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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| April 16, 2012 |
Promises Made in BaptismNurturing Faith One of the things I like about baptisms is that, in addition to the parents making a vow, the congregation does too. The congregation promises that they will love and support this new child and play a special role in her instruction in the faith. It reminds me that we, as a church, take faith formation seriously. |
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| April 23, 2012 |
Telling The Stories Of Sunday SchoolSupporting Volunteers Leaders of Sunday School need to share and tell the good stories of what is happening when they gather. We can choose to tell the stories of frustration and failure or the stories of how God is powerfully moving. We have an opportunity to set what becomes the prevailing narrative of Sunday School in our church. |
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| April 30, 2012 |
A Case Against PerfectionNurturing Faith Our worship services would not be as good if we did not allow our members to learn as they do things. We want to let many people use their gifts – including children and teens – and we want to support them so they do well. That also means that sometimes worship will be less than perfect. |
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| May 5, 2012 |
The Bible in Sixty-six VersesTeaching I came across this really interesting blog post called the “Bible in 66 Verses” on the Lutheran Forum. The author, Sarah Wilson, selected a verse from each book of the Bible that summarizes that book’s content. How could you use this idea? |
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| May 21, 2012 |
God's Faithfulness, Graduation and BlanketsNurturing Faith May is the time for graduations from college and high school. This Sunday during the morning worship we recognized our high school graduates. We asked them to come forward and stand around the baptismal font. We talked to them about God’s faithfulness and here is what was said... |
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| May 29, 2012 |
Shared LessonsBeing a Sunday school teacher involves many skills. From knowing the lesson and the kids in your class, to keeping an eye on the time to make sure you have enough time for snacks. There’s a lot to manage. |
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| June 18, 2012 |
Living As A Follower Of GodNurturing Faith Living out our Christian faith in the world still isn’t easy. We are left wondering if our response to culture, our job, or our family is appropriate as a follower of Christ. It is easy for us to let our kids and teens think that we have it all together, with lists of things to do and with quick answers to complex questions but lives are much more complicated than that. |
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| July 2, 2012 |
Children’s Music That Will Last A LifetimeTeaching Sandra McCracken has recorded a new children’s album with songs that are appropriate for children without dumbing down the theology or the music. The songs have melodies that kids will remember and enjoy singing. |
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| July 9, 2012 |
Moving OnOrganizing After writing for the network for over a year, this is my last post as a guide for the Sunday School network. This has been a great opportunity to articulate some of the things a church educator like me thinks about on a weekly basis. Being a guide on the Network has helped me examine the work that I do and think about it in relationship to the whole CRCNA. |
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| July 16, 2012 |
Who is in Your Cloud?Sunday School You might have a slew of new music, books, and photos waiting out there in the cloud for you to access and enjoy... but who are the people in your cloud that will cheer you on and inspire you in ministry this season? |
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| July 24, 2012 |
5 Ways to Beat the Heat at VBSSunday School, Organizing, Supporting Volunteers Depending on where you live, your VBS program is likely to be somewhere between VERY HOT and UNBEARABLY HOT. Kids and leaders need relief from the heat. Try these ideas to keep everyone cool(er), and happier too. |
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| August 7, 2012 |
2 Questions to ConsiderNow that you’ve had a little break from regular programing, think back on what stands out about last season. Consider sending out two questions this week to all of your leaders/teachers and parents... ....... Consider sending out a two question survey this week to all of your leaders/teachers and parents |
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| August 21, 2012 |
Is Teacher/Leader Orientation Essential?Supporting Volunteers As a busy ministry season kicks off, it’s tempting to skip the face-to-face time with our team. After all, we have bright leaders. We have a slick system for passing out supplies. We’ve chosen material that is easy to use. Why not just pass out the leader’s guide and send everyone off with a smile and a pat on the back? |
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| September 4, 2012 |
What is Your Name?Nurturing Faith, Teaching Calling kids by name sends them the message that they aren’t just one of the crowd, but are known and valued individually (not only by you, but also by God). Use these easy ideas to get to know the kids in your group. |
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| September 11, 2012 |
Teaching Kids with Visual ImpairmentsTeaching In Sunday school, we want to create an environment where everybody belongs and everybody learns and grows together. What does that mean for kids with visual impairments? Check out these helpful ideas from Sister Barbara Cline, the Director of the Office of Faith Formation for the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids. |
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| September 13, 2012 |
Tell The Story, Live The Story ConferenceCurriculum, Organizing, Supporting Volunteers, Teaching Come hear what churches are doing to help parents raise kids of faith, to include children with AD/HD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, and to welcome children to the Lord’s Supper. Workshops like Missional Kids’ Ministry, Holidays and Holy Days, and Arts Camp Outreach will give you fresh ideas for special seasons and connecting with community. |
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| October 2, 2012 |
Creating a "No-Bully Zone"Nurturing Faith, Supporting Volunteers, Teaching Bullying. Just say the word, and most people have a story to tell. So what can you do to ensure that bullying doesn’t happen on your watch? Here are some pointers gathered from organizations that have studied the issue of bullying and its effect on kids: |
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| October 9, 2012 |
Time for a CheckupTeaching It’s been a few weeks now since Sunday school began. You’re getting to know the kids and getting comfortable with the curriculum. Now is just the right time to pause and consider what’s going well, and what could go better . . . |
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| October 16, 2012 |
Celebrating SuccessSupporting Volunteers Volunteers are BUSY—it’s getting harder and harder to get everyone together for training and encouragement. Brian Bierenga, the Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator at Brookside CRC uses weekly email to encourage his youth team. His formula is simple . . . |
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| October 23, 2012 |
What A Great Idea!I’m on a mission to connect with children’s ministry directors, Sunday school coordinators, and teachers to see and hear what God is doing in their midst. I’m hoping to highlight a new idea or best practice each week. Here is a fun one that's easy to implement at any time of the year. . . |
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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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