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...

  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. 

  Join the Crowd Step into the account of Jesus' visit to the town of Capernaum. See the dusty streets, smell the drying fish and donkey poo, hear the sounds of the sea... This intergenerational service explores Mark 2:1-12 and invites everyone to join the crowd as they seek Jesus. Watch as four friends dig a hole in a roof, and consider together how we help carry each other in faith.  You will need:  Service outline  Map of Capernaum Photo of modern day Capernaum   Picture of a reconstruction of the village 'Everyone is talking about it' cards  Character cards Max7.org video clip 'Crippled man' Silver Statues instructions

  Easter with Family and Whānau Our NEW resource for 2023 is a simple way to gather the family together around the Bible and create a piece of art at the same time. Free to download here .  We also have a range of Easter resources available. Are you looking to bring all the generations together for a church or community service? Are you looking for resources to support families as they explore this event in the Church calendar?  Easter resources

  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...

RESOURCES FROM OUR 2022 CONFERENCES 1. Connected to God   Children's Spirituality: Bridging Theory and Practice : Bridging Theory and Practice in Children's Spirituality explores the different contexts, methods, and situations that influence and foster a child's spirituality and faith development.  Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home: Add family faith moments to your daily routine with little or no prep, and share meaningful spiritual experiences with your children!  Visio Divina:  A way of connecting with God through images and visuals.  Lectio Divina:  Bookmark template PDF Faith5: Bookmark template PDF 45 Ways to Encounter God (English): A great resource from the Salvation Army. This is available in 6 languages (English, Te reo Māori, Fijian, Tongan, Samoan, Spanish). You can download them for free  from their website. ________________________________________ 2. Connected to God's Story  Jesus Storybook Bible Questions to think a...

  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 .  

Each year we sing, ‘While shepherds watched their flocks by night’, but what do we really know about these early witnesses to the birth of Jesus? What did it mean for them to experience a sky filled with angels and be the ones chosen to hear the good news? This year, our Christmas resource will focus on the shepherds and their rags to riches story. From the rags of the field to the riches of heaven, let us follow their journey and discover it anew for ourselves. How does God visit us in our rags and bring riches beyond our imagination? An intergenerational church service

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: ...