Children's Week (24th October - 1st November 2009) is a time when we as the Uniting Church can join with others in celebrating children. Children play an important role in our communities and on Children's Sunday (19th October) we encourage all Uniting Churches to recognise children.

Resources and ideas for celebrating Children's Sunday

RCCFM Resource Potatoes 'n' Us

Here are ideas for planning an all-age worship event during Children's Week. In response to the United Nations 2008 'Year of the Potato' emphasis, 'Potatoes 'n' Us' 'considers the potato' - what the potato can show us about God and about ourselves.
Potatoes 'n' us (178.63 kB)

KUCA News Resource

This great resource was prepared by Marnie Agnew for KUCA News last year. It is still relevant for this year and is packed full of great ideas.

United Church of Canada Worship Resources

In the United Church of Canada, Children's Sunday is celebrated on the third Sunday of November. There are several liturgies on the UCC website that could be adapted for Children's Sunday this year:

Children's Sunday 2006: Caring for Creation
http://www.united-church.ca/files/planning/seasons/children_caringcreation.pdf

Children's Sunday 2005: Theme: Living with Respect  
http://www.united-church.ca/files/planning/seasons/children_respect.pdf    
Adapted from Living with Respect, Children of The Dancing Sun, Vol. IX. This service invites all ages to consider how we might live in respectful relationship with all people and with nature. It could be used for Children's Sunday worship or any other time during the year.
   
These files from the United Church of Canada were published in KUCA News this year.

Pray for Children: 

Children's Sunday is a great time to focus on the joys of being a children and the joys of parenthood, as a community we should be thankful for the joy that children bring. Please also pray for some of the negative factors that influence children and families such as poor nutrition, abuse and neglect, ill health, lack of education and lack of safety due to violence or war.

Morning tea: 

Hold a special morning tea full of lots of creative food that the children will enjoy. Encourage members of the congregation to talk with (not to) the children.

Intergenerational Buddies: 

Children's Sunday is a great time to launch an intergenerational buddy system in your church. Ask for volunteers of the 'grandparent' generation of the church to commit to making a specific child in the church feel special and like they belong. The buddy will need to remember the child's name, actively see to get to know them, be a listening ear, speak with them each week at church, send a card on their birthday and at Christmas and be genuinely interested in the child. They will also need to be screened through the Uniting Church's Duty of Care Office.

Include children in worship: 

We would hope that all churches include children in their regular worship times. Sometimes it doesn't come naturally to think about how we can include children in our services, especially when children don't regularly attend. Here are two resource that may help you in planning to include children in your services and your congregational life:
Planning Intergenerational Worship  (69 kb) this resource is a planning tool for including children in worship services.
Help Theres a child in my church  (164 kb) this resource is designed to help churches think through including children in all aspects of church.
These resource have been written by Mary Jo Zwar from the Parafield Gardens Resource Centre for Children and Families. If you would like to see more resource, including All-Age service plans please visit our All Age webpage.

Playgroup in the Park - Celebrating Children's Week 2010

When: Friday October 29, 10am -1pm
Where: Semaphore Foreshore
Who: Children under 5 and their carers
Why: To celebrate Children’s Week
Activities? Big Bubbles, Collage, Crafts, Finger Printing, Funny face biscuits, Kindergym, Music, Painting, Play dough, Sand play, Water Play
What to Bring? Water bottle, hat, sunscreen & picnic lunch. Don't forget to wear play clothes!
Cost? Everything is free! Free sausage sizzle, fruit & Devonshire tea morning tea
Contact: Seaton Central P: 8235 9556