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SSTN # 104 - November 30, 2004
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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:
1) Burn out?
2) SS Materials?
3) To Bethlehem?
------------------------> Game Book For Kids!
4) Christmas Nativity
5) Bible Science Experiments?
6) Great Passages of the Bible?
------> Christmas FunPak
7) Cowboy Theme
8) Occult Gothic Craze
9) Three Christmas ideas
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1) Burn out?
Hello, and thank you for such a great news letter. I'm writing because I
fear that I may be doing to much. Although, I am only a volunteer
children's director with no official training, I feel like children's
ministry is my calling. I have been warned by many in the congregation
that if I do to much I will get "burnt out". My problem is that I can't
find enough people to help with everything. I realize we just had the
debate about children in worship service, and I prefer to have a seperate
service for the children, and on Wednesdays and Sunday nights we have
other things going on for the kids like quizzing ect. I am NEVER in an
adult worship service. I feel like I am suffering spiritually. On the
other hand I cant with good concience abandon these kids that I have grown
to love so much. I have absolutely no friendships with adults in our
church. Probably because by the time I'm finished wrapping things up with
the kids everyone is ready to leave church. I do attend dinners and other
church functions but still no real relationships. I have become very
discouraged and it doesn't help that in the event of my absence some of
the parents just take their kids back home. It makes me feel like I am
being used as a baby sitter. No matter I have wandered if I should leave
this church and go somewhere with more support. I just don't have the
answer. There doesn't seem to be a good answer. I have become a little
bitter about the whole situation and I'm sure that's not good for God's
ministry to the kids or anyone else for that matter. I need help. Thanks,
Holly
--from SSTN: Dear Holly, my heart goes out to you and I will pray for you.
Have you spoken to your pastor? You obviously need help and need it fast.
This is not a good situation for you or the children. In fact, it might
even be illegal or at the very least unsafe. You don't say how many
children are in your care. But, it is a safety concern that there be an
adequate number of adults per children.
Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><
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2) SS Materials?
Hi, I am new comer. First of all, I apologize for my limited english. I
am originally from Indonesian and I am living in Rochester, New Hampshire
for about three years. I am helping in the sunday school church. Our
church is new and small. We have about 60 people (adults) and 15 young
people and 15 children with ages range from 3 - 12 years old and 6
babies. The only people who are doing sunday school for children just me
and mrs. V. Wawoerontoe (Our pastor's wife). But we are having problem
with material, songs, video or in general lesson for sunday school every
week. Especially for children under five years old. I am looking for
christian book store close by where I live where I could get some material
for sunday school or if any of your church would like to help us, we would
glad and appreciated. Our service is using Indonesian language but for
children we are using english because most of the children are going to
school here, unless there is a new student who just come from Indonesia
then I use both languages. Sometimes we are singing songs in both english
and indonesian, too. I really love children and I want to serve God by
helping the children in our church to get to know Jesus and to love Him
and learn the bible in their early childhood. Thankyou so much for
helping me. God Bless you
Olga
--from SSTN: Dear Olga, your English is superb! As to a local bookstore,
check the phone directory in your area. And, you can purchase Sunday
School materials through the following webpages on our site:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html
and
http://www.christiancrafters.com/bookstore.html
Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><
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3) To Bethlehem?
Linda in Ohio
Can you please tell me the author and/or publisher of 'to Bethlehem?' It
sounds like the sort of thing we could do.
Thanks,
Frances UK
--from SSTN: "Walk To Bethlehem" is in the skits section at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/skits.html
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--> Game Book For Kids!
"Chalk-It-Up" is a great game book for kids and it comes with a pack of
giant marble sidewalk chalk! Inspires creativity, independent play and
family-time fun! Give one to the children in your family this Christmas.
Check it out on the following page:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html
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4) Christmas Nativity
>Christmas is around the corner and I need to get my nativity
>scene together. Any ideas on how to make props for a nativity scene?
http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/christmas/crafts.htm
Scroll down to this craft. This simple nativity scene would be easy to
enlarge by tracing the pictures on transparencies and using an overhead
projector to enlarge the pictures to whatever size you want. You can make
the characters on cardboard or poster board and paint them.
For the stable use this picture to form the stable out of pieces of scrap
lumber or cardboard.
http://www.msssbible.com/devotions/adventtreasurehunt/advent8.htm
I hope this helps.
Laura
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5) Bible Science Experiments?
Where can I find experiments to demonstrate a bible lesson? I found some
in the Children's Ministry Magazine and the kids loved them and they are
asking for more!! Is there a book or website to go to?
Thank you-Leslie B.
--from SSTN: You'll find three great volumes by typing
"Bible Science Experiments" in the bookstore search box at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/bookstore.html
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6) Great Passages of the Bible?
Looking for eight (8) copies of a Sunday School study book, with teachers
guide, since book is out of print at publisher. Title: Great Passages of
the Bible, edited by Everett Leadingham. Will purchase from any church
which has these available. Contact Charles Sterrett,
csterrett@pennswoods.net.
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--> Christmas FunPak
Great for gift-giving or Christmas crafting fun. Click on the
"Christmas FunPak" link in the Christmas and Advent section at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html
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7) Cowboy theme
Our church is a cowboy church and we are looking for a western or cowboy
themed VBS. If anyone has any suggestions
Kris,
Cokesbury has a western theme for 2005 called "Circle G Ranch"
In Christ,
Brenda Harter
First United Methodist Church
Manhattan, KS
bharter@fumcmanhattan.com
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8) Occult Gothic Craze
>Hi, I have a very real concern around the "gothic craze" some teens are
>into. My teenage daughter Natasha, has begun wearing black and reading
Susan,
If it's just a matter of reading Poe (classic American literature though a
bit spooky)and wearing black, I wouldn't worry. Aren't we supposed to be
teaching our kids not to judge others by appearance? As long as it's not
affecting her behavior or faith, it's probably just a phase.
In Christ,
Brenda Harter
First United Methodist Church
Manhattan, KS
bharter@fumcmanhattan.com
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9) Three Christmas ideas
Our church has an average of 650-700 members who attend weekly. Our, Jr.
Sunday School department has between 220 - 250 children in attendance
weekly. This project works very well and we get a lot of family feed
back.
Tree of Prayers:
We pass out 25 note cards (small pieces of paper would work well) to each
of our children. We ask them to write the name of one person that needs
prayer on each card. We do make the following suggestions, The President,
Our Pastor, Our Parents, Our Grandparents, and so on. After the children
fill out each of the cards. We have them place the cards in an envelope.
We then date each of the envelope from December 1 - December 25.
The envelopes are sent home with the children along with a letter
explaining the project: The parents are asked to place the envelope with
the correct day, under the tree, on the kitchen table, or where ever the
family likes, along with a small treat for each child in the house. When
the children open the envelope the family together prays for the person
who's name is enclosed. After which the children get their treats, etc.,
a pack of smarties candies, a new tooth brush, lip gloss, a pencil or pen,
etc. Then the card with the name is added to a large poster board. The
first name opened in placed on the top, the second is placed below it a
bit to the left, the third, next the second, the forth below the second
and third and so on.
Example of the tree is:
1
2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23
24 25
You do this every day in December and each day you pray for the new name
as well as all the other names on the prayer tree. After Christmas we
pray for all 25 person until Jan. 1 at which time we encourage the
children to pray daily for new person or the same person for the following
year. This is a great way to show our children how to pray for other and
to share our faith in Christ.
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The twelve days of Christmas:
The children color, cut out and make into ornaments the scene depicting
the twelve events of Christ birth.
1) Everyone went to be taxed ~ Luke 2:3,4
2) There was no room for them in the inn ~ Luke 2:7c
3) She brought forth her firstborn son ~ Luke 2:7a
4) She laid him in a manger ~ Luke 2:7 b
5) There were shepherds abiding the field ~ Luke 2:8
6) I bring you good tidings of great joy ~ Luke 2:9-11
7) Glory to God in the highest! ~ Luke 2:13,14
8) They came and found Mary and Joseph and the babe ~ Luke 8:16,17
9) There came wise men from the east ~ Matthew 2:1b-2
10) The star stood over where the young child was ~ Matthew 2:9,10
11) The fell down and worshipped him ~ Matthew 2:11a
12) The presented unto him gifts ~ Matthew 2:11b
Beginning on December 13th one ornaments is added to the tree daily as the
parents or children tell of the event the ornaments represents.
************************************
Sharing the real meaning of Christmas:
Beginning on December 13 of each year my husband I help our children learn
the true meaning of Christmas using the "12 Days of Christmas."
On the 1st Day of Christmas, December 13 they get one gift which has one
small item in it. On the 2nd Day of Christmas, December 14 they get one
gift which has two small item in it. On the 3rd Day of Christmas,
December 15 they get one gift which has three small items in it, and so on
until the "12 Days of Christmas" are completed (December 24).
Each year we have our children chose a child who they want to share the 12
Days of Christmas with.
We send that parents of the children a letter informing them of what we
are doing and explain to them that each day beginning on the 13th their
child will be left one present each, it is to be opened on the day that it
is received. And they are not to know who the gift came from.
On the back of the same letter we give the date and scripture basis as
well as the scripture (just in case the family dose not have a bible)
1) Everyone went to be taxed ~ Luke 2:3,4
2) There was no room for them in the inn ~ Luke 2:7c
3) She brought forth her firstborn son ~ Luke 2:7a
4) She laid him in a manger ~ Luke 2:7 b
5) There were shepherds abiding the field ~ Luke 2:8
6) I bring you good tidings of great joy ~ Luke 2:9-11
7) Glory to God in the highest! ~ Luke 2:13,14
8) They came and found Mary and Joseph and the babe ~ Luke 8:16,17
9) There came wise men from the east ~ Matthew 2:1b-2
10) The star stood over where the young child was ~ Matthew 2:9,10
11) The fell down and worshipped him ~ Matthew 2:11a
12) The presented unto him gifts ~ Matthew 2:11b
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