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May 12, 2015 -- Issue #17

In today's newsletter:

1) Devotional: The Teacup and the Potter

2) Ascension Day (Thursday / Sunday)

3) "B" is for Bread: "I Am the Bread of Life"

1) The Teacup and The Potter

There was a couple who took a trip to England to shop in a beautiful antique store to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups. Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked "May we see that? We've never seen a cup quite so beautiful."

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke, "You don't understand. I have not always been a teacup. There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me, and rolled me out, pounded and patted me over and over. I yelled out, 'Don't do that. I don't like it! Let me alone.' But he only smiled, and gently said, 'Not yet!' Then, WHAM! Suddenly I was placed on a spinning wheel and was spun around and around and around. 'Stop it! I'm getting so dizzy! I'm going to be sick,' I screamed. But the master only nodded and said quietly, 'Not yet.' Read on at:
http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/devo-potter-and-the-clay.html

2) Ascension Day

Ascension Day commemorates the bodily ascension of Jesus into heaven, 40 days after his resurrection, as recorded in Acts1:1-9. Jesus' ascension was necessary, so that the Holy Spirit would be given to his followers. Without the Holy Spirit, God's mission to advance his Kingdom would be impossible! 

Ascension Day is always on a Thursday; it occurs this year on May 14, 2015, with Ascension Sunday following 3 days later on May 17, 2015.

Visit our home page this week to get some Ascension Day activities:
http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com. While you're there, use the search box to find even more Ascension Day ideas for children's ministry.

3) "B" is for Bread: "I Am the Bread of Life"

"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” John 6:35.

(Read the following story, adapted from John 6:1-13, of the Loaves and Fishes. As you read, children pass a small basket containing a small bag of fish crackers. When a “B” word is spoken have the child holding it stop the basket, and then pass it in the opposite direction. Make sure to emphasize the “B” words, and pause for a second to allow children to respond. The child holding the basket at the end of the story gets to handout fish crackers to the rest of the class.)

“Hundreds of years after God spoke to Moses, God sent his only Son, Jesus, to earth. One day when Jesus was teaching a crowd of 5000 people—that’s a big bunch of bodies—Jesus knew they would become hungry. So he decided to give them a bite of food, because there weren’t any Burger Kings in those days. No one there that day had any food, except a young boy. Do you know this story? Do you know what happened next? Yes, Jesus told his disciples to take the five small barley loaves of bread, and the two small fishes from the boy. Then Jesus thanked his heavenly Father for both the bread and fish and told the disciples to pass it out to the crowd. What do you think they thought? Well, it was amazing because a wonderful miracle happened. The disciples began passing out the food and the baskets never emptied! In fact, all of the people ate until their bellies were busting! Amazingly, there was enough food left over to fill twelve more baskets of bread and fish! Maybe God allowed twelve baskets of food to be left over as a way of reminding them of his Presence and that he will always provide for those who believe in him. What do you believe? The next day Jesus left to go to a place called Capernaum, and some of the crowd followed him there. But Jesus knew they were only following him to get more free bread, not because they loved him.”  

Read John 6:25-35, 40 from a child-friendly Bible.

Jesus wanted them, and us, to understand that he is all we need to satisfy our hunger for God. He wants us to know that taking care of our physical body is important. But taking care of our spiritual body is more important!

 

"B" is for Bread is one of the enrichment activities you'll find in our Bible curriculum, His Name Shall Be Called . . . 
A study for children on the names of God

 Also includes the seven "I AM" passages of Jesus.

Have you written a Bible lesson, game, craft, or skit for children's ministry? 
Send it to: submissions@sundayschoolnetwork.com 

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