to pick up and use! All you need: Service outline (two sessions) - The wh...

‘We read under the eye of God until the heart is touched and leaps to flame.’ Dom Columba Marmion These words provide a beautiful picture of what reading the Bible can be. We read in the presence of God. We read until God's words burst to life, like a bonfire on a cold winter’s night. What an exciting approach to the Bible, one that can inspire our children as well as all ages.  God wants to speak with our children through the words in the Bible. Dom Columba Marmion is talking about an ancient way of reading the Bible called Lectio Divina. This method involves reading the words slowly and thoughtfully, working through four steps. The four steps are: lectio (reading), meditatio (meditatio), oratio (prayer) and contemplatio (contemplation).  When I use this method with children I phrase it this way: - Read - Reflect - Respond - Rest Here's what happened on one of our children's camps.  __________________________________________...

The Christmas season is one of those times of the year when families head along to church either for the first time or as part of a yearly tradition. Some come to sing carols, others see it as important for their children to know the Christmas story, and others come because it’s what their family has done every year for as long as they can remember. These families may not attend church at any other time.  There are a growing number of people in our communities who know very little about the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. While we may have heard the story over and over to the point of complacency, for them it is new and fresh and intriguing.  As we plan for the variety of services and activities that run during Advent, it is good to make sure that we take these things into consideration. For that new family who has walked through the door for the first time:  · Will they feel welcome in our church?  · Will they be able to celebrate t...

www.bibleproject.com This is a two part service outline, exploring the book of Proverbs with all generations,  and this question:  What is wisdom and what does a wise person look like?  We look at wisdom as seen in action, through the whole range of gifts that God has given us, and examine what it means to ‘fear the Lord’. As Lady Wisdom says, “listen up!” Here is what you need: Week One: - Service Outline  - PowerPoint  - Proverbs overview sheet (like image above) - 3 signs  Week Two: - Service Outline - PowerPoint - 7 Proverbs for Acting or Water Leak Proverb - La Luna Pixar Film  Additional links for more info: The Bible Project: This service is based on the wonderful content at The Bible Project. You can check out their YouTube channel and their website: YouTube Website Lost Sheep: Check out Lost Sheep for some great illustrations of the Proverbs: LostSheep

  5 November On the 5th Nov 1881 government troops marched on the peaceful settlement of Parihaka, Taranaki.  The events that happened at Parihaka are an important part of our New Zealand history, but they are not very well known.  They tell a story of peaceful resistance and belief in a God of peace, not violence.  This story is so important that Gandhi and Martin Luther King referred to it as helping them to make their peaceful stand against injustice. It is a story our children should know.  5th of Nov is known as Parihaka Day.   Programme: I have written a one-off programme to be used with children to explore the events of Parihaka. It is approximately 30mins in length. This programme focuses on the value of Community and Participation, Porihanga . It focuses particularly on PEACE, Rangimarie, and what it means to be peace makers.   * Activity ideas  * Story telling ideas and a script to use * Discovery...

We live in very busy times, with lots of things on the go. It is no different for our children. Where do we find God? God of course is present with us in all our busyness, but we also need to stop and give God our undivided attention. Let's explore how to press STOP at the end of the day. How do we help children to stop and spend time with God? It’s certainly not easy! We asked some children for their ideas, our team contributed their favourite tips, and we have included a couple of simple suggestions. Because no one has time for complicated! Feeling inadequate? Stonehouse and May in their book, Listening to Children on the Spiritual Journey , interviewed parents about their night-time rituals. What did they do at the end of the day to help their children meet with God?  They discovered that for some parents this time was precious, and they spoke of being humbled and amazed at the depth and sincerity of their children’s prayers. But other parents spoke...

14-21 Sept 2024: It's  Māori  L anguage Week! What a great reminder that we live in a country with three official languages;  Māori , English and NZ sign language. It also provides a reminder to consider how our programmes and our conversations reflect this diversity. Here are just a couple of simple suggestions and resources to help you this week and beyond. Reo Māori   Māori Language Commission Strandz Te Aka The importance of correctly pronouncing  Māori  words: This YouTube clip has been around for a while, but it's great! If you haven't seen it, it is worth a watch. Click here to check it out.  " My name is Finnian Galbraith and I am a year 11 student at Kāpiti College. I wrote this speech initially for a speech competition in 2014 because I see this as a big issue and I believe it is very important that we take action. Thanks for watching!" The Lord's Prayer: This website will give you the Lord's prayer in English and  Māori , ...