This page features some ideas and links to help families and children to connect with God, during the time when families are having to stay at home. It will be updated and refreshed regularly, so do keep checking it out.
Mr Hunter’s Prayer Thought 5 Lessons in Learning
Mr Hunter (our churchwarden and a teaching assistant at Appley Bridge All Saints’ school) tells some excellent jokes, and then encourages us to think about how God is always at work, and how God’s wisdom is greater than ours.
Spring Harvest have put together a special edition of Spring Harvest Home for half-term starting on Bank Holiday Monday 25th May. You can look forward to an episode of Virtual Sunday School on Monday at 9:30am, two brand new editions of Big Start Extra on Tuesday and Wednesday at 9:30am, a ‘Thought for the Day’ from Bob Hartman Tuesday to Friday at 10:15am, Bible Buds for toddlers on Thursday at 9am, Doug Horley on Friday at 11am and much more. It’s all free!
Check out the Spring Harvest You Tube Channel for lots of excellent worship, devotionals, Bible Study and much more.
Messy Church at Home for Pentecost
There are some great ideas on the document below for some Messy Church style learning and fun for Pentecost
Colouring for Pentecost
Illustrated Children’s Ministry has produced some lovely free colouring and teaching material for pentecost.
Family Time
It was great to see so many folk at our on line Family Time on line on Sunday 24th May. We don’t know yet when restrictions will lift so we’ll keep Family Time on 2nd Sunday of the month either online or in church. If you’d like to be involved and are not on our email lists please contact us via our church email contact@allsaintschurch.co.uk
Our next Family Times are 9am Sunday 14th June & 9am 12th July.
9th August: If we’re allowed by then, we’ve provisionally booked DJ Danny to bring his sound equipment for an outdoor service on the school fields 9th August. Picnic rugs for social distancing and brollies if needed! Watch this space and that day may start a bit later to allow the grass to dry!
Diane and Barbara the Sheep – I am the Gate
Diane is feeling a bit sad as she has questions about the Bible and no-one to ask. After a few sheep jokes, Barbara the sheep gives Diane a sheep’s eye view of what Jesus meant when he said, “I am the gate for the sheep.”
Kids Alive
The magazine we normally have in church with jokes, crosswords etc is available in an on-line edition from this link
What’s Coming Up?
It was Ascension Day on Thursday 21st May when we remembered when Jesus went into heaven. Then on Sunday 31st May it’s Pentecost when we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit. This video will help to set the scene for you.
This video story focuses on Jesus’ acension after his resurrection and the message that he gave to his disciples right before he was taken to heaven. It also tells of the coming of the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus.
Kids Read Matthew
The organisation Kids Read Truth have produced this super booklet for primary school aged. It short bite sized extracts from the Gospel of Matthew followed by colouring, quizzes and puzzles to help children to interact with the Gospel.
The Bible App – Featured App for Children
Check out this Bible App link to download this great app to help children to explore the stories of the Bible.
Some New Songs and Old Favourites
Let’s keep singing
New Colouring
Check out Youth for Christ Colouring It has both classy colouring sheets to download and some online colouring which is fun
New from Lifetree Kids
A new, beautifully illustrated, resource from Lifetree Kids called Notes from Jesus is now available. It reminds kids that Jesus enjoys their company, and he wants a lifelong friendship that deepens with each new conversation.
A Special Message for our confirmation candidates from Bishop Jill
Because of the current health crisis, we have had to postpone our confirmation service which had been due to take place on 30th March. Bishop Jill has let us know how sorry she is that the service cannot go ahead as planned. She has enjoyed the letters about confirmation which she has received from the candidates.
Bishop Jill has recorded lovely short video message for Y6 and for the adults whose confirmation service was postponed. There’s a really helpful message about courage in the message too. Click here to watch it.
Free Colouring
Lots of children and some adults find colouring calming.
Click here to download these lovely Bible colouring sheets
The Getty Family Sing
The Getty Family who gave us ‘In Christ Alone’ and other great modern hymns, are doing a free family Hymn sing on line every Tuesday – the live version is on too late for our side of the Atlantic, but we can watch later and join in.
Adventure Game
Guardians of Ancora is a 100% free game produced by Scripture Union and aimed mainly at children from 7 – 11. It is a downloadable to app for tablets and smartphones. It is biblically faithful and has no adverts or in-app purchases. It offers absorbing, immersive gameplay with new content added regularly. Click here for the Guardians of Ancora page which takes you to links for downloading the app.
Bible Podlets – New Family Bible Resource
Bible Podlets is a brand new resource from the Blackburn Diocese Board of Education. It is a podcast for primary aged children to listen to with adults so they can study and learn from the Bible together in a fun way. Click on this podlets link to go to their homepage, subscribe, download and listen.
Family Devotional Experience Pack from Lifetree Kids
This a great idea for busy families and unable to attend church due to closures and concerns from COVID-19. Provide your family with simple and meaningful devotional times that will help you grow in relationship with God and each other. It a free downloadable resource – you’ll need to give your email address. To get it click on this link – Lifetree Pack
We really love Lifetree Kids in Appley Bridge All Saints’ C of E Primary school assemblies – it may be a winner.