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Join with others to catch up over zoom
11am Sunday Mornings
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86926204352?pwd=N050MHpHZjhUM255UW81NjliM1pYQT09
Meeting ID: 869 2620 4352
Passcode: StMary
One tap mobile
+442034815240,,86926204352#,,,,*775950# United Kingdom
+442039017895,,86926204352#,,,,*775950# United Kingdom
Sunday School is also meeting on zoom
9.30am Sunday Mornings
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81983846702?pwd=ZXhoeGxTVm9jWDBMTkZEVU9OYlBEUT09
Meeting ID: 819 8384 6702
Passcode: Jesus
Youth Group is also meeting on zoom
6.30-8.00pm Sunday Evenings
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83899422587?pwd=bGhNTlR4MGVKaFVuK0RBVkVQRkVCZz09
Meeting ID: 838 9942 2587
Passcode: Fun
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You can drop into church and light a candle between 9-11am on Sunday mornings
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CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
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Prepare
Read Bible notes on Mark 1.4-11
Our new beginnings come through the forgiveness God offers which is not just a once in a life-time opportunity, like baptism, but something that God offers us each and every day. Take an opportunity now to say sorry to God and receive forgiveness.
Children face many new beginnings that can transform their lives, e.g. learning to read, changing school. Reflecting together on the transitions those in your group have made recently may help children understand how significant this episode was for Jesus.
Share the Word
Read the story and pause at the  to share these points with the children (see Stop and share below). Then use the activity to explore the passage together.
Stop and share
- Remind the children that John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin.
- Explain that repent means saying sorry to God for what you have done; having a change of heart.
- At the end, show the picture of a modern baptism and discuss the differences between baptism today and what happened to Jesus.
Create a story scene
You will need: a strip of blue paper, play figures, a picture or cut-out of a dove.
- Lay out the blue paper and ask the children to imagine it is a river.
- Then use the play figures as you introduce different characters in the story. Finally bring the dove down to rest on the ‘Jesus’ figure, as you read the last words of the passage.
Explore and respond
Use these ideas to help the children make connections between the Bible passage and their lives
Play with bubbles
Explore the difference water can make
You will need: a beaker for each child; water, washing-up liquid, straws, a towel.
- Half fill each beaker with water. Offer everyone a beaker and add a squirt of washing-up liquid.
- Invite the children to describe what they can see in their beaker. Now give each child a straw and invite them to blow into the mixture.
- Discuss what changes the air has made to the mixture. Remind the group that everything changed for Jesus when he was baptized.
Create a story card reminder
Illustrate the main characters
You will need: copies of the template, one per child, pens or pencils.
- Help the children to cut out the template and fold to make doors that open. Talk together about the story as a new beginning for Jesus, like a door opening or a new chapter.
- Ask the children to draw on the outside of their door: John the Baptist on one side, and a crowd of people on the other.
- Invite the children to open their door and draw the scene of Jesus coming up out of the river in the centre, with the dove above him inside the top semi-circle.
Talk together and talk to God
Use these questions to discuss the Bible passage and then bring your thoughts together by praying to God.
Talk together
- What does it feel like when you start something new?
- How do you think Jesus felt about his new beginning which started with this story?
- What new beginnings might you ask God to help you with?
Talk to God: Watch for the transformation
Reflect on the change that can come with water
You will need: SmartiesTM, a large plate with a rim, water.
- Invite the children to suggest things in their lives that need God’s help to change. Add a sweet to the plate for each suggestion, spacing them apart as much as possible.
- When all the suggestions have been made, invite everyone to pray silently as you add water to the plate. Encourage the children to keep silent as the colours slowly start to dissolve to create a beautiful pattern. Point out the change that has taken place on the plate, and give thanks for the way God’s love can transform us.
Go with God
Consider together what you have explored, what that means for each of you and how it might influence your daily lives.
- Ask the children to think about one situation in their life or in the world where they’d like to ask God to give them a new beginning.
- Invite them to come and dip their finger in a bowl of water as they ask God for that help and guidance.
A sending out prayer for children
May the God of new beginnings
give you courage to face each new challenge,
joy in each new day,
and friends to journey with you through this new week.
Amen.
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Prepare
Read Bible notes on Mark 1.4-11
Our new beginnings come through the forgiveness God offers which is not just a once in a life-time opportunity, like baptism, but something that God offers us each and every day. Take an opportunity now to say sorry to God and receive forgiveness.
Children face many new beginnings that can transform their lives, e.g. learning to read, changing school. Reflecting together on the transitions those in your group have made recently may help children understand how significant this episode was for Jesus.
Share the Word
Read the story and pause at the to share these points with the children (see Stop and share below). Then use the activity to explore the passage together.
Stop and share
- Remind the children that John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin.
- Explain that repent means saying sorry to God for what you have done; having a change of heart.
- At the end, show the picture of a modern baptism and discuss the differences between baptism today and what happened to Jesus.
Create a story scene
You will need: a strip of blue paper, play figures, a picture or cut-out of a dove.
- Lay out the blue paper and ask the children to imagine it is a river.
- Then use the play figures as you introduce different characters in the story. Finally bring the dove down to rest on the ‘Jesus’ figure, as you read the last words of the passage.
Explore and respond
Use these ideas to help the children make connections between the Bible passage and their lives
Play with bubbles
Explore the difference water can make
You will need: a beaker for each child; water, washing-up liquid, straws, a towel.
- Half fill each beaker with water. Offer everyone a beaker and add a squirt of washing-up liquid.
- Invite the children to describe what they can see in their beaker. Now give each child a straw and invite them to blow into the mixture.
- Discuss what changes the air has made to the mixture. Remind the group that everything changed for Jesus when he was baptized.
Create a story card reminder
Illustrate the main characters
You will need: copies of the template, one per child, pens or pencils.
- Help the children to cut out the template and fold to make doors that open. Talk together about the story as a new beginning for Jesus, like a door opening or a new chapter.
- Ask the children to draw on the outside of their door: John the Baptist on one side, and a crowd of people on the other.
- Invite the children to open their door and draw the scene of Jesus coming up out of the river in the centre, with the dove above him inside the top semi-circle.
Talk together and talk to God
Use these questions to discuss the Bible passage and then bring your thoughts together by praying to God.
Talk together
- What does it feel like when you start something new?
- How do you think Jesus felt about his new beginning which started with this story?
- What new beginnings might you ask God to help you with?
Talk to God: Watch for the transformation
Reflect on the change that can come with water
You will need: SmartiesTM, a large plate with a rim, water.
- Invite the children to suggest things in their lives that need God’s help to change. Add a sweet to the plate for each suggestion, spacing them apart as much as possible.
- When all the suggestions have been made, invite everyone to pray silently as you add water to the plate. Encourage the children to keep silent as the colours slowly start to dissolve to create a beautiful pattern. Point out the change that has taken place on the plate, and give thanks for the way God’s love can transform us.
Go with God
Consider together what you have explored, what that means for each of you and how it might influence your daily lives.
- Ask the children to think about one situation in their life or in the world where they’d like to ask God to give them a new beginning.
- Invite them to come and dip their finger in a bowl of water as they ask God for that help and guidance.
A sending out prayer for children
May the God of new beginnings
give you courage to face each new challenge,
joy in each new day,
and friends to journey with you through this new week.
Amen.
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If you know people who would like to join us for virtual worship please ask them to e mail or connect through Facebook
Contact us
Email- stmarys.beverley@gmail.com
Telephone: 07598 518426
Images and Sunday school resources adapted from ROOTS for Churches Ltd (www.rootsontheweb.com) 2002-2020.
Reproduced with permission.
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