victoria 
I live on a farm and love using the seasons to inspire my prayer. In the past few years, I have so loved all the different types of daffodils coming up. I love their blooms, but I’ve also really enjoyed their super-vivid-green stalks. I think it happens when we have sudden warm spells and they … Read more
I love using the seasons in our faith at home. This is fairly easy in the run up to Christmas and Easter, and in the Autumn we celebrate the Biblical feasts. However, between Pentecost and October, there’s a dearth of significant markers. However, the natural ‘calendar’ is often useful, and in the summer our days … Read more
Are you looking for a way to explore the story of Jesus this Easter? Why not get an Easter Countdown Calendar – there’s a mini-book of the story and 44 stickers to add to the picture as you go. If you start it on Palm Sunday (Sunday 10th) you can sticker 5 stickers each day, … Read more
Title: Journalling the Psalms – a guide for prayer and reflection Author: Paula Gooder Cover illustrator: Jack Seymour Published by: Hodderfaith.com Price: RRP £14.99 (£11.35 on Amazon) Good for: anyone wanting to learn more about and reflect on the Psalms. The book is aimed at adults, but could be used by 12+ and families if … Read more
Title: My Easter Egg Hunt Author and illustrator: Cathy Porter Published by: Amazon Price: £4.57 Good for: children aged 3–10 years Best bit: brilliant relatable storytelling working through the meaning of Easter for a child in a Christian family Worst bit: As always, I would have liked more pictures, but even when they were little, … Read more
Title: Make Room: a child’s guide to Lent and Easter Author: Laura Alary Illustrator: Ann Boyajian Published by: Paraclete Press Price: £8.99 (Amazon) Good for: Families with children aged 3–10 years old who want to introduce them to the Easter story focusing on the transforming nature of the story Best bit: The book is written … Read more
Title: How to include autistic children and young people in church – Creating a place of belonging and spiritual development for all Author: Mark Arnold Published by: Grove Youth series Price: £3.95 Good for: anyone involved in church, especially church and group leaders Best bit: Simple, quick to read with immediate take aways Worst bit: … Read more
This fun activity was created by my friend Caroline. Instead of ‘fortune cookies’, she made ‘encouragement cookies’ simply by writing out blessings on slips of paper then put them inside home-made fortune cookies. Warning: the folding bit is rather hot, so be careful! What sort of blessings you write will depending on who you are … Read more
Lent can be intimidating. What can I do? Where do I start? Some people seem to get it together and use it as a time to grow in their faith. But if you’re more like me, excited by all the lovely ideas, but aware I may not get past day 2 on any of them, … Read more
Title: The Way of the Cross Author and Illustrator: Andrew McDonough Published by: Malcolm Down Price: £5.99 Useful for: children age 3-8 wanting to know the story of Easter Best bit: This full-colour picture book has incredibly well written, age-appropriate re-telling of the 14 traditional Easter readings from the gospels. It also includes really helpful notes … Read more
Maybe it was because I grew up in a protestant, evangelical tradition that I always thought anything to do with the saints was kind of catholic and probably a bit wrong. A few years ago, I went on a Godly Play retreat in which we explored twelve saint’s stories. To be honest, I wasn’t keen … Read more
