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


Welcome to the Sunday School Teacher's Network Newsletter The Place for Christian Education Communication Ranked #3 for the "Most Popular Site in Christian Education" (Source: Alexa.com - May 07)
Issue #72 - November 13, 2007 Previous issues can be found in the Archives.	Home \| Search \| Support SSTN
To reply or to post a new topic: Please TITLE your email to reflect the content of your message. When replying, highlight the text that is pertinent to your response, then hit reply.
"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." -- Jesus
1) Interfering Parents 2) Live Nativity 3) Sixty-Six Books Songs? 4) Nativity Play? Make the Chrismon Snowflakes "Two Doves" Ornament in 6 Easy Steps! 5) Christmas Skit: Bethlehem Drive 6) Interfering parents with toddlers in tow 7) Interfering parents 8) The Christmas Tree Narrative 9) Christmas Skit: The Perfect Gift	Thanksgiving activity for Church or family get-together.
	The beginning of salvation history. (The answer is in this newsletter)
Bible-4-Life Curriculum Gospel Fun Activities Easy Make N' Take Downloads Holidays & Holy Days Christian E-books Premium Club Membership Discount Support the SSTN Ministry! Email a friend to join us at SSTN!	Over 1400 pages of: Bible Games Christian Crafts Christian Skits Missions For Kids Recycling Ideas Sermons & Object Talks

1) Interfering Parents > How do teachers of two and three year olds class deal with parents who want to be present during each weekly > session, but interfere through their side conversations and/or constant interaction with their child? Hello! I have dealt with this as both a teacher and a director of a Sunday school program......SSTN advice is good, if they MUST remain in the room, keep them busy.....but really, the teacher with support from the director should politely but pointedly say that it is inappropriate for parents to be in the classroom, it distracts everyone and disrupts the classroom environment. Parents should accept this graciously...... If they don't, I would state clearly that they are disregarding the request of the teacher and the director and then I would put them to work.

2) Live Nativity Our church has a live nativity on Christmas eve before our service, (but we are a farming community). Baby Jesus is not there yet. He "miraculously" appears after our service. We use live animals. You can find some gentle animals from youth 4H, they work with these animals every day. We find that old animals are also less prone to get nervous. The owner of the animal should know the animal well and know if it is the right one to use. We have had cows, mules, ponies, and goats. These all can be used with a lead rope. The owners are dressed as shepherds. At all times the animals should be a few feet from the children. Some children are afraid of them up close. Maybe some of the children's pets would work, too. The alternative of dressing the children as animals is a great idea. You should be able to find discounted Halloween costumes or have some made to use again next time. Perhaps just a mask would be good and you can get these from oriental trading or similar places. Gloria

3) Sixty-Six Books Songs? I am looking for a song (sheet music, sound file, or recorded source) that starts like this: "66 books in the whole Bible, each one a special part. So I learned this song and it didn't take long 'til I knew them all by heart..." JC jerrecashion@hotmail.com

4) Nativity Play? Hello! I am looking for a script for the Nativity Story which our Sunday school and youth programs could perform on Christmas Eve. I'm looking for the traditional: with Mary, Joseph, Angles, Wise Men, Shepherds, etc... Unfortunately I am having a hard time finding something, does anyone have anything that they have used? Any suggestions? Thanks, Melissa melissa_green1@hotmail.com --from SSTN: check out "Bethlehem Drive", see below (#5). Another way to present the nativity story is to have an adult read the passages from Mathew and Luke and as he or she reads, the children act it out out. We've done this for years at our church and it is very effective. Even the "mistakes" are sweet.

5) Christmas Skit: Bethlehem Drive This skit is listed at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/skits.html

6) Interfering parents with toddlers in tow I am responding to the teacher that wrote in about the above. In our church, their are rules about this. WE have a wonderful Pastor and secretary at our church. I have their total support in all aspects. The are always ready to speak on my behalf. In order to facilitate a good atmosphere in which to teach, this situation has a gross effect on the rest of the children, not to mention the teachers. Why not ask for help, and for someone else to speak to the parent or parents who do this. I find being older than in the younger generation, kids go everywhere. They automatically think they are cute, and always welcomed. When comments come from a higher source, it lets you out of the dialogue. Are they going to argue with your minister? I don't think so. I guess that you have a program for all age groups, and that is where that child could be during the Sunday School time. Use the word - respect for others. It can be hard at times to stay focused, and when you are dealing with that situation, it takes away from you doing your best in the Lord. You will find that parents really do not think things through, and then just act. Loving kindness goes along way. If they insist on being present, recruit them to teach. That may be enough to send them running. Since they are there anyways, they may as well be helping. I hope you get lots of feedback to aid you in your teaching destiny. Susanne - Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada.

7) Interfering parents w/ toddlers At our church children must go to their own class designated by age. This is our church's policy. So, if parents come into class with a younger child, or sends a child to the wrong class, the teacher tells the parent that the policy of the church is to have children go to the age-appropriate class. This takes the pressure off the volunteer teacher and puts the responsibility on the church leaders to handle it.

8) The Christmas Tree Narrative Check it out in the "Christian Skits" section at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/free_stuff.html

9) Christmas Skit: The Perfect Gift Find it in the "Christian Skits" section at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/free_stuff.html

Help SSTN To Continue Your donation of one dollar a month helps me provide the Christian educational resources in the website and newsletter. To learn how you can help, go to the following webpage: http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com/ministry_support.html Or, write your US check or US Money Order out to: S.A. Keith - Creative Imaginations (d.b.a.) Mail to: SundaySchoolNetwork.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.) Your webservant, Sarah Keith <><
This issue's Bible Trivia answer is, "The book of Genesis". Used by permission. From the game, Bible Stack-O!
ADVERTISE WITH US! To learn how you can advertise your business, ministry or product to over 15,500 Christian educators, please visit the following page at: http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com/advertising.html
SSTN Posting Guidelines: http://SundaySchoolNetwork.com/SSTN_guidelines.html
Copyright 1997 - 2007 / d.b.a. "S. A. Keith of Creative Imaginations Reproducing 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, SundaySchoolNetwork.com or ChristianCrafters.Com in any medium (websites, magazines, newsletters, etc.), you must contact the submitter, and website for reprint permissions. Any materials used must also include the submitter's name and where the ideas were gleaned from. The opinions expressed or advertisements displayed in the SSTN e-Newsletter are not necessarily endorsed by SundaySchoolNetwork.com or any of its affiliates. SSTN reserves the right to edit and or exclude information from the SSTN e-Newsletter. SundaySchoolNetwork.com \| ChristianCrafters.com \| Bible-4-Life.com ChristianTeachersNetwork.com \| Bible-Lessons.net

SUBSCRIBE -- UNSUBSCRIBE Directions To SUBSCRIBE a new email address, visit the following page at: http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.Com/page3.html (If you are subscribing your friends, make sure you have their permission.)