So for snack on Pentecost, looking for inspiration I did my usual response after praying for inspiration... yep googled! Found a host of cakes with strawberries on top... nope so came up with the idea of making icing people with candles behind. So we can use candles for "birthday" and also for flames of Pentecost. In the end I used Jelly babies (just being lazy) but actually it's not easy threading jelly babies onto candles and even hard to get off. Sorry the photos aren't better quality. Cake went down very well, I used it to reinforce the story saying that what looked like tongues of fire were above the peoples heads, and then we sang happy birthday to the church. Then I said and can you remember what else the people heard on Pentecost... wind lets make some wind and blow the candles out (big mistake, I didn't much want the cake after a bunch of preschoolers had blown and spat on it, but would do again most probably). I could have taught the children happy birthday in another language to reinforce that concept too, but only so much time... Play exploration option also included a party, as it was a celebration of the church's birthday and that's how we celebrate birthdays. I had anticipated this being the favoured activity, sometimes we are so wrong... This was in fact the favourite, a simple replica of the church (well a bit of it, at least) made for the size of playmobile (I favour wooden less realistic toys generally but feel on occasion these can be used very effectively e.g. to highlight the diversity of the church and the playmobil people also includes wheel chairs etc.)Pews were mad out of jenga bricks. I placed the church alongside a doll's house and presented on the floor on a large green mat. I felt it was important that the church was not viewed in isolation but placed in a "community" I am SO pleased I did this as it gave opportunities to discuss community issues, at first all the dolls were in the church and they were not playing with the house. I was able to use that to comment "Are the people going to stay in the church all the time?" and guide conversation and consequently play to if they did that the people would not be doing as Jesus had asked. We they had people going to dinner at the house, homeless people being taken to the hospital and fights being stopped by offers of lunch (if only it were that simple, maybe it is?). Some of this was spontaineous some prompted, I would always recommend starting form where the child/ren are playing and following their lead, resist temptation to over take play as it is likely to become a teaching session rather than exploration and individual conclusions. The use of "wondering questions" can even have its place in play... "I wonder what would happen if the people never left church?" "I wonder what this man who has no home could do?" "I wonder who lives in this house?" Where possible observe and only intervene or guide if you feel you can do so sensitively without taking over or stifling exploration. I recorded a short piece of worship music onto a talking point to play in the church and this was utilised a lot particularly by the boys... I think I had the refrain of "Jesus you are all I need" in head for about 24 hours because of hearing off this so much.I will attempt to use the church more often in sessions to highlight the application more fully.
Children’s ministry areas naturally become one of the most important and strategic factors in designing a church building. The intentionality of creating a space to reach and raise the next generation is crucial in the planning. Safety and...
The Oaks Fellowship, was looking for a diagnostic evaluation and design solutions to their facility problems.
Reverb Church in St. Augustine, FL is dedicated to exploring community outreach opportunities and was in need of a facility that would be open throughout the week to serve as a hub for the people around them.
Photos of the Arcade located in Promiseland at Willow Creek Church. Electronic Games for 4th and 5th Graders make this space amazing!
Check out this church construction project for Church On the Move built by Churches by Daniels.
Reverb Church in St. Augustine, FL is dedicated to exploring community outreach opportunities and was in need of a facility that would be open throughout the week to serve as a hub for the people around them.
Bethlehem Church
We play a lot of Children’s Church games. We always have one or two games at the beginning of the class, and a few at the end. Why so many? We strategically do them at the beginning to help get some of the wiggles out, and to make our Children’s Church more high energy. We […]
Explore Worlds of Wow!'s 6649 photos on Flickr!
These 12 Sunday School Games are easy-prep, super fun Bible lesson games your kids will LOVE! These active classroom games and Bible lesson review games will have your kids laughing and learning in no time!
Discover the perfect playground equipment for churches. Miracle Recreation offers durable, safe, and fun solutions for all ages. Explore our options now!
Explore Worlds of Wow!'s 6649 photos on Flickr!
We created a renovated and expanded space for Waypoint that serves their ministry by putting their goals and mission first.
The free, simple way to stay connected with those who matter most.
It is with both excitement and sadness that we are deep in the throws of moving country at the moment, with the house furniture packed up & floating somewhere in the Atlantic as we answer Africa's beckoning call home! So sadly tomorrow is Katies last day at nursery. I wanted to give her dear teachers something with a bit of "colourful us" thrown in, so after buying a load of pencils and glue at Poundland, heres what we came up with .. stationary cups/ vases made out of pencils! Right now to make these you will need the following ... Wrap a hairband elastic around the tin and start inserting pencils all the way around. Then glue each one together using superglue or a suitable wood glue. Let dry and decorate as you please ... I threw in some flower pots on top to raise the vibrance a notch higher even :)
Deardesign studio focused on the properties and application of color and light, designing immersive distinctive spaces entailing with emotions.
Hi Godly Play Teachers, Welcome to our lesson for August 25, The Story of Jacob, found in Genesis 25-33,35. (The script is found in the p...
Her yıl 4 Aralık günü dünyada ve ülkemizde Madenciler Haftası olarak kutlanıyor. Madencilerimize ve madenlerimize sahip çıkmak için okul öncesi
Explore mr.mcgroovy's 574 photos on Flickr!
Looking for a few game ideas that will have the kids talking about all week? Try using a game that involves making a mess! Anyone who has ever worked with children know that messy anything is alway…
Check out these 2 fun, creative, and hands-on activities to help kids of all ages Learn the Books of the Bible. These are great for Sunday School lessons.
When you have an empty box laying around turn it into something awesome! Here are 15 cardboard creations to make for kids!
This Spring, my first and second grade students presented the musical Stone Soup! They did a really fantastic job. My son even had his first singing solo! Kid can sing! And don’t you love th…
It's tough teaching kids how to sit still and be reverent during church. I've physically carried a screaming child out of a church service more than once - and I'm the pastor's wife. Here are 4 tried and true ways to help kids make the transition from the nursery to big church without electronics!
Here are 15 high energy games to play in Sunday School.
How do you keep kids entertained during Children's Church or Sunday School? Church games! Related to the content or not, this will help your kids have fun!
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Check out these Bible games that kids will love in your Sunday school, midweek program, children's church, or even at home.
At the beginning of this school year, I was given a new position with a larger church in Berlin that is planting a new congregation in the area where I live. The new congregation has a weekly children's service as well as the original congregation, and I was asked to help both congregations implement Godly Play into their services. I was very excited about this new opportunity, because, for one thing, I needed a new challenge at this point in life and sensed that God had something new for me. Also, as a Godly Play Trainer, I consult other churches about how to implement GP, but I had never actually had the hands-on experience of doing it myself! The interesting thing about this church situation is that both congregations meet in theatres on Sunday rather than owning their own buildings. As a result, we do "church-out-of-a-box" each Sunday, where we literally set up the service, including the children's services, by unpacking boxes and rearranging furniture. (Nothing new to me, as you regular readers know from the after-school clubs.) Aside from the effort it takes to set-up each Sunday, the big drawback is that it makes it impossible to have a permanent Godly Play room. I have a team of 20 volunteers. They are gifted people who are 100% committed to the children. In many ways they are a dream team for me! I am also lucky to have a few people within the team who have professional experience with children. But here is the challenge: some of my teachers are open to Godly Play and others are skeptical that it can really work. I walk a tightrope at times of encouraging them to at least try GP, but also trying to value the way things have been done in the past. I've had a relationship with this church for years, so I had been in their children's services many times. One problem that I noticed from the get-go was that with different teachers on each week, there were no overarching rituals from Sunday to Sunday. Each children's service was very different from the week before, and the children never knew what to expect. Consequently, there were a lot of behavioural issues among the children and some burned-out teachers. As a result, our first step in introducing GP has been to implement the structure and principles: getting ready, building the circle, the story, Wondering, response time, the feast and the blessing. So as not to manipulate or force people into something, we have given the teachers the freedom to either tell the story using whatever method or manner they choose. After 4 months, here is where we stand: it's been a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. We have good days and bad days. Some are becoming more open to GP, and others are really frustrated. I keep reminding everyone that most of the time God works in processes. He can do things overnight, but most often He chooses not to. The process of Godly Play is important, because it changes us, the children, and the parents. The parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven have become very important images for us: the Kingdom of God takes time to grow and become visible. It may be two years, before we see real change, and in our instant society where we want everything quickly, that can be frustrating. However, I think it will all be worth the wait. : )
Designer Michal Staško designed a brightly colored cinema in Samorin-Cilistov, Slovakia, based on the idea of TULI beanbags being used as colorful objects that would be ideal to sit on. The cinema originally had a
As your church plans for Easter, consider using free Easter play scripts. These 3 free Easter dramas are always a hit with children of all ages.
Cardboard Stackers Isn’t it great to make wonderful play things with stuff you have around the house? Isn’t that what they used to do for toys? These cardboard stackers are both fun to make and play with afterward. What is great about today’s project is that you have an activity to do with your kids...Read More
