Advant

Yesterday we talked about the churches calendar and how long each section is. Next we talked about the advent candles that are on the alter. For our craft we made a chain of paper rings. Each ring represented a Sunday until Christmas. The first ring represented hope, the next love, peace, joy, and the last ring represented Christ.

Thanksgiving

For thanksgiving Sunday we talked about what we are thankful for and made candy turkeys :)

1st Sunday of Nov.

Last Sunday we made stick people bookmarks and talk about how we are made in God's image. After the lesson we had some extra time so build a giant church out of blocks and legos. It was a great time. We had two new kidos from OR :) I hope they will join us again!

Coming Up

This coming Sunday in class we will be talking about how people view God. Then we will move into a discussion about how we each view God and how we personally connect with God. We will also talk about who God is and what God is to each individual person.

Many Parts, One Body

Today in Sunday School we learned about one body and many parts. We talked about how every person is a part of Christ. We then related this to communion. They students found many other connections as well. We had started out the lesson looking at a ballpoint pen and how even if a part that did not seem significant was missing the pen did not work. The students related this to other objects and then to team sports. Later we related all of these examples back to Christ. We talked about how everyone has special talents that God has given them and that we can use our talents to help out others, thus helping out Christ and God. For our craft project we made those paper people with the brads to allow for movement. The students were quick to point out that you needed all the pieces for this project to work successfully. One of them even pointed out that each part had its own special purpose just as people have their own special talents. The class ended with an enthusiastic congo-line up for clean up.

Temptation

Tomorrow in Sunday School we will be learning about temptation. We will be reading the book "Trouble with Trolls" and have a discussion on how the trolls were tempted. After this we will be doing a short craft project that will allow the students to reflect on a time they have been tempted and what they would do if the temptation came back again. If time allows we will play a game at the end of class that will lead into a discussion about whether or not it is worth giving into temptation. I look forward to seeing you there!

Last Sunday

I hope you all had a great time at the special animal blessing service! I heard that it was amazing :) I am excited to see you all this coming Sunday. I will post more about what is going on in the coming week later. Have a great evening!

It's all about trust

This coming Sunday we are going to do a lesson on trust. To start out we have a story the youth get to participate in, followed by a discussion. We will be doing a small coloring activity for the youth to take home after the discussion. To sum it all up and to help the visual and kinesthetic learners I have a game planned. The game involves trusting a partner to lead you through an obstacle course.

Marbles Everywhere

Last Sunday School we learned about lying and how it is always best to tell the truth, even when it is hard. We did a mad lib activity, filling in a silly story. After this we used the story to talk about how Jesus and God expect us to tell the truth and that it hurts them when we do not. One of the youth shared a story about a time when they lied and why if they could do it over they would not lie. After our activity and discussion we had some extra time and played several typed of games with marbles. The youth found it very entertaining how fast the marbles would slide on the concrete floor. We played marble shoot (pushing the marbles around with a broom and seeing who could get the least on their side), we played the traditional marble game where you try to knock the marbles out of a circle drawn on the ground (or in our case, on large paper), for the last game we tried to bounce the marbles off of the carpet and into a baseball cap. This last game seemed to be the youths favorite and it involved some math.

Today in Sunday School we talked about how God gives us strength when we need it. We played a game were we blew paper cups off of a table, all the cups could be blown off easily and quickly. Then we put a rock in each cup (God's strength God puts within us) and found that the cups could not be blown off of the table. Following this we did a craft that represented God's strength to us. After this we had some extra time so blew bubbles, trying to catch them with the wand and see how many we could pile up (the record was 7!). We ended our morning playing uno :)

Deja vu

Since we did not get a change to do this lesson last Sunday I have bumped everything back a week....

In class on Sunday we will be talking about Luke 23.26-24.7 and Ephesians 6.17. The first thing we are going to do is play the "unfair trade game". This game is to show that sometimes when you trade in an item you have, you get a better item. We will be asking "how is this fair?", "what if you were on the other side of the trade?", and "why would someone be willing to take a lesser item and give you a better item?". After our game and discussing those questions we are going to make marshmallow people! We will talk about "what if..." with these marshmallow people. After we finish the discussion (and chow down if the youth wishes), we will be making salvation helmets and talk about how God protects us.

If you/your youth has a Bible and wishes to follow along with the readings while in class (for read them before class), they are welcome to bring it in! If you do not have one, do not worry, I have many extras that will be bookmarked to the appropriate story for in class use.

Last Sunday myself and one other youth spent our time coloring in "impossible coloring pages" and talking about how "Spore" is a game that God would like and how the two relate. It was a rather interesting conversation.
It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and I hope you all had the time to relax and enjoy it!

Marshmallow People and Others

In class on Sunday we will be talking about Luke 23.26-24.7 and Ephesians 6.17. The first thing we are going to do is play the "unfair trade game". This game is to show that sometimes when you trade in an item you have, you get a better item. We will be asking "how is this fair?", "what if you were on the other side of the trade?", and "why would someone be willing to take a lesser item and give you a better item?". After our game and discussing those questions we are going to make marshmallow people! We will talk about "what if..." with these marshmallow people. After we finish the discussion (and chow down if the youth wishes), we will be making salvation helmets and talk about how God protects us.

If you/your youth has a Bible and wishes to follow along with the readings while in class (for read them before class), they are welcome to bring it in! If you do not have one, do not worry, I have many extras that will be bookmarked to the appropriate story for in class use.

I hope to see you all there! If I don't then have a wonderful 4th of July :)

website clean/improvements

I received some feedback on the blog :) And I have made some additions, as well as some adjustments. At the top of the page, under the title I have added a navigation bar with some extra information/pages. Click around :) I hope you all enjoy!

Slow Day

Today in Sunday School I was alone. I took the time to visit with Rhiannon and get a sneak peak of the fun activities for tonight! I hope to see you guys there since I missed you this morning :) Below is the information about tonights events...


Our first family summer event, Mad Science Night, is this Sunday evening, 5pm to 8pm. There will be dinosaur excavations, astronomy, botany, and paper airplane races. Come and have fun, hang out, eat pizza, and celebrate summer with fun.

Are you thinking you are an adult and don't need to play? Read the article below, and then come and join us-playing games relieves stress, makes you more creative, and helps with problem solving.

See you at 5pm Sunday night!

Peace,
The CE Committee and Rhiannon Batson

The Top 10 Benefits of Play
By Marianne St. Clair

Play is extremely important for humans from birth to death. Play is not meant to be just for children. It is a form of release and connection that can tap into creativity and can allow you the chance to connect with your inner child and the inner child of others.

Play is a state of mind, but it is also a state of body, emotion, and spirit. Yes...it is something you do (playing games, swinging, playing "tag", playing with dolls), but it is also something you watch others do, and gain pleasure from simply watching. It is often described as a time when we feel most alive, yet it is something we take for granted and may forget to do. It can be entirely positive, or can be dramatic (such as acting out a thrilling or suspenseful activity). Play can be used in many ways to not only stimulate creativity but as a way to transform negative emotions. We are hardwired as adults to engage in play, and it is crucial to our vitality to spend time with play each day.

This article will address the top ten benefits of play and provide suggestions on how you can get in touch with your own creative possibilities and abilities.

For more information on this topic, download this mp3 interview with author, Marianne St. Clair.

1. Play can inspire you to think differently
"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." ~ Apple Computers

Yes, play can be wild and crazy — it can break all the rules and can crash the status quo and the hum-drum way of doing the same old thing. Walt Disney was dedicated to play, and his willingness to buck conventional wisdom changed the world of entertainment. He did not allow the criticisms of the world to get in the way of his child-like imagination. The next time you are stuck in a rut, pull out a box of crayons, modeling clay, glue, and scissors, pop in a copy of Dumbo, and invite your inner child to let loose and break free. You will be amazed at the way your thinking shifts to new worlds of discovery.

2. Playing can bring greater joy into your life
What do you think the world would be like if every human spent time each day in play? I bet just asking you this question has brought a smile to your face. Play creates laughter, joy, and a feeling of inner peace. It is almost impossible to stay stuck, angry, or frustrated when you are playing “hide and seek” or acting out the role of the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz or making mud pies while digging your feet into the sand of a big old-fashioned sandbox. Starting today, carve out 30 minutes each day to engage in some form of play, and watch your joy factor rise!

3. Play is known to reduce stress
Studies show that as humans, play is hardwired into our genetic code. As humans, we crave the need to play because it is instinctive and fundamental to human existence. With regular play, our problem-solving and adaptive abilities will be in much better shape to handle this complex world, and we are much more likely to choose healthy answers to challenging situations as they arise. The reason for this is that play teaches us how to manage or “transform” our negative emotions, and it is the foundation for sound mental, physical, and emotional health. Play can make work seem like pleasure, and aside from this, it is just plain fun! It creates laughter and freedom that can instantly reduce stress and add a feeling of relaxation to our daily living.

4. Playing on a regular basis can increase longevity
Many adults (and many children) are working from 40-60 hours per week, seeing play as a luxury that must be“ squeezed into the work week”. This view of play is sorely misguided. Being play-deprived is similar to being sleep-deprived. Our genetic code demands that we play, just as it demands that we sleep, and when we resist this primal urge, our physical, emotional and mental energies are deeply depleted.

The loss of well-being is creating physical, emotional, and mental burnout, and stress-related health problems are widespread. Infusing play into the workday can keep you emotionally balanced and can reduce stress, both of which can contribute to living healthier and longer. The next time you are feeling stressed as if you can't add one more thing to your full plate, take a break. Hit the basketball court, play hopscotch, jump rope, or play a few hands of cards. You will be adding years to your life in these precious moments.

5. Play can reduce struggle, conflict, and worry
Through the years, studies have revealed that play acts as an antidote to violent tendencies and is a powerful catalyst for positive socialization. People who avoid or have never learned to play may become lost in the world of fear, anger, and obsessive worry. Play provides us with an opportunity to choose alternatives to struggle, conflict, and worry, which are healthier and positive and fosters a sense of belonging and connection to other people.

6. Play can increase your sense of lightness
At play, we are all children. Unburdened by consciousness or self-consciousness, we are caught in the moment. Suffused with pleasure, we exult in the sheer lightness of being. Yet, as welcome and wonderful as those feelings are, play's value among adults is too often vastly underrated. It refreshes us and recharges us. It restores our optimism. It changes our perspective, stimulating creativity. It renews our ability to accomplish the work of the world.

But there is also new evidence that play does much more. It may in fact be the highest expression of our humanity, both imitating and advancing the evolutionary process. Play appears to allow our brains to exercise their very flexibility, to maintain and even perhaps renew the neural connections that embody our human potential to adapt, and to meet any possible set of environmental conditions. Play is an opening to our very being.

Children if unburdened by society's restrictions and unwritten rules, continue to show us the need for us to lighten up and BE happy. My own daughter has taught me the importance of getting on a swing and flying high in the sky to laugh and get out of any hum drum I might have been in and how transformable play is.

7. Play can stimulate the imagination, curiosity, and creativity
Research shows that play is a hands-on, minds-on learning process. It produces a deeper, more meaningful understanding of the world and its possibilities. We begin giving meaning to life through story making, and playing out various possible scenarios. As a photographer and artist, I use play as an opportunity to see the world with childlike eyes. I keep reminding myself to see and view everything as if I had never seen it before. I then begin to see things with a different and new perspective. On mornings when I get up early, I will look for the opportunities that await me such as seeing squirrels gathering their first meal of the day as the fog rests in the fields of freshly cut hay and how I imagine what it would be like to climb the tree and jump from branch to branch.

If we drive the same way to work, eat the same foods, live the same grind day in and day out, our minds begin to stagnate and we loose our zest for creativity. We are always creating our experiences and our lives, so why not have some fun and develop a thirst for curiosity like Leonardo Da Vinci; your renewed sense of imagination could be endless!

8. Playing softens the heart — as the heart becomes malleable, the risk of hypertension and depression decrease
Recently a new game was released for the computer using the dual technologies of biofeedback and computer technology. This state of the art game called The Journey to Wild Divine is the first "inner-active" computer adventure that combines ancient breathing and meditation with modern biofeedback technology for total mind-body wellness. With so many of the games today filled with toxic content, it is no wonder our youth are at risk. This game proves to be the exact opposite.

Characters within The Journey help you learn to control your body's reactions. By increasing, decreasing or synchronizing body rhythms, through various levels of breathing, relaxation, and meditation techniques, like the "Heart Breath", you will quickly learn to master the "events" and progress in the game.

Think about the focused intentional mind of a child and how quickly they can manifest something if they are able to freely think of limitless possibilities. We can learn so much by observing the messages of the children.

You literally become what you think about most. Your life becomes what you have imagined and believed in most. The world is literally your mirror, enabling you to experience in the physical plane what you hold as your truth ... until you change it.

It is so important because, as we are learning Quantum Physics and the power of what we create with our intentions, the knowledge you gain will help you enhance your personal growth and well-being. This is just one example of where you can visibly see the effects of play on your well-being.

9. Play can greatly enhance your energy levels
Life. It can be hard. We've all been there: overworked, stressed, mentally and physically burned out. Day in and day out, you feel like you've "hit the wall" — too tired to work out, dragging through the day, and continually exhausted even when you first wake up. We're overdoing it. It's just a fact of life, and we need to live with it, right? Wrong! Mental and physical exhaustion is the body's natural response to physical exertion, emotional stress, or lack of sleep.

Normally, we reach for a quick fix by drinking coffee, sugared energy drinks, or resorting to pep-up pills like ephedrine. The problem is, those stimulants provide only a temporary boost, lasting an hour at best. Worse, after they wear off, your energy levels crash, leaving you even more exhausted than before. Playing safely gives your body back the energy it needs through laughter. Doing things that bring you joy and being with other people who are having fun enables you to keep your energy levels up longer and sustain more vitality.

10. Play can provide you with an opportunity to take risks
When we are engaged in living our lives as a game and being the player, we begin to recognize the contradictions in one's(?) own risk-taking behavior, and it makes the case that accepting risk is an essential part of a full and healthy life. Play lets us experiment, explore and take risks with ideas without fearing the consequences that might happen in "real life."

For too many of us, what is considered taking a risk is sometimes nothing more than taking an easier course. Play helps us release those thoughts that are locked in the head and the heart. Play also helps us learn our way, develop curiosity, learn to think, make new choices, discover special talents, build social relationships, make things less scary, and experience new enthusiasm for life. These factors are the very basis for a happy life and are most critical to our evolution.

The wonderful thing about playing is that everyone is successful at it. Don't use playtime to test or stretch your workday. It is a time to feel good about yourself and each other — and to just have fun together. Perhaps, most important of all, play is fun. Years later, when we recall our life, it is the happy times spent playing with special people that we remember most fondly. •

© 2005 Marianne St. Clair

About the Author
Marianne St. Clair, Life Coach, is forever inspiring her clients through the Art of Play with fun and practical ways to address life's many facets such as human potential, relationships, work, money, addictions, health, sexuality and spirituality. Marianne proposes some very challenging and exciting ideas that can change the way we live forever.

Building It

This coming Sunday in class we are going to have a small competition. After our lesson we will be using various materials to each construct a building. There will be several awards at the end of class for the buildings (they are a surprise!). The building materials will include marshmallows, toothpicks, and... come on down on Sunday to find out! :) Hope to see you there

Yippee for the Sunshine

This last Sunday during class we learned a bit about what Pentecost is. After the lesson we spent our time making wind-catchers (to represent the wind that enter the room in the story we read). After finishing our art project we went outside to enjoy the sun! Some of the youth draw pictures with chalk, while others played tic-tac-toe and the dot game.

Pentecost

This Sunday we are going to talk about Pentecost. The activity for the day is making Pentecost wind catchers.

Waiting

Last Sunday we learned about waiting. We talked about how the disciples had to wait for Jesus. We then talked about things that the youth had to wait for and how did they make it easier to wait. Several of them mentioned how when they have to wait for something big they make count downs. Others mentioned that they would do something fun to distract themselves from the clock and thinking about waiting. After the lesson we made paper chains. The chains are a count down to something the youth were currently waiting for. Many of them counted down to the end of school, while a few others made a count down to their birthday.

Memorial Weekend

This Sunday there will be no Sunday School. I hope to see you all in June :)

Brave Witness

Hello everyone!

This Sunday Rhiannon Batson will be your teacher! I am very excited to have her there with you all :) She is wonderful and I know you will all have fun with her!

Rhiannon will be sharing the story "Brave Witness" with the youth. After this story she will explain the three stations the youth may explore.

The first station is a quiet zone. At this station the youth can draw and cut out stones. After they do this they will write something that people can do to help each other out on the stone. Next the youth (separately or with a partner) can build a stone wall or pathway with the stones they have made. If the youth wish they can hang their wall or pathway in the classroom, or they may take it home with them.

The second zone is a writing zone. In this zone the youth can read the worksheet "Thinking about Stephen", next they can answer the questions provided. Once finished they may share their answers with the group.

The last station is the art station. For art this Sunday the youth will be given cardboard shapes with a small hole in them. They may decorate these cutouts in any way they wish. At the end of class they may share them with the group, then take them home to be used as key chains or decorations.

Thank you Rhiannon for helping out! I greatly appreciate it :)

Don't forget that there is no Sunday School on May 29th due to Memorial Weekend. I hope you all have a weekend and I will see you again in June!

Peace be with you :)

The 1st Church and Ours

First off I would like to welcome Hannah and Peter to our Sunday School group. I found out on Sunday that they are joining the church :) Welcome you two and welcome to your dad as well!! I am so glad you have you with us!

On Sunday we talked about the 1st church and our church. The youth drew/wrote about the two churches and later used blocks to design what they thought a church could look like and what would be in the town around it. The other project that we worked on was a "helping hands" poster, once we are finished with this poster we will hang it up upstairs to share with everyone :)

The Goodwill of All

Hello! This coming Sunday in Sunday School we will be focusing on Acts 2:42-47. We will be reading a story called "The Goodwill of All".

After the story the youth can pick an activity from three different stations.

The first station is a "Rhyming" group. At this station youth will be given a rhyme that matches the story we heard during circle time. They can read it together as a group and then put movements to the words. When they are ready they may show the rest of the class what they have come up with. If they wish, they may even show the congregation the following Sunday during the service.

The second station is a writing station. Here the youth can write about what they think our church is like and what it represents. If they wish they can compare this to what the first church was like. After they have drawn or written what they like they may share it with the group.

The final station is a split art station. The one art project is called "helping hands". Here the youth will trace their hand and write or draw something that think people can do to help others. Next we will place all the hands together on a poster. The second art project is a drawing that represents the church as you see it. Youth are invited to share their art piece with the rest of class if they wish.

a side note -- next Sunday Rhiannon Batson will be teaching :) She is a great teacher and I am excited to have her as the sub for Sunday School. Thank you so much for volunteering Rhiannon!

Clay Play

Last Sunday we used clay to make things that reminded us of the way Jesus loves us or of something that makes us happy. We also did a hidden message worksheet. The worksheet said "love lives on" and the youth found it by following a number pattern that they had to fill in with certain colors.

The clay that the youth made and took home should be dry by today and they can paint it or use sharpy to color it. I hope, if they choose to do this, that they have fun :)

See you next Sunday!

Suprise Traveler

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on Luke 24:13-35. The story we will be reading is called "Surprise Traveler".

After the story youth will have the option between two station:

The first one is an art station where youth can sculpt clay figures of people traveling on a road. They can reference the story for ideas or a poster that will be hung in the classroom.

The second station will be a quiet zone. In this area youth can sit quietly and pray, read the story "on the road", and/or work on a hidden message worksheet.

Last Sunday School

Last Sunday we had a small class of myself, Connor, and Kaitlynn. We used our time to complete the secret code work sheet, draw what we thought of when we thought of Jesus' love, and we used the blocks to build a church and the surrounding city (we had a pool, a police station, several houses, and a hotel). It was a fun class and the youth really enjoyed building with the blocks.

Surprise Visitor

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on John 20:19-31.

We will start out by hearing the story "Surprise Visitor" which is based on John 20:19-31. This story is about Mary Magdalene finding Jesus' tomb empty and the disciples gathering together to discuss what they think happened. During their meeting Jesus comes to them and speaks. The story focuses on the disciple Thomas.

After the sharing of this story we will have a fun short play to act out, and if the youth wish, to present to the congregation the following Sunday.

There will also be an art station as well as a quiet prayer area for any who do not wish to participate in the play.

At the art station we will be cutting and/or tearing colored paper to make a scene that reminds us of Jesus' love or youth can make a scene from the story we heard earlier.

At the quiet prayer station the youth can try out "breath prayer" (or they may pray in any manner they wish). The youth are welcome to close their eyes or focus on one of the posters hung in that stations area. To practice "breath pray" the youth can repeat the phrase "peace be with you" as they slowly breath in and out deeply. As they breath in they can breath or think the words "peace be", then as they breath out they can breath or think the words "with you". This allows them to stead their breath and calm their bodies, as well as focus their thoughts. If this phrase does not work for them, they may come up with one that does :)

If you can not make it to Sunday School, but wish to do this lesson at home, please email me and I can send you the story!

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday was fun! There was lots of singing and sharing. The youth listened and did some fun coloring activities. After the service the youth were able to show off the sugar eggs they made and share the yummy chocolates with the rest of the congregation. It was a nice Sunday, even with the rain.

Easter Sunday

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well :)

This coming Sunday is Easter. I am every excited to see you all at church! I love spring time; all the flowers come out and the Earth feels renewed.

This Sunday during church youth in kindergarten and older are remaining in worship. There will be lots of wonderful singing and celebration. There will also be crayons and coloring/activity pages available for those youth who are interested. If you are/have a youth under kindergarten age the nursery upstairs is open for them. There is also seating near the nursery if you wish to stay close to your child/children.

After the service there will be an Easter egg hunt! The youth will be split up by age and search in different areas. This way the eggs can be more challenging to find for the olders :) If you forget your basket, don't worry! We will have some bags for you to collect your eggs in.

The youth have been working the last three Sundays on making panoramic sugar eggs and Easter chocolates. Be sure to stop by the table they are displayed on and take a look! If you find a panoramic sugar egg that you love, feel free to take it home with you. The chocolates will be located by the coffee and food, feel free to check out the wonderful designs and colors the youth used, as well as satisfy your chocolate cravings!

See you soon and peace be with you!

Chocolate

Yesterday in Sunday School we made chocolate candies! We melted some chocolate down and spooned it into the molds the youth each selected.  We made bunnies, chicks, eggs, and lambs. We even got to taste some of the finished product. It was a fun project, that we are excited to share with you on Easter Sunday :)