"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." -- Jesus
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SSTN # 63 - August 14, 2006
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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:
1) Shake Up Youth Dept? 2) Explaining the church 3) Jewels for Jesus Jello 4) Lessons For 2 Year Olds 5) Veggie Tales Costume
>>> JOIN the SUPER HERO TEAM
6) Senior High Dilemma 7) Where is Jesus now? 8) Advent Ideas? 9) Illustrating the Lord's Supper 10) Bible reading plan for 9 - 13 year olds
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1) Shake Up Youth Dept?
Hi,
I have a question regarding our youth grades 7-12. I have recently become more involved in our youth program. The reason I became involved is mostly to shake things up. Our youth program is alot of fun but very little substance. The kids dress inappropriately, they're clicky, selfish, often unkind. I have addressed this (as have many others who have subsequently left the church because of the youth pastor) with the senior Pastor to no avail.
Please tell me how to shake things up and wake these youth and adults involved out of this lukewarm "sleep" that they all seem to be in. It's so frustrating because our Childrens Pastor is wonderful. The children learn, worship, pray, and serve but once they move up it's very little substance. I feel these kids are ready to chew meat and bones and we're handing out chocolate milk christianity instead :(
Thanks, Vicki O. Erie, PA
--from SSTN: if your leadership is unwilling to see the problem, you are definitely in a terrible situation. Keep praying, ask for wisdom, be willing to teach and find others who are willing to teach in that dept. too.
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2) Explaining the church
When I taught this to the Junior class, besides telling the kids of this spiritual side, I had different people come to tell them their job in the church--an elder, the person who mows the grass, the janitor, etc. They really got to understand how important all those jobs are. I also made a floor plan of the church and had them write in the names of the different rooms along with the teachers or whoever worked there. We talked about the wonderful things they could find in the church library, thanked the Lord for all the dedicated people who work in AWANAs and children's church. Some of the children had never known a lot of grown-ups and they enjoyed getting to know them. I remember when I asked one of them who did carpenter work at the church to speak, he brought a plumb line and explained it's use, using a Biblical illustration to go with it. They were fascinated with it. Helen Setser
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3) Jewels for Jesus Jello
You might want to try this. Various colors of jello. Poured into free formed molds make from aluminum foil. Form the pieces of foil into bowl like shapes with crinkles and edges like rock. Pour in the prepared jello and refrigerate. diane plum dplum@hughes.net
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4) Lessons For 2 Year Olds
>I would like to know if anybody knows any lessons that can be taught >to 2 year olds kids in Sunday school?
Most curriculum publishers have age appropriate curriculum.
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JOIN the SUPER HERO TEAM
Get your kids on the Super Hero team when you teach them all about the "Super Heroes of the Bible"; one of the great choices you'll find in our "Bible-4-Life" curriculum series at:
I made a Bob the Tomatoe costume a few years back for a Veggie Tale avent at our church. Get a Hallaween Adult Pumkin pattern and just adjust the colors.
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6) Senior High Dilemma
I wanted to thank all of you that responded to my dilemma. It is nice to know that we are not alone, although I wish there was a quick solution for all of us to getting teens excited about church. I will pass along all of your suggestions, and get the book.
Thanks, Cindy
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7) Where is Jesus now ?
> We developed our own rotation called Where is Jesus now ?
This is a great idea. I will be doing this in 2007. I would love to know more about your lesson plans.
Thanks Dee Anna Dabecerril@kelsey-seybold.com
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8) Advent Ideas?
Although Advent is a few months away I need to plan ahead. Has anyone got any different ideas for a Children’s Advent Service using an Advent Ring. Also some ideas for Advent and Christmas crafts. Thanks.
There are a number of themes related to the Lord's Supper. Which you choose to emphasize will affect what craft project you might use to illustrate it.
I love the way almost everything in the New Testament has a counterpart or antecedent in the Old Testament. When it comes to the Lord's Supper, we usually think of the Passover meal as Old Testament background. But, the Passover is derived from the fellowship sacrifice (also known as a thank offering, a peace offering, or a communion sacrifice) mentioned in Leviticus 3, 7, and 17. It was one of three main types of sacrifice along with the whole burnt offering and the cereal offering.
In the fellowship sacrifice, God and people share a meal. The sacrificial animal is roasted rather than consumed by fire. The people eat the roasted meat in an act of giving thanks. The vapors from the barbequing meat rise up to the heavens and appease the nostrils of God. As we know from the Gospels, when two parties share a meal in the Near East, they are bound together in a covenant relationship often expressed by, "I will be your God and you will be My people." Jesus is the lamb of God sacrificed for us. The language and imagery of the fellowship sacrifice from Leviticus finds its way into Ephesians 5:2, which says, "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." The Lord's Supper is the place where God wraps His arms around us and takes us back to Himself in a meal, even though we ran away from Him like Gomer ran from Hosea.
The Lord's Supper is based in a meal, so many of the metaphors for it would be illustrated well by a food item (which you are trying to avoid). The kids could make a representation of a lamb because Jesus is the Lamb of God Who was sacrificed for us, on Whom we feast in the Lord's Supper, Whose blood takes away the sin of the world, and the savor of Whom appeased God. Also involved is the idea of a covenant with God that could be represented by something depicting a hug because God welcomes us back to Himself in the Lord's Supper. Perhaps this could be extended to something that binds, like tying a special knot uniting two pieces of cord. Something that depicts a nose or smoke or smell could be used to ilustrate the fellowship sacrifice background of the Lord's Supper. I realize these things depict parts of one way of thinking about the Lord's Supper. Perhaps each student could choose one aspect to illustrate rather than trying to illustrate all of the Lord's Supper with one craft project. Much probably depends on the age level of your children, too.
There is also an old prayer used at communion services. It says (paraphrased) as the grains of this loaf were once scattered over many hills, but now are united into one loaf, so unite us in one body. It comes from one of the writings in The Didache, which you can almost certainly find on-line or download. A loaf would make a good device, but you are trying to avoid food items.
I hope something in this sparks an idea for you.
Rev. Phil Bohlken Grace Lutheran Church Caldwell, Idaho
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10) Bible reading plan for 9 - 13 year olds
The UPCI has a Bible reading plan for both adults and children, called B.R.E.A.D.
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