Resource Browser Page
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| January 15, 2010 |
Affirming DiversityTeaching A mom who adopted a baby from China tells this story. Her three-year-old was at day care when a toddler walked up to her and said, “Your eyes are different than mine.” |
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| February 27, 2010 |
ChangeOrganizing This Sunday school season held a BIG change for my little church. A change that was carefully thought out, prayed over, and discussed. A change that meant rerouting the church van and reorganizing the whole Sunday schedule. A change that required two congregational meetings, the approval of the council, and the vote of church members. It wasn't easy and it wasn't quick, but it happened: our Sunday school hour moved from Sunday evenings to Sunday mornings! If your church is considering a change, here are three things I learned that might help. |
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| June 4, 2010 |
Before You Hit The Beach . . .Organizing My vacation packing ritual always includes some household chores. I can’t stand the thought of coming home from summer paradise to face a messy house and dirty dishes. Church is no different. Before you shift gears for the summer, I suggest you start on seven little chores that will help make next season a success.
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| June 15, 2010 |
Serving with KidsNurturing Faith Something special happens when people from different generations rub elbows as they serve together. They find common ground where they hadn’t known it existed before! A sixty-year-old and seven-year-old become something more than a grandparent and child, or a Sunday school teacher and student—they become ministry partners! Stories are shared as faith is experienced and modeled, practiced and affirmed. |
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| April 1, 2009 |
Beyond BabysittingNurturing Faith If you’ve ever had to defend your budget or been asked to “do something with the kids” during a meeting planned for adults, you can probably relate to this note I received from a local children’s ministry director. I was sitting at my desk having one of those mental conversations, trying to convince parents that we’re not just babysitting their kids on Sunday morning so they can worship in peace. And I found myself asking (myself)—so, what are we doing? We’ve got one hour with kids every Sunday morning—if we aren’t babysitting, what are we hoping for out of this time? |
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| November 26, 2009 |
Co-Leader CommunicationSunday School As an arrow whizzed passed my ear--much too close for comfort--I turned to face whatever kid had broken the archery rule I had just finished explaining. Unfortunately, it wasn't a kid. It was my co-leader. The co-leader who was supposed to be helping me lead archery and keep kids safe was now giving me a shrug and a casual "oops" expression. |
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| January 23, 2010 |
Potential VolunteersOrganizing Tara might not be a teacher, but she’s a great musician—could she play the guitar for worship at the beginning of Sunday school? Kendra’s hobby is scrapbooking; she’s always at the craft store. Could she help pick up glue and glitter to keep your supply cabinets full? Sam would be a great teacher, but he travels a lot—could he be a trained substitute? |
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| December 15, 2009 |
Starting the Season-All Aboard!Organizing Getting folks on board with your church’s children’s ministry program can be a struggle. And often it’s the “Two P’s” (Pastors and Parents) that can be the toughest group to catch your passion. Although a little sweet-talking with donuts and coffee can bring some success, I’ve got a few other ideas you might want to try this fall... |
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| December 22, 2009 |
Using Art to Enrich Your LessonsNurturing Faith From Blues Clues to box office hits, video games to McDonald’s bags, our kids are encountering an explosion of eye-catching images every day. How does that affect the way they explore and express their faith? |
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| December 16, 2010 |
Welcome Home: A Christmas DevotionalSupporting Volunteers Like fireworks in July, a choir of angels—spinning and whirling, shining and twirling—burst into the sky singing, “Glory to God in the highest and peace to everyone on earth.” |
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| November 23, 2010 |
Who Will Take Your Place?Supporting Volunteers It is hard to get people out for leader’s meetings and even harder to find an hour or two of available time when everyone can meet for training. What isn’t hard is thinking of several excellent leaders at my church—leaders who I would love to see pass on their passion for ministry. I wonder what would happen if each of them would take someone under their wing to show them what they do and how they do it. |
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| January 14, 2010 |
30 Ideas for Calling, Keeping, and Celebrating VolunteersSupporting Volunteers When you recruit volunteers do you look for volunteers in new places and think outside the box? Have you ever asked current volunteers what motivates them to volunteer and used the information to develop a recruiting plan for other volunteers? Would you ever ask your current volunteers how they were recruited and whether they have any suggestions? |
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| December 31, 2009 |
Characteristics of Middle SchoolersTeaching As you teach 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, you’ll soon get to know what they’re like. But even veteran leaders find it hard to analyze and categorize this age group. One reason is that kids in middle school are in transition from childhood to adulthood. Somewhere, probably at widely different points on the developmental continuum, you’ll find each of your students taking halting lunges forward and painful slips backward. |
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| December 31, 2009 |
Characteristics of Fourth and Fifth GradersTeaching Once you get to know the children in your group, you’ll be amazed at how different they are! No two of these image-bearers are alike, that’s for sure. Still, most children in this age group are beginning to establish a sense of identity, of who they are. And some of this identity comes through joining groups of one kind or another. |
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| December 31, 2009 |
Characteristics of Kindergartners and First GradersTeaching The sight of a yellow school bus picking up her child from the corner can pull at parental heartstrings like few other things can. Going to school—either part-time or all day—marks a tremendous change in the lives of these little ones, a change that’s felt not only in the home but in the church school as well. |
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| December 31, 2009 |
Characteristics of Second and Third GradersTeaching As you prepare to lead second and third graders, remind yourself of who these delightful children are. There’s much more to be said than what is stated here and, of course, each child is unique. The best way to get to know the children is to observe them from week to week, listening to what they have to say and being their friend as well as their leader. |
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| January 13, 2010 |
Supply Closet ChecklistOrganizing, Supporting Volunteers One of the nicest things you can do for your leaders is to set up a closet (or a room or some other space) with the essential supplies they’ll need to teach. Since tracking down, collecting, and purchasing supplies can be a time-consuming and sometimes frustrating job, you may want to find a volunteer ...
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| January 15, 2010 |
Defining a Faith TraditionFaith Tradition We care about the child’s spiritual life. We don’t just care about good behavior or the right answers to our questions. We prayerfully bring children to the Savior so that they can be born again of the Spirit. We call them, through our teaching of the Word, to a living faith. |
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| November 11, 2010 |
What to Do About the Christmas ProgramOrganizing Ah, the Christmas program. The annual event guaranteed to make parents beam with pride, kids do the unpredictable, and Children’s Ministry Directors break out in a cold sweat! If you’re in that director’s chair this year, expect the unexpected! And read on to find some great tips to make this year’s program... |
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| January 23, 2010 |
Coaching Your TeamSupporting Volunteers Sports movies always have the same climax. The home team is down, but not by much. Seconds remain on the clock. The crowd is screaming in pandemonium. The coach calls a timeout and pulls the team into a huddle. It’s time for a pep talk, and the message is clear. This is our moment to shine. This is what we’ve ... |
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| March 21, 2011 |
3 Year OldsTeaching This age is a challenge for me. I plan something active, then a quiet activity, followed by something active again. Because these children are quite young I can go through many of these active/quiet sets in half an hour. Yet some days, no matter what I do, they lose interest . . . |
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| March 30, 2011 |
Supplies, Room Names, and Learning to ListenNurturing Faith, Teaching It's always fun to visit other churches and see what they do. One pastor I spoke with this week told me about something unique that his church does for 6th grade Sunday school. The group meets after the worship service and spends the whole time discussing the sermon |
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| May 16, 2011 |
Being Intentional, Being IntergenerationalNurturing Faith In Sunday School we are usually spilt up by age groups like in schools. There are good reasons for that. As we grow we can learn at age appropriate ways with our peers. But have we been using the school paradigm too much? |
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| May 1, 2011 |
At Your Baptism...Nurturing Faith I’m always looking for ways to help kids “remember” their baptism and understand what it means. So I was excited to see the latest board book from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. It’s called At Your Baptism |
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| May 9, 2011 |
Wondering Out LoudTeaching One of the wondering questions for the Parable of the Ten Virgins was "I wonder who the foolish virgins were?” A child answered, "I know, it was Jill" (another child in the class). What is the best way to respond? |
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| June 13, 2011 |
Just Like A Day At The BeachOrganizing If you’re stuck inside making plans for the next year when you’d really rather be at the beach, remember, the payoff will be there when the teachers and kids show up in a few months |
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| June 6, 2011 |
School's Out for SummerNurturing Faith Faith formation is a daily reality that doesn’t stop for any season. That’s why I’m excited about the new summer articles on the Nurture blog with great ideas for families to use this summer. |
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| June 27, 2011 |
Visual Arts -- Not Just For The RefrigeratorTeaching Sometimes I see art as something to take up some extra time. But it is much, much more than that – it could be the time we spend doing art in Sunday School has the biggest chance for a lasting impact. |
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| July 11, 2011 |
The Care And Feeding Of Sunday School TeachersSupporting Volunteers My husband and I have been leading the Sunday School program at our church for a while now. We have been really blessed by having a group of teachers who keep coming back year after year. We took a few minutes to think about what are some of the most important things for the care and feeding of Sunday School teachers... |
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| July 25, 2011 |
Countdown to KickoffOrganizing Does summer fly by at twice the speed of winter? Before long we'll be kicking off a new season of ministry. Maybe you're already ahead of the game. If not, now's the time to get everything in order for a smooth launch this fall. Here are some things to consider. |
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| August 1, 2011 |
Planning Ahead - ConferencesTeaching Wouldn't it be great if Sunday School teachers, leaders and superintendents gathered from around North America to hear speakers, learn about new materials, share good ideas and network with others who care about the same things you do - educating children, teens and adults about the Lord and how to be his disciples? It turns out that we do. |
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| August 8, 2011 |
What Are Your Expectations For Volunteers?Supporting Volunteers As church leaders we have expectations of our volunteers that often go unstated because they're just "common sense" or because that is the way it has always been and everyone knows it. But sometimes our common sense isn't the same as someone else's. |
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| August 15, 2011 |
Volunteer ScrambleSupporting Volunteers As I scramble for volunteers, I look at the church directory and ask myself “Who am I missing? Who is not an obvious choice that I ought to be thinking about?” I continue to be surprised at who God has in store for me to work with in our church education ministry. |
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| August 22, 2011 |
It's All In The TimingWhat time does your Sunday School program meet? Our Sunday School meets for an hour before church. We meet from 9:15 to 10:15 on Sunday morning with worship at 10:30. This time has its pluses and minuses. |
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| August 29, 2011 |
Another Great Resource!Teaching Here is a book I have used many times and keep returning to it when I need a new idea. Each page is packed with art ideas that can be used in working with children and teens in Sunday school. |
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| September 5, 2011 |
Can I Get Your Attention?Teaching I think the first time I saw one of them was in front of the Dominos Pizza. But now I see them all around – people standing just off the street holding signs for businesses. Once I even saw one dressed like the Statue of Liberty. The world is getting so noisy that we need to have people standing by the street to get our attention – it’s the only thing that |
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| September 12, 2011 |
3 Keys To Keeping Kids On TrackTeaching Imagine a room full of wide-eyed kids, amazed by the stories of Scripture; activity, variety, and discovery choreographed seamlessly into a lesson that captures the imagination and inspires! Consider these ideas for keeping your kids engaged and focused right from the start. |
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| September 26, 2011 |
Family DevotionsNurturing Faith When our kids were younger, we read the Bible as a family at dinnertime. At least we tried. As our kids got older that got harder. Maybe your family is like mine. I recently was asked if I had any idea what percentage of families are doing family devotions. I don’t know the answer but the question got me thinking ... |
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| October 31, 2011 |
Essential Books On Children's MinistrySupporting Volunteers The October 18, 2011 issue of the Christian Century magazine has a list of five essential books on Children’s Ministry. I think the list is a good one and it includes two Christian Reformed authors. As you look at the list, what books would you add? What other favorites of would be on the list if you had made it?
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| November 7, 2011 |
Behind the Scenes on Christmas EveFaith Tradition, Occasions and Themes Christmas Eve is about… children, costumes, choirs, carols, candles and candy canes. One more ‘c’ word. Coordinators. Behind the scenes of our Christmas Eve pageants or dramas are volunteers or staff who have their own families and personal events to plan. They may have been practicing since September, only to... |
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| May 25, 2010 |
Choosing Children's Curriculum WebinarCurriculum Considering a new curriculum for the fall? The "Choosing Children's Curriculum" webinar can help you decide which one is right for your church! |
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| August 3, 2010 |
Web Seminar: Help! I'm A Sunday School Coordinator!Organizing Coordinating Sunday school for the first time? Join this free webinar for ideas and resources to make your job easier! |
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| December 28, 2009 |
Choosing a Curriculum - A Guide for ChurchesCurriculum This helpful tool includes a checklist of features to look for in children's Bible curriculum. The questions are designed to help you find material that is theologically and educationally sound and also fits the unique personality and dynamics of your congregation. Add additional criteria that's important to your church, and use it to evaluate and discuss curriculum options with your team! |
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| August 18, 2010 |
Volunteer Job DescriptionOrganizing Use this form (from Sunday School That Really Works by Jessie Schut) as a guide to help you develop descriptions for the various volunteer roles within your Sunday school or children's ministry program. Having a description to hand to potential volunteers will help you find the right match for your ministry! |
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| January 15, 2010 |
Sunday School Budget ProposalOrganizing This budgeting worksheet, from the book Sunday School that Really Works by Jessie Schut, will make your annual request whole lot easier to calculate! |
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| January 22, 2010 |
Volunteer ProfileOrganizing Use this Volunteer Profile to place leaders in the best roles for their gifts and skills. From the book Sunday School that Really Works by Jessie Schut. Copyright 2008, all rights reserved. Used with permission. |
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| January 15, 2010 |
Sunday School Registration FormOrganizing Use this registration form, from the book Sunday School That Really Works by Jessie Schut, to keep track of important information for each child in your program. |
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| February 12, 2013 |
Developing a Vision for Sunday SchoolWhy does your Sunday school or children's ministry program exist? The answer to that question could help motivate leaders to join the ministry, parents to send thier kids out, and the church to invest in the next generation. Use the tools below to develop a vision for ministry that will help you serve with purpose and get people excited about what God is doing in your midst! |
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| January 5, 2010 |
The Association of Christian Reformed Church Educators (ACRE)Organizing The Association of Christian Reformed Educators (ACRE) is an organization made up of professional and volunteer church educators who serve congregations in the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) in children’s and adult educational ministries. Its purpose is to promote and strengthen the churches educational ministries on congregational, classical, and denominational levels by supporting, encouraging, and advocating for church educators in the CRC. |
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| December 23, 2009 |
Synodical Faith Formation CommitteeNurturing Faith Visit this website to stay up to date on the latest work of the Synodical Faith Formation Committee. Visit this site to see reports and recommendations from the committee, including resources to use in helping your church discuss the role baptism and the Lord's Supper play in forming our faith. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Walk With Me WebsiteCurriculum This website provides information and support for churches using Walk With Me--a preschool through grade eight faith nurture curriculum by Faith Alive. Walk With Me is a Reformed curriculum that takes kids on a journey through Scripture and the teachings of the church. It goes deeper every year, helping children grow in knowledge and in faith! Search the site to learn more about the scope and sequence, find answers to frequently asked questions, and download free workshops for training teachers. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Kid Connection WebsiteCurriculum This website provides information and support for churches using Kid Connection--the kindergarden through grade six large group/small group curriculum from Faith Alive. Search under Scope and Sequence to find recorded lesson tips and ideas for units and sessions.
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| January 15, 2010 |
Safety FirstOrganizing Keep kids safe by making sure you have strong abuse prevention policies in place that include careful screening of all staff members and volunteers. This page from the Safe Church Network includes
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| January 22, 2010 |
The Ways We LearnTeaching This page from the Walk With Me website includes a short summary of the many ways we learn (based on Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences). Print a copy to use as a reference when you're planning Sunday school sessions. If the curriculum offers choices and options, pick a variety of activities that span the intelligences so your session will connect with every kid in the class! |
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| January 22, 2010 |
Free Workshops and WebinarsOrganizing The Grow website provides free resources to encourage, training, and support children's ministry leaders! |
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| February 3, 2010 |
Brain RulesTeaching Check out this excellent site for 12 brain rules that could help you engage kids more fully in the Bible lessons you share! |
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| February 3, 2010 |
VBS Giving Projects from World RenewOrganizing This page is PACKED with resources that will help your kids join in the work of World Renew (formerly the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee) as they share the love and compassion of Christ with others. Your kids can join the campaign to embrace people living with HIV/AIDS, help provide clean water to kids a continent away, or make a difference in the lives of adults and children through the literacy project. |
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| February 3, 2010 |
Collecting for a CauseTeaching Did you know that nearly half of all the gifts given from the World Renew (formerly CRWRC) gift catalog are from Sunday school classes? Kids love to know that their offerings will provide a goat, a well, or a pig for someone else! |
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| February 17, 2010 |
Intergenerational LearningOrganizing If your church is exploring models for learning and growing in faith together, the Lifelong Faith website is a great place to begin. |
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| June 22, 2010 |
Signs of Wonder SongsSupporting Volunteers Signs of Wonder Songs is a ministry that teaches children and adults how to sign worship songs using conceptually correct American Sign Language. |
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| February 3, 2010 |
Meeting Wizard: Scheduling Made Easy!Organizing If you've ever sent out an email proposing more than one date for a meeting then you know how confusing it can be to keep track of responses. This easy tool allows you to propose several dates at once and creates an online graph that shows you who is available on which day. I've even used it to determine which leaders were available to serve for children's church in a given quarter. The best part—it’s FREE!
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