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SSTN # 83 - September 16, 2004


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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:


--> Teach Your Kids to F.R.O.G.

1) Does evil exist? 
2) Bible memorization?
3) Heaven?
4) Leadership help

Celebrations of the Bible: A Messianic Children's Curriculum

5) Peculiar Dinner Menu
6) Peculiar Dinner Menu
7) Cross-generational curriculum
8) Autistic Children in Sunday School

Chalk-It-Up ... Encourages creativity in kids! 

9) Ventriloquist's Skits with Children?
10) Leadership Help
11) Lessons For Preschool
12) Autistic Child
13) Autistic Child
14) Autistic Children in Sunday School


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Teach Your Kids to "F.R.O.G."

Teach your kids to "Fully Rely On God". Check out our new craft project
based on "Trust in the Lord with all your heart..." from Proverbs 3:5-6.
Learn more at:

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


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1) Does evil exist? 

This is a great example to help explain a spiritual Truth to
non-believers. <E><
 
Does evil exist?  The university professor challenged his students with
this question. Did God create everything that exists? A student bravely
replied "yes, he did!" "God created everything?"  The professor asked.
"Yes sir", the student replied. The professor answered, "If God created
everything, then God created evil since evil exists, and according to the
principal that our works define who we are then God is evil". The student
became quiet before such an answer. The professor was quite pleased with
himself and boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the
Christian faith was a myth.
 
Another student raised his hand and said, "Can I ask you a question
professor?" "Of course", replied the professor. The student stood up and
asked, "Professor, does cold exist?" "What kind of question is this?  Of
course it exists. Have you never been cold?" The students snickered at the
young man's question. The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not
exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in
reality the absence of heat. Every body or object is susceptible to study
when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter
have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (- 460 degrees F) is the total
absence of heat; all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction a that
temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe
how we feel if we have no heat.
 
The student continued. "Professor, does darkness exist?" The professor
responded, "Of course it does". The student replied, "Once again you are
wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the
absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact we can use
Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various
wavelengths of each color.  You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of
light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you
know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present.
Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what
happens when there is no light present."
 
Finally the young man asked the professor.  "Sir, does evil exist?" Now
uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course as I have already said. We
see it every day.  It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man.
It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world.
These manifestations are nothing else but evil." To this the student
replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto
itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and
cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.  God did
not create evil. Evil is not like faith, or love that exist just as does
light and heat.  Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have
God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there
is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
 
The professor sat down.


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2) Bible memorization?

Hello.   I am a Primary Sunday School teacher of a very small country
church - but more important a true Bible-Beliving - Bible-Preaching
church.  The ages of the class are between 4 and 7.  Does anyone have any
good ideas on how to make memorizing the books of the bible fun? 

Yours In Christ -
Faith -  from Ohio

--from SSTN: there are some memory games in the site at:
http://christiancrafters.com/page10.html 
also, check out the archives:
http://christiancrafters.com/archives.html 

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3) Heaven?

I am looking for material on this subject and ideas for grades 4 5 6 
Thanks penny


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4) Leadership help

This is in reference to leadership helps. I believe that you should praise
God for what you have to work with. If things are as rough as it seems the
change should not be you. It sounds more like the one who is suppose to
teach the lesson should be replaced instead of you wanting to give it up.
God needs people to teach that is going to prepare for the lesson instead
of asking someone else to get it together and bring it the morning of the
lesson. If you remain faitful then God is faithful.God does not expect us
to do it all, He only expects us to do what we can do, When we began to
start complaining about other people God wants us to pray for those people
instead of complaining about them. Prayer helps, complaining hinders. You
said that you would like to become a children's pastor. Take the lesson
that God is giving you now and run with it instead of away from it. If
everytime we feel like we are doing it all and want to quit then we are
not doing everything that we know to do. When you have done all that you
know to do, Stand and watch God do a mighty work. Let loose of the problem
and allow God to work it out.

Dail Allen

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Celebrations of the Bible: A Messianic Children's Curriculum
 
Teach your children about the Biblical festivals or feasts. Lessons include crafts,
Bible study worksheets, games, and other activities. Each holiday is
presented for Preschool (2­K), Primary (Grades 1­3), Junior (Grades 4-6),
and Children's Worship - Special Services.

Find it in the Christian Education section of our Bookstore at:

http://www.christiancrafters.com/bookstore_christianed.html 



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5) Peculiar Dinner Menu

I did a Yahoo search using "mystery menu" in quotes and came up with this
site.  I participated in one of these about 25 years ago (OUCH! It hurts
to say that.)  It was a lot of fun. 
www.geocities.com/NapaValley/Vineyard/2091/mystery_dinner.html 

I also remember a special number performed by a very talented soloist and
pianist.  Since the song had been performed in our church on a number of
occasions, the "joke" worked perfectly.  But if the group is unfamiliar
with the song, I suppose the joke could be a "dud".  The pianist began a
long and flourishing introduction to the first line "I Have No Song to
Sing..."   The soloist sang only that line then stopped and they both left
the stage.  IT was a hoot.  The complete first line of the song goes "I
have no song to sing, but that of Christ my King...."  Well, anyway, it
was cute then.  Just an idea....
 
Have fun,
 
Terri
Praise Fellowship Church
Downingtown, PA


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6) Peculiar Dinner Menu

Hi, I can't totally help , but I can send your in the right direction.
I've saw this idea on a youth ministry web site a couple of years ago. I'm
doing Children's Ministry now so I don't recall which site it was. you
might go to YouthSpecialties.com and put in a request on their bulletin
board.

Linda in Edmonds

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7) Cross-generational curriculum

lois keffer has a series called "sunday
school specials", published by group. isbn 1-55945-177-7. i believer there
are 4 books. excellent!

--from SSTN: you may find them in our Bookstore-Christian Education
section at:  http://www.christiancrafters.com/bookstore.html 


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8) Autistic Children in Sunday School

I haven't had an autistic child in Sunday School, but I did teach a very
high-functioning autistic child in a Christian School several years ago.  
He wasn't very different from the rest of the class except for his
reaction to changes in routine.  Getting picked up late when his folks had
a flat tire really produced a lot of anxiety for him.  He needed a lot of
reassurance that they were coming for him still.  A lower-functioning
autistic child may not be as easy to reassure when something out of the
ordinary happens.  Teacher friends of mine have found that loud noises,
too much visual stimulation (walls covered with posters, etc) can be
triggers that 'set off' some autistic children.  Each one is a little
different- just like "normal" children.  Her parents should have some
specific information to give you.  Since she's 10, she's probably familiar
with many of the school-like aspects of Sunday School.  She may or may not
interact with the teacher or classmates, she may or may not need lots of
feedback/reassurance concerning her actions.  The movie "Rainman" was a
good example of a low-functioning autistic (remember the fit concerning
the watching Jeopardy routine), but a bad example of how to help one. 
Contact any special education teacher in your community that you can
find.  I'm not sure that following addresses are 'activated' correctly so
that you can click & go from this msg.  You may have to manually type them
into your address bar.  This link connects to other links about autism
that may be helpful. http://www.autism-resources.com   This link has a
good FAQ section for an easily digested overview about autism and what you
can expect.  http://www.publichealthdegree.com/resources/autism

I hope this helps you in your quest to minister God's love to a special
young lady!
Margaret in SE Ohio

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Chalk-It-Up ... Encourages creativity in kids! 

Have fellowship fun with 22 Awesome Outdoor Games Kids Draw With Chalk.
Fun and wholesome activities for parties, icebreakers, and friendship
building! Use them at church, school, youth groups, or for family-time
get-togethers! Comes with a recipe to make your own chalk, and 
directions to make some unique game accessories. 
Includes games for older and younger kids (K-5th grade)!
Get two sample games and learn more at:

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



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9) Ventriloquist's Skits with Children?

Christian Crafters:                                       
 
During this year I have been inspired to practice ventriloquism to use in
S. S./Jr. Church/ AWANA, possibly.  I am 86 years old, but in good health;
been teaching Bible for many years; play guitar; sing solos, etc.  My need
is to obtain Bible-based skits for a ventriloquist to use with children,
and instructions about procedure.
 
Will appreciate any help you may be able to provide, any materials you
have available, any advice you can give, or where I may be able to satisfy
these needs.
 
Thank you.
Bob Cooper
West Grove, PA

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10) Leadership Help

This is in response to Rachel Onions -
 
Rachel, I applaud all your hard work in your church.  Unfortunately I do
not have any suggestions.  I run into the same thing when it comes to
making our VBS crafts.  If others do not help, they do not understand (or
maybe want to understand) how much time and energy is involved in what you
do.  Our VBS leader is as one of your leaders (that only wants things
handed to her the Sunday that she is going to use the material.)  Our
church is about a congregation of 250 active members and we had trouble
getting 10 people who would commit themselves for 5 nights (2 1/2 hours a
night).  The most frustrating thing I find is when people say they will
help and then when you approach them they don't have time.  What is most
frustrating is our leader is the worst offender of all.  I certainly can
understand your situation.  My only advice to you is to keep asking
people, I by-passed the leader, and ask people on my own  (she really
didn't care as she said she was to busy) and maybe you can find some
others that will help you.  The problem today is people are involved in to
many things and unfortunately the chuch takes a back seat.  Keep praying
about it.  What makes it worth while to me is to have some child come up
to me and tell me they really liked what they made, or else they remind me
of something that they made the year before, and they still have it at
home.  This it what makes it all worth while.  Our minister always says,
we can't save the whole world, only one person at a time.  So if you thing
about it, maybe if you only affected one persons life then your work is
worthwhile.  God Bless.
 
Karlene Helman
khelman@superpa,net


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11) Lessons For Preschool

>We would like to teach the 3 to 4 year olds a lesson,
>have crafts and games. I would appreciate any ideas on format and
>materials.We have very limited resources.

for $4 per quarter you can purchase a teachers manual that includes all
these things and more.  You can download a sample. www.upci.org/wap.  The
3's are included in the toddler and 4's are in the kindergarten materiel.
 
Teresa

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12) Autistic Child

Yes, my daughter is Autistic.  She has Aspbergers and is high functioning.
The class work is hard for her.  I would say to do the book idea, but let
her know what is expected of her.  My daughter is 10yrs old as well, and
for sometime now, we have had her in a younger class as a helper, due to
the struggles she has with reading and writing.  But, each child is
different, and it may be helpful to have a buddy system to help her with
the class too.

Good luck
Kristin Ebey


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13) Autistic Child

I had a moderately autistic boy in my RE class (5th grade) for two years.
It was a challenge. This boy was a chatterbox; and, like many kids with an
autistic spectrum disorder, tended to fixate on certain subjects
(unfortunately, NOT faith formation topics!)  and wanted to discuss them
endlessly.  He was also a very "touchy-feely" kid and quite strong...he
was always wanting to hug me and kiss me (to the point of
inappropriateness, as he got older).  He was very sweet, but his little
quirks tended to be a bit disruptive; and my class time is SO limited. 
The other kids were nice to him, but obviously uncomfortable with all his
bear - hugging and touching.
 
Also, he had medical issues and food allergies.
 
I finally had to ask his mother to accompany him to class, so that I
didn't spend all of my time dealing only with him.  She was OK with that,
but he liked my class so much that she decided to keep him there the next
year.  Now, bear in mind that this boy was already in SIXTH grade when he
started in my class (fifth grade), and older than the rest of the kids.  I
was not certain he should remain in my class for a second year, but my
D.R.E. asked me to take him again as his mother had personally requested
my class.  When he entered eighth grade, he moved to the sixth grade RE
class, but his mom no longer wanted to accompany him.  I met with the
D.R.E. and the sixth grade teacher to discuss the situation.  The boy had
come to (one-day) VBS alone that summer, and it was a disaster. 
He refused to interact with the other children, insisted on staying glued
to my side, and repeatedly kissed me inappropriately and in such a way
that I couldn't break free; and it was terribly embarassing for everyone. 
It fell to me to make sure that he didn't eat anything he was allergic to,
and I began to feel terribly put upon and a bit consumed by caring for
him.  The sixth grade teacher was a little worried about dealing with
him.  We decided to ask that his mother continue to accompany him to
class, and she elected to teach him at home instead.
 
Now, I myself have a 7-year old son with Asperger's Syndrome (an autistic
spectrum disorder).  He's fairly high-functioning and doesn't have medical
issues, but every year I speak to his RE teacher and offer to accompany
him to class if the need arises.  So far he's done really well on his own.
 
I would begin by speaking to the little girl's parent(s).  Every child
with disabilities has different needs, and every family has different
methods of meeting those needs.  Ask the mom/dad if they would be willing
to accompany their daughter to class, if need be.  Ask about medical
issues and food allergies/sensitivities.  Find out if there are sensory
issues involved, and/or if this girl requires a "fidget toy" (something my
son often uses to keep him still during quiet time at school).  You will
get the best info directly from the parents!
 
Best wishes.  I truly believe that these children are very special in
God's sight, and require very special teachers.
 
Heidi/NY  <(((><


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14) Autistic Children in Sunday School

> Has anyone out there had a child who is autistic in Sunday School?

Dear Nancy,
Teaching a child with autism can be both extremely challenging and
rewarding.  I pray you will experience both, not just the challenge.
It is always a good idea to start off understanding as much as possible
about the "disability".  Whilst reading printed material on autism is
great, there are such wide variations with each child, that you are
probably best to just rely on the books for general global information.
I have found it useful to arrange to spend time at the family home
finding out first hand how that child functions in a secure environment
first, before they venture into a strange one.  Ask the parents lots of
questions that will give you specific clues about handling that child.

I have found a common trait amongst the eight I have taught, that no
matter how high functioning they are, and how well integrated they are,
they have all at times needed their security to escape to when things
overwhelmed them.  You need to find out her security habit.  For some it
is rubbing a sensory object like a piece of sheep fleece or satin fabric
or hair, whilst others may cover their face, make loud noises to block
out what is stressing them, rock backwards and forwards, twist hands or
object very close to their face, or so on.  The list is quite endless.
Many people try to prevent the children from retreating like that, but
it does not help the child.  When they are stressing out, they need a
release.  What you and your team need to try to do is minimise how weird
it seems.  Find a way to make it socially acceptable or at least less
obvious.  For example, the sensory object can be pinned inside the
child's pocket and they can be taught to put their hand in their pocket
to relieve their stress - that way most of the other children won't
notice a thing.

One of the important things to manage is the other children's acceptance
of her.  Many children are very accepting and loving.  Some are
unfortunately influenced by fearful parents in a negative way.  Others
are just plain curious and do not intend to be rude, but can sometimes
be if their questions are not well handled.
Here in Australia, some children with autism are aided in communication
using Macatron.  I don't know if you use it over there, it is basically
a set of little cards with pictures on them to give the child visual
clues to what you are saying. (You can probably even make your own over
time)   Others may use sign language, and others would be extremely
offended if you used either with them.  Find out from her parents or
school teachers or other professionals involved with her about her
specific needs and level of functioning.

It is really important that you keep all of your team up to date with
any new developments or solutions to issues etc..

If the child is likely to be extremely noticeably different, it is
usually better to prepare the children ahead of time, but if there is no
discernable difference, don't draw attention to her - just treat her
like any other.
They require a great deal of patience and loads of repetition about
things that they don't relate to.  If anything doesn't make sense to
them and fit into their little world, they will refuse to do it.  They
are usually very strong willed, and can therefore be disruptive and time
consuming.

Above all, remember she was made in the image of God too, just like you
were.  She is a pearl hiding away in the oyster, just waiting for her
true value, beauty and worth to be revealed.  But open the oyster gently
or you may damage the pearl within.
I pray God will richly bless you all as you bring blessing to one
another.  Remember that God does not ask you to do anything that He
doesn't equip you for.

There are many more thing I could write about, but I suggest it is
worthwhile for you to find out some things first hand.

Hope you all have a great time together.
Love from your sister in Christ,
Julie Sanders
Salvation Army Ringwood
Australia.


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