Children and Families - Scripture Union NZ

  On the Road to Easter A brand new board game for all the family. Journey together through the events of Easter, through the eyes of Mark. Along the way, face challenges, answer questions and eat skittles! Download all the files you need here!

This is an activity I ran with my intergenerational small group last year, and it was lovely. I have included the script here, but also as a downloadable file you can print off. Adapt and adjust to suit your group, or family and whānau best!  Preparation: You will need a wreath base. Mine is foam/oasis. Soak this in water a day before. I chose to place one medium sized candle in the middle of my wreath. You might like to use the traditional four candles, (three are purple and one is red).  I invited each member, ranging in ages from 3years old up, to bring along some greenery from their garden, as well as purple and red flowers. I also provided some. I added a base of greenery to the wreath to make a start, as it can take time to fill it in from scratch, and small children will lose interest quick! Bring matches and secateurs.  Set up: Place the wreath in the centre of your group, where everyone can reach it. We put it on a coffee table and sat around it.  Script: Th...

We have created six key workshops that are foundational for anyone new to children's ministry. These are additional resources that go alongside these workshops. BEING OUR BEST Positive Discipline tools for teachers - a great general website with lots of practical advice.   'It's the hidden disabilities that keep kids out of church' - this article contains lots of links to resources, and focuses specifically on the church environment. Discipling Neurodiverse Children: Supporting Who God Made Them to Be - this online course is well worth looking at. PRAYER ZONE Activity cards: One Word Prayer Card Hamburger Prayers Card Prayer Dice Card Wikki Prayers Labyrinths ( Finger and Floor ) Fishscale prayers Thank you - catch and toss Pray for Schools Card   ‘It is Night’ Anglican Prayer Book Card Websites: Praying in Colour Methodist Church (UK) free digital prayer cards FAITH FORMATION Resources: It's just a Phase Children's Ministry in the Way of Jesus   Faith forma...

There is power in a question... A group of children and I were exploring the story of Zacchaeus. He had climbed the tree so he could see Jesus coming. I asked the children to imagine themselves as Zac. Jesus gets closer, and then all of a sudden he stops. I asked them just one question: What would you have said when Jesus  stopped under your tree and looked up?  This is what they said:  “Wow! I can’t believe he noticed me.” “Hi Jesus.” “Oh dear, God’s going to tell me off. Boo hoo boo.” “Well done Zacchaeus for listening to Jesus.” “Why is Jesus talking to me?” “I can’t live like this now.” These responses reminded me that there is power in a question. Look at the depth of thinking in those answers!  There is power in a question to open up possibilities, to invite imagination, and to bring to life children's feelings and responses to God. Notice that one child assumes that Zac is going to get a telling off. What image of God does this child carry ...

  As we approach the events of Easter, this simple activity will help provide context for your children. Create a simple map of Israel on the floor, allowing children to see for themselves the places where the events in the gospels happened. Click here to download the instructions

Te Kawenata o Waitangi (the Covenant of Waitangi) The Treaty of Waitangi  signed 6 Feb 1840 “Te Kawenata o Waitangi is the name Māori gave to the Treaty of Waitangi. It means, the ‘Covenant of Waitangi’, and reflects the influence of the gospel on New Zealand history. The signing of the Treaty was not simply a contract but a covenant, in the Biblical sense of the word.” (Mark Grace, The Gospel and the Treaty of Waitangi, 2014) Waitangi Day is a great opportunity to reflect on our history as a nation, but also the part that Christians played in this historic event. Here are some ideas you might like to use in your Sunday School or children’s programme or together with all ages in your church services. Click on the links below to view and download free resources. We are keen to add to this col lection, so if you have an idea or activity we would love you to share it w ith us. Email: annette.o@sunz.o rg.nz A few main points:  Click here for a brief overview o...

As you are reading this, no doubt certain shops are advertising ‘Back to School’ sales for stationery, shoes and various other school-related supplies. As the beginning of the school year looms, I wonder what range of emotions are in your household? Ordinarily, perhaps you, as a parent, have looked forward to your children returning to school and your household to its usual routine. Your children, on the other hand, may be enjoying the sun, the sand and the surf too much to be wanting school as much as you. How do we help our children head back to school in a healthy way, and how do we let them go in a way that is healthy for us? These are big questions. I firmly believe in the need for and the importance of prayer. Not only can you be praying for your children, but they can too, for themselves and their friends. Here are some great prayer ideas for your church and your home to help you and your children in their return to school. Prayer Stations: This resource gives you instructions a...

  Matthias Stomer, Adoration of the Shepherds  wikipedia This painting from 1650 reflects its time. The clothing and skin colour of those pictured place this image some distance from the original events of Jesus' birth, not to mention Jesus' glow-in-the-dark-ness! But what captivates me about this beautiful painting is the faces of the shepherds. There is no distance here between these visitors and the baby. They lean right in. Their faces show wonder and awe, caught in the glow of divinity. This painting is called 'Adoration of the Shepherds', and it sure captures that.  Let's be like the shepherds. Lean in, draw close. Allow the moment to soak into our hearts.  Let's be people of adoration, who once again find ourselves in the presence of Immanuel, God with us. 

  In Their Shoes Step into the shoes of six people in the Easter story and look at what happened through their eyes. This resource brings to life some of the lesser known or briefly mentioned people in the story and aims to bring them to life. This resource contains six character descriptions, scripts and suggestions for how to include them in your Easter services. You choose which characters to introduce, and which approach will best suit your church. Hannah, Samuel and Isaiah: noisy children in the temple: Matt 21 Benjamin and his jar of water: Luke 22 Sarah sits by the fire: Luke 22 Claudia's Dream: Matt 27 Marcus and his surprising discovery: Matt 27 Crispus spreads rumours Matt 27-28 You will need:  'In Their Shoes' - the resource  Story Scripts Optional: Easter images from Max7.org Good Friday Easter Sunday

  We have some BRAND NEW Christmas resources to share with you! As we prepare for the joy of Christmas, we want to offer you these resources that are free to download and easy to use with families in your church and community.  Tiny House Advent Calendar 2022: This is a unique Advent calendar with a New Zealand twist. This resource includes a beautiful black and white template of 24 houses. Simply print the template, cut and colour each one, and then place a Christmas surprise inside before folding them up and gluing them securely. Put them on a table to create a Christmas village! A sample page showing one of the 24 houses Nativity in a Tin:  When life is so busy it is important to find simple ways to connect family and whānau and provide ways to engage intergenerationally. This is a simple activity to take on the road with you this Christmas season and share the story as you travel. Download the booklet and the nativity figures to create your very own ‘Nativit...

Every year on the first weekend of June, Viva hosts a weekend of prayer for children around the world. This campaign unites hundreds of thousands of adults and children across more than 40 countries.  The next event takes place on 4-5 June 2022.  This year, the weekend falls on the same weekend as Pentecost. The theme is 'Stronger Together'. The Viva website has a range of resources in different languages, which are free to download.  Here's this year's resource in English.  

  The account of Moses on the Mountain in Exodus 33, is full of drama and suspense. It is a great story to tell with all the generations together. This intergenerational activity includes banners, thunder rolls and flashes of lightning! It really brings the story to life in a way that will involve everyone in your congregation. It also works well for community events, allowing the story to speak for itself. This intergenerational activity takes a bit of preparation, but it is well worth the effort. You will need to download the script from the link below. You will need:  Script Music: The Steward of Gondor ( Youtube clip ) A4 Cards: enough for 1 per 4 people 'I have carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself' 6 grey banners: one suggestion is to sew a length of grey fabric 2metres long by 50cm wide, with a sleeve to hold a length of dowel approx 80cm long. A quick alternative is to wave scarves. Choose blue or grey or black scarves if possible.  6 yellow stre...

  Our first WAY2GO events have just happened. We gathered together kanohi ki te kanohi, face to face, to be inspired, challenged and equipped in our ministry with children. This word cloud shows some of the highlights from our Auckland South East event.  Why not come and join us at one of the 12 other events coming up soon?  Find out more at  www.sunz.org.nz  Resources from the event  

  We have NEW resources available for Lent and Easter this year. Check out our Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday ideas for family and whānau to explore together!  Our full range of Lent and Easter resources can be found here .  

As children flood through your doors, may you feel the love of God flooding in with them.  As your children bring with them their experiences of last year, carrying with them various shades of anxiety,  may you have courage to bring healing and comfort to their worries,  while finding peace for your own.  As you see dirty faces behind masks and empty lunchboxes  may you know that God's heart breaks too. As you hear stories of golden summer fun  Cousins, friends, sleeping out under the stars  May you be filled for gratitude for moments of untarnished joy  and find your own joy reflected in theirs.  Today may you know afresh how important  you are  in the life of just one of these children  who will walk through your door and may you be blessed. Amen

This page contains links and information from the 'Creation Care' workshop at WAY2GO 2023. Start here: Arocha New Zealand:  lots to explore and ways to get involved. The best place to start! 'Caring for Creation' - A  free PDF booklet, produced by the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand.  'Exploring Nature with Children' : Department of Conservation free downloadable PDF booklet  Strandz: A great website with lots of links, videos and ideas Materials: Salal and Cedar:  a free curriculum resource, drawing on Messy Church, Godly Play and Forest School methodology.  Lausanne Global Classroom: a study guide and lots of links to extra resources. This video is an excellent resource and worth playing all or part of with your church.  Worship ideas: Renew our world: Sign up for this free download (also available on Spotify) Songs of ecology, creation and hope:  a great collection of options for worship.   Articles: Adventure Church: ...