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SSTN # 9 - February 10, 2004


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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:


--> Easter Game & Craft Project 

1) Young children and salvation
2) Christian Developmental Stages
3) Children & salvation...the statistics

--> Amazing Miracles of the Bible

4) Hymn Sites?
5) Job Description for Youth workers?    
6) Black History    

--> Fun and Easy Easter Pageants

7) Tactful Parent
8) Commissioning Sunday School Teachers?
9) The Nail


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--> Easter Game & Craft Project:  Easter Story Cards 

Twelve Egg-shaped cards. When the cards are cut, colored and assembled,
players can play Easter Egg Scramble and discover a secret Easter message!
Now with two black and white "cross" and "resurrection" drawings to color!
Reproducible so your whole class can make a set!

Find them in the Curriculum section at: 
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html 


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1) Young children and salvation

I believe children (and anyone accepting Christ) to receive Him as their
Lord as well as their savior and friend. Following Christ as my Lord is a
choice to submit my will to His. I don't have a lot of experience talking
to children about receiving Christ, but it seems that they need to
understand that they are turning FROM their ways and turning TO His ways
--neither of which are really included in the concepts of savior and
friend.
Karen

--from SSTN: In my understanding, if one confesses Jesus as Savior, then
repentance is part of that confession. I realize that I didn't fully
explain this point...but the point I intended to make is this, when
teachers or parents explain salvation, they need to use terminology that
children can understand.
Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><

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2) Christian Developmental Stages

I have borrowed a book from a friend that includes some ideas about
developmental stages. It is: Parent's Guide to the Spiritual Growth of
Children: Helping your child develop a personal faith. By: John Trent and
Rick Osborne. It is put out by Focus on the Family Heritage Builders. It
focuses on children 0-12 yrs old, brackets the ages, and then gives a list
of "Things about God they're ready to learn". (There's MUCH more in the
book in addition to this, of course) I haven't read the whole book yet,
but it sounds like it might be the type of thing you are looking for.
Karen

--from SSTN: you can find "Parent's Guide to the Spiritual Growth of
Children" in our bookstore. Just type the title into the search box:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/bookstore.html 


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3) Children & salvation...the statistics

According to Upward.com, children between the ages of 5-13 are 32% more
likely to accept Jesus as Savior and drops to 4-6% after the age of 13.
This means that telling children about Jesus and his salvation needs to
happen as early as possible. It also emphazises the extreme importance of
children's ministry in our churches!

Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><

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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. Works with
rotation-type programs!

In the Curriculum Creatives:

http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html 


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4) Hymn Sites?

Do you know of any great hymn sites?

Here are a couple that I use:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org
http://hymnsite.com

Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><
http://www.ChristianCrafters.Com
"Home of The Sunday School Teacher's Network"

   
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5) Job Description for Youth workers ?   

I am needing help locating information that can help me write job
discription for youth workers, i.e. teachers, volunteers, leaders.  Can
you help?


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6) Black History    

Check out this webpage:

http://www.gospelcom.net/chi/GLIMPSEF/Glimpses/glmps089.shtml


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--> "Fun and Easy Easter Pageants - with Soundtrack CD". 

You will find them listed in the Games and Skits section of the Bookstore
at:

http://www.christiancrafters.com/bookstore.html 


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7) Tackful Parent

I understand your frustration with this parent, and it does not seem
that she has God's views and best interest at mind.  However, you must
realize that you have begun something wonderful in your church and
community by letting God use you, and also that these programs that you
have poured yourself into because of your love for God, are indeed God's. 
I don't think the answer is to try to handle the situation yourself, but
to pray about it, and maybe get some friends to quietly pray about it
too.  Turn the program back over to the One who ultimately created it,
through you.  Keep your eyes and ears open and focused on God's glory in
the program, and take a deep breath and enjoy the extra time, and peace
you have with one less thing to do.  But before you kick back and relax, I
suggest you find out if the rest of the church, and people involved, want
you to back off and let her take over.  They may feel just as offended as
you do, and may realize she is NOT the right person to be in a leading and
teaching position with children! God judges more strictly those who teach
others.
    At any rate, keep up the good work!  You are a valuble member of your
church and God's kingdom.  I wish our church had more people as willing as
you to help lead our children's programs!
Beth from Iowa


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8) Commissioning Sunday School Teachers

> How do you begin to select and train Sunday School Teachers?

Several churches I have been involved with do gifts and talent surveys for
their adults. This is a good place to start. Also, know your congregation.
Who is a good story teller? Who is an artist? Who have you seen responding
to children in ways that would exemplify good skills? You don't have to
find one person with all the gifts, look for lots of people with specific
gifts. As you notice these people, acknowledge their gifts. Many times,
people do not recognize they have a specific gift and it is the duty of
the body to help build them up.

When you approach them about teaching, acknowledge what gifts you have
seen them use and what you would like them to specifically do - arts and crafts
or storytelling - and what time frame. Ask them to pray about it. Tell
them you will contact them again in a few weeks to give more details. Then
follow up.

Also if you have someone who has volunteered, you might ask them if they
have a friend who might want to work with them in the classroom. We have
several classes where there are 4 or 5 people who rotate through the month
in the class.

Training can take several options - You can do some one on one with people
who have never taught before - looking at age characteristics of children,
look at the curricula you are using and how to use it, show them the
resource room and where supplies are located, etc. You  can also assign
the new person with a seasoned teacher. They can share ideas and insights to
each other. I also do group meetings - one before we begin in September
and then offer another event in January/February for the group.

Hope this helps.
Sabrina in Nashville


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9) The Nail

Here’s a small symbol,   
To remember the day                                                      
                                   
Jesus gave his life,                                                   
 With only this to say…       
"Father forgive, they                                       
know not what they
do."  With only love in his heart                       
                                                           
For me and you.                                                           
Nails in his feet                
and in both of his hands,                                   
He was bound with
hate   By common man.                                                           
In a crown of thorns,           
                                                                       
       
For your sins and mine,                                           
He was cast with stones,                                                
And left hanging to
die.               

People aren’t perfect,                                                    
We all make mistakes,           
                                                                       
But we make the choices;                                          
It’s not left to fate.                              
No matter the crime,                                
Or how you may live,                                                   
Just pray today and            
Ask him to forgive.                                           
Whatever you reap,   
                                                                            
Is what you will sow                                                   
So let’s plant kindness,   
And love that will grow                                       
Let’s lay down our guns,                                               
And let go of the hate,           
And let’s start today                                           
Before it’s too late.  

So go to that father,                                                   
Neighbor, or friend           
And just say your sorry                                       
And then start again.                                                                   
Listen not with your ears,                       
But onlyyour heart                                                               
And let’s bring together               
                                                                       
What was once torn apart.                                               
With faith, hope, and love           
Put second to none,                                                       
We will all come together        
And see what we’ve won.                                               
                                   
So look at this nail and know                                           
That faith, hope, and love,                                                                        
Are all things that come                                               
From heaven above.

S. Metzler -  Copyright 1999  
ms984@bellsouth.net


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