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SSTN - Number 183
April 25, 2001
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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:
1) Building An Igloo
2) Beach theme VBS
3) Baptism Ideas for the Sunday School to be involved?
4) Cracked Pots
5) Snow globes?
6) Computer info for newsletter
7) Ideas for Trinity Sunday?
8) Please PLEASE be careful
9) Polar expeditions igloo
10) Story of healing from boy's blood?
11) Children's Ministry Curriculum covering ages 3-14?
12) Games for a birthday party?
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1) Building An Igloo
> But now I am thinking ahead to VBS. We are doing Group's Polar >Expedition and I am collecting milk jugs to build an igloo. I saw this
Sherri, I am also doing Polar Expedition. To make an igloo out of 1/2
gallon milk cartons, you first thoroughly wash and dry them. Next cut off
the tops at the crease, leaving a rectangular container. To make the
blocks, you must fit the open end of one container into the open end of
another container. (You will probably have to crimp the corners of the
interior carton.) You will then have a "block" which can be painted or
covered with white paper. I am also making an igloo for decoration in our
sanctuary out of white lunch bags~~since it is purely for decorative
purposes, it doesn't need to be as durable. Thanks for the Chrismon
snowflake idea. I will definitely be using it. Kim, Alliance, Ohio
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VBS 2001 Resources:
In the Curriculum section at ChristianCrafters.Com , as well as the
Christian Education and Craft sections of the Bookstore, you'll find many great
resources to choose from for VBS-2001. Also, don't forget to use the free
patterns in the site to accompany your VBS programs!
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2) Beach theme VBS
We did a beach theme VBS one year and for our craft made plastic bead
gecko's and fish. You take ribbon and colored beads and using a pattern
(which I think I may still have) tie them together to form the shape of a
gecko or fish. This can be used as a key chain. Our kids loved it.
The other thing we did was to stop early one day (about and hour early on
Wed.) and had a big water fight on the church's front lawn. We had told
the kids to bring their water guns and swimsuits. We then set up a slip
and slide area using a clear plastic tarp water and a little bit of soap
to make it slippery (just make sure to warn the kids there is soap). We
also set up a bunch of huge buckets that were full of water and had
sponges in them that kids could soak and throw at each other. We also had
an area where kids could blow bubbles using different shapes. The kids
loved it! Hope these ideas help. If you need any more info or the
pattern, please feel free to e-mail me at: christianlifeassembly@home.com
Have Fun!
Holly (Christian Life Assembly in Calgary, Alberta)
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3) Baptism Ideas for the Sunday School to be involved?
I enjoy the list. Your material has help us greatly .I do not know what
I did before. My inquiry is we are having 9 babies baptized Sunday.
Our rector wants the ss children involved and we want to make the new
families welcomed and we hope they will continue to come to church. Our
Church is Anglican or Episcopalian. My thoughts are to have the Children
hold welcome cards and the children's name. But other than that I
coming up with a blank. Thanks in advance. God bless. Lynda
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4) Cracked Pots
--from SSTN: a number of you sent this in...thank you! But to conserve
space and unnecessary repetition, I'm only posting it once. Thank you
again to EVERYONE that submitted "Cracked Pots":
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a
pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and
while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of
water, at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house,
the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only
one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the
perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which
it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection,
and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been
made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to
the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I
want to apologize to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load
because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to
your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work,
and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion
he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the
beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the
old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers
on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the
trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so
again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only
on your side of our path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I
have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted
flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back
from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to
pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you
being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his
house."
Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But
it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so
very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what
they are, and look for the good in them.
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NEW-LIFE PUPPET patterns
Once assembled, these puppets turn inside out to change from a tadpole to
frog, or a caterpillar to butterfly. Easy to make and children will learn
about becoming new creatures in Christ! Get a free puppet skit to go with
the puppets at: www.ChristianCrafters.Com In our Curriculum section
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5) Snow globes?
> Jars with wide mouths to use to grow borax crystals. I also asked
> them for baby food jars with lids to make snow globes
As Sarah told you, we are also using Polar Expedition this summer, and we
had already decided to use the baby food jars to make snow globes, but
are trying to figure out what to put in them, and how to anchor it on the
bottom ( which will be the lid). Any suggestions? I'm also interested in
hearing more about your borax crystals - could you tell more about how to
do that, and what Bible point you'll be using it with? Thanks!
Kit MacLeod, Children's Min. Dir., North Palm Beach, FL
--from SSTN: Kit, I'm thinking about it. ;o)) ~sarah
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Praise-Amations!
Children color and assemble the flip cards to watch their mini-movie.
Great for a lesson on Praise and Worship! In the Curriculum section at:
ChristianCrafters.Com
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6) Computer info for newsletter
Go to Neil MacQueen's website: www.sundaysoftware.com
He is the expert on software to use in sunday school. You can order
software and a book on running a computer lab. The site also has lesson
ideas galore. I highly recommend this site to everyone. He has now
ventured into designing software specifically for sunday school. Two
titles he's done are The Good Samaritian and The Ten Commandments and all
I can say is WOW! Browse the site thoroughly you'll learn everything you
need to know. We have been running a computer lab in sunday school since
September of 2000 and it has been a big hit! Luanne Payne, Hampton
United Church, Ontario, Canada (luanne.payne@sympatico.ca)
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7) Ideas for Trinity Sunday?
Does anyone have any ideas for Trinity Sunday,
June 10th, children's sermon?
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Do you wanna KIDZOO-SHUFFLE?
Children ages 5 and up can play a FUN game of strategy and skill to
develop eye-hand coordination, category placement, and depth perception
skills. For more info, go to: www.todaysfitnessforkids.com
Click on "Products" when you get there!
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8) Please PLEASE be careful
> There is really no need to eliminate portions of the crucifixion for this
> age group. We approached it in a different way -- we talked about the
> group of people who didn't like Jesus & that they decided to kill him.
I have read over this several times and after praying and asking G-d to
give me the words to respond I am going to try to give everyone a view of
this that none of you may have thought of..you have no reason to think
about it but you see I did. I was the little Jewish kid sitting in the SS
classes. Please PLEASE be careful when you talk about the groups of people
in Bible stories that did not like Jesus. I grew up hearing about those
terrible jews that hated Jesus. I can remember feeling just crushed. I
also can remember feeling less than everyone else in the class room because I
was a jew. You may think you have no one jewish in your class. Guess what?
only a couple of people knew I was jewish...so I would just like to ask
everyone to be careful and really sensitive when discussing the group or
groups of people that did not like Jesus...Today I am believer but I only
became a believer a little over two years ago..those early stories about
the jewish people not like Jesus kept me from accepting Him for YEARS. You
may think kids don't pick up on this...about six months ago in my choir I
had a child that I need to play a scribe in a play...he told me he did not
want to play the part of a jew..and went on to tell me about the horrible
jews that killed Jesus...where did he get this? I ask..He got his from his
SS teacher. I have said this from my heart. I just wanted to give you all
a view from the eyes of the jewish child sitting in your classroom that
you may not even know is jewish. Shalom, Shoshana
--from SSTN: I've already written Shoshana and thanked her for her
insight. Additionally, I think what she says is important for ALL
Christians and non-Christians to understand. The fact of the matter is
that we are ALL guilty of 'killing' Jesus, Jew and Gentile alike. Our sin
is what nailed Jesus, the promised Messiah of Israel, to the cross. No one
"killed" Jesus without his consent. The Bible says that Jesus willingly
laid down his life. He went to the cross for the JOY that was set before
him. (Hebrews 12:2). Incredibly, HIS joy was for US, Jew and Gentile, that
would be made right with God by his atoning sacrifice.
Thank you again, Shoshana, for reminding us to be sensitive to the
children in our care! God's blessings to you, and all of us, as we grow in
our knowledge of HIS love!! Sarah Keith <><
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Have A Bible Game & Movie Night!
Play "Bibleopoly", "Bible Scattergories", or "Bible Blurt". Find them in
The Bible Game Store at: ChristianCrafters.Com
Also find,
'LEFT BEHIND-THE MOVIE'
in the Christian Education section of the Bookstore at:
ChristianCrafters.Com .
Have some GOOD fun!
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9) Polar expeditions igloo
To make an igloo, use chicken wire to make a large circle dome, big
enough for some kids to fit into, make the doorway by shaping a tube out
of chicken wire, have the kids stuff tissue or toilet paper into the
little holes, this is also a good group activities, and also works for
keeping the kids busy until parents arrive. we made one of these when I
was a kid at camp. Michele Carlos, Minnesota
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10) Story of healing from boy's blood?
Dear Friends we are in a pickle, a friend of ours is looking for the story
that we got in our email a while back. It is a story about a disease that
spreads all over the world and the only cure is found in one little boy's
blood. the parents are so glad that their son can cure the world. Then it
comes to the father and he ask how much of his sons blood it was gonna
take and when he finds out that is gonna take all of his son's blood. if
any of you have it please send it to me as soon as you can. thank you
Robbie Jo
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11) Children's Ministry Curriculum covering ages 3-14?
Our very small church will soon be starting a Sunday morning Children's
Ministry program. With so few children we are looking for a curriculum
that will cover all ages at the same time. Any suggestions?
--from SSTN: 'Kid's Time Kit: God's People Celebrate!' is an ALL-PURPOSE
curriculum for limited budgets, and for any number of kids or teachers!
(Grades 1-6). It includes a YEAR's worth of crafts, games, lesson plans,
songs, and so much more!! Check it out under Curriculum at:
www.ChristianCrafters.Com
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12) Games for a birthday party?
Hello. I am looking for some games for a birthday party. We are having a
party for a one year old, but the whole church will be attending. I am
looking for games that all ages could play. The youth group at the church
is having the party and would appreciate any ideas. Also, we are looking
for ideas for Fathers Day. We are going to do the flower bouquets made out
of Hershey kisses that we read about in SSTN for Mothers Day. Thanks for
all of your ideas. We have used several of your games, crafts, and other
ideas.
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Click on "Ministry Support" from the home page of:
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Or mail your support check to:
Sarah Keith <><
ChristianCrafters.Com
438 East Ilex Drive
Lake Park, FL 33403
USA
(In the memo section of your check write: Support Partner)
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