What's interesting on this site is the variety. Can you tell my mind is racing? I love the creative possibilities!
white boards
chalkboards
felt boards
mirrors
activity busy boards
book cases
cork boards? (if the push pins and tacks aren't a problem)
screens with hooks for dress up clothes?
pocket boards?
Let your imagination run and play, folks!
Not only are they an interesting addition to a Sunday School room or a permanent kids space but how could you use something like this in an ever-changing family worship setting either weekly or for an Immersed event (see Artisan website)? We've used tables and blankets for stations and you could still do that. But screen room dividers of varying sizes are versatile, easy to move and rearrange and have LOTS of potential.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Room Dividers and Creative Ideas
This was a fun discovery. My daughter was looking for a room divider. Scroll down near the bottom and you'll find some fun kid screens. Screens and Room Dividers .
You probably don't have a lot of money in your budgets (and there may be other sites to find). Looking at ready-made can give you ideas for things to make if you have crafty creative people in your faith community. (Adults or teens build it. Kids decorate it.)
You probably don't have a lot of money in your budgets (and there may be other sites to find). Looking at ready-made can give you ideas for things to make if you have crafty creative people in your faith community. (Adults or teens build it. Kids decorate it.)
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Artisan Worship: Kids Booklet
The web address was too long for the comment box so try clicking here: Artisan Kid's Booklet
Christy, by the way, has more avenues to explore on her blog. I don't mean to point to some and not others. I'll stop sending you folks to all these places if, when people comment, you check out their blogs. Apparently, more and more Emerging children's ministers are blogging. More networking, more encouragement, more sharing of ideas. Very nice!
:-)
Christy, by the way, has more avenues to explore on her blog. I don't mean to point to some and not others. I'll stop sending you folks to all these places if, when people comment, you check out their blogs. Apparently, more and more Emerging children's ministers are blogging. More networking, more encouragement, more sharing of ideas. Very nice!
:-)
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Puppy break!
Puppy update to break the intensity a little and some "miracles" to share, LOL! My son and I had Ellie and Nyah out to walk around 9 or 10 the other night. I usually take each of them alone. There was an event in the park. A couple nights before, when I took them each alone to walk by an event in the park they were so nervous I was really worried that 10 months of classes was serious overkill which couldn't possibly be, could it?
They weren't nervous. Yay! A couple went by with their dog on the other side of the street. Ellie and Nyah just looked and kept walking with us. Again, yay!
We had them each on a triple crown collar. When I take them alone, they don't usually pull. Together is another story. Nyah was good. Ellie was pulling. I could use the coupler but we discovered early on that for the occassional moment when they both see and want the same thing at the same time, Mom magically becomes a serious Yukon dog sled quicker than I can pull a correction and once is enough, thanks.
My son gave Ellie a quick short jerk to correct her [no response]. Second time, the plastic collar broke and given that one of Ellie's biggest thrills ever is to run, she looked back over her shoulder with this gleam in her eye as she trotted down the sidewalk and I panicked.! At the park with the pond, after an hour of running through the water, Ellie is the one who refuses to come, "Ah Mom, do we have to leave already?"
My son slowly patiently walks toward Ellie with the leash and some hotdog. Nyah and I wait. Nyah's upset and wants to round her sister up, (probably nail her) and bring her back but Nyah's still on leash. Halfway down the street Ellie turns to face us and lies down. Odd but maybe she's waiting for Nyah to come play with her. Tory gets close to her but instead of taking off away from us she runs past him back to me like we do at class and then she SITS in front of me. And she STAYS! That, my friend, is a miracle! You have no idea how wonderfully amazing that was! YAY!! (Yay for Lollypop classes, too!)
I was so grateful!!
They weren't nervous. Yay! A couple went by with their dog on the other side of the street. Ellie and Nyah just looked and kept walking with us. Again, yay!
We had them each on a triple crown collar. When I take them alone, they don't usually pull. Together is another story. Nyah was good. Ellie was pulling. I could use the coupler but we discovered early on that for the occassional moment when they both see and want the same thing at the same time, Mom magically becomes a serious Yukon dog sled quicker than I can pull a correction and once is enough, thanks.
My son gave Ellie a quick short jerk to correct her [no response]. Second time, the plastic collar broke and given that one of Ellie's biggest thrills ever is to run, she looked back over her shoulder with this gleam in her eye as she trotted down the sidewalk and I panicked.! At the park with the pond, after an hour of running through the water, Ellie is the one who refuses to come, "Ah Mom, do we have to leave already?"
My son slowly patiently walks toward Ellie with the leash and some hotdog. Nyah and I wait. Nyah's upset and wants to round her sister up, (probably nail her) and bring her back but Nyah's still on leash. Halfway down the street Ellie turns to face us and lies down. Odd but maybe she's waiting for Nyah to come play with her. Tory gets close to her but instead of taking off away from us she runs past him back to me like we do at class and then she SITS in front of me. And she STAYS! That, my friend, is a miracle! You have no idea how wonderfully amazing that was! YAY!! (Yay for Lollypop classes, too!)
I was so grateful!!
Friday, July 28, 2006
Update: More blogs to explore
Check out the children's ministry blog at Clear Lake Presbyterian . They're doing some fun stuff.
At PoMo Kidz you'll find someone exploring post-modern Children's Ministry in the great Northwest, and best of all she'll tell you about her puppy. (A vote of two makes it cool to talk about your puppies on your post-modern children's ministry blog.)
Actually Camden is the official four-legged regular at Artisan. Camden is a Shitz-zu and the kids love him! He's actually puppy size and will stay that way well into old age. Mine, on the other hand have yet to come to church. They're in the 70 pound range, now. We thought they'd stopped growing but... hmm... maybe not!
Also here at Artisan, Brian, has designed an 8 page Sunday worship activity handout/family bullitan for the very young through older readers. Nice, Brian! PUSH physical theater will handle the worship service on Sunday night. Unique family worship!
If you follow the links to the people leaving comments here, they usually list some of their favorite children's ministry blogs and links! You may find some new avenues to explore.
I linked to Daniel on the Artisan Writers' blog because he was talking about writing scripts but he also has some kid links if you scroll way down.
Enjoy! I hope you're able to network and share ideas.
At PoMo Kidz you'll find someone exploring post-modern Children's Ministry in the great Northwest, and best of all she'll tell you about her puppy. (A vote of two makes it cool to talk about your puppies on your post-modern children's ministry blog.)
Actually Camden is the official four-legged regular at Artisan. Camden is a Shitz-zu and the kids love him! He's actually puppy size and will stay that way well into old age. Mine, on the other hand have yet to come to church. They're in the 70 pound range, now. We thought they'd stopped growing but... hmm... maybe not!
Also here at Artisan, Brian, has designed an 8 page Sunday worship activity handout/family bullitan for the very young through older readers. Nice, Brian! PUSH physical theater will handle the worship service on Sunday night. Unique family worship!
If you follow the links to the people leaving comments here, they usually list some of their favorite children's ministry blogs and links! You may find some new avenues to explore.
I linked to Daniel on the Artisan Writers' blog because he was talking about writing scripts but he also has some kid links if you scroll way down.
Enjoy! I hope you're able to network and share ideas.
Decompartmentalization
[That word must be up there somewhere with antidisestablishmentarianism which used to be the longest word but probably isn't any more.]
The other reason you'll find random posts on Emerging Kids (and my current reason for not having a separate puppy blog, by the way) is the question, "how do we de-compartmentalize our lives and the lives of our kids?" How do we keep from compartmentalizing sacred and secular or is it a scripturally sound approach to life? God is the God of all that His hands have created and visible in all that He's created. He's also the God of the scriptures. I believe His hospitality extends to believer and non. He knows and cares before we ever acknowledge Him. He gave Man work when He created Adam and Eve before there were churches to work in. And the list goes on. . .
Whether we open our mouths or not, whether or not we ever drag anyone through the doors of a church building we're ambassadors wherever we walk, whatever we do.
Of course some of us just think way way too much! :-) But it would be an interesting question to prayerfully take to the scriptures.
The other reason you'll find random posts on Emerging Kids (and my current reason for not having a separate puppy blog, by the way) is the question, "how do we de-compartmentalize our lives and the lives of our kids?" How do we keep from compartmentalizing sacred and secular or is it a scripturally sound approach to life? God is the God of all that His hands have created and visible in all that He's created. He's also the God of the scriptures. I believe His hospitality extends to believer and non. He knows and cares before we ever acknowledge Him. He gave Man work when He created Adam and Eve before there were churches to work in. And the list goes on. . .
Whether we open our mouths or not, whether or not we ever drag anyone through the doors of a church building we're ambassadors wherever we walk, whatever we do.
Of course some of us just think way way too much! :-) But it would be an interesting question to prayerfully take to the scriptures.
Thanks
Why post an article about a coffee house and pick up truck accident on an Emerging Kids blog?
-some people at Artisan read this and have been building relationships there and I know they care
-sometimes life gets so predictable that we forget that we may not have tomorrow and this is personal. It could have been last Wednesday night when we and a lot of other people were sitting there
-just this week I've been close to at least three situations where people were faced with potentially life-threatening crisis and by the grace of God escaped tramatized but not physically harmed.
-Sometimes God moves in mysterious ways even when you talk about kids and coffee shops and I needed to publicly heap thanks and praise on the Living God. How's that!
Selah
Praise and thanks to the Most High God, is appropriate here. [ Praise and thanks to the Most High God, lest we forget You. ] Sometimes we forget to say thank you for the things we take for granted. Hey, if God is willing to interrupt our lives so we remember not to take Him for granted we can interrupt our lives to say thank you at opportune and inopportune times even when we're legitimately hard pressed to find something to be thankful for. When my kids were little we used to call them thank you prayers. Once you start identifying the things you have to be thankful for, it's hard to stop. That's not just an interruption, that's a LONG "interruption." [smile] One of the nicer interruptions to handle.
-some people at Artisan read this and have been building relationships there and I know they care
-sometimes life gets so predictable that we forget that we may not have tomorrow and this is personal. It could have been last Wednesday night when we and a lot of other people were sitting there
-just this week I've been close to at least three situations where people were faced with potentially life-threatening crisis and by the grace of God escaped tramatized but not physically harmed.
-Sometimes God moves in mysterious ways even when you talk about kids and coffee shops and I needed to publicly heap thanks and praise on the Living God. How's that!
Selah
Praise and thanks to the Most High God, is appropriate here. [ Praise and thanks to the Most High God, lest we forget You. ] Sometimes we forget to say thank you for the things we take for granted. Hey, if God is willing to interrupt our lives so we remember not to take Him for granted we can interrupt our lives to say thank you at opportune and inopportune times even when we're legitimately hard pressed to find something to be thankful for. When my kids were little we used to call them thank you prayers. Once you start identifying the things you have to be thankful for, it's hard to stop. That's not just an interruption, that's a LONG "interruption." [smile] One of the nicer interruptions to handle.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
sad news from the south wedge
Remember our wonderful coffee house experience last week? This was on the news this morning. Very sad. I'm sure they'd appreciate our prayers. I'd put it on the writers' blog but I don't know how often anyone reads it. I don't know how often anyone reads this, LOL!
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Mixing kids and adults at house churches
More food for thought:
Did I ever post this article ? It's a March 2004 article c. kids in House churches from House Church Blog. Whether or not you're a supporter of the House Church movement, some of you might find the links and comments worth perusing, especially if you're trying to integrate adults and children at your church.
Did I ever post this article ? It's a March 2004 article c. kids in House churches from House Church Blog. Whether or not you're a supporter of the House Church movement, some of you might find the links and comments worth perusing, especially if you're trying to integrate adults and children at your church.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
More Food for Thought
On JadedCM's blog you'll read some wrestlings about children and salvation. Here's another one.
My husband and I have these ongoing outside-the-box discussions about faith and religion (faith and religion aren't the same from our perspective) and particularly about what the scriptures actually say and we don't always agree. We're having a bit of a "discussion" that's probably relevant to children's ministers and I'd be curious to hear some post-modern perspectives, particularly in light of all the discussion about "children's spirituality". Thirty years ago I would be openning a can of snakes, here.
Understanding that different denominations have different "official" positions, that the scriptures have a lot to say, and without "wrangling about words," What does it mean to be "filled with the Holy Spirit"? How do you know when you're filled with the Holy Spirit? Do you need to know? What do you tell a child? Even as adults, we don't talk about the Spirit of God, and who He is.
If, in the words of Jesus "this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3) Need we know His spirit and what it means to be filled with the passion of God?
My husband and I have these ongoing outside-the-box discussions about faith and religion (faith and religion aren't the same from our perspective) and particularly about what the scriptures actually say and we don't always agree. We're having a bit of a "discussion" that's probably relevant to children's ministers and I'd be curious to hear some post-modern perspectives, particularly in light of all the discussion about "children's spirituality". Thirty years ago I would be openning a can of snakes, here.
Understanding that different denominations have different "official" positions, that the scriptures have a lot to say, and without "wrangling about words," What does it mean to be "filled with the Holy Spirit"? How do you know when you're filled with the Holy Spirit? Do you need to know? What do you tell a child? Even as adults, we don't talk about the Spirit of God, and who He is.
If, in the words of Jesus "this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3) Need we know His spirit and what it means to be filled with the passion of God?
Friday, July 21, 2006
Coffeehouse
Tyler, a young poet/musician/philosopher from Artisan, hosted a poetry reading last night at a coffee shop and read some of his own work. Mixture of ages but mostly 20's & 30's. No kids. I haven't been to a poetry reading in a long time. Nice job, you guys!
I got thinking about kids. It would be interesting to give kids a small close venue like that to read original poems, post titled artwork, perform original music. Add fun drinks, snacks, comfy chairs, card tables and candles. Voila! '60's and 70's revisited!
Why should grown-ups have all the fun- "deep" fun?
I got thinking about kids. It would be interesting to give kids a small close venue like that to read original poems, post titled artwork, perform original music. Add fun drinks, snacks, comfy chairs, card tables and candles. Voila! '60's and 70's revisited!
Why should grown-ups have all the fun- "deep" fun?
Thursday, July 13, 2006
More thoughts about kids and communion REVISED!!
You might find http://www.subversiveinfluence.com/wordpress/?p=782* interesting. I should probably figure out how to list the places where you're pondering kids in emerging churches. They're here. You just have to weed your way back through the archives.
*Tell me if this doesn't work. Cut and paste the address w/out the *. It worked for me. If it doesn't work for you go to Subversive Influence (brother Maynard). Try that.
*Tell me if this doesn't work. Cut and paste the address w/out the *. It worked for me. If it doesn't work for you go to Subversive Influence (brother Maynard). Try that.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
In the News: Marriage and Children in Secular Culture
This, the National Marriage Project or The State of Our Unions (Rutgers) may be worth a read for parents and those working with post-modern children (long). They referenced some of the statistics on the radio this morning from an article in USA TODAY (short). They believe that our secular culture is becoming more adult-centered and less child-centered than past generations. You can choose the long or the short of it and leave comments if you like.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Kids at Artisan (revised)
This is the place to find out more about what's happening with kids at Artisan. Lots of great stuff happening! The contact person is Brian Haak.
This is the page Lisa's referring to. (Nice!) Yes, there's a lot more info on this page. When I posted this I was looking at the e-news, yet again different. Info about that is also on the website.
This is the page Lisa's referring to. (Nice!) Yes, there's a lot more info on this page. When I posted this I was looking at the e-news, yet again different. Info about that is also on the website.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Problem solving
Ok! So this gets you interacting with the story. Next step: Problem solving. How do you quietly and nonsocially engage many ages in a Bible story such as this for 35 minutes during an adult sermon?
A Bible Story pt. 3 (cont.)
35While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus. He was the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher anymore?" [Do you think Jairus was caught up in the moment with Jesus and this woman He's healed? Do you think he's forgotten about his own daughter? Has he just been consumed with concern for his own daughter and impatient with Jesus for taking so long and for getting distracted with other needs? Do you think Jairus was really irritated with this pushing crowd of people or just happy that Jesus was slowly making his way towards his house?]
36But Jesus didn't listen to them. He told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid. Just believe." ["Afraid" and "believe" are ideas that have already been woven into this story.]
37He let only Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, follow him. [I wonder why...] 38They came to the home of the synagogue ruler. There Jesus saw a lot of confusion. People were crying and sobbing loudly. 39He went inside. [Imagine this scene. Imagine you're there. Imagine it's your home. Are there children there?] Then he said to them, "Why all this confusion and sobbing? The child is not dead. She is only sleeping."[Audacity! Pure audacity! The nerve of this man!] 40But they laughed at him. [How do you think Jairus felt when all these people laughed at the teacher he had brought to heal his daughter?]
He made them all go outside. He took only the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him. [I wonder why...] And he went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand. Then he said to her, "Talitha koum!" This means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" 42The girl was 12 years old. Right away she stood up and walked around. They were totally amazed at this. [There's a way this is almost an understatement. It's almost anti-climactic.] 43Jesus gave strict orders not to let anyone know what had happened. [I wonder why...] And he told them to give her something to eat. [Scott did a good job pointing to this yesterday. If she's going to stay alive, she's got to eat!]
It's not that God always answers the "why's" so much as I think the asking in itself forces us to take the risk of going after God in a way we wouldn't if we didn't ask. It gives God opportunity and maybe the ears of our heart are cocked to listen and hear.
36But Jesus didn't listen to them. He told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid. Just believe." ["Afraid" and "believe" are ideas that have already been woven into this story.]
37He let only Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, follow him. [I wonder why...] 38They came to the home of the synagogue ruler. There Jesus saw a lot of confusion. People were crying and sobbing loudly. 39He went inside. [Imagine this scene. Imagine you're there. Imagine it's your home. Are there children there?] Then he said to them, "Why all this confusion and sobbing? The child is not dead. She is only sleeping."[Audacity! Pure audacity! The nerve of this man!] 40But they laughed at him. [How do you think Jairus felt when all these people laughed at the teacher he had brought to heal his daughter?]
He made them all go outside. He took only the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him. [I wonder why...] And he went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand. Then he said to her, "Talitha koum!" This means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" 42The girl was 12 years old. Right away she stood up and walked around. They were totally amazed at this. [There's a way this is almost an understatement. It's almost anti-climactic.] 43Jesus gave strict orders not to let anyone know what had happened. [I wonder why...] And he told them to give her something to eat. [Scott did a good job pointing to this yesterday. If she's going to stay alive, she's got to eat!]
It's not that God always answers the "why's" so much as I think the asking in itself forces us to take the risk of going after God in a way we wouldn't if we didn't ask. It gives God opportunity and maybe the ears of our heart are cocked to listen and hear.
A Bible Story pt. 3
At whatever level you present a story from scripture it holds it's own as the Word of God and it holds together as a memorable story. It will accomplish whatever God intends it to accomplish, perhaps more so if we don't dissect it. But God gave us imaginations and intelligence and a physical body and a spirit and they all work together to His glory. And He ultimately reveals Himself through His Word and what He's created.
Now, whether you're a teacher or a parent, I'm assuming you know your children. I'm assuming that you're not just handling content but that you're attentive to the receptivity, the thinking, the interests, the experiences of the children in your care.
Let's do't again and take this story to yet another level. These levels aren't black and white, cut and dried, we're playing with this whole idea of interacting with God's stories and letting God interact with us here even without a formal "teaching" or a formal "lesson".
A Dying Girl and a Suffering Woman
[Before you go to grown up wonder questions, take one scene at a time and ask a child what they wonder about. There are no right/wrong answers to this. There may not even be right/wrong answers to their wonder questions. They may just have very personal questions with very personal answers that only God can give.]
[More grown-up wonder questions.]
[The on-going question: where were the children? A separate question: How did these encounters with Jesus affect children?]
21Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee in a boat. It landed at the other side. There a large crowd gathered around him. 22Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue ruler. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23He begged Jesus, "Please come. My little daughter is dying. Place your hands on her to heal her. Then she will live." 24So Jesus went with him. [Visualize this. Imagine yourself there. What do you see, hear, smell, taste, touch? What do you observe about Jesus? What do you observe about Jairus?]
A large group of people followed. They crowded around him. [Where are you? Are you close enough to touch Him or far away? Are you pushing or letting someone else get close?] 25A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. It had lasted for 12 years. [Have you ever known someone in this situation? Imagine their situation 2000 years ago] 26She had suffered a great deal, even though she had gone to many doctors. She had spent all the money she had. But she was getting worse, not better. [Do you know anyone like this?] 27Then she heard about Jesus. She came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes. 28She thought, "I just need to touch his clothes. Then I will be healed." [Do you know anyone like this?] 29Right away her bleeding stopped. She felt in her body that her suffering was over. [Imagine being her. Imagine being related to her or being her friend. Imagine watching her and listening to her coming home after all this is over.]
30At once Jesus knew that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd. He asked, "Who touched my clothes?" [Imagine how Jesus felt.]
31"You see the people," his disciples answered. "They are crowding against you. And you still ask, 'Who touched me?' " [What kind of attitude is this? What does this scene tell you about Jesus' disciples?]
32But Jesus kept looking around. He wanted to see who had touched him. [What does this scene tell you about Jesus?]
33Then the woman came and fell at his feet. She knew what had happened to her. She was shaking with fear. But she told him the whole truth. [What does this scene tell you about this woman?]
34He said to her, "Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace. You are free from your suffering." [How tender Jesus was ...but He's interrupted...]
Now, whether you're a teacher or a parent, I'm assuming you know your children. I'm assuming that you're not just handling content but that you're attentive to the receptivity, the thinking, the interests, the experiences of the children in your care.
Let's do't again and take this story to yet another level. These levels aren't black and white, cut and dried, we're playing with this whole idea of interacting with God's stories and letting God interact with us here even without a formal "teaching" or a formal "lesson".
A Dying Girl and a Suffering Woman
[Before you go to grown up wonder questions, take one scene at a time and ask a child what they wonder about. There are no right/wrong answers to this. There may not even be right/wrong answers to their wonder questions. They may just have very personal questions with very personal answers that only God can give.]
[More grown-up wonder questions.]
[The on-going question: where were the children? A separate question: How did these encounters with Jesus affect children?]
21Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee in a boat. It landed at the other side. There a large crowd gathered around him. 22Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue ruler. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23He begged Jesus, "Please come. My little daughter is dying. Place your hands on her to heal her. Then she will live." 24So Jesus went with him. [Visualize this. Imagine yourself there. What do you see, hear, smell, taste, touch? What do you observe about Jesus? What do you observe about Jairus?]
A large group of people followed. They crowded around him. [Where are you? Are you close enough to touch Him or far away? Are you pushing or letting someone else get close?] 25A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. It had lasted for 12 years. [Have you ever known someone in this situation? Imagine their situation 2000 years ago] 26She had suffered a great deal, even though she had gone to many doctors. She had spent all the money she had. But she was getting worse, not better. [Do you know anyone like this?] 27Then she heard about Jesus. She came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes. 28She thought, "I just need to touch his clothes. Then I will be healed." [Do you know anyone like this?] 29Right away her bleeding stopped. She felt in her body that her suffering was over. [Imagine being her. Imagine being related to her or being her friend. Imagine watching her and listening to her coming home after all this is over.]
30At once Jesus knew that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd. He asked, "Who touched my clothes?" [Imagine how Jesus felt.]
31"You see the people," his disciples answered. "They are crowding against you. And you still ask, 'Who touched me?' " [What kind of attitude is this? What does this scene tell you about Jesus' disciples?]
32But Jesus kept looking around. He wanted to see who had touched him. [What does this scene tell you about Jesus?]
33Then the woman came and fell at his feet. She knew what had happened to her. She was shaking with fear. But she told him the whole truth. [What does this scene tell you about this woman?]
34He said to her, "Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace. You are free from your suffering." [How tender Jesus was ...but He's interrupted...]
A Bible Story pt. 2
Let's take it to the next level. Still looking at Mark 5. Look at the verbs the "doing" words. The things that older children can act out or perhaps have enough experience and verbal skills to engage in some discussion. I've also bolded concepts that might or might not generate discussion with a very verbal preschool/primary-aged child. Now, if a child has had experience with serious illness himself or in his family or if he has had experience with something or someone dying, you could take this story to another level.
A Dying Girl and a Suffering Woman
21Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee in a boat. It landed at the other side. There a large crowd gathered around him. 22Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue ruler. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23He begged Jesus, "Please come. My little daughter is dying. Place your hands on her to heal her. Then she will live." 24So Jesus went with him.
A large group of people followed. They crowded around him. 25A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. It had lasted for 12 years. 26She had suffered a great deal, even though she had gone to many doctors. She had spent all the money she had. But she was getting worse, not better. 27Then she heard about Jesus. She came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes. 28She thought, "I just need to touch his clothes. Then I will be healed." 29Right away her bleeding stopped. She felt in her body that her suffering was over.
30At once Jesus knew that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd. He asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
31"You see the people," his disciples answered. "They are crowding against you. And you still ask, 'Who touched me?' "
32But Jesus kept looking around. He wanted to see who had touched him.
33Then the woman came and fell at his feet. She knew what had happened to her. She was shaking with fear. But she told him the whole truth.
34He said to her, "Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace. You are free from your suffering."
35While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus. He was the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher anymore?"
36But Jesus didn't listen to them. He told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid. Just believe."
37He let only Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, follow him. 38They came to the home of the synagogue ruler. There Jesus saw a lot of confusion. People were crying and sobbing loudly. 39He went inside. Then he said to them, "Why all this confusion and sobbing? The child is not dead. She is only sleeping." 40But they laughed at him.
He made them all go outside. He took only the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him. And he went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand. Then he said to her, "Talitha koum!" This means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" 42The girl was 12 years old. Right away she stood up and walked around. They were totally amazed at this. 43Jesus gave strict orders not to let anyone know what had happened. And he told them to give her something to eat.
A Dying Girl and a Suffering Woman
21Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee in a boat. It landed at the other side. There a large crowd gathered around him. 22Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue ruler. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23He begged Jesus, "Please come. My little daughter is dying. Place your hands on her to heal her. Then she will live." 24So Jesus went with him.
A large group of people followed. They crowded around him. 25A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. It had lasted for 12 years. 26She had suffered a great deal, even though she had gone to many doctors. She had spent all the money she had. But she was getting worse, not better. 27Then she heard about Jesus. She came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes. 28She thought, "I just need to touch his clothes. Then I will be healed." 29Right away her bleeding stopped. She felt in her body that her suffering was over.
30At once Jesus knew that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd. He asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
31"You see the people," his disciples answered. "They are crowding against you. And you still ask, 'Who touched me?' "
32But Jesus kept looking around. He wanted to see who had touched him.
33Then the woman came and fell at his feet. She knew what had happened to her. She was shaking with fear. But she told him the whole truth.
34He said to her, "Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace. You are free from your suffering."
35While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus. He was the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher anymore?"
36But Jesus didn't listen to them. He told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid. Just believe."
37He let only Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, follow him. 38They came to the home of the synagogue ruler. There Jesus saw a lot of confusion. People were crying and sobbing loudly. 39He went inside. Then he said to them, "Why all this confusion and sobbing? The child is not dead. She is only sleeping." 40But they laughed at him.
He made them all go outside. He took only the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him. And he went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand. Then he said to her, "Talitha koum!" This means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" 42The girl was 12 years old. Right away she stood up and walked around. They were totally amazed at this. 43Jesus gave strict orders not to let anyone know what had happened. And he told them to give her something to eat.
A Bible Story pt. 1
I almost diverged to a puppy story yesterday but let's try something else:
In this passage I'd say there are two stories in one Mark 5:21-43 (NIrV)
except that I find it really curious (something I've never noticed before) is that the woman has been afflicted for 12 years and the girl is 12 years old.
In this post let's highlight concrete nouns that very little children can either touch, identify a picture or have perhaps experienced and a few verbs that your two year old could probably do if you used the word. If you weren't sitting in a worship service but were doing this in a classroom you'd have the option to play with verbs and actually do them.
(concrete words)
A Dying Girl and a Suffering Woman
21Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee in a boat. It landed at the other side. There a large crowd gathered around him. 22Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue ruler. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23He begged Jesus, "Please come. My little daughter is dying. Place your hands on her to heal her. Then she will live." 24So Jesus went with him.
A large group of people followed. They crowded around him. 25A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. It had lasted for 12 years. 26She had suffered a great deal, even though she had gone to many doctors. She had spent all the money she had. But she was getting worse, not better. 27Then she heard about Jesus. She came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes. 28She thought, "I just need to touch his clothes. Then I will be healed." 29Right away her bleeding stopped. She felt in her body that her suffering was over.
30At once Jesus knew that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd. He asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
31"You see the people," his disciples answered. "They are crowding against you. And you still ask, 'Who touched me?' "
32But Jesus kept looking around. He wanted to see who had touched him.
33Then the woman came and fell at his feet. She knew what had happened to her. She was shaking with fear. But she told him the whole truth.
34He said to her, "Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace. You are free from your suffering."
35While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus. He was the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher anymore?"
36But Jesus didn't listen to them. He told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid. Just believe."
37He let only Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, follow him. 38They came to the home of the synagogue ruler. There Jesus saw a lot of confusion. People were crying and sobbing loudly. 39He went inside. Then he said to them, "Why all this confusion and sobbing? The child is not dead. She is only sleeping." 40But they laughed at him.
He made them all go outside. He took only the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him. And he went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand. Then he said to her, "Talitha koum!" This means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" 42The girl was 12 years old. Right away she stood up and walked around. They were totally amazed at this. 43Jesus gave strict orders not to let anyone know what had happened. And he told them to give her something to eat.
In this passage I'd say there are two stories in one Mark 5:21-43 (NIrV)
except that I find it really curious (something I've never noticed before) is that the woman has been afflicted for 12 years and the girl is 12 years old.
In this post let's highlight concrete nouns that very little children can either touch, identify a picture or have perhaps experienced and a few verbs that your two year old could probably do if you used the word. If you weren't sitting in a worship service but were doing this in a classroom you'd have the option to play with verbs and actually do them.
(concrete words)
A Dying Girl and a Suffering Woman
21Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee in a boat. It landed at the other side. There a large crowd gathered around him. 22Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue ruler. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23He begged Jesus, "Please come. My little daughter is dying. Place your hands on her to heal her. Then she will live." 24So Jesus went with him.
A large group of people followed. They crowded around him. 25A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. It had lasted for 12 years. 26She had suffered a great deal, even though she had gone to many doctors. She had spent all the money she had. But she was getting worse, not better. 27Then she heard about Jesus. She came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes. 28She thought, "I just need to touch his clothes. Then I will be healed." 29Right away her bleeding stopped. She felt in her body that her suffering was over.
30At once Jesus knew that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd. He asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
31"You see the people," his disciples answered. "They are crowding against you. And you still ask, 'Who touched me?' "
32But Jesus kept looking around. He wanted to see who had touched him.
33Then the woman came and fell at his feet. She knew what had happened to her. She was shaking with fear. But she told him the whole truth.
34He said to her, "Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace. You are free from your suffering."
35While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus. He was the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher anymore?"
36But Jesus didn't listen to them. He told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid. Just believe."
37He let only Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, follow him. 38They came to the home of the synagogue ruler. There Jesus saw a lot of confusion. People were crying and sobbing loudly. 39He went inside. Then he said to them, "Why all this confusion and sobbing? The child is not dead. She is only sleeping." 40But they laughed at him.
He made them all go outside. He took only the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him. And he went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand. Then he said to her, "Talitha koum!" This means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" 42The girl was 12 years old. Right away she stood up and walked around. They were totally amazed at this. 43Jesus gave strict orders not to let anyone know what had happened. And he told them to give her something to eat.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Puppies and Perspective
[I leave this up. I take it off because it's about puppies not kids exactly, but I'm thinking that if we're really living without compartmentalizing our lives ... I'll just leave this up. If it makes you smile and you're encouraged, I'll be happy.]This may be our last session of puppy class for a while. Can't find six classes in a row without a conflict. I was more frustrated than usual after classes last weekend which inevitably leaves me asking, "Is more better or is it overkill?" It's been almost a year of classes. This photo is almost a year old (Nyah- red collar, Ellie - blue). At 13 months old, still puppies I'm told, they resist having their picture taken but we try. Very much "still puppies!" I didn't put the beeping of the camera together with the beeping of the fence collar. That explains the camera shyness.
Perspective:
Past. They were very good at 4 months when we brought them home almost a year ago. They were very good at "sit" and a long list of well-trained-puppy-skills. But the first afternoon we left them with our 5 Red Cross Babysitter trained 16-25 yr old children, an hour into the afternoon, one of the kids called me in a panic:"The puppies wouldn't listen. They wouldn't stop fighting. " The best we could figure, they didn't know who was in charge so they decided it should be someone with four furry feet and they both wanted the job. When Mom was home they were better, but imagining myself home alone with two full grown dogs dealing with dominance issues, we signed up for classes.
Present. Friday night I took Nyah to class. (12 owners, 12 dogs - most either well-behaved or there to accomplish it) Nyah tends to get defensive in class sometimes. . .often . . . Ellie, on the other hand, wants to play - either mode potentially disruptive in a dog class. Mr. M calls them his "special needs" dogs because they're either perfectly on-task or "not even in the room" (not unlike ADD) . He knows them pretty well, we've been going since September. Throwing out all the excuses, they're dogs. They need to listen, even when they don't feel like it, so we keep working on it.
So class is a half hour drive each way, my car radiator is dying. Nyah's a handful in class most of Friday night but she did the most perfect heel pattern ever! She even passed "Leave it." (She's been known to snatch half the bag of jerky bait instead.)
Ellie spent the better part of her Sunday class either wanting badly to play or totally zoned out. "Sit? Mom, you never taught us that!" Sooooo frustrating!!!!
It's almost the end of class time and Ellie won't down-stay. She needed to go out. So I took her outside, somehow managed to slice my finger on the trash can, we came back in and I let Jenny take her. (Jenny's 17. She came to a couple of classes in September. She plays with them more than she works with them.) So, of course, Ellie heals, downs, sits, stays, (all in various combinations within about 3 minutes) and takes the jumps for Jenny. It's obviously me, not the puppies, and (be warned) trainers don't sell new owner personalities.
So Monday morning I work with each of them alone in the yard like I do every morning. Traffic, people walking, bikes, skateboards, sirens, no dog-walkers as far as I know) They're perfect, off-leash perfect. Both of them - every task from every class, even with minor distractions, off-leash-perfect!
Future. So, if they're wonderful at home and they know the stuff (most of the time) why do I feel the need to keep going to class? For the adrenaline rush when a certain dog looks like she's going to get away and eat someone else's dog? I don't think so! Growing my confidence in leaps and bounds? Probably. Addiction? Maybe. The addictive quality is the fact that one minute you've almost got it. Then it seems out of reach. The next minute you know you've got it, then you lose it again. Then they're so bad you wonder why you have puppies. Then you flat out succeed big time and you say, "I can do this!" and you go back for more. Or maybe it's the place where class becomes less a class and more a critique group to help you get where you're going. I have no clue.
More important, if Ellie and Nyah listen in that environment every time, they'll listen anywhere! (They'll ignore the dogs on the sidewalk.) And stewardship. . . Maybe someday they'll be agility dogs or tracking dogs or therapy dogs or reading dogs* (when they defer to strangers I've even momentarily considered schutzhund!) Not sure I'm that ambitious, except when they're bored ... You don't want two bored, intelligent** puppies. Trust me.
... a little past, present, and potential-for-the-future*** helps keep today in perspective if you're parenting or working with people, too. (We'll call the alternative whining and complaining) ... thanks for listening.
* Gary S. differs with me , but they really can't read.
**At class Sunday, when she wasn't zoned out, Ellie unexpectedly demonstrated her unique independent thinking skills. :)
*** don't know if all these websites are the best on the subject but it gives some substance for the word "potential"!
Photos!!
Photos!!! Yeah!!! This is the amateur "let the little children come" photo I've wanted to post...A year late, but my computer savy home-for-the-summer children are wonderful!! (This little person really isn't a baby anymore. He has his own blog and he's running and speaking in sentences). Oh, and the clock is right. Artisan gathers for worship in the late afternoon.
There are probably better, more profound photos that show the love, awe, and beauty of children encountering God in community or maybe not because we interact with an invisible God.
Anyway...
Monday, July 03, 2006
Example
. . . the boat where Jesus is asleep while the disciples are being scared witless:
Little kids probably weren't in the boat (teenagers, maybe) but I bet they played on the beach and dipped their toes and fingers in the water. I bet they even played in their father's boat when it was on shore. Did you ever feel the water-worn wood of a fishing boat? Or the smell? :-) I bet they fingered the ropes and the fish and the nets. If they ever got to ride in the boat, they felt the rocking of the waves and the splash of the surf. I bet some of them saw waves taller than themselves. [Engage your own imagination here, anytime!]
I bet that children by the sea quickly learned to discern when there was a storm coming. And when the storm came, what did it feel like to live in their houses? Their houses weren't like ours are.
Know what else I bet? I bet every adult who was in any way associated with that eventful storm ride went home and told the story to everyone and anyone who would listen....and we all know how children love stories! "Say't again..."
Such is the stuff of taking wonder questions beyond the question and into the imagination- to become engaged in the story and hopefully encounter the greatest Story-Teller ever.
Imagine being 2 or 5 or 10 or 15 ... Where would you be? What would you be doing? How would it affect you?
Little kids probably weren't in the boat (teenagers, maybe) but I bet they played on the beach and dipped their toes and fingers in the water. I bet they even played in their father's boat when it was on shore. Did you ever feel the water-worn wood of a fishing boat? Or the smell? :-) I bet they fingered the ropes and the fish and the nets. If they ever got to ride in the boat, they felt the rocking of the waves and the splash of the surf. I bet some of them saw waves taller than themselves. [Engage your own imagination here, anytime!]
I bet that children by the sea quickly learned to discern when there was a storm coming. And when the storm came, what did it feel like to live in their houses? Their houses weren't like ours are.
Know what else I bet? I bet every adult who was in any way associated with that eventful storm ride went home and told the story to everyone and anyone who would listen....and we all know how children love stories! "Say't again..."
Such is the stuff of taking wonder questions beyond the question and into the imagination- to become engaged in the story and hopefully encounter the greatest Story-Teller ever.
Imagine being 2 or 5 or 10 or 15 ... Where would you be? What would you be doing? How would it affect you?
more concrete
Understand that part of this is coming from the fact that the pastoral staff at Artisan is still ( hooray for the pastoral staff at Artisan!!) working with this idea of including ALL ages every week in our worship service. Using"concrete" and "simple" is to ask what's the most basic touchable/doable in this passage? Think 1-2 years old (water, wind, boat, "night-night"...)
That doesn't mean that you can't spiral it out to include more complex observations or "teaching" as you (and your little people) grow and experience more of life but, the way I read the scriptures, I'm left believing that the crowds scripture talks about included moms with little children (probably more than two children and close in age by the way - if you really want to engage your imagination- walking and hauling groceries!)
I'm also guessing (not to be belligerant or anything) that Jesus didn't have to run down the hall to the Sunday school room to point to a child and use him/her in an object lesson.
Let me challenge you (and myself) everytime we look at a scene in scripture to ask, "Where were the children?"
That doesn't mean that you can't spiral it out to include more complex observations or "teaching" as you (and your little people) grow and experience more of life but, the way I read the scriptures, I'm left believing that the crowds scripture talks about included moms with little children (probably more than two children and close in age by the way - if you really want to engage your imagination- walking and hauling groceries!)
I'm also guessing (not to be belligerant or anything) that Jesus didn't have to run down the hall to the Sunday school room to point to a child and use him/her in an object lesson.
Let me challenge you (and myself) everytime we look at a scene in scripture to ask, "Where were the children?"
Simple and Concrete?
Notice I'm not trying to "teach a lesson" here.
Here's a passage from yesterday. Actually the story presented also included the lady with the issue of blood being healed and the little girl being healed (bandages, doctor kit, pictures of lady, child, crowd...) but let's just look at this one.
The concrete words are in bold. There are also a couple of "teaching" concepts in bold but you don't even have to go there because the teaching concepts don't really mean anything if you don't know about wind and waves and storms or being afraid at night, trying to wake someone up or thinking that someone doesn't care.
That's what I mean by simple and concrete. Next time the wind is howling outside or you find yourself with your child listening to a thunderstorm, you can pull out the story again. Listen to your little person's observations and pray together see what God will do.
Here's a passage from yesterday. Actually the story presented also included the lady with the issue of blood being healed and the little girl being healed (bandages, doctor kit, pictures of lady, child, crowd...) but let's just look at this one.
Mark 4:35-41
4:35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."
4:36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him.
4:37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.
4:38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"
4:39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.
4:40 He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?"
4:41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"The concrete words are in bold. There are also a couple of "teaching" concepts in bold but you don't even have to go there because the teaching concepts don't really mean anything if you don't know about wind and waves and storms or being afraid at night, trying to wake someone up or thinking that someone doesn't care.
That's what I mean by simple and concrete. Next time the wind is howling outside or you find yourself with your child listening to a thunderstorm, you can pull out the story again. Listen to your little person's observations and pray together see what God will do.
Getting Through Worship
Music and rhythm instruments usually take care of themselves.
If there's new decor, "Do you see..."
Visuals on the overhead, "do you see..."
Confession? A time to confess? "Is there anything you're sorry for that you need to whisper to Jesus?" "Is there something special that you love about God?"
When there's a scripture story presented from the pulpit, having a Bible picture book in your hands for little people really helps, even if you're flipping pages looking for all the boats or storms or a lady, or a crowd, or a child, or someone who's hurt.
Having props helps, too, but you'd need to know which story they're going to do ahead of time. If you have a story about Jesus healing, a doll with bandages to wrap or a doctor kit or tape and gauze will keep little people quiet and busy for a bit. If it has to do with animals or creation bring picture books with animals or a stuffed animal or little plastic animals or play dough. If it has to do with a vine. Bring a vine and knot it and weave it and make something. You don't even have to talk. Be creative. Think simple and concrete.
If there's new decor, "Do you see..."
Visuals on the overhead, "do you see..."
Confession? A time to confess? "Is there anything you're sorry for that you need to whisper to Jesus?" "Is there something special that you love about God?"
When there's a scripture story presented from the pulpit, having a Bible picture book in your hands for little people really helps, even if you're flipping pages looking for all the boats or storms or a lady, or a crowd, or a child, or someone who's hurt.
Having props helps, too, but you'd need to know which story they're going to do ahead of time. If you have a story about Jesus healing, a doll with bandages to wrap or a doctor kit or tape and gauze will keep little people quiet and busy for a bit. If it has to do with animals or creation bring picture books with animals or a stuffed animal or little plastic animals or play dough. If it has to do with a vine. Bring a vine and knot it and weave it and make something. You don't even have to talk. Be creative. Think simple and concrete.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)