The Sunday School Teacher's Network Newsletter - Great ideas for children's ministry!





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April 6, 2012 Ideas? Questions? Opinions? Articles are listed, below. When replying, highlight the text that is pertinent to your response, then hit reply. Title your message to reflect the content. 1) What's So Good About Good Friday? 2) Jelly Beans & Gospel Colors 3) Children's Church Ideas 4) Resurrection Cookies 5) Really Easter Cookies 6) Get Set Go VBS? 7) Search Tool Wasn't Working 8) Pictures of Kids Media Release? 9) Looking for a Bible Song? 10) Lasting Beauty on the Inside The Red Button indicates a teacher who needs your help.	Easter Sunday Activity! A make n' take project!

1) What's So Good About Good Friday? Jesus was betrayed by one of his own disciples, arrested, mocked, almost beaten to death, and then crucified on a cross on a Friday during Passover. So why on earth do we call that terrible day in history “Good Friday?” It has been said that the Jews put Jesus to death. This statement is often misunderstood and can be an unwitting incentive for prejudice against the Jewish people. It is important to note that the Biblical term, “the Jews,” refers to... ...get the rest of this devotional by visiting our "Bible Talks & Resources for Older Teens & Adults" page at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/lessons-Bible-teen-adult-study.html

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2) Jelly Beans & Gospel Colors Re. Easter related food devotion I use Jelly beans that are the same colors as the wordless book. Dark for sin, red for the blood of Christ, white for our hearts after our sins are washed away, blue for baptism, green for growing in the Lord, and yellow for Heaven. I make small baskets out of card stock and tape a packet of jelly beans to each basket. On the handle of the basket I print He Is Risen. I show the kids each bean and explain what they stand for. I tell them that because Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the dead, He can make our hearts clean. If your church doesn't practice baptism you can eliminate the blue bean. When I use the green bean I tell them it is important to grow by reading the Bible, praying daily and doing our best to serve Jesus. After the lesson I give each child their basket. Phil 4:13 I can do all things though Christ... --from SSTN: for more ideas like this, check out "Jelly Bean Witness" in the Holidays & Holy Days Christian Crafts & Food Devotions section at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/crafts-holidays.html. And for another fun "gospel colors" idea, check out the Any Time Bible Crafts & Food Devotions page at: http://sundayschoolnetwork.com/crafts-christian.html

*For Easter, Passover, or year-round study!* *Come Celebrate the Feasts of the Lord, They Show Us Jesus!* Passover - Unleavened Bread - Firstfruits - Pentecost "Shavuot" - Trumpets - Atonement - Tabernacles

3) Children's Church Ideas Matt, I loved the suggestions you had and I'm going to try some. I've been the Sunday school superintendant for about 7-8 years now. These ideas are practical and creative! thanks!! God's joy, Jackie	Like us on Facebook!


4) Resurrection Cookies One of the churches in our area are making the cookies the day before, taking enough cookies for each child to have one, and then showing the children how they are made and telling the lesson that goes with it - then giving the children one of the cookies.





5) Really Easter Cookies We had everyone come on Sat. Night and make the cookies. When they arrived at Ss Easter Sun. the oven/tomb was empty. We brought the cookies out later and used them to reinforce the lesson. One of the neatest n' most effective things we've done! Many churches have egg hunts and such on Sat., a great time to do the cookies. Teresa

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6) Get Set Go VBS? Dear madam, Thank you for your mail sent on 20/03/2012. The idea about TV commercials being used to communicate ideas about God was marvelous. Also about lasting beauty on the inside. I am a Sunday School teacher in the Salem Mar Thoma Church Sunday School - Ernakulam, Kerala, India. Next month our VBS is starting. I am in charge of the VBS. The Theme is Get Set Go based on Luke 10:3. Please send me some ideas about the Theme, presentation etc. Let us praise God for the opportunity God has given us in serving Him through the children. Thank you, Susy John


7) Search Tool Wasn't Working Last week we heard from a few subscribers that the search tool on our home page was not working with all browsers. However, the problem has been resolved. So search away, SundaySchoolNetwork.com is a goldmine of resources for children's ministry! If you encounter any problems, please let SSTN know.



8) Pictures of Kids Media Release? How are other churches handling posting photos on Facebook or other social media sites? Do you have a sample of your media release you could share? Some churches are so frightened that they will be sued for posting photos of children at church activities.



9) Looking for a Bible Song? I need music and lyrics for a Bible School song: "It's been wonderful walking with Jesus, Day after Day after Day."



10) Lasting Beauty on the Inside I have used a geode that is very plain on the outside but contains beautiful crystals on the inside. I tell the kids that I have some plain, ordinary rocks. I let the kids hold and examine them. Then I put the geode(s) into a white sock explaining that when we accept Jesus we are made pure and white. I then tap the geode with a hammer saying that sometimes we have to go through hard times to let our beauty shine through. After the geodes are split, I take them out and let them see the beautiful crystals inside. You can purchase geodes from the Oriental Trading Company. I let the kids each keep a piece of the geode to remind them to let their beauty shine. Phil 4:13 I can do all things though Christ...


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