14 May 2026
Bible readings for today
Today is the 7th Sunday after Easter, and also marks Christian Unity. |
CollectHoly Father,
you have not left us alone but promised your abiding protection. In all we face, grant us such a knowledge of your presence, and abiding care, that nothing can destroy our trust in Jesus Christ and the strength of the Holy Spirit; who with the Father and the Son, live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen |
Jesus prays for his followers (John 17:1-7)
Jesus prays for his followers and reminds us that we belong to God.
Input for leadersHouse Church Reflection 2020 (Diocese of Wellington)
In this reflection for the week commencing Sunday the 24th of May, Archdeacon Martin Robinson reflects on the passage from John 17:1-11, in which Jesus prays a High Priestly prayer. |
Gospel Conversations John 17:1-7 (Diocese of Dunedin 2023)
We are continuing through Jesus' wonderful last instructions to, and prayers for, his disciples - which means, amazingly, for us as well. |
Intergenerational Worship
TalksChildren's Sermon (Gary Neal Hansen) - paraphrased retelling of John 17:1-11
Jesus prays for us (Ministry to Children) - full lesson plan - can be used at home or at church. Jesus prays for us (Sunday School Works) - full lesson plan Standing together as one (Sermons 4 Kids) - with easy object lesson In the world but unique (Ministry to Children) - full lesson plan Games & ActivitiesBuild Together Challenge
Give teams blocks or recycled materials and challenge them to build something together. Reflect afterwards on teamwork, unity, and belonging. Older children could discuss what helps groups work well together. Caring Chain Write or draw ways people care for one another on strips of paper. Link them into a paper chain showing connection and community. Unity Banner (Sermons 4 Kids) - Have all the kids trace their hands and forearms - up to their elbow (or as much as you can get on the paper) – on lots of different coloured paper. Then, glue them all onto the banner/paper in a circle – to represent the earth. Hang it so everyone can see! Make the earth (Sermons 4 Kids) - Beforehand, print out or draw a picture of the earth – round or flat. Print on cardstock if available. If not, you can glue the paper on a piece of thin cardboard…or just leave it on regular print paper. Cut it into puzzle pieces and hide one for everyone around the room. Make sure you have enough for everyone! If you have extras leave them on the table. When they find their “one” have them try and put the puzzle together. Work as one (Sermons 4 Kids) - Try one of these group building activities to show them how important it is to be ONE. If you have an older group, have them all stand on a blanket. Together, they must figure out how to turn the blanket over without anyone getting off the blanket. It can be done (but it’s difficult)! For younger ones, have them stand in a circle and grab someone else’s hands (two different hands). Then they have to untangle themselves. One in Christ (Sermons 4 Kids) - If you have a connection with a church in another country, have the children make a card/cards, craft, etc to send or email to the children in that church. Make sure and write on the letter – WE ARE ONE IN CHRIST!! Colouring in (CAFOD) - picture of Jesus praying for unity as he shares bread with his disciples
Questions
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Preschool PlayTelling the story
You will need - Toy people or soft toys, A scarf for Jesus (Place toy people around “Jesus.”) Jesus was with His friends. Jesus loved His friends very much. Jesus looked up and talked to God. (Look upward.) Jesus said, “God, please help my friends.” (Place hands gently on toys.) “Keep them safe. Be with them. Help them know your love. Jesus loved His friends. Jesus prayed for them. Caring for Others Play (Trueway Kids) Provide dolls, blankets, bandages, and soft toys for children to care for through imaginative play. Wonder together: Who takes care of you? How can we care for others? I wonder who Jesus was praying for? Prayer Hearts Provide soft fabric or paper hearts for children to hold while saying simple prayers for family and friends. Wonder together: Who do you love? Who would you like to pray for? I wonder how it feels to know Jesus prays for people? Building Together (Intergen AU) Invite children to build together with blocks or loose parts. Wonder together: What can we build together? How do we help each other? I wonder why being together matters? Circle Time Blessing Sit in a circle and gently roll a soft ball to one another. As each child receives the ball, say: “God loves you and stays with you.” 
Pray it!Holding Prayers (Godly Play Foundation)
Hold a stone, heart, or small object while silently praying for someone. Circle Prayer (Intergen AU) Stand in a circle holding hands or ribbons. Pray for the people beside you. Source/inspiration: https://intergen.org.au/product/easter-7-9/ Paper People Prayers (Sermons 4 Kids) Decorate paper-chain people and write names or prayers on them. Praying for the world collage
You will need - Recent newspapers and magazines, paper, glue, scissors, felts and crayons Get the children to go through the newspapers and magazines to find articles on situations that need prayer. Get them to cut them out and glue them on the large piece of paper. Next to each article, have the children either draw or write a prayer to God about the situation in the article. At the end, pray together aloud as a group, all the prayers. SAFETY NOTE: Please be aware of what is age/parentally appropriate for your ages. You may like to pre-cut a selection of articles that are suitable and not too graphic. 
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Media
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Christian Unity resources
All age talkWhat you need: cake ingredients, such as flour, cocoa, sugar, salt, eggs, milk.
Look at all the things I have to show you this morning. (Hold up several items and comment on each.) I have some flour, cocoa, sugar, salt, eggs, milk, and much more. Just by looking at the individual items, you might not know what we could do with them. The individual items could have many uses, but guess what we might be able to do with them if we put them all together. Well, for one thing, we could make a chocolate cake! Would you like to eat a spoonful of flour? How about a spoonful of salt or some vegetable oil? I didn't think so! Most of the items we have here wouldn't taste very good by themselves, but when you mix them all together in one bowl, put them in a pan and bake them in the oven, you can end up with a delicious cake! These different ingredients that go into baking a cake can teach us an important lesson about the church. The church is made up of many individual members. Like these ingredients, the members of a church are quite different, but when you put them all together and they work together as one, the church can do some wonderful things. In our Bible reading this morning, Jesus himself prayed that all believers would be one so that the world would see God's love in them. You and I are part of the church. Jesus wants us to love one another, help one another, and serve one another. When we do that, we become one, just as Jesus prayed we would be, and when we are one, the world can see God's love in us. Unfortunately, sometimes the individual members of the church have a hard time being one with one another. We may hear people in the church saying things like "I don't like the songs we sing" or "The preacher preaches too long." When we say things like that and want to have everything our way, we are no longer being one. We are like the individual ingredients of the cake. The world cannot see God's love in us. They don't get to enjoy the wonderful things that God has in store for them. If you ever find yourself thinking about yourself, rather than being united with others in the church, remember that Jesus prayed that we would be one. When we are one, bound together by Christ's love, the world gets a taste of the wonderful things that God has for them. Dear Father, help us to be one so that the world may taste your sweet love in us. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. |
Gathering Prayer"We come to re-weave the unravelling fabric of community.
To re-connect once more with the larger human family. To find once more that place of calm. To remind ourselves that we belong. And to remember what it is we belong to." See more in this link - Gathering Prayer (Church of Scotland) - scroll down to find the prayer! Thy Kingdom Come
Thy Kingdom come is a global prayer movement between Ascension and Pentecost that encourages the church to pray for people to become Christians and follow Jesus. There are lots of prayer ideas on our Strandz website, such as praying for 5, labyrinth prayers, and a prayer puzzle.
Picture prayers
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Jesus' Ascension (Luke 24:44-53)
Today also marks the Sunday after the Ascension of Jesus, which is written about in Luke 24:44-53 and Acts 1:9-11.
Kids TalksEmpty Shoes (BRF Ministries)
Celebrate Ascension (BRF Ministries) I'll Be Back (Ministry to Children) Teaching Children about Ascension Day (Kids Corner) - talking points for Ascension Day Quick Questions
Activities
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Preschool FunBalloons Up!
You will need:
Blowing Bubbles
Blow bubbles and they have to pop them/catch them, try blowing from low down and blowing them up in the air. Things to talk about: Today we are thinking about Ascension day when Jesus went back up to heaven to be with God and we are blowing the bubbles up to the sky like Jesus going up to God. Hide and Seek / Peek a boo: Make a fort or play a game where the children can hide from you. Takes turns hiding. Things to talk about: sometimes we can't see each other, but we are still there. Jesus promises to always be with us, even if we can't see him. Cloud Walk: Go for a walk outside and look at the clouds. Flame Creative have a cloud-spotting sheet you can use. Things to talk about: How Jesus friends might have felt when he left them to go back to heaven. Pray it!Ascension Prayer Spirals (Flame Creative)
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Jesus' Ascension (Acts 1:6-14)
Today also marks the Sunday after the Ascension of Jesus, which is written about in Luke 24: 44-53 and Acts 1:9-14
Prayer LabyrinthsThis week in kids church we explored the idea of journey using prayer labyrinths. Most kids, and many adults, struggle to pray while sitting still and doing ‘nothing’. It can be easier to focus if fingers or bodies are engaged with something. Just think about the latest fidget spinner craze! Visual, kinetic and tactile forms of prayer (like labyrinths) can really help kids connect with God.
Labyrinths have been used by Christians as a spiritual practice for many centuries. They were originally used as a symbolic alternative to pilgrimage when the physical journey could not be undertaken. There is nothing mystical, magical or inherently transformative about labyrinths – they are simply a visual, tactile, and kinetic way of praying – much like taking a long walk, lighting a candle, writing in a journal, holding a cross or prayer beads, or many of the other tools we use to help ourselves notice God’s presence with us. Walking a labyrinth (or using a finger labyrinth) is also a great way to slow down from our busy lives and pay attention to God’s presence with us. If you or your kids are interested you might like to check out some larger outside labyrinths. We know of some in cathedrals, churches and outdoors all across New Zealand. Just last week, we walked the one in Nelson Cathedral. Try making your own finger labyrinths out of lego, cord, or clay. Or here are some easy printable ones. May you be aware of God’s presence with you and your family this week |
Activities
Blowing BubblesBlow bubbles and they have to pop them/catch them, try blowing from low down and blowing them up in the air. If it seems appropriate, you can mention that today we are thinking about Ascension day when Jesus went back up to heaven to be with God and we are blowing the bubbles up to the sky like Jesus going up to God.
Balloons Up!You will need:
Intergenerational Worship
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