Genesis

In the beginning

The Genesis narrative is where it all starts, as the Spirit of God hovers over the waters, and brings life to the world.

Creation (Genesis 1)

Genesis 1 & 2 describe in creative imagery how God created the world, the home that we love and enjoy. Whether you are in the creationist camp or the evolution camp, we believe that science and faith need not be so binary and dualistic. Fostering a faith in children that is full of wonder, mystery, openness, creativity and inquisitiveness is key, as we help them understand that God loves the world, and everything/everyone in it. We may not know how God made the world, and we can uncover clues and amazing evidence along the way, but we hold both together in a beautiful tension.

Activities

Making a worm farm (Crafting the Word of God)
Days of Creation wheel craft (Crafting the Word of God)
Earth Day tasty treats (Stephanie Lynn)
3D pictures (My Little House)
Nature Scavenger Hunt (Chit Chat and Smalltalk)
Galaxy Dough (Play Learn Grow)
Ocean Play Dough (Fun learning for kids)
Creation Bookmarks (The Crafty Classroom)
Delicious snacks that have a bible story link (Childrensministry.com)
Plant-able Paper Earth (Modern Parents, Messy Kids)

Children's Stories

Today's bible story from Genesis is a great one to share with children, and there are a few different options for doing this. Our favourites include:

Sleeping with Bread [Dennis Linn, Sheila Fabricant Linn and Matthew Linn, Paulist Press, 1995]

The Jesus StoryBook Bible — ' A new beginning' which can also be seen here on YouTube

Media

Care for Creation

In the Lord's prayer, we pray "may your kingdom come on earth as in heaven" - and through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to restore and redeem our neighbourhoods, towns, cities and beyond. We want New Zealand to be the best place for young people to live, and in doing so, we are committed to being good stewards of our corner of the Pacific, and that living well here in Aotearoa doesn't come at a cost for the rest of the planet.

Resources

There are a few different resources out there to help children and families engage with this fifth mark of mission

Strandz Care for Creation webpage
Anglican Schools 'Treasure' page - as part of their Marks of Mission series
Teaching kids to care for God's creation - Catholic resource from Pleroma
Caring for Creation - Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ
"What would Jesus do... about Climate change" - RNZ article with Bishop Eleanor

Noah (Genesis 6)

After many generations of Adam have passed from the lines of Cain and Seth, the world becomes corrupted by human sin , and God wants to wipe out humanity for their wickedness. However, Noah is the only good human; so first, he instructs the righteous Noah and his family to build an ark and put examples of all the animals on it, seven pairs of every clean animal and one pair of every unclean. Then God sends a great flood to wipe out the rest of the world. When the waters recede, God promises he will never destroy the world with water again, making a rainbow as a symbol of his promise.

Activities

Wave in a Bottle (A Girl and a Glue Guna)
Rainstick in a Bottle (Teach Preschool)
Rainbow in a Jar (Spaceships and Laserbeams
3D Paper Rainbow Craft (Twitchetts)
Printable Giraffe (Krokotak)
Popsicle Stick Craft (Out Upon the Waters)
Printable Ark (Sabbath School Crafts)
Surprise Rainbow (The Best Ideas for Kids)

Media

Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)

A united human race in the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating eastward, comes to the land of Shinar. There they agree to build a city and a tower tall enough to reach heaven. God, observing their city and tower, confounds their speech so that they can no longer understand each other, and scatters them around the world.

Activities

Printable Pop-up Tower (Grow Wild My Child)
Marshmallow Tower (Deceptively Educational)
Minute to Win it Cookie Stacking (The Chaos and the Clutter)
Toddler Cherio Tower Challenge (Sixth Bloom)
Tower of Babel Game (Crafting the Word of God)

Media

Abraham (Genesis 12-)

God called Abraham to found a new nation in Canaan. He obeyed unquestioningly the commands of God, from whom he received repeated promises and a covenant that his descendants would inherit the land.

Activities

Constellation Tube (Crafting the Word of God)
Pipe Cleaner Constellations (123 Homeschool 4 Me)
Printable Popup Card (Emma Tovey)
Decorated Biscuits (Flame Creative Kids)
Paper Plate Compass (Sunday School Zone)
Paper Stars (Jesus Without Language)
Little Origami Stars (Welcome to Nanas)

Media

Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25 &27)

The Book of Genesis speaks of the relationship between twins Jacob and Esau, sons of Isaac and Rebekah, focusing on Esau's loss of his birthright to Jacob and the conflict that ensued between their descendant nations because of Jacob's deception of their aged and blind father, Isaac, in order to receive Esau's birthright/blessing from Isaac.

Activities

Printable Matchbox Craft (Emma Tovey)
Object Lesson (Future Flying Saucers)
Game Idea (Children's Ministry)
Minute to Win it Cup Stacking (Holly's Home)
Craft Ideas

Media

Jacob and Esau, Genesis 25 and 27

Joseph (Genesis 37)

Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, and rose to become vizier, the second most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh, where his presence and office caused Israel to leave Canaan and settle in Egypt.