BIBLE EXPLORE / OLD TESTAMENT / GENESIS / GENESIS 1

Genesis: Chapter 1

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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