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SSTN # 73 - August 16, 2004
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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:
--> Amazing Miracles of the Bible
1) Ideas for activities
2) About Pirates
3) Sunday School Picnic?
4) Pirate theme could work
5) About Pirates
6) Peculiar Dinner Menu?
7) Lava Island materials
8) Letters to Soldiers
--> Super Heroes of the Bible
9) New Name For S.S.?
10) Revelation Study For Kids
11) Children in Worship - teachers hearing sermon
12) Children In Church
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--> Amazing Miracles of the Bible
God’s glory and love are revealed through the miracles he performed and
were fully realized when he came to earth in the form of a man to save
mankind. By studying the miracles of the Bible children will gain a better
understanding of God’s love and faithfulness and how he continues to be
loving and faithful in miraculous ways to his people today. Great for
rotation-type programs!
In the Curriculum Creatives section:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html
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1) Ideas for activities
Just wanted to let you know that I now have some ideas that may be helpful
to you as a teacher or ministry leader posted to my church's webpage. You
can find it at
http://www.whnazarene.org/SS/Children/ChildrensWorkers.dsp
So far I have just a few activities, games, crafts, and Back to School
Ideas, plus a contest drawing you can enter your kids in and some free
lessons, memory verse activities, and a Christmas skit you can email me
for! I also have some age level characteristics and needs posted for 2 & 3
year olds right now...hope to expand the page soon, but there are some
ideas you might be able to use!
Angie in WV
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2) About Pirates
>>Oh for crying out loud. Kids love pirates. NOT real pirates, but
>>swordfights and sailing the high seas and all that. I have a 3yr old
>>boy who often pretends to be a pirate. Should I stop him? Tell him
>>Jesus doesn't appreciate him acting like a pirate? These are kids.
Okay, I totally don't agree to what this person just said about kids
and pirates. Come on now!!! It's little things like this ,that allows
the devil to slide right into the churches of today!! It's little things
just like this, that entertains the devil in the mind of the children.
See, here's how it goes, you think its okay to bring pirates into the
church and teach the children along with that. Soon, you'll think it's
okay, to take it to another level, and bring, Magic and Harry Potter
into the church, because the QUOTE UN QUOTE, "KIDS LIKE TO PRETEND, AND
ACT OUT WHAT THEY SEE ON T.V. AND ETC.!!" Come on now, you might think
it's harmless, but it's not!!!
Remember this, if it does not line up with the Word of God, which is
the Bible, then you need to check yourself, and recollect. I don't care
what it is, if it does not have anything to do with the Lord, then you
need to evaluate it. Line up with the word of God, and YES, STARTING
WITH THE CHILDREN!!!!! This is not a little thing, but as long as we
call it a little thing, then the Devil has the right of way, right there
in the church, through the children.....See, it's the little things,
that later on down the road, turn into big things. Yes, it's true.
May I use a prime example????? We allowed prayer to be taken out of the
public schools system, now what do we have? Children all over the world,
just doing any and everything, because it opened up the door for the
devil to step right in, and have freewill on the campuses....We let our
lack of voting for whats right, slide by us, and now we have same sex
marriages going on!! So it's the little things at the beginning, that
seem so non-chalant, and unimportant, that turn into big things later
on. I'm not presenting to the children of my church, anything that has
to do of the world. We are in the world but we are not OF THE WORLD!!!
And that's the basic fundamental that we need to keep in mind, when we
are teaching the Word of God, whether it's to an innocent little child,
or an 90 year old adult!! We need to first look at what we're teaching,
and make sure it lines up with the Word of God, FIRST AND FOREMOST!! and
if you don't know whether it lines up, then ask!!!! Go to God in prayer,
and ask, and tarry for your answer through the Holy Spirit.
No, I do not agree with teaching children something, that is not of
God!!! AND PIRATES ARE NOT OF GOD!! Now what you do at home, or allow
your child to do or be at home, is fine, that's AT HOME! BUT DON'T BRING
IT TO THE CHURCH.....
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3) Sunday School Picnic?
do you have any good ideas for sunday school picnics for tiny
churches...ours is only about 30 adults and children total. We've done a
baseball theme, a country and western theme and a whats your talent theme
and could use somefresh ideas. thanks from kathy engel , superintendent of
Poplarhill Baptist Church. Ilderton Ontario Canada
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4) Pirate theme could work
A pirate theme could work in the context of "a repentant pirate". The
"pirate character" would admit that he was a sinner and had committed
terrible acts against others, until he met Jesus and asked him to be his
Savior and turned from his sinful ways. This would be a great lead-in to
the plan of salvation and a series on living for Jesus:
A. Admit that you're a sinner (Romans 3:23 "All have sinned...")
B. Believe in Jesus (trust and repent)
C. Confess (Romans 10:9-10)
Check out the Roman Road Scroll at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/roman_road_scroll.gif
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5) About Pirates
> I would like to comment on the theme of "Pirates" for a children's
> musical in church.
Our church has used a program for years called Patch the Pirate. The
program has total curriculum to educate the children ages 6-12 Christian
values, biblically based lessons, music theory and performance. The kids
learn scripture weekly doing their daily devotions. In their midweek
meetings they have their lessons - go over their devotions - practice a
skit and song, and recite their memory work.
Once a month the group performs in front of the church. The leader gives a
summary of the months lessons, there is a short skit that includes 4-6 of
the children, the entire group sings a song that incorporates the months
moral and character building message, and they end the short program
reciting the scripture together.
The music and lessons are all biblical yet original in the presentation -
centering around the character Patch the Pirate.
Patch the Pirate is a real person - Ron Hamilton. Ron lost an eye to
cancer
some years ago. Wearing a patch over the afflicted eye gave Ron his
nickname. His love for kids and the Lord gave him a new opportunity to
serve God and win souls to Christ through this unique and fun program.
I assume there is a website for Patch the Pirate - but you may contact my
church through our site at www.nlbaptist.com for details.
Joyfully Serving HIM,
Emmalea Butler
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6) Peculiar Dinner Menu?
I've heard of dinners where you give people a menu with peculiarly named
items and they have to order from it, having no idea what they are
getting...they might get food but no utensils or dessert first, things
like that. Does anyone know exactly how to do a meal like that? I've
tried searching the internet but cannot find anything like it.
Thanks,
Rebecca
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7) Lava Island materials
In regard to the request for used Lava Lava Island material, I have some
things available for the person who requested it. I may be reached at
mleagans@rtconline.com.
In Christ,
Michele
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8) Letters to Soldiers
Go to www.OperationAC.com
Their main focus is to send supplies to our soldiers (from air
conditioners
to boots to food and bug repellent). You can ask for a name of a soldier
and they will send you a name and address along with other relevant
information.
What's new: you can send get well cards to our wounded soldiers as well.
God bless
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--> Super Heroes of the Bible
"Super Heroes of the Bible" is a special midweek program which examines
the lives of some famous and not-so-famous people who had willing hearts
to obey God. And by obeying him, they were used in miraculous and powerful
ways to help change the course of human history. It is the goal of this
series to build FAITH, COURAGE, and OBEDIENCE in the lives of children,
and to change the world for Jesus Christ.
To learn more, go to this page:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html
(you may need to copy and paste this address to your browser)
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9) New Name for S.S.?
I am looking for a new name to give our Sunday school ministry, I am our
churches Superintendent and want to add some ump to our ministry for the
teachers and the kids I want to put our name on T-shirts and a mural. I am
looking for a cool name that might even go with our church's name
Rockyview. I have found lots but they were ones we used at our old church
and I don't know who's claimed what so I was wanting to play it safe. Any
suggestions?
Claudia
--from SSTN: check out this archive from SSTN:
http://christiancrafters.com/archive66_May03.html
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10) Revelation Study For Kids
> Do you know where I could get a bible study for
> children under 13 of the book of Revelation?
We recently finished a study of Revelation with our
children's church group (age 4--11)! It doesn't have
to be nearly as hard as an adult class. It is amazing
how much the children understand just by reading the
book, and not getting hung up on a lot of symbolism.
Besides any commentaries that you or your church
library might have for your personal use, you may find
this web site very useful:
http://www.calvarychapel.com/children/site/curriculum_n.htm
Hope this helps.
In His service,
Donna in Arkansas
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11) Children in Worship - teachers hearing sermon
In response to Gwen - I agree that the teachings are for the children -
but, I believe what I stated to my teachers in the beginning of our year,
how can we be expected to be teachers and feed the children if we are not
being fed as well. I am fortunate in my church that our Kids Club falls
between services, but it does interfere with the teachers attending Bible
Study. So, we changed our program this year so that all teachers only
teach 1 time per month. Thereby, allowing them to attend Bible Study 3
times per month. I was surprised that this really made a difference. Yes,
I also have found myself studying the bible more now then ever... however,
interpretation of the bible is just as important as reading it and I have
found that sometimes I have interpreted something different. Maybe it is
not important for all to attend worship - but I believe that it is for
myself and my teachers.
Nancy
SKC Director
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12) Children In Church
I am a children's ministry director and mother of four. I have been
intently following the discussion about children in the adult services.
I have really noticed that children that do sit with their parents get
used to doing so and even take in quite a bit of the message. I do wonder
how many children that attend a separate children's service - and then
youth service - drop out of church when they are on their own and making
their own decisions. It seems to me that kids that grow up in the adult
services would be accustomed to them and be more willing to attend them as
adults. I know that most churches loose the young adult crowd. Anyone
know the statistical difference?
Since my husband has been the children's pastor at our church we have had
Sunday School classes and mid-week classes for children and call Sunday
evening services "family worship" where everyone learns together. It has
worked out well (and ensures that we make it to a service every now and
then!) We also have children begin to stay out in the adult worship and
praise portion of the service beginning in fifth grade before going to
class during the sermon.
On a side note, I have talked with moms that make worksheets or forms for
their children to fill out about the pastor's message... i.e. main topic,
scripture references, a place to draw a picture about what is being
taught, etc. and I think I may make some of these up for the children to
use on Sunday nights in September.
Looking forward to hearing other's experiences,
Jennifer in Washington
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