6 July 2025

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Bible readings for today

• 2 Kings 5:1-14 
• Psalm 30: 1-12
• Galatians 6: (1-6),7-16
• Luke 10:1-11,16-20 

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Liturgical colour: GREEN

​Today is also Refugee Sunday in the Church calendar.
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​Refugee Sunday resources

Collect

E te Atua, e mahi tonu nei koe,
e wawāhi nei me te hanga anō;
whakatūwheratia ō mātou kanohi kia
kite i ōu ringa kia tika ai tā mātou noho tahi
hei kai mahi tahi me koe.
Whakarongo ki tēnei īnoi i runga i tōu aroha.
Āmine.
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God, you are working still,
breaking down and building up;
open our eyes to discern your hands
so that we may take our place
as labourers together with you.
Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.
Amen.

Jesus sends out 72 disciples (Luke 10:1-11)

In today's gospel reading, Jesus sends out 72 disciples in. pairs, sending them ahead to the places he was to travel to. 

Input for Leaders

​Visio Lectio
Another great illustration from Rev. Sarah West from the Auckland Diocese, shared here with permission for use in your churches. 
PNG Download
Terms of Use

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Gospel Conversations 2025: We're back into Luke this week, joining the story again at the point where Jesus sends out 72 disciples to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near. Why 72? Why this message?

Gospel Conversations 2022: Jesus is disrupting the comfort of his followers and casting them out to bring peace to the nations in this week's gospel. It's unsettling and yet joyful!

Intergenerational Worship

Ordinary Time Year C 2025 Intergenerational Worship Series
​(Angela Blundell, Auckland Dio Intergenerational Ministry)
This resource has 8 weeks of worship ideas (from July 6 to Aug 31)  to help your community connect to God and each other through worship, sharing and creativity.

A collection of resources and ideas (Intergen Australia)
Written and compiled by Jillian Ross. Bible references: Galatians, Luke. ​In the readings for this week, from Galatians 6:1-16 and Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20, it’s all about doing things together or relying on others. Along with God, we need each other for support in life.

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Preschool Play

Sharing the story - We're going on a Jesus walk
Try this simple story based on the 'We're going on a bear hunt' book which your kids will no doubt be familiar with. 

Sharing the story - What would you pack? (Kids Church Ideas)

• Bring some luggage with a number of things packed inside. e.g. some food, clothes, favourite toy, jacket.
• Open the luggage and show the kids the things you have packed, explain each item, e.g. I packed a jacket in case it gets cold. 
• Ask the kids if they think you forgot anything? What do they like to pack when they are going on a trip. 
• Tell them that in today’s story Jesus sent 72 people out on a trip, but he asked them not to take anything with them. No snacks, or extra clothes, or favourite toys, they just needed to go, just them with a friend and nothing else.
• Ask them what they would do if they went on a trip with no luggage and no place to stay. Come up with a plan together.
• Then tell them that Jesus gave the 70 these instructions - to go to a house and say “peace be on you” they should stay at that house and eat what was given to them and to heal the sick”

Active - Scavenger Hunt (see Games & Activities) 
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Packing Station - Set up some empty bags or baskets and some items that the kids can pack into and out of. Try, books, shoes, drink bottles, soft toys etc. You may like to include some dress-ups for the kids e.g. rain coats, gloves etc.
Talk about:- Have you been on a trip? What did you take? Imagine going on a trip without anything! 

Journeys - If you have one of those car mats with roads and houses on - now could be a great time to get it out with a few props. Talk about - the story and what happened. 

Quiet Corner - Have a soft blanket and cushions, some books about journeys, Jesus and other relevant themes! You may like to include some quiet exploratory activities like labyrinths. 

Consider repeating last week's Sensory Prayer Path (Flame Creative).

Kids Talks

Act it out (Kids Church Ideas) - Idea 2 - in real life.

Act it out (Kids Church Ideas) - Idea 5 - in your session. Includes script.

It all depends on Jesus (Sermons 4 Kids) - we don't need to pack anything special to tell others about Jesus.

Jesus sends out disciples (Ministry to Children) - Full lesson plan

The disciples do some chores (Rfour) - Ask, Tell, Share

God knows your name (Faith Formation Journeys)

Games & Activities

D is for Disciple Colouring page (Ministry to Children)

'I packed my bag' Game (Good Play Guide) - a good starter. Introduce it as being about going on a trip. Then at the end you might say, "Today we are talking about some people who went on a trip and didn't take ANYTHING!"

Scavenger Hunt 
Before the session - hide objects or pictures of objects around the classroom. These can be either props for telling the story, or things you would normally take on a trip. Later you can use these objects/props to tell the story. 
Have an empty suitcase or bag on your knee and and start by telling the kids you wanted to go on holiday but but unfortunately you have lost everything you had in your bag. Ask them if they can help you find the objects/pictures around the room. Once they are all found - you can chat about what it is like going on a trip, and lead into the story.

Good news cookies
Sometimes sharing the good news feels scary. But it is good news! Have you ever given someone a present? Did it make you happy? Did it make them happy? Sharing the Good News of God is like giving and getting a present! 
Bake some cookies for kids to share with a friend or neighbour who doesn't come to church. Here's a super simple biscuit recipe (BBC Good Food). Some suggestions:

• for younger kids you can premix the batter, and just get the kids to help you roll, cut and decorate.
• you can also use different shaped cookie cutters.
• Bake at the beginning of your session. While biscuit are cooling, give each kids a brown paper bag to decorate. Attach a wee heart that says something like "God loves you". Once biscuits are cool, divide them up , pop some in each bag, and staple the bags closed.
• SAFETY NOTE: If you have kids with allergies here are a selection of other biscuit recipes you can search using the Health Filter.

Crayon Colour Transfer Cross (Flame Creative) - a fun idea to help think about praying for others to know Jesus and about how our behaviour as disciples can rub off on others.

Printable Wordless Flexagon (Flame Creative) - a 'wordless' way of telling the gospel, especially to children.

Questions to think about

Have you ever been away from home? Where? Why?
What did you take? Did you forget to take anything?
Did you miss anything while you were away?
I wonder what the disciples wanted to take on their journey?
I wonder how they felt when Jesus told them not to take anything?
I wonder why Jesus told them not to take anything?
I wonder who they met on their journey?
I wonder if Jesus might want us to go on a journey too?

Pray it!

Prayer Map - Grab a large sheet of paper and draw a few landmarks to represent your area/town/suburb. You might include your church, the local schools, some shops, significant landmarks. Keep it simple! Then gather the kids around and explain what it is. Chat about - where they live on the map and get them to draw a simple house. Or use stickers - try stars or hearts. Then give them some prayer prompts e.g.

• think of someone who lives near you who doesn't know Jesus. Ask God to help you invite them to dinner with your family or to church with you. 
  
• think of someone at your school or kindy who doesnt know Jesus. Ask God to help you show his love to them.
  
• think of someone you know who is sick or sad. Ask God what you can do to help them feel better?
  

For each prayer children can draw a person or symbol on the map - or put a sticker on it. When you are finished hang it up as a weekly reminder of sharing God's good news!

Media

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The healing of Naaman (2 Kings: 1-14)

Activities

There are four printable activities to go with the story: retelling part of the story, an acrostic poem, a reversible puppet, and a review game.
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Download the resources from this website

Media