Newsletter Issue # 27 --  September 14, 2016 

Mission Statement: SundaySchoolNetwork.com brings over 25 years of experience to children's ministry. Our Bible lesson plans and activities are designed to lead children to Christ, helping them grow in their faith, so they can proclaim the good news message to the next generation.  

In today's newsletter:

1) Teaching Kids to Pray

2) Lighthouse Song

3) Christmas Poems and Rhymes

4) Shine the Light Bible Game

5) Urban Outreach Ideas

1) Teaching Kids to Pray

We do not need to use fancy words or behave a certain way in order to pray. Prayer is simply talking to God. Ask, "What are some ways, times, and situations when we pray?" (Receive answers: Before meals or bedtime, in church. With our eyes closed or open, bowed heads, heads held high, kneeling or standing. When we’re happy, sad, or we’ve done something wrong.) 

We can talk to God anytime and anywhere.

(Hold up a model of a car.)

This is a model of a car. It’s not a real car, but it’s a close copy of how a real car looks. The headlights, the doors, the wheels, the fenders, are all in the right place. 

One day when Jesus was praying, one of his disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Jesus then taught them the Lord’s Prayer. It is a model or guide to show us how to pray correctly. There is nothing magical about Jesus’ prayer, but it is supernatural. Do you know what supernatural means? Supernatural is . . . 

Sample our lesson for children on Prayer.

2) Lighthouse Song

I found a wonderful song entitled, My Lighthouse. It goes perfectly with the Lighthouse Bible lessons. I intend to play it as the children enter class and during craft time.

3) Christmas Poems and Rhymes

I found the following link by typing, "Christmas Poems" into the search box at the bottom of this page:    http://sundayschoolnetwork.com/archive74_Nov07.html 

4) Shine the Light Bible Game*

Application: Jesus, the Light of the world, evangelism – active 
(Goes with the Lighthouse Bible lessons too!)

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will
have the light of life." John 8:12

Set Up: For a nighttime class. Establish a secure area.

How to Play: One child, “IT,” is given a flashlight and counts to 25, while the rest of the players hide. “IT” hunts for the players with a lit flashlight. When “IT” finds a player, he or she shines the light on the player and says, “Whoever follows Jesus will never walk in darkness,” then hands the light to that player who responds by saying, “but will have the light of life.” Both players then hunt for another player. When another player is found, repeat the process until all players are found, grouped together, and have had the light
shone on them.

* From the book, Bible Games Explosion, Flashlight Tag.

(There are multiple variations for the basic rules of Flashlight Tag available on the internet.)

Your donations and purchases to the website make this resource possible.

5) Urban Outreach

A couple of ideas that came to mind are:
1) Host a "Family Game or Movie Night" at your church, make sure you distribute invitations to the community, or at the schools if possible, emphasizing it is for "families";
2) Host a neighborhood ice cream party for "familes"; 
3) Coordinate and partner with the local schools to offer afterschool reading, homework helper, or mentoring programs.

Have you written a children's or teen's ministry resource? 
SHARE your great ideas!

Send to: submissions@sundayschoolnetwork.com 

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