KidsInC tonight

Well, it didn't go as planned, but it was great! (Isn't that always the way?) We just found out that one of our 1st graders has juvenile diabetes, and her sister (a 4th grader) is in KidsInC. Many of the kids had questions, so I pulled off this great school guide from the juvenile diabetes research foundation. It has a complete series of lesson plans, and we worked through bits and pieces of them tonight while they ate pizza (usually we have table talk topics during this time). This took longer than our usual eating time, but it was well worth it to dispel any myths. One great section of the curriculum involves how to treat people with diabetes (like a friend!) and has some role playing exercises.

Then we played a life sized board game that walked the kids through the journey of Christ to the cross. Basically, it consisted of pieces of colored paper and a few props. Kids threw a giant die and moved (in groups) the number of spaces. When they landed on a plain piece of paper, they each just had to put one foot on the square or they had to go back to the beginning (the Jerusalem City Gate). If they landed on a pink paper, they had to follow the directions on the paper (go ahead 3 spaces, for example). Finally, if they landed on one of the place spaces (the temple, the upper room, Garden of Gethsemane, the Sanhedrin place, Pilate's place, Golgotha, and the tomb) they had to answer a question about the life of Christ. If they got it correct, they continued. If they missed it, the team had to stay on that place space until they answered a question correctly. The team to reach the tomb first and answer a series of questions wins.

The kids had a blast, and it actually took almost an hour to play! So we didn't get to do our tenebrae service, but one of the parents brought homemade hot cross buns, and they decorated them with icing crosses and read the last words of Christ, so though not as solemn, it worked.

KidsInC Lent

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!