Welcome to THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER'S NETWORK
**** A service of ChristianCrafters.Com ****
"For where two or three come together in my name,
there am I with them." -- Jesus
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
>> ---- CHANGE of address and Subscribe / Unsubscribe
guidelines are found at the bottom of this newsletter. ----- <<
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
When responding to a topic:
Delete ALL TEXT that is NOT PERTINENT to your response before
posting your message. Please title your message to reflect the content.
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
SSTN # 62- June 12, 2002
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:
1) No building...can't decorate
2) Graduation gift ideas?
3) Sharing the Gospel through Flower Bulbs?
-> Father's Day Ideas
4) Armor of God for a possible VBS
5) No building...can't decorate...what to do
6) Motivating My Teachers
7) No Building
-> W.W.J.S.? Gospel Catchers
8) No building...can't decorate...what to do
9) Motivating My Teachers
10) Sunday School kick-off
11) Sunday School kick-off
12) VBS from Balloons
<>< <>< <>< <>< TODAY'S SSTN POSTINGS: <>< <>< <>< <><
1) No building...can't decorate
> Dorie -
I also attend a small church where we rent space and cannot decorate. I am
struggling with the same problem. One idea I have had (but not completed
yet) is to create banners or have the children paint sheets. We can then
hang the sheets from the ceilings (we have drop ceilings) and hand the
banners on the wall. This would be easy enough to take down after Sunday
school. If anyone else has any other ideas, I would love to hear them too!
Sarah
Bayville, NJ
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
2) Graduation gift ideas?
Hi everybody. This communication is such a blessing! Anyway, I was
wondering if you all give gifts for graduation (elementary, middle, high
school, college) and what you give. Our church has a graduation Sunday
where we present all graduates with a little gift. Usually it is a book or
a bible. This year I am looking for fresh ideas. Help!?
Sarah
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
3) Sharing the Gospel through Flower Bulbs?
I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of a story that uses the process
of a flower bulb growing into a flower to explain the death and
resurrection of Jesus? Thanks!
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
4) Armor of God for a possible VBS
There is a good lesson at Daniellesplace.com that compares the armor of
God to the armor of David and Goliath. One year we had Armor of God and
took pictures of the children in armor for a memory to take home. A craft
idea could be the frame for the picture.
Sherry
Indiana
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
5) No building...can't decorate...what to do
>Dorie--
You sound overwhelmed and possibly in serious need of spiritual
nourishment. You have my prayers that you can discern your priorities and
that others will support you and your needs. Read Psalm 139.
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
6) Motivating My Teachers
>the teachers seem content with who they have in their classes.
>My concern is that they are not reaching the unsaved.
>Their level of commitment is not very high. They do like to
>teach, but that's about it. If you are a leader, how do you motivate
your
>teachers, and if you're a teacher, what motivates you? Most of the
Is is possible that God is not calling the teachers to do what you want
them to do? Remember, we all have different gifts!
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
7) No Building
Okay you're stuck with no where to stick cool decorations...I'm the
Children's Director for a church of 500 who meet in a school. We average
150 2yrs-6th graders weekly. Each Sunday a set-up team spends three hours
unpacking and packing. All CE stuff is in bins that gets packed back up
each week.
To create a fun, child friendly environment we use cute children's tents
for the 2yr/3yr class, cool toys and tables covered with colorful vinyl
table clothes for playdoh and coloring. On the class' sign-in table we
have a welcome sign and each child has a nametags. We try to incorporate
our ministry logo (higher ground) on all our materials to help make it
feel more like OUR church rather than a school.
Remember, it's not the building that matters, people usually come to
church because they are invited. Try reading Surprising Insights from the
Unchurched. Children's ministry is in the top three of why people attend
a church. What God's called you to do matters, but remember to delegate
and duplicate yourself or you will get burned out. It sounds like you
have a lot of vision, so try and recruit a person gifted in
administration. Remember to stay in the word and pray each day to keep
connected.
In Christ,
Deb Gurney
Children's Ministry Director
New Community Church in Maple Valley, Washington
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
W.W.J.S.? Gospel Catchers
There's something much worse than cooties...it's called sin! Now kids can
make Gospel Catchers rather than Cootie Catchers! A fun and innovative way
for kids to learn to share their faith with their friends! Includes 4
Gospel Catcher patterns to make: the Colors of Christ (Gospel Colors), the
Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the Promises of God. Follow this
link to learn more:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/kt_kit.html
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
8) No building...can't decorate...what to do
Dear Dorie - Wisconsin
Situation sounds familiar to me. I believe you when you say "... running
out of steam and ambition." Unless the church is prepared to have
another adult alternate Sundays with you, perhaps you should consider
teaching the children only on certain Sundays. For example, 1st, 3rd and
5th Sundays of the month. Then you have the opportunity to listen to
sermons on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, as well as, enjoy
sitting with your family during service. You will last longer on a
personal note, receive valuable teaching and avoid burn out. This worked
for me for a total of four years.
Yours in Christ,
Ahreita Griffin
Charlotte, NC
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
9) Motivating My Teachers
Most of our Teachers would fall into the same category as your teachers.
I have quizzed some of them and that is discouraging. Our teachers are
parents - they feel they don't want their children associating with the
'other' kids - they are mostly from broken homes. We call them community
kids; basically street kids but they do have a home - just no one who
cares if they come to it or not. They don't persue these kids and some
don't even make them feel welcome when they attend Church functions.
As for my motivation? I'm not sure where it comes from but I have a real
fire to see these kids saved. This is what I do our Wed. night program
for. We get about 30 'community' kids and about 5 church kids out.(We are
in a rural area) The community kids are the ones who really need us. It
breaks my heart to see these kids and hear their stories. It makes my
blood boil every time I hear our church adults whine about any money spent
on this program cause it doesn't benefit their kids.
We have had a great response from parents when they are dropping off or
picking up their kids. They have used the Library to borrow books. They
have even attended some special events. This is planting the seeds. Yes
they are not the best people or the easiest people to love. The song that
says 'open the eyes of my heart Lord' almost makes me cry. These
'community kids' are Jesus; everything I do is for him.
They need Jesus.
Mary, Canada
--from SSTN: Dear Mary, I think I know who has put that fire in your
heart! May God continue to stoke your flame! ysic, sarah. <><
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
10) Sunday School kick-off
In response to Julie in VA regarding Sunday School kick-off ideas...how
about a Back to School Bash? I am planning to do this with my Sunday
School and TeamKids. I found a few posters at Party Suppliers discounted
to 50 cents. I got different ones that say Back to School, School is
Cool, etc. If you can't find anything like that at a store near you, you
could make your own. I'm going to have pizza or hot dogs, games, and
songs. We'll do this in our fellowship hall so the kids can get as loud
as they want....Guess I better pack some tylenol too, huh? (LOL) I'm
also going to give them a colorful notebook and pencil. Oh, I guess I
should mention I'm doing this for regular school not necessarily Sunday
School. I hope this helps. Feel free to contact me at
fisher1@intrstar.net
Michelle, NC
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
"Get em' in the LOOP!"
L-eading kids to Christ,
O-ffering advice
O-pen discussion forum
P-roviding free resources
Invite your friends, pastors, and coworkers
to join our discussion in SSTN.
http://www.christiancrafters.com/page3.html
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
11) Sunday School kick-off
Let me reply to this. It is always a good idea to meet with the parents,
but I think it is a good idea to have a party, either for all the classes
or for each class. I always send letters, of course, I send these out
each
week. Nancy
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
12) VBS from Balloons
We like to release balloons in air with tracts. The kids will like it and
it gets the Bible out to others. I don't know exactly what your theme or
whatever is but we do this each year. Nancy
Kitts--thekingskid@comporium.net
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
A BUCK-A-MONTH
A buck-a-month will help to keep SSTN alive! Click here to learn more:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/ministry_support.html
Or, mail your subscription check to:
Sarah Keith <><
ChristianCrafters.Com
438 East Ilex Drive
Lake Park, FL 33403
USA
(In the memo section of your check write: 'SSTN Subscription'. Please
include your email address.)
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
--Copyright 2001 S.A. Keith--All Rights Reserved. ----
Please read the complete copyright information at ChristianCrafters.Com.
You will find the link at the bottom of the homepage.
SSTN Posting Guidelines:
http://christiancrafters.com/SSTN_guidelines.html
Publication in any medium, commercial or noncommercial, is strictly
prohibited without prior written permission. SSTN has contributors from
all over the world who share their ideas. If you reprint any of the ideas
from SSTN or ChristianCrafters.Com in any medium (websites, magazines,
newsletters, etc.), you must contact the submitter, and
ChristianCrafters.Com for reprint permissions. Any materials used must
also include the submitter's name and where the ideas were gleaned from.
The opinions expressed in the SSTN e-Newsletter are not necessarily
endorsed by ChristianCrafters.Com. SSTN reserves the right to edit and or
exclude information from the SSTN e-Newsletter.
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
SUBSCRIBE--UNSUBSCRIBE directions:
--To SUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your email address in the SSTN e-Newsletter:
Go to the 'Sunday School Network' page at:
http://www.ChristianCrafters.Com/page3.html
If you are subscribing a friend, make sure you have their permission.
--To UNSUBSCRIBE from the SSTN e-Newsletter:
Click the link below, or copy and paste it to your browser.
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Return
to the Archives List