Hey Kids! This week Jesus tells a story to show us that God is really generous towards us. 

The reading is Matthew chapter 20 verses 1 - 16.
Here is a link to it from the Contemporary English Version


And here is a sheet of puzzles about it all  >>>
Have fun!

Hey Kids! This week Peter asks a question about what we heard last week.  What was his question?  What do you think of the answer?

The reading is Matthew chapter 18 verses 21-22
Here it is from the Contemporary English Version
Peter came up to the Lord and asked, “How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?”
Jesus answered: Not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!

And here is a sheet of puzzles about it all  >>>
Have fun!

Hey Kids, This week we hear Jesus telling us how important it is to make peace when we are hurt by another Christian. 

The reading is Matthew chapter 18 verses 15 to 20. 
Here it is from the Contemporary English Version
If one of my followers sins against you, go and point out what was wrong. But do it in private, just between the two of you. If that person listens, you have won back a follower. But if that one refuses to listen, take along one or two others. The Scriptures teach that every complaint must be proven true by two or more witnesses. If the follower refuses to listen to them, report the matter to the church. Anyone who refuses to listen to the church must be treated like an unbeliever or a tax collector.

I promise you that God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth, but he will not allow anything you don’t allow.  I promise that when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my Father in heaven will do it for you.  Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.

And here is a sheet of puzzles about it all.  Have fun!

Here's a fun activity sheet to go with today's gospel reading.  See whether you can find the words, join the dots and solve all the puzzles.

Hey Kids,  Here is an activity sheet for you on the same Bible reading as Mum and Dad are looking at in church.

Hey Kids,  Here is an activity sheet for you on the same Bible reading as Mum and Dad are looking at in church.
There is also some ideas for you if you are getting bored during lockdown.

Here's a fun nod to Seuss for children and perhaps parents too!
Available as a powerpoint or video ...

We have been running an Alpha Course with a children's programme too.  Since we can't meet together now, Helen made this video for the children who were with her and Lesley in the Alpha Kids programme to go alongside the adults' session on healing.

Hey kids - we can't meet together at present, so I made a video for you.  Hope you enjoy it.

Hey everyone, here are some fun Easter crafts with what you might have at home.

Hi Kids,  You might like this Easter Song - Wendy.

On Thursday, we invite you to conduct your own Christian Passover meal at home. 
Passover has always been a family celebration at home.  It was originally about protection from a plague.  It is therefore particularly apt for us at a time when we are confined to our homes out of concern about an epidemic.  Then Jesus took this ancient festival and gave it new meaning for us.

Read on for details and what you need to prepare and cook.

I hope this finds you happy and safe in your bubbles.  

I would imagine that many of you are working through the question of "What to do about Easter when the churches are closed?" 

No doubt things will be different this year, and we may need to wait for celebrating a few traditions, but the one thing many of us have right now is time- to spend on our own relationships with God, and to encourage our children to do the same.

I'd like to pass on a couple of resources you can share with your children if you find it helpful. 

Something that I shared with my children was the Easter bubbles resource from STRANDZ.  (Also available below as a PDF.)   It includes a video link to a Bible story for each day of Holy Week, to help children understand our time of leading up to Easter starting with today, Palm Sunday. 
[By the way - the video about Jesus and the children deliberately does not use narration :-)]

Then there is the fidget prayer spinner - see the pdf below.

If you would enjoy reading the stories to your children, Auckland library's website currently has a Jesus Storybook Bible e-book that you can download. 
 
If there is anything I or other members of St Stephen's can do to support you during this time, please do let us know. We'd love to hear about the blessings (as well as the challenges) going on within your bubbles.

God Bless You All,
Wendy Fowler  
Children & Families Minister
wendyf @ ststephenswgp.org.nz

Download the file, print it out, cut out the pieces - and they can be arranged different ways to tell the story of Easter.  Give it a go!
Hope you enjoy it - Wendy.

We have had the Teddy Bear hunt as we have looked for teddies in the windows and letterboxes of people's houses.  The Prime Minister suggested an Easter Egg hunt - putting drawings of Easter Eggs in the window.

Here are some Easter Egg outlines you can colour and stick up in the window.  They remind us that the Easter Egg represents the empty tomb.  When the chick hatches and leaves the empty shell it is like Jesus coming out of the tomb.

Part 3 of the story leading up to the Passover....

Part 4.  This is what it was all building up to. ....

Hi Parents,  A note from me about Passover, how you might tell your children the story and why it is relevant especially now.  Blessings, Ian

Here is part 2 of the story behind the Passover meal.

To understand the Passover story, we need to know what led up to it.  Helen is telling the story over these three days, starting with the birth of Moses.

We have been running an Alpha Course with a children's programme too.  Since we can't meet together now, Helen made this video for the children who were with her and Lesley in the Alpha Kids programme.

Hey kids - we can't meet together at present, so I made a video for you.  Hope you enjoy it.