https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Sat, 20 Apr 2024 06:21:33 +0000 Mon, 30 Jul 2018 19:01:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/toy-story-how-we-used-lego-summer-childrens Summertime is a wonderful annual break in the routine of the school year, so for summer children’s ministry lessons I usually do something a little different. Since we use people who have not taught during the preceding year, I plan lessons that don’t require additional training. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/toy-story-how-we-used-lego-summer-childrens Mon, 30 Jul 2018 19:01:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/children-worship/reminder-kids-come-church-baggage-too This week in Sunday School was one of those weeks. I ended up leading the singing when I wasn’t expecting to because the regular leader didn’t show up — and neither did one of the classroom teachers so I also covered her class. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/children-worship/reminder-kids-come-church-baggage-too Tue, 04 Apr 2017 20:22:12 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/children-worship/jenga-towers-connect-generations A couple of years ago, our congregation remodeled and built an addition on to our church. After using the new space for four weeks, parents noticed that sometimes they couldn’t find their 4th to 6th-grade boys. After the adults had spent time talking over coffee, they would be looking f Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/children-worship/jenga-towers-connect-generations Thu, 09 Feb 2017 13:47:16 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/blessing-reminding-us-gods-story In June I heard two of the women from the group Rain for Roots sing at the Children’s Spirituality Conference. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/blessing-reminding-us-gods-story Mon, 01 Aug 2016 16:23:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/sunday-school-thing-past “Only 50% of the kids in my church come to Sunday School. What do I do?”    Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/sunday-school-thing-past Thu, 07 Apr 2016 00:59:10 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/moving After writing for the Network for over a year, this is my last post as a guide for the Sunday School Network. For most of that year I have posted something new each week and that has sometimes been a real challenge! Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/moving Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:01:55 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/teaching/childrens-music-will-last-lifetime Sandra McCracken has recorded a new children’s album Big Stories for Little Ones with a few other women artists who also have young children. They call themselves Rain for Roots. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/teaching/childrens-music-will-last-lifetime Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:21:03 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/nurturing-faith/living-follower-god This spring I heard Gary Schmidt speak at the Festival of Faith and Writing at Calvin College. He told the story of Naaman and Elisha. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/nurturing-faith/living-follower-god Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:05:54 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/nurturing-faith/gods-faithfulness-graduation May is the time for graduations from college and high school. In my church this week we recognized our high school graduates during morning worship. We asked them to come forward and stand around the baptismal font. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/nurturing-faith/gods-faithfulness-graduation Mon, 21 May 2012 19:25:50 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/teaching/bible-sixty-six-verses 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. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/teaching/bible-sixty-six-verses Sat, 05 May 2012 22:06:22 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/nurturing-faith/case-against-perfection Sunday evening we had a guest preacher. This evening the sound system was run by a fourteen-year-old boy, a member of the congregation. We often have teens run the sound system and, while this particular boy is one of the younger ones doing it, he usually does a fine job. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/nurturing-faith/case-against-perfection Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:41:51 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/supporting-volunteers/telling-stories-sunday Good things happen in Sunday School classrooms where kids and leaders get together to talk about God. Mark DeVries often tells people to “tell the good stories.” In his book Sustainable Youth Ministry he writes: Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/supporting-volunteers/telling-stories-sunday Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:39:13 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/nurturing-faith/promises-made-baptism Alicen, the newborn daughter of Mike and Meika, was baptized on Easter Sunday. Alicen was very cooperative even when the pastor realized that he hadn’t poured water in the baptismal font. It is always fun when a baby is brought for baptism. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/nurturing-faith/promises-made-baptism Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:08:01 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/nurturing-faith/family-faith-talk I once heard that 85% of Christian kids never hear their parents talk about their faith. Even if that number is higher than what is actually true there are a lot of families that are missing the opportunity to talk to their kids about God. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/nurturing-faith/family-faith-talk Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:30:41 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/teaching/left-overs One of my Sunday School leader volunteers came up with a great idea that I just had to share. We use the Walk With Me Preschool curriculum. Each week the children go home with a story card that includes a picture and the story that was told in Sunday school. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/teaching/left-overs Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:57:01 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/nurturing-faith/lift-high-cross Every week in our morning worship service, the children in 3rd and 4th grade bring in the Bible and light a candle in the front of church. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/nurturing-faith/lift-high-cross Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:15:03 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/supporting-volunteers/kids-faith-and-adults Sometimes, volunteers are hard to find! There are some people who are just not good working with children or don’t feel comfortable working with kids. But then there are those who are good with children and just do not have the time available to lead on a weekly basis. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/supporting-volunteers/kids-faith-and-adults Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:56:49 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/teaching/make-and-take-sunday-school Today at church a volunteer commented about how our church has “nice things” for the kids to make and take home. She said that the things that the kids take home are not immediately thrown away because they are nicer than some of the things that her kids brought home from her previous church. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/teaching/make-and-take-sunday-school Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:37:32 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/curriculum/training-moralistic-therapeutic Reading Joel Boot's recent letter to churches (also posted in this blog) made me think about what happens when church education isn’t done well. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/curriculum/training-moralistic-therapeutic Mon, 05 Mar 2012 01:46:38 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/teaching/legos-sunday-school In our church, sometimes the 9th and 10th grade  students are not always ready to engage with the Heidelberg Catechism. The answers to discussions questions are one or two words. This makes the Sunday School hour crawl by for everyone and the teacher feels like she hasn’t connected at all. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/sunday-school/teaching/legos-sunday-school Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:01:41 +0000