Why not begin by making an announcement or introduce someone to the children ? Your puppet can add interest or humour to a flat part of the program.

Practise your announcement using short sentences and appropriate language for the age-group of your hearers. Remember puppets need to move in the mood and the emotion of the words they are saying. Have a minimum of narration and a maximum of dialogue.
Try these ..

BEGINNINGS…. The puppet(s)

> Enter excitedly when they hear the leader mention a key word. e.g.

Leader: I know someone who is quite rude.

Puppet: Food, did I hear someone say food ??

> Enter shyly, disappearing when people call out.

> Introduce yourself.

> Ask for a riddle and give the answer ” toothpaste” to any riddle asked. It will set up an opportunity for some interesting dialogue.

> Enter looking for something, then look surprised when you find it. Look even more surprised when you notice the audience are there watching you!

> Come in complaining. you have a problem, or are looking for help.

MIDDLES… The puppet(s):

> Listen carefully to the leader and then ask dumb questions.

> Listen to one another.

> Make an announcement.

> Give directions to people to do things, look for something etc.,

> Make up a song (using a well known tune) , limerick or rap to advertise the event or person.

ENDS … The puppet(s)

> Excuse themselves to prepare for the announced event.

> Ask to be shown the direction to the toilet and excuse themselves with great embarrassment.

> Suggest that it’s time to go and look for another riddle, song, book etc..

>Suggest that it’s time to go and visit Grandma for afternoon tea or another food related activity (we all know how much puppets like to eat !).

Remember practise in front of a mirror or a friend to gain confidence with your movements and dialogue. Soon you’ll be improvising and ready for some simple scripts.

See also 20 ways to use a puppet.

20 ways to use a puppet to teach a memory verse.

After ten calls, the team with the most ‘lives’ left wins.

(most suitable for children aged 9-11)

This game could be used as an introduction to telling the Bible story of Elijah on Mt.Carmel and the contest with the prophets of Baal.  1 Kings 18

1. Boop - Form into hand-in-hand circles of 4-6 people. Toss a balloon into the centre of each group. The task is for the group to keep it off the ground without letting go hands. Try counting the number of hits before it drops and aiming for a high score.

2.  Touch the can – Divide into groups of 10-12 people. Give each group an empty soft drink can. Each member of the group must make contact with the can but without touching one another. At least one person must have their nose in contact with the can.

3. Blind Guide -In pairs seat the group back to back in a circle (one half facing in, the other half facing out). Give each person facing out a puzzle, tangram or Lego construction and give each person facing in the solution to the puzzle,tangram, or Lego structure. This person has to verbally explain to the other how to do the puzzle, etc. without either player turning their heads or looking at what someone else is doing (if the puzzles are the same).  The ages of your group will determine the difficulty of the puzzle.

Probably one of the best list of Easter resources for children’s ministry online.

See also my other websites – http://easterplus.blogspot.com and http://eliab.com

As Jesus was starting out on his way

A man ran up and called out “hey

Good teacher tell me what must I do

To receive eternal life that’s true ?”

“No one is good ‘cept God alone..

Keep the commandments that you’ve known.

“Teacher, I’ve tried since I was small

To obey the Law. I’ve kept it all !”

Jesus looked him in the eye.

With love he said, “Now you must try,

Sell all you have; support the poor

Your rich reward’s in heaven stored.

Sell all you have. Come follow me.

But rich man turned reluctantly.

The kingdom of God is hard to attain

Wealthy people will grapple to gain.

Can’t push a camel through a needle’s eye,

Many first will be last when they die.

Who can be saved ? Can you see ?

“Sell all you have. Come follow Me !”

Don Stott, Feb 2003, http://eliab.com ]]> http://childrensministerblog.com/?feed=rss2&p=260 0 http://childrensministerblog.com/?p=1319 http://childrensministerblog.com/?p=1319#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 03:33:34 +0000 Don http://childrensministerblog.com/?p=1319 Continue reading →]]> Sit in a circle with our children or small group. Explain that your will say a very short prayer. Each person around the circle quickly repeats it in turn until it comes back to you, and then you’ll pray a different short prayer for them to echo. Start with simply “Thanks for giving us promises!” Other prayers might include- “We’re glad you sent Jesus” Thanks for your wonderful creation.”  and “You’re the best, Lord!”.

This kind of prayer works well with reluctant prayers.