Hope Church · ages 2–5

Abide
Fridays

Outside, singing, and a small prayer. Autumn term 2026 — thirteen Fridays, one shape, almost no preparation.

11 Sept – 11 Dec 9.45 – 11.15 No Bible stories More ideas →

One The shape of every Friday

The same, every single week. The children settle because they know what's coming, and you stop planning from scratch. Only the middle bit changes.

9.45Doors openFree play, kettle on. No programme — let them arrive.
10.00Welcome songThe same one every week, all year. Sit in the circle.
10.10OutsideThis week's mess. The only thing that changes.
10.40SnackEveryone comes in, warms up, and sits down.
10.55SongsThis month's song, shakers and ribbons. Sing it four weeks running.
11.05PrayerThis month's prayer, one candle. Two minutes, no more.
11.12Goodbye songThe same one every week. Then home.
Shift the times to suit you. What matters is the order, not the clock — and that it never changes.

Two The term

One song and one prayer per month. One outdoor thing per week. That's the whole plan.

September · gathering in

Thank you

Song of the monthHe's Got the Whole World in His Hands
PrayerA thankfulness tree — a bare branch in a pot. Each child hangs one paper leaf.
11Sep

Treasure hunt

Everyone finds one thing outside and brings it back to the table. That's it. That's the session.

Bring: a basket each, or paper bags.

18Sep

Digging and planting

Spring bulbs into little pots, to take home. Mud under the fingernails is the point.

Bring: daffodil bulbs, compost, yoghurt pots, trowels.

25Sep

Conkers and acorns

Scooping, pouring, filling, tipping out, filling again. Toddlers will do this for forty minutes.

Bring: conkers, trays, scoops, jugs, empty tins.

October · harvest & weather

Thank you for what we're given

Song of the monthThank You, Lord, for This Fine Day
PrayerA harvest basket — each child brings a tin, prays over it, and it goes to the food bank.
2Oct

Apples

Cutting, printing with halved apples, eating rather a lot of them.

Bring: apples, paint, paper, a blunt knife.

9Oct

Wind

Ribbons, streamers and bubbles. Carrier-bag kites if it's really blowing.

Bring: ribbon sticks, bubble mixture, string.

16Oct

Puddles

A welly walk. Splashing, floating leaves, watching things sink.

Bring: spare wellies in two or three sizes, towels.

23Oct

Mud kitchen

Pans, spoons, mud pies, soup. Aprons on, expectations down.

Bring: old pans, wooden spoons, a washing-up bowl.

Half term — no group on 30 October.

November · dark mornings

Sorry — and God forgives

Song of the monthThis Little Light of Mine
PrayerA sorry stone dropped into a bowl of water, then a candle lit. Small hands understand this better than words.
6Nov

Torches and shadows

A blanket den, torches inside, shadows on the wall. Light in a dark place.

Bring: torches, a big sheet, battery tea lights.

13Nov

Leaves

A pile to jump in, leaf rubbings, leaf crowns. Rake it up together at the end.

Bring: wax crayons, paper, a rake.

20Nov

Birds

Lard and seed squished into pine cones, hung on the fence. Come back next week to see.

Bring: lard, birdseed, pine cones, string.

27Nov

Ice

Freeze small treasures in ice the night before; they chip them out with warm water and spoons.

Bring: frozen tubs, jugs of warm water, spoons.

December · waiting

Please — and waiting well

Song of the monthAway in a Manger
PrayerOne candle a week. One thing we're waiting for. Nothing more.
4Dec

Evergreen

Pine, holly, rosemary. Smelling, snipping, paper-plate wreaths.

Bring: greenery, paper plates, glue, ribbon.

11Dec

Straw and stars

A tub of straw, wooden animals, star biscuits to ice. Carols, and then Christmas.

Bring: straw, toy animals, biscuits, icing, sprinkles.

Three The box

Pack this once. It lives in the cupboard and comes out every Friday, so the only thing you ever carry in is that week's one item.

Always in it

  • Shakers and ribbon sticks
  • Battery tea lights
  • The thankfulness branch and paper leaves
  • Trays, scoops, jugs, a washing-up bowl
  • Aprons and a tarpaulin
  • Baby wipes, and more baby wipes
  • Spare wellies and spare socks
  • First aid kit and register

When it all goes wrong

  • Pouring? Bring the tray indoors. Same activity, smaller, on a tarpaulin.
  • On your own? Skip the outdoor bit, do songs twice. Nobody will notice.
  • Forgotten the kit? Water, jugs and a bowl. It has never once failed.
  • Too wild? Go straight to snack. Food resets a room.

Four For the parents

Something to send round before the term starts, so nobody turns up in good shoes.

Abide is back on Fridays from 11 September, 9.45–11.15, for ages 2–5.

We're doing something a bit different this year. Sunday school is taking the children through the Bible story, so on Fridays we're going outside instead — mud, leaves, puddles, conkers — with songs and a short prayer at the end. Same shape every week.

Please send them in clothes you don't mind ruining, and wellies if you have them. We have spares. There's tea for the grown-ups, and you're very welcome to stay.