Welcome to THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER'S NETWORK

**** A service of http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com ****

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


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


To reply or to post a new topic:

When replying, delete ALL TEXT that is NOT PERTINENT to your response.
Please TITLE your message to reflect the content.


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


SSTN # 27 - March 30, 2006


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:


Easter Is Just Around The Corner!

1) Policy: crying children, etc.?
2) Fruit of the Easter Basket?
3) Peeps & Bunnies
4) Boy's Ministry?
5) Prayer Group

"He's Risen Mobile"

6) Easter Poem
7) Teaching unchurched kids
8) Teaching unchurched kids
9) Balloon Easter eggs
10) Skits



<>< <>< <>< TODAY'S SSTN POSTINGS: <>< <>< <><



Easter Is Just Around The Corner!

Get ready for your Easter lessons and activities for church and home!
Find our Easter activities at:

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



<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


1) Policy: crying children, etc.?

Our Church is working on a training policy in regards to three, four and
five year olds for Sunday School and Children's Church.  I would like your
thoughts on how long you should let a child cry before their parents are
asked to pick them up and ways to calm crying children in this age group.

Thanks, your site is such a blessing.

Thanks again,
Lanie



<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


2) Fruit of the Easter Basket?

Quite a few years ago I had heard about a Fruit of the Easter Basket,
where you put in Bible verses in plastic eggs along with items like
raisins that symbolize what the verses say, does any one remember anything
like that?  I would like to make for our preschool-K Sunday School class. 
thanks  Peggy


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


3) Peeps & Bunnies

Thanks Angie,

Terrific idea.  I plan to use it with the little peeps.  The cards I'll
use to attach the peeps to.  Thanks again.  This site is really helpful.

God Bless,

Kim

 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


4) Boys Ministry?

We are presently developing a girls ministry, focusing on both social
graces and spiritual graces. We are trying to help our young women develop
into self respecting ladies. My problem though is to find a coresponding
program for our young men. (ages  six to sixteen. )     Thank you in
advance for  your help.   Paul Morris Holly Springs FWB church, Newport
North Carolina 


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


"He's Risen Mobile"

Check it out at:
http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/craft_eggholders.html 
You'll need to scroll down the page to see the picture.


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
 

5) Prayer Group
 
Regarding the problems with the pastor and wanting to start a prayer
group: Our church has had a pastoral appointment for the last three years
that has been very difficult for us.  The prior pastor was greatly loved
and very active in our community, knew everyone, was very attentive to
everyone's needs, and showed a genuine "sense of care" in all that she
did.  When she left, our appointment process was very difficult for our
congregation and many felt unheard and that time was not allowed for a
grieving and welcoming process to take place.  Being on the staff/parish
committee was very difficult for many of us and handling the transition
was very emotional.  I feel strongly that we do not go to church to
worship the pastor, and that unless there are extreme fundamental
differences between pastor and congregation at large, these times are to
be used as a time of personal growth on both sides, learning to pray for
those who might not make us very h appy, learning to accept new ways of
doing things, etc... 
 
Several friends and I started a prayer/small group to nourish our spirits
together during this "dark" time.  Several friends and even my husband and
myself committed to praying for our pastor.  Not that she would change to
be the way we thought she should be, not that she grow our congregation,
but prayer that she could grow spiritually, that she could experience
confidence, maturity, independence, strong faith, feel uplifted, open up
to hear God speaking to her.  However, I think we were over exuberant in
our efforts to cheerlead for her in order to keep the congregation from
rising up against her.  She never has taken the opportunity to exceed
perceived limits, she has only used our willingness to excuse her to
enable her to continue on the same path...no growth...no care...it is as
if in our efforts to give it a chance, we got in the way of some great
work God could do through us.  One thing to keep in mind though is that
times like these are great opportunities for congregations to learn to
lean on one another in faith.  A pastor is not a member of your church.  I
am the church, you are the church, we are the church together and we are
there to worship God together, not to be entertained on Sunday morning
only. 
 
You need to express your needs as a congregation to your pastor, beginning
with your pastoral/staff committee.  You need to be assured that your
shepherd is concerned for his/her entire flock.  After three years, our
pastor can barely remember names of most prominent members.  There is just
a blatant lack of care, right down to how the sanctuary looks on Sunday
morning.  I don't understand it, but must say that this term will be done
this Summer and I am so exhausted from keeping my chin up, I might topple
over!  It will be a blessing to be able to move on with a new
appointment.  So, final word?  Keep praying, but don't get in the way of
those prayers working.  God can do great things if people really
communicate.  It's one of the hardest things for people to do, but one of
the best healers. 
 
God's Peace to you,
B. in NY
 



<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


6) Easter Poem

Hi,
 
        I took some ideas from your site and thought I'd send some back.
 
        For my 6-8th grade class (15 students) on Mar 25 we:
 
        --talked about what Christ did for us.
        --Made/edited some verses to illustrate
        --Crafted some letters/pictures on to some sponge-material crosses
        --talked about what it means to "Take something to the Cross"
       
        --Had Donuts.  Maybe donuts were not available during the real
Last Supper..........
 
Al Mundy
Tri-Lakes Methodist Church -- Monument Co 
 
Hailed as King,
Fronds waved high.
Within a week,
He was to die!

30 pieces of silver,
Betrayed him that day.
A kiss on His cheek,
And then away!

He went to the cross.
Sinless and pure.
He took our sin.
That is for sure.

He was thinking of you,
When he hung on the tree.
He took your punishment,
And set you free.

Two thieves on the cross
Hung next to the Master.
One asked -- salvation,
One got disaster!

He died on the cross
And rose from the dead.
He's coming again-
Just as he said.


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


7) Teaching unchurched kids

I can relate to your dilemma. Our Sunday School class is completely
comprised of bus kids - many who have no church background. It has been
quite a switch to go from teaching kids who have heard the Bible stories
for years to kids who have never heard them before. I find it very
refreshing, because everything is new and exciting for these kids.

What has helped me is keeping it in mind that these kids have little to no
Bible knowledge. We try to emphasize that the stories we are telling are
true, and like it was mentioned before, we try to emphasize Biblical
truths throughout the story. We also try to be flexible. When teaching,
we'll ask if the kids know what a certain thing means. This leads into
very interesting discussions, and there are times that we completely go
off track because a child wants to know a bout a particular thing.

It is very overwhelming to think that you are the only one giving a child
any Biblical background, and you only have 3/4 hour to do it. Try to focus
on just planting little seeds here and there. You'll be amazed at what
kids just absorb from being in Sunday School.
 
Another thing we are starting to do since we have such a limited amount of
time is to devote two Sundays to one lesson so we can make sure we cover
all the points of the story and/or theme. This helps drive our point home,
and the kids seem to remember things better. We like to have a review
Sunday, too, every so often.

Hope these ideas help.
 
Kari



<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


8) Teaching unchurched kids

Don't know how much control you have over curriculum, but one of the
things I would look for in a curriculum is whether or not the gospel is
presented each week. I do a lot of teacher training around the country,
and I encourage teachers to teach each lesson as if the child will be
there only that one Sunday. If you get another chance to reach them,
great. If you don't - then you know you have planted a seed.
 
Having said that - the curriculum should only be a tool, a springboard. It
is up to the teacher to fine tune the curriculum to fit his/her students. 
The curriculum publisher does not know your students. Curriculum is
published for churches of all sizes, ethnicity, inner city, country, etc.
As an editor for a curriculum company, I know there is no way to publish
materials that will fit every Sunday school class. The teacher has to make
it work for her class.
 
Make every activity a learning activity, even the snack! Students should
learn from the minute they walk in the door until they leave.  Pack that
45 minutes with lots of fun, effective stuff.
 
Blessings
 
Teresa


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


9) Balloon Easter eggs

I had lots of little white balloons that were leftover form a wedding. I
had my Sunday School class blow them up and then they colored them with
permanent markers. The sharpee  brand has some really bright beautiful
colors. Some of the children did a stain glass look, smearing the edges of
the colors with a paper towel as they colored. Other children drew lent
symbols or spring time objects. There is no end to how creative kids can
be!
When we were finished we hung them from the ceiling with fish line. They
looked really pretty, almost as if they were floating in the air. Of
course the shape of the balloon resembled an egg, which made them look
like colored Easter eggs when finished. You do have to use permanent
colors . Water colored markers wipe right off the balloon. The ages in my
class are 1st through 9th grade. If you have little ones, watch closely
with permanent markers. 

Brenda Goodwin


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


10) Skits
 
We did two years ago that are still very funny today.  One was called'
"Hey, Pa? Are There any of them there Trains a'comin' Down that there
Track?"  The other was called' "What's the Matter, Pa?" Will share them
with you by e mail because they are so long to write out.....they are
great. Dianne at eugenendianne@otelco.net


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


Help  SSTN  Continue

Only one dollar a month helps to provide the
Christian educational resources in the website and newsletter.
For more info, go to this webpage:

http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com/ministry_support.html 

Or, write your US check or US Money Order out to:
Sarah Keith - SundaySchoolNetwork.com

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 <><


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


--Copyright 2000  S.A. Keith--All Rights Reserved. ----

Please read the complete copyright information at SundaySchoolNetwork.com.
You will find the link at the bottom of the homepage.

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

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 ChristianCrafters.Com.
SSTN reserves the right to edit and or exclude information from the SSTN
e-Newsletter.


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


SUBSCRIBE--UNSUBSCRIBE - and Change of Address directions:

To SUBSCRIBE or change your email address go to the
"Sunday School Network" page at: http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.Com/page3.html  

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

-- To UNSUBSCRIBE your current email address, follow the directions below:

Return to the Archives