I am on the story today at Playtime and it happens to be one of my favourite parables: The Prodigal Son. It is a great story displaying the lavish heart of our great God to welcome us in.

The material I was given to tell our 0-5 year olds about Our God’s Big Welcome was a little long and hard to follow… So I thought I’d put the story into some rhyme*. I also printed off these brilliant story board pictures from EBibleTeacher to show the children as I read the rhyme.

Feel free to use this for your Playgroup. All I ask is that while I have you here, please pray for Playtime at Church by the Bridge, that many children and their families would come to know God’s extravagant and lavish welcome for them.

Once there was a father who had two sons
Then one left home to go have some fun!!!

The dad gave his son some money in a bag
and the look on the sons face showed he was glad

The son then wasted all he had.
And was living far away from his Dad.

So things began to turn real bad
The young son was now really sad.

He had nothing to eat.
No shoes on his feet.

So He began to feed pigs for some work
and even slept with them in their dirt.

The poor young son was filled with dread
“For me theres got to be a better bed”

I know! I’ll go back to my Dads home
And say sorry for running away on my own”

So the son left the dirty smelly pigs trough
And while he was still a long long way off

The Dad saw him, stretched his arms wide out
Began running and with a great BIG shout

“Welcome! Welcome! my dear young son
I don’t care what you have done.

Come on home, come on in
Please don’t ever leave again”

The Dad was so very excited
that he ran around telling everyone about it:

“My son was lost but now he’s found
He’s come back home safe and sound!”

The Dad then only wanted to celebrate
So the town gathered and party food they ate.

And with another BIG hug the Dad continued to say
“Welcome Welcome”  - Oh its been such a happy day!

*Inspired by this song