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Welcome to THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER'S NETWORK
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there am I with them." -- Jesus
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SSTN # 40 - March 26, 2003
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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:
--> Egg-shaped Easter Story Cards
1) Wyoming Mission Trip
2) Confused...what to do?
3) Recipes in a jar - AbbaGail?
4) Super Sleuth Saturday
5) Beatitudes
--> Armor of God Playing Cube
6) Super Sleuth Saturday
7) Children in Adult Worship Services
8) Caveman debate
9) Books of the Bible?
10) Children's time?
--> NEW-LIFE PUPPETS
11) Replenish the Earth
12) Teen Class?
13) Palm Sunday Song
14) Evolution
15) Also Burned Out
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Easter Story Cards
Ten Egg-shaped cards that tell the Easter Story - When the card patterns
are cut, colored and assembled, players can play Easter Egg Scramble and
learn the Easter Story! Reproducible so your whole class can make a set!
In the Curriculum section:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html
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1) Wyoming Mission Trip
Hi, sounds like a great adventure.
A few years ago, my husband and I traveled accross country on vacation.
We actually camped out for the most part. My suggestions to you and the
lesssons I learned are:
Lesson # 1 -- Less is more -- Don't overload the wagons, you are not going
to the wilderness.
Lesson # 2 -- Begin checking gas station prices when the guage is a little
less than half. If you wait until you HAVE to get gas, it tends to be the
highest price place.
Lesson # 3 -- Plastic tarps and bungee cords are invaluable for everything
from wind breaks to sun screens to separate rooms.
Suggestions -- buy or borrow walkie talkies (there are many, many areas
that do not support cells) A walkie talkie in each vehicle will provide
abiltity to communicate with each other for auto breaks and bathroom
breaks.
Pack some snack food and drinks to save money (but not so much that you
have to keep getting ice) A large 2 liter bottle filled with water and
frozen serves a dual purpose of keeping other drinks cold and providing
cold water. Don't forget the paper cups, plates, napkins.
What you already know, pray, plan, pray, plan and when all is said and
done, pray some more.
Dawn
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2) Confused...
I have also struggled with this problem. I would suggest that you pull
back, disengage yourself from the church some and sit back and try to look
at the congregation and the programs that are being offered and decide
which of these things you truly feel you would miss, and where you are
getting the most comfort, support, or inspiration from. That is what I
have done, as well as looking at other congregations in the area to see if
one fits our needs better. god bless you in your search and don't give
up. There is a place for everyone.
Penny, Buffalo
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3) Recipes in a jar - AbbaGail?
I was searching through tthe archives for some recipe ideas for my Junior
Sunday School class & children's church, and found a post about recipes in
a
jar. But when I e-mailed the lady , it was rejected by the server.
The post :
(AbbaGail has some special recipes she would like to share with the
network.If you are interested in receiving them, you can email her. Her address is
in the letter below.)
I 'd love to send you them all!
AbbaGail
P.S. KIDS love to help make these, too!
If AbbaGail of InaweofGod@hotmail.com
is still out there, I would love to have these recipes.
Thanks,
MaryM
Lamar Co.TX
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4) Super Sleuth Saturday
Have you thought about using the story of the spies of Israel spying out
the Promised Land? I had my preschool class find hidden pieces of
artificial fruit after learning the story and they really loved it. My
older class (K - 6) also loves it anytime I hide the puzzle pieces and
they have to find them and put the puzzle together. I took a poster,
glued it onto posterboard and then cut it into large pieces. Toye from
Alberta
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5) Beatitudes
I just finished teaching the Beautitudes to my K - 6 in January. We spent
one day on each Beatitude discussing in detail what each one means and how
it applies to our lives today. We did a craft for each one (for example;
for those who mourn, we made cards to give to the children in the
hospital). At the end, we spent one day reviewing all and each child
made a poster showing all of the beatitudes. Hope that helps, Toye from
Alberta
--from SSTN: "WWJS Gospel Catchers" contain the Beatitudes:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html
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Armor of God Playing Cube
Kids can make it and take it home. A great memory tool!
Only $3.00 to download and print out as many as you need!
Go to the following webpage to get the free lesson and to learn more:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/game_armor.html
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6) Super Sleuth Saturday
Hi this is concerning the Super Sleuth Saturday question that appeared in
the newsletter recently. A website:
http://www.kidssundayschool.com/activity2/activity01.htm is totally
devoted to Bible detective questions, answers, and printable Bible Buck
rewards. You might want to start your search there. Also
http://www.vbsstuff.com has an idea board, and one of the topics on it is
Detective ideas for Vacation Bible School, maybe you will find something
useful there.
Hope this helps.
Sarah
California
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7) Children in Adult Worship Services?
Does anyone have suggestions for ideas on incorporating children in adult
worship services? In addition to regular morning Sunday School classes
for every age group during first worship hour, we also have classes for
Nursery through grade 3 during the second worship hour plus Children's
Church once a month. We are beginning evening worship later this month
and all children will be in the adult service. We plan to have a "cry"
room nearby in case a child becomes too unruly and must be taken there by
the parent or guardian. We need ideas that will help us to better include
and involve the children in the worship service. For the morning worship
services, we prepare special bulletins for children in grades 4 and 5 that
contain materials to coincide with the adult sermon to better enable the
children to understand.
I tried to search the archives and saw lots of discussions on Children's
Church, but not so much on this subject.
Thanks very much for any help you have to enable us to better teach and
reach our children,
Jean R., Maryland
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8) Caveman debate
- Reply to: Evolution - March 11th 2003
This statement was made: "In regard to 'cavemen,' it is widely accepted
among Christian and non-Christian scientists that cavemen existed
thousands of years before Adam and Eve... Cavemen were not a part of God's
"special creation" of humans. Adam and Eve came much later."
This is my reply: Please read Genesis 1 & 2 (Genesis 1:31-2:2 NKJV) "Then
God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good. So the
evening and the morning were the sixth day." (meaning all he made was
created within the six days - man included 1:26-27) chapter 2 "Thus the
heaven and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the
seventh day God ended his work which he had done, and he rested." There
is no room for cavemen to exist for thousands of years before Adam, when
there was only 5 Days before Adam. The Bible clearly says that. Keep
focused on what the Bible says and not what man says. -S.K.T.
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9) Books of the Bible?
I just recently started teaching Sunday School. I am getting ready to
start a lesson on the Books of the Bible and would like to know any ideas,
crafts that would make this lesson one to remember. Thank
you. Roxana
--from SSTN: check the games section and the archives too. ;o))
http://www.ChristianCrafters.Com
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10) Children's time?
I have been teaching the nursery at our church since November, and am now
looking at helping out once a month during the kids time in church, ie as
in
preparing and doing an object lesson with the children 10 and under. I
would
love to do something with my class of two and three year olds...any
suggestions? Would be great if there was a song that could go with it!
One of my kidlets fave songs is There is no end to God's love, so that
would
be a great idea for an object lesson but I am drawing a blank. Any and
all
suggestions most welcome.
Shan in Canada
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NEW-LIFE PUPPET patterns
When assembled, New Life Puppets turn inside out to change from a tadpole
to a frog, or a caterpillar to a butterfly. They're easy-to-make and
children will learn about becoming new creatures in Christ! Get a free
puppet skit too!
In our Curriculum section:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html
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11) Replenish the Earth
Please forgive me for jumping into this discussion.
I'm not the type who normally debates about the Bible,
but this hit me just right...
The word "replenish" which is used in Genesis 1:28 of
the King James Version is translated as "fill" in the
New King James Version, the New American Standard, the
New International Version, and The Amplified Bible, as
well as in other versions such as The Message, The New
Living Translation, The English Standard Version, and
The Contemporary English Version.
Strong's states the following about the Hebrew word
which is translated as "replenish" in the KJV...
4390 male' maw-lay' or malae (Esth. 7:5) {maw-
law'}; a primitive root, to fill or (intransitively)
be full of, in a wide application (literally and
figuratively):--accomplish, confirm, + consecrate, be
at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be,
become, X draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set,
tale), (over-)flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves,
together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space,
take a (hand-)full, + have wholly.
(http://www.sacrednamebible.com/kjvstrongs/CONHEB438.htm#S4390)
Yes, Strong's does state "replenish" but when the KJV
was written 400 years ago, is it possible that the
word did not mean the same thing it does today?
Cheryl - Tennessee
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12) Teen Class?
i just started teaching our teen class and i need help with crafts for my
class ages12-16. any help or ideas for sites would greatly be
appreciated. i need some ideas to help them not be bored but to help them
realize they can have fun learning about GOD AND JESUS and learning from
the word of GOD. misty from south knoxville
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13) Palm Sunday Song
A few years ago I put these words to the tune of the theme from Barney.
Verse 1:
I love Jesus, Jesus love me
He died on the cross at Calvary.
He was sealed in a tomb and arose in three days.
Glory Hallelujah Jesus saves.
Verse 2:
God is Father. Jesus is Lord.
There's nothing on Earth to be adored.
You don't need any money to give God praise.
Glory Hallelujah Jesus saves.
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14) Evolution
Re. SSTN # 33 - March 11, 2003 Evolution
This is a personal plea NOT to get into evolution/science issues with
Sunday
School children. As a scientist, this is the reason I left a church and
the
demonination in which I grew up. Why do you believe the way you do? Most
likely it is from deep personal experience, years of Bible study, and
growing faith. Could you explain these things in one book? Would you
give
any credence to a book written by a Hindu on why Christianity is
"impossible"? Although scientific thought is an entirely different thing,
many paradigms of science are built through years of experience,
experiment,
and an understanding of the way different pieces of information fit
together. There is also no way to establish or refute evolution in one
book
or even several.
The creation science movement fails the first critical test of science:
"Is
there anything that could be discovered that would change your mind about
this issue?" If the answer is "no", then you are not conducting science,
you are looking to strengthen a religious belief. I suggest that you ask
yourself that question: Is there anything that science has to offer that
will change your mind? If the answer is no, then you are defending a
religious belief and not critically, objectively examining scientific
evidence.
The attitude that scientists are dumb and "covering up" things is so
offensive to me and many other people. I know in my heart that God is not
"tricking" me by placing evidence in the world to suggest evolution, but I
also know that I do not have to reconcile this with my religious beliefs.
When Christians draw a "line in the sand" over evolution, it benefits no
one. Early Christians drew this line over whether the sun was in the
middle
of the solar system (isn't it obvious that since God made the world that
it is the center of the universe?), and all who saw evidence otherwise were
not
welcome in the church.
As a SS teacher, all I have to tell my SS children (admittedly, I teach
3rd
grade) is that God created the world. When my own children have asked me
about creation, I tell them that God created the world, I see clear
evidence
for evolution, and as humans we will never fully understand the mysteries
of God and we have to learn to live with things we cannot fully reconcile.
The
best I can do is to understand that the creation story, like all others,
are written in ways that are timeless and as understandable to those 1000s of
years ago as today. Although I am a former creationist and daughter of an
avid creation scientist, for me to deny what I experience as an earth
scientist is as foolish as me denying my experience with gravity, and any
argument over it is just as foolish.
I realize that this is a long email and I am sure I will be bombarded with
complaints, but mine is a voice that is not often heard in churches -
people
like me just drift away. Before you bring the creation/evolution debate
into your SS or youth group, please prayerfully consider the necessity of
doing so.
Jami Nettles
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15) Also Burned Out:
I won't begin to tell you what you should do. Only you
and God know what you need to do. Sometimes, we as
Christians, take on a little more than necessary. He
doesn't call us to do all ministries. However, we each
have special gifts to use. You have to decide what
that gift or gifts is. I've been in the same place
you're in and still visit it sometimes. This lifestyle
can be discouraging at times. But, you must not quit.
Php 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus. God sometimes causes
us to feel alone, so we'll turn to him for help
instead of the people around us. I've been learning
this through my own life experiences. Through
adversity we receive the greatest lessons that we can
learn. Unfortunately, we don't always see what God is
teaching us right away it sometimes takes a while for
us to understand it. I would recommend that you start
seeking God's help in these situations, and you'll see
an answer very soon. Let him know that you need help,
and he'll send you some. He'll even send you the
finances to support your ministry if you just ask him
too! If you can just reach one teen boy, it's worth
all the work. God works like dominoes. You get one
saved, and then he gets another saved. It just keeps
going until there isn't one left. I would tell you to
be encourage. Even though no one sees what you're
doing, God knows! He's the only one that counts. :) If
you need someone to talk to, you can e-mail me here.
joyful_kristin3@hotmail.com I hope this comforts you
and encourages you. You're not alone. We all get
discouraged. It's what we choose to do that makes us
stand out from the rest.
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