It went fabulously! Thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers!
Now, time for planning!!!!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
A Great Idea
A woman who is very important to the Children's Ministries at Choctaw United Methodist came up with a great idea for a service project for our kids. Tomorrow morning we will be selling fresh choclate chip cookies and lemonade. The money made will be given to a cause the children choose. They can keep the money for children's ministries activities, give it all away to the organization, or decide if they want to keep part of it and give part of it away. It is their decision what they do with the money they make. It gives them all of the responsibility. It will teach them how to be responsible for their own money. They can either get something for themselves to stay in the children's area or give it away. I thought it was a great idea. It lets them do something fun and learn about the responsibility we have to help out our community. If you have any other ideas like this, comment. Let me know what you think!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Recommended Reads
I have been researching good books with program, curriculum, and/or teacher planning ideas. I was reading one today, Out of the Box: Helps for Children's Sunday School Teachers from Abingdon Press, it has tons of great information! It is easy to follow and has lots of good resources.
Last summer I planned a pre-school day camp. I used the book Wonder-Filled Weekdays for Summer: 65 Lesson Plans for Christian Preschool by Cynthia Gray to help me plan my lessons for each day. It's a great resource to help plan pre-school programs.
These are just a few books that I think anyone in Children's Ministries should have access to. Check them out!
Last summer I planned a pre-school day camp. I used the book Wonder-Filled Weekdays for Summer: 65 Lesson Plans for Christian Preschool by Cynthia Gray to help me plan my lessons for each day. It's a great resource to help plan pre-school programs.
These are just a few books that I think anyone in Children's Ministries should have access to. Check them out!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
New Life at Easter
Here is a lesson for Easter!
“He is not here; for he has been raised’ as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6
Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
It is Easter! It is Easter! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Sing a song of praise! Sing a song of praise!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: In God’s world of plants and animals, have you ever seen any signs of new life this spring? (Trees are getting new leaves, etc.)
Listening
Ask the children to join in the story by saying “New Life!” every time you point at them.
Say: After Jesus dies, he was laid into a small room cut into a rock wall. This room was called a “tomb.” A large rock was rolled over the opening of the tomb, just like a door. Jesus’ tomb was in a garden.
Springtime had come to the garden. Signs of the season were everywhere. Baby birds were hatching in their nests. (Point) Bright green leaves were starting to grow on tree branches. (Point) Baby rabbits hopped behind their mother. (Point) Flower blossoms of yellow, pink, and orange opened under the warm sun. (Point) Seeds pushed up through the ground. (Point) Honeybees hatched and flew outside the beehive for the first time. (Point) And tadpoles swam in the water trough. (Point)
Night fell and the garden was dark, until an angel came shining bright as lightening. The angel rolled away the stone, and God game Jesus new life. (Point) Jesus stood and walked out of the tomb and into the garden full of (Point) light.
As the sun came up, the people who loved Jesus went to the garden to visit his grave. They were surprised to see that the stone was rolled away from the tomb and even more amazed when the angel told them that Jesus was raised from the dead. As the people turned to leave, they met Jesus! God had given him (Point)!
Exploring
There will be plastic eggs hidden around the room with chick stickers inside.
Say: Since eggs and chicks are a symbol of new life, let’s play some games using eggs that children have played for hundreds of years!
Egg Hunt: Invite the children to find one egg each from around the room. If the eggs are opened ask the children to put the sticker back inside of the egg until the end of the games.
Egg Balance: Have children form a circle. Give each child a spoon and an egg. Have them try to carry their eggs on their spoons as everyone asks around in a circle.
When the games are finished, they can put their stickers on their eggs.
Benediction
Say: God, what wonderful news we have heard this morning! Christ has risen and lives forever! Alleluia! Amen!
If there is extra time have the children imitate sounds of new life.
Babies (waa waa)
Chicks (cheep cheep)
Duckling (quack quack)
Lamb (baa baa)
Donkey Colt (hee-haw)
Puppy (yip yip)
Kitten (mew mew)
Piglet (oink oink)
Goat Kid (naa naa)
If you would like you could also ask the children to invent some sounds of new life, like what it sounds like for a seed to grow, tree leaves to unfold, or grass growing.
“He is not here; for he has been raised’ as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6
Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
It is Easter! It is Easter! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Sing a song of praise! Sing a song of praise!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: In God’s world of plants and animals, have you ever seen any signs of new life this spring? (Trees are getting new leaves, etc.)
Listening
Ask the children to join in the story by saying “New Life!” every time you point at them.
Say: After Jesus dies, he was laid into a small room cut into a rock wall. This room was called a “tomb.” A large rock was rolled over the opening of the tomb, just like a door. Jesus’ tomb was in a garden.
Springtime had come to the garden. Signs of the season were everywhere. Baby birds were hatching in their nests. (Point) Bright green leaves were starting to grow on tree branches. (Point) Baby rabbits hopped behind their mother. (Point) Flower blossoms of yellow, pink, and orange opened under the warm sun. (Point) Seeds pushed up through the ground. (Point) Honeybees hatched and flew outside the beehive for the first time. (Point) And tadpoles swam in the water trough. (Point)
Night fell and the garden was dark, until an angel came shining bright as lightening. The angel rolled away the stone, and God game Jesus new life. (Point) Jesus stood and walked out of the tomb and into the garden full of (Point) light.
As the sun came up, the people who loved Jesus went to the garden to visit his grave. They were surprised to see that the stone was rolled away from the tomb and even more amazed when the angel told them that Jesus was raised from the dead. As the people turned to leave, they met Jesus! God had given him (Point)!
Exploring
There will be plastic eggs hidden around the room with chick stickers inside.
Say: Since eggs and chicks are a symbol of new life, let’s play some games using eggs that children have played for hundreds of years!
Egg Hunt: Invite the children to find one egg each from around the room. If the eggs are opened ask the children to put the sticker back inside of the egg until the end of the games.
Egg Balance: Have children form a circle. Give each child a spoon and an egg. Have them try to carry their eggs on their spoons as everyone asks around in a circle.
When the games are finished, they can put their stickers on their eggs.
Benediction
Say: God, what wonderful news we have heard this morning! Christ has risen and lives forever! Alleluia! Amen!
If there is extra time have the children imitate sounds of new life.
Babies (waa waa)
Chicks (cheep cheep)
Duckling (quack quack)
Lamb (baa baa)
Donkey Colt (hee-haw)
Puppy (yip yip)
Kitten (mew mew)
Piglet (oink oink)
Goat Kid (naa naa)
If you would like you could also ask the children to invent some sounds of new life, like what it sounds like for a seed to grow, tree leaves to unfold, or grass growing.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Three Cheers: Palm Sunday
Here is a lesson idea for Palm Sunday.
“Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Mark 11:9
Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Here Comes Jesus! Here Comes Jesus!
Riding on a donkey! Riding on a donkey!
Wave your palms! Wave your palms!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
In the highest! In the highest!
Blessed is Jesus! Blessed is Jesus!
Who comes in the name of the Lord!
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: Have you ever cheered for someone or something?
(I cheer for my favorite football team, etc.)
Listening
Use the donkey puppet as you tell the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
Say: Hee-haw, he-haw. I’m Dina the Donkey, and I’m the one who gave Jesus a ride into Jerusalem before Passover. I love outside the city, but I do go to the big city to do errands with my owner. On that day, I was quietly munching hay, when a very interesting man and his followers came near. His followers led me over to the man, who spoke softly to me and patted my nose. I liked him right away. You know, we donkeys can be stubborn and mean if we want to, but I decided I wanted to be nice to this man.
The man got on my back, and we began to walk toward the city. One of his followers called him “Jesus.” As we went along the road, people came out from their houses to walk with us. Workers left the fields too and shoppers on their way to market joined us. Everyone was happy and excited to see Jesus. They talked about the wonderful things he had said and done. They all agreed that Jesus was their savior and king.
Soon there was a crowd as far as you could see. The people began cheering for Jesus as they took off their cloaks and cut palm branches to lay in the road. My hoofs clopped over the most beautiful and the most ragged coats, because there were very rich and very poor people in the crowd. Jesus sat calmly on my back, and as the crowds began to press in closer and closer to see and touch him, he spoke gentle words to me; and I was not afraid of all those people.
Finally, he slid from my back and gave me to a kind person who served me water and a bit of food before taking me home. That was the most amazing day because I carried Jesus, the Savior, into Jerusalem. Hee-haw!
Exploring
Make some streamer sticks to help celebrate Jesus! Take the crepe paper and allow the children to glue two strips onto the Popsicle sticks. Have a celebration parade outside if the weather permits or around the room saying, “Hosanna!” as you go.
Benediction
Say: Hosanna! Let us tell the world about Christ and what he has done for us! Amen.
“Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Mark 11:9
Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Here Comes Jesus! Here Comes Jesus!
Riding on a donkey! Riding on a donkey!
Wave your palms! Wave your palms!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
In the highest! In the highest!
Blessed is Jesus! Blessed is Jesus!
Who comes in the name of the Lord!
Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.
Sharing
Ask: Have you ever cheered for someone or something?
(I cheer for my favorite football team, etc.)
Listening
Use the donkey puppet as you tell the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
Say: Hee-haw, he-haw. I’m Dina the Donkey, and I’m the one who gave Jesus a ride into Jerusalem before Passover. I love outside the city, but I do go to the big city to do errands with my owner. On that day, I was quietly munching hay, when a very interesting man and his followers came near. His followers led me over to the man, who spoke softly to me and patted my nose. I liked him right away. You know, we donkeys can be stubborn and mean if we want to, but I decided I wanted to be nice to this man.
The man got on my back, and we began to walk toward the city. One of his followers called him “Jesus.” As we went along the road, people came out from their houses to walk with us. Workers left the fields too and shoppers on their way to market joined us. Everyone was happy and excited to see Jesus. They talked about the wonderful things he had said and done. They all agreed that Jesus was their savior and king.
Soon there was a crowd as far as you could see. The people began cheering for Jesus as they took off their cloaks and cut palm branches to lay in the road. My hoofs clopped over the most beautiful and the most ragged coats, because there were very rich and very poor people in the crowd. Jesus sat calmly on my back, and as the crowds began to press in closer and closer to see and touch him, he spoke gentle words to me; and I was not afraid of all those people.
Finally, he slid from my back and gave me to a kind person who served me water and a bit of food before taking me home. That was the most amazing day because I carried Jesus, the Savior, into Jerusalem. Hee-haw!
Exploring
Make some streamer sticks to help celebrate Jesus! Take the crepe paper and allow the children to glue two strips onto the Popsicle sticks. Have a celebration parade outside if the weather permits or around the room saying, “Hosanna!” as you go.
Benediction
Say: Hosanna! Let us tell the world about Christ and what he has done for us! Amen.
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