1 February 2026
Bible readings for today
Liturgical Colour: WHITE or GREEN |
CollectTeach us, Jesus,
how to live and worship without being worldly or greedy. Drive from our lives what spoils them and make us temples of the Spirit; for the glory of your holy name. Amen. E Īhu, ākona mātou, ki te whaioranga, ki te koropiko hoki kāore he whakaaro ki ngā hua o te kikokiko, he apo rānei. Panaia atu ngā mea takakino i ō mātou oranga ā meinga mātou hei temepara mō te Wairua; mō te korōria o tōu ingoa tapu. Āmine. |
Back to School
With some school students and teaching staff preparing to head back to school this week and the next, consider how you can pray for your tamariki or your local school this Sunday. You can find a our Back to School Blessing on our Strandz website.
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)
The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most enduring and most loved teachings of Jesus' ministry. This radical teaching went against the popular rhetoric that said our 'good deeds' were enough for God. However, this series of nine truths point to a God who cares about our internal transformation and personal relationship with our Creator, more than the acts we can do for Him.
Input for leadersGospel Conversations 2025 (Diocese of Dunedin) - coming soon
Sermon on the Mount Leaders Training (The Gospel Project)
One of the more important questions we can help our kids answer is this one: What does a follower of Jesus—one of His disciples—look like? This question should naturally flow from our sharing of the gospel. We start with who God is and what He has done for us in Christ, but we cannot stop there. We need to get to the preceding question. We have to help kids know what practical differences Jesus should make in our lives. Continue here... |
Benediction: Blessed are they who have little faith
Nadia Bolz-Weber shared a striking blessing, based on the Beatitudes, where she says, "Maybe the Sermon on the Mount is all about Jesus’ lavish blessing of the people around him on that hillside who his world—like ours—didn’t seem to have much time for: people in pain, people who work for peace instead of profit, people who exercise mercy instead of vengeance...This Jesus whom we follow cried at the tomb of his friend and turned the other cheek and forgave those who hung him on a cross. Because he was God’s Beatitude—God’s blessing to the weak in a world that admires only the strong" You can download the words of the blessing below here
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Intergenerational Worship
Beatitudes series
Beatitudes Series (Ministry to Children) - find a free nine-session series on the Beatitudes here.
Kids TalksThe Beatitudes (Missio Dei Communities)
Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes (Gary Neal Hansen) - focuses on Blessed are the Merciful and Blessed are the Peacemakers. The Upside Down Kingdom of the Beatitudes (Gary Neal Hansen) - based on Luke 6:17-26 but could also be used here. Beatitudes Cards (not a talk, but a way to explain the beatitudes in child friendly language), plus ideas for props and a prayer activity. (Flame Creative) The Bee-attitudes (Sermons 4 Kids) - simple talk on how true happiness comes from what happens inside us not around us. Hamburger Object Lesson (Future Flying Saucers) - great object lesson about being in the world but of the world. Good for older kids. 
Activities
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Questions to think about
Preschool PlayBig words and concepts for little people!
Tell the story
One day Jesus went up a hill with His friends. He sat down and told them something very special — how to be happy in God’s family. Jesus said things like: • “Happy are those who are gentle.” • “Happy are those who are kind.” • “Happy are those who trust God.” • “Happy are those who make peace.” Jesus teaches us how to live with God in our hearts, and how God will help us to love others with happy, gentle, kind hearts. Build God’s Happy World - put out building supplies (e.g. blocks, duplo, junk construction), toy people, small animals, scarves or fabric. Invite kids to build a “happy world” or “God’s kingdom” using the blocks and materials. Talk about, I wonder where people will live? I wonder where kindness happens in your world? I wonder where people help each other? I wonder where peace lives? Roleplay - Soft toys, dolls, play blankets, pretend food, little baskets. Children can gently care for toys and dolls — wrap them, feed them, tuck them in. Talk about how Jesus said happy are the gentle and kind — that means we care for others. I wonder how you can be gentle like Jesus? Happy Hearts Art - Paper hearts, crayons, stickers, collage bits. Invite children to decorate big paper hearts however they like. Talk about how Jesus talked about happy hearts — hearts that love God and love people. I wonder what makes your heart happy? I wonder how you can show God's love to someone today? Pray it!Lovely prayer activity at the end of this page (Flame Creative) - involving kids choosing a 'beatitude prayer' and hanging on a tree (or noticeboard or whatever works in your context).
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Media
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