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SSTN # 99 - November 9, 2004
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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:
1) Gift Ornament
2) Fiery Furnace Musical?
3) Halloween ask a NON-Christian
--> Christ-filled Ornaments...decorate with a purpose!
4) Need some advise
5) Halloween Poll
6) Christians and Halloween
--> Holiday FUN-draising
7) Preschool Songs/Happy Birthday Jesus
8) Halloween Poll
9) Scarecrow Treat
10) Halloween...Biblical answers
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1) Gift Ornament
I've reformatted one of my most popular Chrismon Snowflake patterns, "Star
Within A Star", to be printed out as a ready-to-make gift ornament. You
may download it from ChristianCrafters.Com and send it with your Christmas
greeting cards, hand it out to friends and family or give it away during
church and Sunday School. Find it on the following web page:
http://www.ChristianCrafters.Com/Chrismon_Snowflake_gift.html
Enjoy!
Sarah Keith <><
ChristianCrafters.Com
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2) Fiery Furnace Musical?
Help! I'm trying find a children's musical (about 20 years old now!)
none- the- lessn still prevelant for today! I had a children's choir and
we worked on the musical, "The Fiery Furnace". I'm not certain if that's
the exact title, but it was adorable! It re-told the story of the 3
hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
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3) Halloween ask a NON-Christian
In reply to whether Halloween should be celebrated by
Christians: if you realy want to know what halloween
is all about, ask a NON-christian, specifically anyone
involved in the occult. The origin of this "holiday"
is very wicked. We have had persons in our church who
have had the official duty to investigate the occult
activities that go on during this time--specifically
to worship "that wicked one". So if you must
celebrate this as a holiday, please use it as a detour
for our children around the powers of darkness in;
have a fall festival, etc.
gayle in amarillo
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--> Christ-filled Ornaments...decorate with a purpose!
This Christmas display the reason for the season in each of your Christmas
tree ornaments. Decorate using Chrismon ornaments at your church or in
your home! The word Chrismon is an ancient Latin word meaning "Christ -
Monogram", a symbol of Christ or Christianity. Learn more at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/chrismon.html
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4) Need some advise
>I am constantly are being put down from my church family. I am the one
>whoever, needs any help, I am there, no questions ask. It has gotten so
bad, I have >missed church, and my self esteem, has
This is in response to the lady who needs advise about being put down by
her church family:(her question below)
First, take a good & honest look to make sure your suspicions are correct;
is your church family truly talking about you behind your back? Sometimes
we see people huddled together and whispering and laughing and it is human
nature to assume we are object of gossip. Perhaps they are, but maybe it
is not 'bad' talk. If there is someone in this group you feel you can
approach, tell this person you are feeling very ostracised and left out.
Tell this person how hurt you feel that mabye your church family has the
need to talk about you behind your back instead of approaching you one on
one to discuss any problem they may have with you. If this is a truly
Christian group of people, when they realize they are hurting you with
gossip and rumors, they will apologize and make amends.
If this person or someone else approaches you with concerns they have
about you, try to keep an open mind and don't react at the moment. Listen
carefully, tell the person thank you for telling you face to face their
concerns and walk away. Take the information given you and reflect on it
and go to God in prayer about it.
Also, perhaps take a step back and look at yourself objectively. Do you
help others in need for the right reason? Because it is the Christian
thing to do, because God calls us to aid our brothers & sisters, or do you
seek the recognition it can bring you? Do good deeds selflessly, to truly
help others and feel good to do something for others, and not to gain
recognition and a pat on the back. Perhaps you are doing 'too much'.
Unfortunately, others might be viewing all the help you dole out as a way
to seek attention. (Shame on them!)
Finally, speak to your minister or if your church has a ministry like
Stephen's Minstry (where a peer is trained to just listen and be a
friend), reach out to them and let them know you are hurting and need help
finding your niche in the church family again. It sounds as if you have a
big heart, and full of concern and caring for others, but if you continue
to feel put down or as a 'lost cause', you will stop doing for others and
doing the things you enjoy doing. God loves you and wants you to continue
to wonderful things for those in need, please don't let other people who
aren't acting very Christ-like to change your outlook on charity to
others.
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5) Halloween Poll
I was raised in the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church and am 50
years old. I do not recall anything negative about Halloween. It was a
large church and did not offer anything like a "Harvest Party", so I am
assuming that Halloween was OK! We went trick or treating from door to
door. We thought nothing of it, except that it was a fun holiday.
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6) Christians and Halloween
Teresa from Texas mentioned the Focus on the Family Program. Here is the
link for the audio broadcast, dated October 11th.
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/focus_on_the_family/Archives.asp
If you like to listen to audio on your computer, another Halloween
resourse
is at http://www.khouse.org/6640/personal/BP048.html
or the article at
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/focus_on_the_family/Archives.asp
At our house Halloween is a guilty pleasure. I don't decorate for
Halloween, and the kids don't wear scary costumes. We trick or treat in a
town of 300+ people where it is a family affair, as we drive 15 miles to
get there! My kids are aware of the occult. We discuss good/evil, and
Satan's ploys to get people involved in occultic practices. My kids are
not allowed to watch certain cartoons with gothic/occultic themes and we
have talked about why. I hope I'm not giving my kids too much of a double
standard by taking them trick or treating.
I explain reasons to not "embrace" Halloween, the occult, etc. to my upper
elementary Sunday School class. I've given out Halloween tracts.
It's good to hear others about this, too. Thanks, Sarah, and all
contributors.
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Holiday FUN-draising
This holiday season raise funds for your youth group, school, church,
or even for yourself by selling Sarah Keith's popular Christmas crafting
book, "Chrismon Snowflake Ornaments"! Get your order in by Nov. 25 to
insure delivery before Christmas! Learn more on this page:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/fundraiser.html
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7) Preschool Songs / Happy Birthday Jesus
>>I just found your web site where Wanda was looking for the
>>song Happy Birthday Jesus; I am trying to find the same song.
Happy Birthday Jesus was originally done by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
and you can find it on their cd, "Christmas at the Brooklyn Tablernacle".
We have used this song as it is recorded with the choir joining in or as a
shortened version with just the little ones. The accompaniment track is
available for this song online or at Christian book stores.
Another great song for this age group is "My Gift is Me" from the
Christmas
musical "Countdown to Christmas". We put big red bows on the little ones
and it was a big hit.
God Bless,
Elise Peterson
Clearwater, FL
POConline@verizon.net
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8) Halloween Poll
This is in reply to the Halloween issue: I too, along with my
siblings participated in Halloween events as a child. Our parents were
not Christians, so we didn't even consider the issue, "right or
wrong". It was good, clean harmless fun. Well, since I've come to know
the Lord, my perspective on this issue has changed. Scripture tells us,
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth." Timothy 2:15. I realize
this scripture may not seem to apply to this issue; please bear with
me.... " Luke 12:48 states, " But he that knew not, and did commit things
worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever
much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have
committed much, of him they will ask the more." I feel it is incumbent
upon us to search and seek what our Lord, would have us do. You've heard
the expression, "Ignorance is bliss"? In this day and age of computers
and and Internet access, we cannot afford to be ignorant regarding
Halloween and its origins.
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9) Scarecrow Treat
Hello! Just wanted you to know I used the Scarecrow suckers and tract
as a final "parting gift" from our church's God's Kids (our Wednesday
evening children and teens group) dinner and "fall party".
We had a nice dinner, played games (with groups of 4 or 5 kids travelling
to 5 stations in which there was a Bible Story and then a game played) in
lieu of traditional Halloween Party....the kids and teachers really
enjoyed
the suckers....Had to use small petit four papers (like cupcake papers
only smaller) for the hat, as the felt for the directions wouldn't work for
me....thank you so much for the pumpkin ideas too! May the Lord bless you
in what a wonderful service and idea exchange you are providing for us.
Joys in Jesus Sarah!
Nancy <><
--from SSTN: thank you, Nancy. The idea for the Petite-four papers is
great. (I've added your idea to the site along with another hat variation.
Thanks for sharing that tip.) We made the scarecrow treats at our Wed.
night program and it was a success too. ;o) For anyone else that's
interested, you can find this idea in the Crafts section at:
http://www.ChristianCrafters.Com
Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><
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10) Halloween...Biblical answers
I would suggest that anyone questioning the biblical answers concerning
Halloween and not just the traditional ones check out this website.
www.chick.com/seasonal/halloween/celebrate.asp
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