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1) Used VBS Materials
For Veronica in Birmingham:
We used Adventures in Odyssey for our first ever VBS, last year, and it
was a huge success. Contact me and we'd be happy to donate the VBS
material to you and your church, we're practically neighbors.
Monica - Arab, AL
Call2thelord@yahoo.com
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2) Encouragement Ideas
For the past 2 years I have directed VBS at the church I belong to. Each
night I would give the vbs teachers and helpers a gift of encouragement. I
know how challenging it can be to work a full day and then teach vbs at
night so I like to give gifts of encouragement. For example, Reisens candy
- "You are one of the "reasons" our vbs is so great! Orange - "orange you
glad you touched a child during vbs. I have baked bread and used the Bible
verse about how Jesus is the Bread of Life. Anyway, I need some new ideas
and was wondering if anyone may have any. If you can help please e-mail me
at khurley4christ@fuse.net.
God Bless,
Karla
--from SSTN: check out the "First Aid Other's Kit", in the crafts section
and type "encouragement" into the archives at:
http://www.ChristianCrafters.Com
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3) Treasures of The Nile
I have just started to teach. I try to find different ideals that learn
the kids and include a craft that will make the lesson more interesting to
them.
It would be greatly appreciated if you could share some of your ideals
with a new beginner.
Yours in Christ,
Sandra Cobb
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4) Calming Kids On Bus
I see that my thought is not a new one! But I had to share anyway. I
rode the bus to church (just for fun, my parents went too - but I wanted
to ride the bus because we sang all the way there and back!) It is one of
my favorite childhood memories! The bus was mostly children of single
moms who lived in a large apartment complex and whose moms did not attend
church. Yet we all had a blast singing together.
Another note - make sure you sing with motions! I just went to an amazing
children's ministry conference on Saturday called FaithKidz and heard a
couple of workshops by Alan Root. one of the workshops was on using
motions with songs and it was great. I put it into practice on Sunday and
our worship was the best it had ever been. The kids were so much more
into it and there were many less disruptions. And, he has a free download
on his website of a song that he wrote about the 10 commandments. The
motions aren't there, but I will email him and ask if I can post the
motions here.
He encouraged us to download the song and burn cd's of it and teach it to
every child. In a time when the 10 commandments are being ripped from our
society, this is one method we can use to get them to the kids. Like he
said in his workshop on changing your churches vision towards children's
ministry, "If you want to change a society, you go after the kids." Our
kids are being bombarded by immorality, yet we can make a difference by
bombarding them with God's love and His truth. the song can be found at:
http://www.alanroot.com/ and is called, "The Ten"
I was getting alittle discouraged about our ministry - but then I got to
go to this conference on Sat. and now I am pumped! I could go on forever
about the new ideas I learned, but I'll try to refrain from babbling!
Gwen
--from SSTN: you can also find a direct link to "The Ten" song
along with a lesson, craft and game at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/lesson_nogods.html
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The Parables of Jesus / 6-12 Week Series
Parables are "earthly stories with heavenly meanings”. This 12 week series
examines six parables that focus on "Faith", "God's Mercy", "Being
Merciful", "Obedience", "Prayer", and "Evangelism". Through the use of
hands-on Bible lessons, crafts and games, children will gain a better
understanding of these important truths. Can be incorporated into
rotation-type programs! Learn more at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html
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5) Used VBS Materials
Veronica........
I am Dea. Eric P. Jackson.
We have I think two used curriculums.
I will check at church.
Can I have an email address for you
Dea. Eric P. Jackson, SS Supt.
Greater Enon Baptist Church. Phila. PA.
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6) Crafts for Lava Lava Island VBS:
Just wanted to share with those of you who are also doing this program
some of the crafts that we will be doing in our Preschool program. The
preschool program is Coco's Island. (Coco is a monkey.)
Note: It has been my experience over the last few years that it can be
more economical and much easier to purchase craft kits from Oriental
Trading (O.T.), than it is to run all over town to gathering supplies.
Day 1-Jesus brings hope/Jesus is the light- We are making sand candles.
Day 2 - Follow Jesus Word- I decided to order the make "it your self" leis
craft kits from O.T. (Leis could be made with colored straws and
construction paper but I am not sure the kids would like scratchy paper
around their necks.)
Day 3-Jesus give us courage?/Jesus sends out the disciples- I found a cute
monkey idea in a book. = Color and paste a picture of a monkey with hi
big mouth open, to a shoe box lid. Cut out his mouth. (Should be about
3-4 wide.) Photocopy small pictures of fruit for the children to color
and cut out. Paste those to baby food jar lids. You now have a "Fruit
Frisbee Toss" game. They will be "sending out" the fruit.
Note: We are wrapping the box lids in green paper for esthetic
reasons.
Day 4- Jesus Saves us- We are having our VBS the week before 4th of July
so I decided to order the "God Bless America" wall hanging craft from
O.T. The idea is that we are fortunate to live in a free country, much
like God gave us a free life when he died on the cross.
Day 5-Jesus gives us a reason to celebrate/Treasures in Heaven-We are
going to make treasure boxes out of shoe boxes. I will spray the boxes
with primer to cover the print and then with gold. The kids can decorate
them with gems and glitter and store their precious treasures inside.
I will be meeting with the craft director of our older kids group, in
a few days and I pass along what they will be doing to you. I hope you
find this helpful! I would love to hear more ideas to pass along to our
neighboring churches.
May God richly bless your VBS's!
Sincerely,
Kara
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7) VBS budget cutting ideas:
We collected garage sale items from our church member and people in the
community. We had a huge yard sale on the front lawn of our church. We
were able to
reap many blessing from this event.
A. We raised money for crafts at VBS.
B. I wore my old VBS shirt and invite everyone to come to VBS.
C. We were shock when people from the community started bring us more
stuff to sell because they wanted to donate for a good cause. It was
awesome to have new stuff to sell nearly every hour.
D. We were able to reach out and invite many people to church that
were asking questions about the church.
E. Several of us go to know each other much better in the process of
achieving a common goal- Leading our children to Christ.
B. We decide our crafts as early as possible and make up a supplies needed
list. That list is than published in the weekly bulletin at
church. The older folks love to help this way and many give monetary
donations.
C. Recently I discovered a fantastic resource in our city. The local
preschool director told me about a program run through the city called A.
R. T. S.
All Recycled Things. We have 2 locations in our area anyone can bring in
items that they think my be usable for a craft. And anyone can come in a
take what they want for Free! The program is awesome! Currently it is
little known and many haven't heard of the concept. Maybe you have one
in your city.
Check with your local preschool teachers.
D. We also have a county run teachers workshop that provides Elision die
cut machines, laminators and a variety of other service to public school
teachers and to the public at a very minimal cost. Check with your local
Office of Education. This a great resource for butcher paper, poster
boards and sticker paper.
E. Watch the newspaper for the local craft store coupons. In our town
Michael's and Beverly's crafts have 50% of one item coupons each week.
Start early and collect the expensive items one at a time. Ask friends
and neighbors to save the coupons for you. Oh by the way these, stores do
take competitor coupons.
F. Clean out those church closets. Our church is about 50 years old and we
started cleaning out cupboards and closets this year. We found tons of
forgotten craft items that were stuck in the back of the closets. We then
took every thing that we collected and moved it to one central location.
Organized it. Then put up quick assembly shelves from Home Depot. ( We
were able to set up 8 sets of shelves in 45 minutes.) We then divided all
the supplies into Rubbermaid containers. After which we labeled the
containers and the shelves for easy replacement. We continuously collect
anything that could be used for crafts or used in a crafts. We call it the
Children's Ministries
Resource center.
The funding for the shelves and container came on good faith that
this concept would save the church money. We will not be duplicating
purchases. The goal is to help those interested in teaching, reduce their
personal expenditures. It has been a tremendous amount of effort but well
worth the long range benefits.
G. Barrow or "rent" a program from another church that is a couple of
years old. Then publish your specific needs on this website. (Our church
has a few left over crafts from last year's S.C.U.B.A. program.)
F. Last but certainly not least!! Pray!! Pray for specific things and you
will be amazed at the results!!
I hope that these ideas will be of use to those of you who are struggling.
May God richly bless the children in your community!
Sincerely,
Kara
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8) Mime Ministry
I know of a mime ministry called "White Gloves."
Harrison is the name of the
founder (forgot his first
name), I believe. They are based in Dallas, TX from
what I remember. Will write back when I remember a
little more details. Blessings, Tomi
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Fruit of the Spirit Spinner
Children will learn the Fruit of the Spirit in a fun new way. Each
characteristic is illustrated with a whimsical cartoon fruit for kids to
color, cut, and spin.
Get a lesson and learn more here:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/lesson_spirit_fruit.html
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9) Hokey Pokey Tune
--from SSTN: I received many replies to this, therefore, I'll post the one
below, unless there is more info besides the song listed in the other
replies:
You put your right foot in, you take your right foot out, put your right
foot in and shake it all about. Give your heart to Jesus and He'll turn
your life around, that's what its all about.
Left foot
arms
head
whole self
Teresa
La Marque, TX
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10) Salt & Light Song / Let the Sunshine
Have you listened to Psalty's version of "This little Light of Mine?" It
is not childish, very upbeat. We do it with blacklight puppets and it
appeals to all ages.
I have the Marcy records, I've had them since I was a small child. You can
buy them on Ebay.
------
Let the sun shine in, face it with a grin. Smilers never lose and frowners
never win.
So let the sun shine in, face it with a grin. Open up your heart and let
the sun shine in.
My mommy told me something that everyone should know. It's all about the
devil and how he hates us so. He'll get you in trouble if you let him in
the room and he'll never never leave you if your heart is filled with
gloom.
Teresa
la marque, TX
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11) Salt & Light Song
I found one at http://www.sharesong.org/worship_music.htm,
using the search for lyrics "light of the world". You can download the
sheet music, lyric sheet, and/or a MP3 file of the song.
Linda in Ohio
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12) Salt & Light Song
I use a great resource it is Sing & Shout Songs for Children’s Ministry.
It has an upbeat Salt & Light song that incorporates This Little Light of
Mine into the song also. The children in my church love the song,
preschool through 6th grade. It is available on split track CD as well as
sheet music. Jeannine
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