Use an overhead projector to make a “command center” with computer and lots of nobs and dials. Could use a small classroom divider or a refrigerator box. The picture could be projected on a large sheet of newsprint or bulletin board cover paper. Then surround the entire thing with blinking Christmas tree lights or the new Rope lights….To make a rocket ship – use a skinny cardboard box and make Rocket decorations – add fins from cardboard….maybe there is even some kind Of tube like water heaters come in that you could use for that…..find a sound effects Cd or cassette or record (know I’m dating myself here) and have “rocket blasts, steam blasts, etc.” At regular intervals.
Possibly resource would be children’s coloring books, etc. Could also use fluorescent paints And light area with a black light – great for background “space”NFlohr5948@verizon.net
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2) Lifesaver Crosses
Preheat an oven to 250. Place aluminum foil on a cookie sheet. On the foil lay the lifesavers out to make a cross shape. Then carefully plave in the oven for 1-2 minutes. the candies will melt together. Remove from oven. In the top you may insert a plastic straw piece to make a hole. Leave the straw in until completely cooled. Place a string through hole to make a necklace or a decoration. (May leave string out and just eat for a snack.) we make these as well as wreath shapes and candy cane shapes for our Christmas tree. Children love them. In His love, ~Melissa in GA
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3) Different views
If you work with people, it doesn't take long to realize there are many different viewpoints! Personally, I feel it is wonderful to have a source such as this to exchange ideas. Some churches have very limited budgets, and some workers have very little time! I direct a volunteer based ministry, and our best volunteers are very busy people. Keep up the good work! Keep sharing what God has blessed you with. Feel no shame in asking for advice or ideas!
I teach adults at church, but I read your website to keep informed. God bless each of you!
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4) Western VBS
In answer to request of Western VBS ideas here are a few that I remember doing. Find a coloring page of a simple cow face and other farm animals. Copy by overhead projector or other method onto large pieces of cardboard and cut them out. Attach the cow face to a 3' board and then attach the board to a sawhorse. We made many of these for decorations and used 5 of the faces for a timed cow roping contest-using hoola hoops as the ropes. Of course we had some bales of hay for decorating but be prepared for the mess. One game was to find something(I don't remember what) in a hay stack.We asked the congregation to lend us any old items they had and from that decorated one room as a general store, one as a cookhouse (snack station), one station was under a big tarp outside. One craft was decorating vests made from paper bags , one was stamping on plain cotton triangle bandanas cut from fabric. We didn't worry about fraying edges. One was a sheriff badge, one was a hot mat made by pressing thick twine in a spiral shape onto a thick piece of cardboard covered in thick tacky glue. The hot mat was only about 3" diameter. The final craft was the salvation bracelet of colored beads on strips of real leather. Everyone dressed in western clothes and we used a big metal triangle to signal time to move stations. It was one of my favorite VBS. Have Fun
Jan
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Breaking the Da Vinci Code: Answers to the Questions Everyone's Asking
Many who have read the New York Times bestseller The Da Vinci Code have questions that arise from seven codes-expressed or implied-in Dan Brown's book. In "Breaking the Da Vinci Code: Answers to the Questions Everyone's Asking", Darrell Bock, Ph.D., responds to the novelist's claims using central ancient texts and answers the following questions:
Who was Mary Magdalene? Was Jesus Married? Would Jesus Being Single be Un-Jewish? Do the So-Called Secret Gnostic Gospels Help Us Understand Jesus? What Is the Remaining Relevance of The Da Vinci Code?
Darrell Bock's research uncovers the origins of these codes by focusing on the 325 years immediately following the birth of Christ, for the claims of The Da Vinci Code rise or fall on the basis of things emerging from this period. Breaking the Da Vinci Code, now available in trade paper, distinguishes fictitious entertainment from historical elements of the Christian faith. For by seeing these differences, one can break the Da Vinci code.
Hi Sarah, re: Christmas in July - Last year at a summer camp we used this for our lessons w/the children, ages 3-10. Our focus was on how the events we celebrate at Christmas each year lead to the events we celebrate each year at Easter. For most of the children, and even some of the parents, the connectedness of the two events ( why did Jesus have to be born as a human, etc) had not been clear. Be sure to teach the children how the two events are related so they grasp the fullness of the gospel message. Ruth in ME
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6) Aussie Christmas
Why not do an "Australian Christmas" - after all we celebrate Christmas in summer every year down here. (We do Christmas in July as well, so we can experience a winter Christmas!) Just type in "Aussie Christmas" into Google or your web browser and there'll be heaps of ideas. Good luck! -Sharon New South Wales, Australia
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7) Wrong Products for Kids?
Hi there Thanks so much for your news letter , I am a new Sunday School super intendant and I seriously need some help / advice. I need to know where to access information of the latest up to date "problems" children are being exposed to ; in this I mean where would I find info on the wront type of toys
(eg action heroes , computer games , dvds etc so that I may do some research on them before I tackle this area with the children .- our sunday school is from the age group of 5 to 13. Some of our children are exposed to a lot of " evil" and I need to be able to talk to them with conviction. Can you help? Thanks Rene your colleague / servant in Christ EO&E René Brandt
--from SSTN: Rene' it is great that you want to protect the children in your ministry from evil. However, I would recommend you concentrate on teaching the Word of God to your kids, then as you discover the personalities of the children in your ministry and the things which interest them, good and evil, address those particular issues as they arise.
Just a reminder: When God saves us, he also changes us into his likeness. The Holy Spirit has promised to guide us and convict us of evil as we grow up in him. This is why it is SO IMPORTANT to teach kids God's Word.
I used this book for our childrens program last Christmas and it was amazing. One of the songs we sang was "Mary Did You Know" at the point the little lamb realizes who the baby is. I used a narrator and the children acted it out. What a special message it brought to our congregation, and our children.. Good luck. Gods Blessings to you! CB from Ebenezer Lutheran, Catawba NC.
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9) Summer session ideas
Hi Mary,
Are you familiar with the Heritage Builders Family Devotional Books. Each book has 12 lessons so they would work well for a 3 month summer period. Each lesson usuaally has 2 - 3 segments to it including a hands on activity, and bible verse application. As they are family devotional books they can be used for a range of ages. This summer as our church has a number of preschoolers and our older children remain in the service our the summer, we are planning to use the Heritage Builders for Preschoolers book.(don't remember the exact title). I don't have the book with me right now but you could probably google, "Heritage Builders" and you would find the information.
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