The Place for Christian Education Communication      
     Children need the Lord...teach them about Jesus!
 
   
Consistently ranks among the top Christian education websites!

Issue #33 - August 5, 2008
Previous issues can be found in the Archives.

  Home   |   Search  |  Support SSTN    


To reply or to post a new topic:

Please TITLE your email to reflect the content of your message.
When replying, highlight the text that is pertinent to your response, then hit reply.

NEED PRAYER? 
Visit our Prayer Board. Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for details.

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." -- Jesus



  In this issue of the SSTN Newsletter  

  Scroll down the page to view articles.

1) 
Lord's Army song motions
2) Puppet Scripts 
3) Super Hero VBS
4)
 Missions Conference
5) Bridal shower games

Invite your friends and coworkers to join us. Click here!

6) Missions Fundraiser
7) Missions Conference
8) Stereotyping in Lord's Army song
9) 
Bible Devotions

Bible Games  |  Christian Crafts  | Christian Skits  |  Object Talks  |  Missions For Kids  |  Recycling Ideas

Bible-4-Life Curriculum | Gospel Fun Activities | Make N' Take Downloads | Holidays & Holy Days | E-books | Premium Club Discount




1) Lord's Army song motions

In reference to recent inquires about the Lord's Army song, 
these are the additional verses our Sunday school children like to sing:

TEXAS STYLE (sung with a strong Texas accent and motions are done very slowly)
I may never march in the infantry (stand bow-legged and march very, very slowly)
Ride in the cavalry (stand bow-legged and go up and down as riding a horse slowly)
Shoot the artillery (pretend you’re drawing two guns quickly from holster)
I may never zoom over the enemy (put hands under armpits and flap slowly like a chicken)
But I’m in the Lord’s army. Yee-haw (point upward, then pretend like you have a lasso) 
I’m in the Lord’s army Yee-haw (point upward, then pretend like you have a lasso) 
I’m in the Lord’s army Yee-haw (point upward, then pretend like you have a lasso) 

(Repeat first verse w/motions) 

HAWAIIAN STYLE
I may never surf in Hawaii (pretend you’re standing on a surfboard)
Pick a coconut from a tree (pretend you’re reaching up for a coconut)
Smell a flower oh so sweet (pretend you’re smelling a flower)
I may never feel the sand beneath my feet (turn both palms down and move them back & forth)
But I’m in the Lord’s army. Aloha (point upward, then do the hula)
I’m in the Lord’s army. Aloha (point upward, then do the hula)
I’m in the Lord’s army. Aloha (point upward, then do the hula)

(Repeat first verse w/motions) 

MEXICAN STYLE
I may never take a trip to Mexico (pretend you’re driving a car)
Eat a cheesy taco (pretend you’re eating a taco w/both hands)
Wear a big sombrero (put hands up by head describing big hat)
I may never ride a donkey really slow (Pretend you’re riding a donkey)
But I’m in the Lord’s army. Si’ Senor (point upward & pretend you’re twisting the ends of your mustache)
I’m in the Lord’s army Si’ Senor (point upward & pretend you’re twisting the ends of your mustache)
I’m in the Lord’s army Si’ Senor (point upward & pretend you’re twisting the ends of your mustache)

(Repeat first verse w/motions)

As always, we appreciate your newsletters!
Vivian Douglas
Northview Baptist Church
Jacksonville, FL

 

 

 


2) Puppet Scripts 

Dear Janice cole (4)
I have some puppet scripts that you may find useable.
Please contact me at bobandmolly@bigpond.com, they are free
with no legal ties.

Regards, Bob


 




3) Super Hero VBS

Colin Buchanan has a new CD out called Super Saviour. We used the title song for our last VBS and the children loved it. One of my RE students who attended the VBS requested this song as soon as I walked into the classroom yesterday.

Megan
Queensland, Australia

 



4) Missions Conference

The item on Missions Conference brought to mind this information: Wycliffe Associates has a wonderful curriculum for Sunday School children about Bible translation. It is a 12 week curriculum on Steps to Bible Translation. It is easy to follow and download, and is free of charge. Another teacher and I used it with 1st through 5th grades; it is very adaptable. It includes stories, worksheets, everything you need. Best of all, the children loved it! I encourage you to check it out at Wycliffe.org/kids/freecurriculum/stepstobibletranslation

Carolyn

 

 




5) Bridal shower games

I attended my friend's bridal shower and they played some really fun games. You can go to www.puzzlemaker.com and create a word search or crossword puzzle using whatever words you want; it is easy and fun and fast. You can fill a pretty glass container with tiny mints and have each guest guess how many there are; whoever wins gets to keep the container and mints. You can create a list of scrambled words relevant to the bride and groom or just wedding terms and offer a prizes to guests who get the most (a real stumper: PINCOTREE). The bride's sister wrote a story about the bride and groom, leaving out words that were names of popular cleaning products. She gave a list of "missing words" and the guests filled them in (words like Joy, Zest, Coast, etc., were to be put into sentences like, "When she met him, she thought he had a lot of ______"), then she read the whole story and prizes were given to those who got the most correct. Prizes at our shower included items from Bath and Body Works. Something we did not have time to do is to create a "dress" for the bride out of toilet paper...not sure how that one would be. We also went around the room and introduced ourselves and told how we'd met the bride-to-be or why she was special to us. One more suggestion: I remember a game from a long time ago; everyone gets three clothespins. Each time a guest crosses her legs, the guest must surrender one clothespin to the person who noticed. 

--from SSTN: you can find the answer to "pincotree" somewhere in this newsletter. ;o)) Have fun locating it!

 



6) Missions Fundraiser

Each day t
his week, during our Fun Arts Camp, the Culinary Arts class prepares an ethnic dish to represent missions around the world. Yesterday they made tamale pies for Mexico. Today they made curried chicken and rice for India. All the campers then get to eat their creations at lunch time. YUM! 

It occurred to me that we could also email our missionaries and request they send us traditional recipes from the countries they serve. We could then staple them into a booklet and sell them to church members to raise money for missions.

Other classes offered this week include mosaics (my class), beading, stamping, fishing, lacrosse, kite making, scrap booking, wood working, video production, guitar, knitting, and circus arts such as juggling and balloon sculpting.  Adults and college students from our church teach something they know and in the process create special bonds with our church kids and kids in the community. It is open to rising 5th-9th grade. It's a great time of fellowshipping with all ages in our church.

We begin our day by singing wonderful praise songs led by one of the "cool" college guys playing guitar (he also teaches guitar). We then have a short devotional before going to our classes. Classes are one hour in length and the kids may choose three classes each. Typically the teachers teach only one class. It is so much fun! 

If you'd like to see some of the mosaics projects from past years, follow these links:
http://sundayschoolnetwork.com/craft_mosaic_vine.html
http://sundayschoolnetwork.com/craft_seasons.html
http://sundayschoolnetwork.com/craft_serve-one-another.htm

Your sister in Jesus,
Sarah Keith <><

 

 


7
) Missions Conference

Thanks for the ideas for our Missions Conference for my Sunday School Class. You have given me some good ideas that I can work with. Thanks again.

Eusalene Bruce


 





8) 
Stereotyping in Lord's Army song

Hi all,
I would invite you to consider refraining from doing an "Indian" version of "I'm in the Lord's Army." It smacks of racism and portrays Native Americans as caricatures. Do we really want to teach our children these stereotypes? Shooting a bow and arrow...flapping our arms like a chicken??? I am also very uncomfortable with stereotyping Mexicans as riding a slow donkey and eating a burrito. I have been to Mexico on mission and didn't see any burritos or any donkeys the whole time I was there. These songs may be "fun" and "cute" but they are also extremely stereotypical and racist. What if you had a Mexican child walk into your Bible class while you were singing that verse? What about the children you have in your congregations that have Native American blood in them and you don't know it? How would this make them feel? Loved by God or marginalized and reduced to a caricature? This is 2008. We should not be propagating such stereotypical ideas in church. 

Rev. Mary Frances McClure
Salem UMC
Eastover, NC



 




9) Bible Devotions

While roaming through our local Christian book store, I was hit with the idea for our new bible study for the new school year. I teach a group of kids, grades 1st-5th, on Wednesday nights. We average 25 or so kids each week. Trying to come up with material that keeps these kids entertained as well as taught is sometimes difficult. But I came across a devotional book that contains 365 daily devotions for kids. The wonderful thing about this book is that the devotions are in order according to the books of the Bible. We will be making large posters for each book of the Bible and each week fill that poster up with some of the things that particular book teaches us. We will cover at least three books each week and the posters will remain displayed. Each child that wants, can lead a devotion. We are putting emphasis on using our Bible as a tool and arming ourselves with scripture. For the younger ones, they can learn the order of the books of the Bible and for the older ones, they can really begin to explore God's Word. Just thought I would share. 

God Bless All!
Joey in Birmingham, AL

--from SSTN: you can find "Through the Bible Devotions: From Genesis to Revelation in 365 Days" in our affiliate bookstore by typing the title into the search box at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/bookstore.html

Also, for future reference, all of SSTN's curriculum is aimed at this age group as well. Check it out at:
http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/Bible-4-life.html

 



Help SSTN To Continue 

Your donation of one dollar a month helps to provide the Christian educational resources in the website and newsletter. To learn how you can help, go to the following webpage: http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com/ministry_support.html 





Or, write your US check or US Money Order out to:
S.A. Keith - Creative Imaginations (d.b.a.)

Mail to:
SundaySchoolNetwork.com
438 East
Ilex Drive
Lake Park, FL 33403
USA

(In the memo section of your check write: "SSTN Subscription". Please include your email address.)

Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><

 


ADVERTISE WITH US!

To learn how you can advertise your business, ministry or product to over 21,000 Christian educators,
please visit the following page at:
http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com/advertising.html 


"pincotree"= "reception"


SSTN Posting Guidelines: http://SundaySchoolNetwork.com/SSTN_guidelines.html 



Copyright 1997 - 2008 / d.b.a. "S. A. Keith of Creative Imaginations
Reproducing in any medium, commercial or noncommercial, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. SSTN has contributors from all over the world who share their ideas. If you reprint any of the ideas from SSTN, SundaySchoolNetwork.com or ChristianCrafters.Com in any medium (websites, magazines, newsletters, etc.), you must contact the submitter, and website for reprint permissions. Any materials used must also include the submitter's name and where the ideas were gleaned from. The opinions expressed or advertisements displayed in the SSTN e-Newsletter are not necessarily endorsed by SundaySchoolNetwork.com or any of its affiliates. SSTN reserves the right to edit and or exclude information from the SSTN e-Newsletter.

SundaySchoolNetwork.com | SSTN.org | ChristianCrafters.com | Bible-4-Life.com
ChristianTeachersNetwork.com | Sunday-School-Lessons.com | Bible-Lessons.net

 
 

NEED PRAYER?
 

SSTN has developed a Prayer Board for it's members. You may submit your requests, but while you're there, pray for others too! We ask that you guard this area and monitor it for abuses that could arise. It is not a place for gossip or for marketing products. Please respect this area. It has been set apart for you! Follow this link to begin posting your prayer requests and praying for your brothers and sisters in Christ across the world:  http://sstn.org/corkboard/index.html

Invite your friends and coworkers to join the SSTN family! Point them to the following page to sign up:
http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/page3.html
    
 



SUBSCRIBE -- UNSUBSCRIBE Directions


To SUBSCRIBE a new email address, visit the following page at: 
http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.Com/page3.html

(If you are subscribing your friends, make sure you have their permission.)

To UNSUBSCRIBE, scroll to the very bottom of your newsletter and click the unsubscribe link.

Click here to access, and search out, past topic ideas from SSTN!