Ok, sorry for the 3rd post in a row, but there's a lot going on. In KidsInC (preteen ministry), we've been doing a Lenten series which came from a hodgepodge of places (books, my head, worship planning, etc). One book that has some really good ideas in it is Seasons of Faith by Abingdon Press. I don't use it exclusively but more as a springboard for ideas. It's a great building block.
We've worked on Jesus' baptism and created a "river" for them to put their feet in while we told the story. It was basically a covered wading pool, some water, pebbles, sand, and some fake rocks and plants, but they got the point, and they loved the tactile sensory stuff. We also did the temptation of Jesus, which led into some peer pressure issues, and then Jesus' healing which was nice because we incorporated some activities from the Bo's Place grief seminar and opened up some great discussion in small groups. And today was the Triumphal Entry lesson. The Seasons of Faith book has some great art projects like a mural incorporating all of these lessons and a Lenten Tree which the kids have had fun decorating.
Next week, it's the Cleansing of the Temple to the Crucifixion, and we're ending the time with our version of a Tenebrae service, which I'm very pumped about. And then the following week, we're doing our Easter celebration, and they can't wait for that.
Then we're doing our monthly service project which this time is goodie bags for the confirmands who go before Session that weekend, and then it's time for our retreat which is going to be focused on friendships.
Ok, I should probably go to sleep now, but I'm just psyched. It was a great night with soooo many kids--a little chaotic, but that's always fun!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
CW 4 and Palm Sunday
The pilot is finished, and it was a huge hit! I haven't gotten many parent surveys back yet, but the kids' surveys were all positive. In fact, the only suggestions they gave for improvement were for more stations. Yup! When we get more volunteers...though the response for volunteers for this pilot was actually very positive. Whether that will wane when this becomes a permanent fixture remains to be seen, however.
Verbal parent feedback was also positive, though there are some funny faces when I tell them that the kids will be in the service for the entire time this weekend and that there won't be any cute processionals--we'll ALL have palms in the pews. I think they'll be pleasantly surprised. Plus, the kids have worked very hard on their leadership roles for worship this weekend; we did a dry run with mics tonight, and it was outstanding. It's the first time in the church (and anywhere else I've seen for that matter) where anyone but the pastors have spoken elements of a sacrament (communion), and that is very, very cool to me. They are leading communion alongside the pastors, saying the Great Thanksgiving and prayers for the people, etc. It's very exciting, and I'm lucky to have such forward thinking and kid loving associates.
Verbal parent feedback was also positive, though there are some funny faces when I tell them that the kids will be in the service for the entire time this weekend and that there won't be any cute processionals--we'll ALL have palms in the pews. I think they'll be pleasantly surprised. Plus, the kids have worked very hard on their leadership roles for worship this weekend; we did a dry run with mics tonight, and it was outstanding. It's the first time in the church (and anywhere else I've seen for that matter) where anyone but the pastors have spoken elements of a sacrament (communion), and that is very, very cool to me. They are leading communion alongside the pastors, saying the Great Thanksgiving and prayers for the people, etc. It's very exciting, and I'm lucky to have such forward thinking and kid loving associates.
Pentecost update
So now the thought is that KidsInC, our midweek preteen program, will illustrate the different aspects of the story of Pentecost, and then we'll scan them and project them on the screen as we tell the story.
We're doing a similar thing for Sunday School this weekend. All grade levels are going to get a different "station of the cross" scripture to illustrate and then hopefully, we'll get to display them in order during Holy Week.
We're doing a similar thing for Sunday School this weekend. All grade levels are going to get a different "station of the cross" scripture to illustrate and then hopefully, we'll get to display them in order during Holy Week.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Pentecost
We're (adult ed and CFM) planning an intergenerational (well at least semi-intergenerational--the youth tend to do their own thing) SS event for Pentecost which will involve the telling of the story and then a bunch of different stations for activities including the following:
- windsocks
- kites
- bubbles
- candles
- cupcake decorating (bday of the church)
- pinwheels
Then, after they make their crafts, we're going outside and flying the kites and such (provided the weather is good). It sounds kind of boring on here because I just hit the highlights, but I think it will be a nice event, and it's cool that adult ed approached me about planning something together! Maybe we'll start breaking down some of the silos after all.
CW2,3
The last two Sundays of the CW pilot have been amazing. Our numbers were a little small last week due to spring break, but I was glad to see several visitors coming back.
What was interesting to me was comments from parents whom I haven't met before who brought their kids back because the kid "really liked it." Let me explain. These kids don't come to Sunday School, which is rotation and supposedly fun filled and action packed. [Personally, though I like rotation SS much better than popsicle stick Jesus SS, I think it lacks something, but that's an issue I can't tackle right now, and I try to supplement the lessons as much as possible.] But they come to the Children's Worship pilot--no curriculum, no "action," no puppets (puppets give me the heeby jeebies anyway), no flashy lights and mesmerization--just pure adoration and worship of God. It's simple, heartfelt, and real, and these kids want to come back for it. I'm amazed and overwhelmingly happy by that. They aren't coming back to CLPC because of what we're giving them. They're coming back because they enjoy worshiping God, and that is just...well, I don't have words for it...indescribable.
The other interesting comment I've heard is from the workers who all say that the kids are more focused and involved than they've ever seen before. Again, so cool bc it's just pure God and not a bunch of smoke and mirrors.
We've done the worship with our hearts and strength, and this weekend is soul, which I'm particularly jazzed about because a group of kids are doing an interpretive dance as the message. They choreographed much of it themselves based upon the music and lyrics, and it is enough to bring you to your knees. And we're even going to have a dance station where they can just freely dance to music. I'm a dancer, though, so it's cool to me. We tried to vary the messages for the pilot: drama, video, discussion circles, and now dance, just to give them a flavor for the many ways to praise God. And we've varied the prayer station, too, last week being rocks that the kids could write their prayers on. Note to CM workers: that was a hit. They really got into that and put them in their gardens or special places when they got home.
We're putting out a survey for the kids and parents this week, so I'll be interested in seeing what they have to say about it.
What was interesting to me was comments from parents whom I haven't met before who brought their kids back because the kid "really liked it." Let me explain. These kids don't come to Sunday School, which is rotation and supposedly fun filled and action packed. [Personally, though I like rotation SS much better than popsicle stick Jesus SS, I think it lacks something, but that's an issue I can't tackle right now, and I try to supplement the lessons as much as possible.] But they come to the Children's Worship pilot--no curriculum, no "action," no puppets (puppets give me the heeby jeebies anyway), no flashy lights and mesmerization--just pure adoration and worship of God. It's simple, heartfelt, and real, and these kids want to come back for it. I'm amazed and overwhelmingly happy by that. They aren't coming back to CLPC because of what we're giving them. They're coming back because they enjoy worshiping God, and that is just...well, I don't have words for it...indescribable.
The other interesting comment I've heard is from the workers who all say that the kids are more focused and involved than they've ever seen before. Again, so cool bc it's just pure God and not a bunch of smoke and mirrors.
We've done the worship with our hearts and strength, and this weekend is soul, which I'm particularly jazzed about because a group of kids are doing an interpretive dance as the message. They choreographed much of it themselves based upon the music and lyrics, and it is enough to bring you to your knees. And we're even going to have a dance station where they can just freely dance to music. I'm a dancer, though, so it's cool to me. We tried to vary the messages for the pilot: drama, video, discussion circles, and now dance, just to give them a flavor for the many ways to praise God. And we've varied the prayer station, too, last week being rocks that the kids could write their prayers on. Note to CM workers: that was a hit. They really got into that and put them in their gardens or special places when they got home.
We're putting out a survey for the kids and parents this week, so I'll be interested in seeing what they have to say about it.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Think God!
Worship Pilot week 1 went well. The theme was "Think God! Worshiping God with your Mind." We had a few technical difficulties at the beginning, but they were soon resolved.
From my perspective, it seemed that the kids were very engaged, particularly because we kept them moving with sign language and movements for many of the creeds and songs. Plus, the more emergent part of the service was very well received. The message for the day was in the form of a drama, and Exalt (the kids' worship team) presented it beautifully.
One of the adult helpers shared her thoughts:
"I was in the break out prayer room with the children. I told the children to write a letter to Jesus either thanking him for everything or telling him a problem or concern they have or anything they want to tell Jesus.
I wasn't trying to read theirs but a couple of the children shared with me. They were so touching I almost cried. One little first grader was writing her letter and wrote to Jesus that she wanted him to take care of her cousin in heaven that had died. Then below that she drew a picture of a tomb with a little boy inside with Jesus holding the little boy and above it was the cross and below the tomb was grass and flowers. But the cross was very large and prominent over the little boy's grave.
Another little girl wrote a long note to Jesus very detailed but I did not read it but below it she drew a large cross and in it she drew Jesus with his hands and feet nailed to the cross and above it she wrote. He died for Me! Then around the cross was a couple of angels. Anyways she spent a long time with lots of detail and I thought it was such a great picture and depicted what Christ did for her and us."
I wasn't trying to read theirs but a couple of the children shared with me. They were so touching I almost cried. One little first grader was writing her letter and wrote to Jesus that she wanted him to take care of her cousin in heaven that had died. Then below that she drew a picture of a tomb with a little boy inside with Jesus holding the little boy and above it was the cross and below the tomb was grass and flowers. But the cross was very large and prominent over the little boy's grave.
Another little girl wrote a long note to Jesus very detailed but I did not read it but below it she drew a large cross and in it she drew Jesus with his hands and feet nailed to the cross and above it she wrote. He died for Me! Then around the cross was a couple of angels. Anyways she spent a long time with lots of detail and I thought it was such a great picture and depicted what Christ did for her and us."
We also had a station with heaps of different types of Bibles from comic book style to a standard NIV. Here's what a volunteer had to say:
"What I liked about Sunday was the reading room. I went in there to see how the kids were doing, and several of them asked me to read a story out of the Bible. They would be looking at all the different versions and pick a story and then I would read it. They would all sit around me (almost cuddle up to me) while I read. It was really nice. And, it was several of them, not just a few and not just my son (I don't even think he asked me to)."
All in all, it didn't go exactly as I had in my head-- a seamless, polished service. I had different plans for music (songs with visual images of nature and unbelievable crosses that the executive assistant put together), but the music department had plans for a large chunk of kids being gone to sing in the main service so to compromise, we had the kids come worship and then sing in our service. The music was very choral/ecclesiastical, but it worked, and it showed another form of leadership through singing in a choir. And that's when I was reminded: this was His service--let go. And I did, and it was amazing.
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