Here's a comic strip link...I think it came up when I was looking for images of sheep and I happened to like the one that came up that day but I have no idea which one it was...Have fun with it.
http://www.agnusday.org/comics.html
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Craft book
As far as crafts go, I'm big on giving kids alot of room to create. Sometimes limits and problems to solve actually draw more creativity out of kids than complete unguided freedom. Besides time, space, and materials for growing creativity and fine art skills, I'm also big on letting them do things and make things that tie into all the subject areas, not just Bible. (I once found a great science/craft book for making insects but haven't seen it lately to give you the name. I think it was at Brighton Library in the Children's craft section) I'm not big on coloring sheets, throw away crafts.
That being said, Crafts From Your Favorite Bible Stories by Kathy Ross [the Millbrook Press, 2000] is a craft book with activities that are especially clever. I borrowed it yesterday at Rundel and brought it home. Very clever stuff!
Kathy Ross has written some great seasonal craft books, too! The way I understand it, she was (or may still be) a preschool teacher so many of her books work well with 3-5's.
That being said, Crafts From Your Favorite Bible Stories by Kathy Ross [the Millbrook Press, 2000] is a craft book with activities that are especially clever. I borrowed it yesterday at Rundel and brought it home. Very clever stuff!
Kathy Ross has written some great seasonal craft books, too! The way I understand it, she was (or may still be) a preschool teacher so many of her books work well with 3-5's.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
An unexpected discussion about Halloween
I told my 22 yr old son that he'd be among friends at Artisan because most of you tend to send your blog comments between 10 pm and 1 am (he laughed!) It's ok with me, it means I have email at 6 am! So I'm posting this late!
My husband, my 16 year old daughter, and I are in the car. My daughter says she's invited to her friend's Halloween party, reminding me that I haven't given her an answer yet. Then one of us uses the words "holiday" and "Halloween" in the same sentence. I probably said something like "Halloween is [name of beloved person]'s favorite holiday."
George says, "Halloween isn't a holiday."
Jenny and I look at each other.
I say, "It's on the calendar. It's a holiday. It's not a bank holiday but it's a holiday."
Jenny says, "Dad, it's a holiday."
"It's not a holiday," he says. "Halloween isn't a holiday. . ."
How is it that in 26 years and 5 kids we've talked about Halloween, but we've never had this particular discussion?
George and I rarely, if ever, fight. We differ on almost everything, but I don't think we've ever really had a knock-down-drag-out-fight. Some people will tell you that fighting and making up is healthy but we're so different that our energy is better spent talking about the things we agree on. And we've managed to stay both happy and married.
So, I offer to look it up Halloween on the Internet to see if it's really a holiday. [The Internet - the final word! LOL!] Search "Halloween Holiday?" (without the question mark, then with the question mark). I ask you. Is there any doubt in your mind that most people consider Halloween a holiday? But here's the clincher.
Wikepedia says, "The word holiday has. . . different meanings in English-speaking countries. [Aha!] Based on the English words "holy" and "day", holidays originally represented special days of the Christian Church calendar. The word has evolved in general usage to mean any special day."
[Precisely what I was thinking! I couldn't have said it better. But there's more...]
"In Canada and the United States, a holiday is a day set aside by a nation or culture (in some cases, multiple nations and cultures) typically for "celebration" but sometimes for some other kind of special culture-wide (or national) observation or activity. A holiday can also be a special day on which schools and/or offices are closed, such as Labor Day."
[Ok, it's a national/multinational/cultural celebration. Schools celebrate but they're not closed. It's not a bank holiday. . .]
My husband, my 16 year old daughter, and I are in the car. My daughter says she's invited to her friend's Halloween party, reminding me that I haven't given her an answer yet. Then one of us uses the words "holiday" and "Halloween" in the same sentence. I probably said something like "Halloween is [name of beloved person]'s favorite holiday."
George says, "Halloween isn't a holiday."
Jenny and I look at each other.
I say, "It's on the calendar. It's a holiday. It's not a bank holiday but it's a holiday."
Jenny says, "Dad, it's a holiday."
"It's not a holiday," he says. "Halloween isn't a holiday. . ."
How is it that in 26 years and 5 kids we've talked about Halloween, but we've never had this particular discussion?
George and I rarely, if ever, fight. We differ on almost everything, but I don't think we've ever really had a knock-down-drag-out-fight. Some people will tell you that fighting and making up is healthy but we're so different that our energy is better spent talking about the things we agree on. And we've managed to stay both happy and married.
So, I offer to look it up Halloween on the Internet to see if it's really a holiday. [The Internet - the final word! LOL!] Search "Halloween Holiday?" (without the question mark, then with the question mark). I ask you. Is there any doubt in your mind that most people consider Halloween a holiday? But here's the clincher.
Wikepedia says, "The word holiday has. . . different meanings in English-speaking countries. [Aha!] Based on the English words "holy" and "day", holidays originally represented special days of the Christian Church calendar. The word has evolved in general usage to mean any special day."
[Precisely what I was thinking! I couldn't have said it better. But there's more...]
"In Canada and the United States, a holiday is a day set aside by a nation or culture (in some cases, multiple nations and cultures) typically for "celebration" but sometimes for some other kind of special culture-wide (or national) observation or activity. A holiday can also be a special day on which schools and/or offices are closed, such as Labor Day."
[Ok, it's a national/multinational/cultural celebration. Schools celebrate but they're not closed. It's not a bank holiday. . .]
"In most of the rest of the English-speaking world . . . a holiday is also a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation . . . the North American equivalent being 'vacation'. "
[Who do I know who takes a Halloween vacation or a Halloween break? No one. Ok, point taken... I say it's a holiday. You say it isn't. Fine!]
Whether or not you celebrate it, I still say that if it's on the calendar, it's somebody's holiday! If you're trying to decide whether or not you should celebrate, I can't tell you that. You just have to decide. If you don't have to decide, that's even better!
If you feel like you're stuck, talk to God about it. You may find Romans 14 and Colossians 2 helpful. The history of holidays is interesting, too. If you want some rich conversation, ask people why they celebrate this day and not that one or why they celebrate something the way they do. :)
And if you want to get really confused, hang out at our house!
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
just alittle far out
One side of this blog is just personal opinion like this one which in no way reflects on Artisan or its leadership. That's my disclaimer...I've actually considered blogging this for weeks but I have to say it isn't the first thing I wanted new readers to find...
Thinking about Young Children in Worship, there are elements that I really like about it and elements that we've tried to incorporate as we've included kids in worship. I believe it was originally based on more liturgical services to give children a taste of "grown up" worship and grow in them the memories and understandings that they need in order for the liturgical service to be meaningful to them. (Non-liturgical churches also use Young Children in Worship and love it.)
Someday I would love to see a very simple adult service designed like YCIW with offering at the beginning- what we bring to God, worship music, story (God's Word as primary and only speaker without anyone talking about it), wonder questions, opportunity to interact with the story/time for personal meditation and creative response, communion meal and that's it!
It runs a bit contrary to the fact that over the years we've consistantly chosen to be part of contemporary protestant worship communities (though we investigated other options). Thinking about this has given me a new appreciation for catholic and orthodox practice. I also realize that using that form of worship consistantly could put Protestant ministers out of work but pastors don't just become pastors so they can teach/talk on Sundays, do they?
... I haven't stretched your thinking too much lately. :-)
I'm going to play with posting about that beloved controversial holiday Halloween...
Thinking about Young Children in Worship, there are elements that I really like about it and elements that we've tried to incorporate as we've included kids in worship. I believe it was originally based on more liturgical services to give children a taste of "grown up" worship and grow in them the memories and understandings that they need in order for the liturgical service to be meaningful to them. (Non-liturgical churches also use Young Children in Worship and love it.)
Someday I would love to see a very simple adult service designed like YCIW with offering at the beginning- what we bring to God, worship music, story (God's Word as primary and only speaker without anyone talking about it), wonder questions, opportunity to interact with the story/time for personal meditation and creative response, communion meal and that's it!
It runs a bit contrary to the fact that over the years we've consistantly chosen to be part of contemporary protestant worship communities (though we investigated other options). Thinking about this has given me a new appreciation for catholic and orthodox practice. I also realize that using that form of worship consistantly could put Protestant ministers out of work but pastors don't just become pastors so they can teach/talk on Sundays, do they?
... I haven't stretched your thinking too much lately. :-)
I'm going to play with posting about that beloved controversial holiday Halloween...
Check this out!
Jadedcm said I can send you his way. He's blogging at jadedcm.blogspot.com/
Take a look at "Child-like Church" posted Oct 12. 2005 and check out their techno Sunday school "Connection Zone !!!!!" posted Sept. 27, 2005.
And there's more!
Take a look at "Child-like Church" posted Oct 12. 2005 and check out their techno Sunday school "Connection Zone !!!!!" posted Sept. 27, 2005.
And there's more!
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