Your webservant, Sarah Keith <>< SundaySchoolNetwork.com
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2) VBS Water Games?
we are using TAKE THE PLUNGE VBS KIT for our church camp. we take all of our youth to arkansas to camp and we do our on camp. we are needing water games and any ideas to make this a wonderful camp.if you have any suggestions for games or snacks please let me know thanks, karen ozark baptist church
>Do you think this format encourages participation by its members >or does it foster a "sit back and entertain me" attitude?
If the focus of the church is primarily comtemporary, it is more likely to expect 'entertainment'. However, for the churches that still take a firm old-fashioned, fundamental stance, 'entertainment' should not be allowed. The purpose of singers, preachers, and other roles of the church is to convey a message from God, and should not be for personal glory or sanctification. Therefore, to be steadfast to the doctrine of the Bible, no such activities should exist. Youth activities can still be planned, but should be prepared within God's reason and biblical expectations.
Bro. Young II Tim. 3:16
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4) Days of Gold
I found your website and saw where you needed some ideas for Senior Adult Day. In 2004 I did a program called "Days of Gold". The journey through the "Days of Gold" is different for each of us, yet each of us shares the journey. Although each of us see the journey from unique vantage points we are passing ....
Understanding the past, celebrating the present and looking forward to a future together through the eyes of love brings us each a little closer if we are willing to share the "Days of Gold" in our hearts...
We had a dinner, a reading by one of youth, two of the youth sang, pastor gave a "reflection", the we had a great family come in and entertain with music.
The decorations were all the fall colors and leaves were on the fall colored tables. We had raffle we pulled names...and gave out gifts.
In 2006 I did a School Day Theme verse Isa 33:6 Old fashioned school lunches were provided, a poem, songs, and skit like they would have listened to on the radio...Blackboard magnets were given to each along wiht a yard stick. table decoration were a metal lunchbox with field flowers in them pencils and pencil sharpers were laid around the centerpieces to be raffled off.
I can mail out the infomation if you want a copy. Hope this helps Jamie
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New Life Puppets
Easy-to-Make, no-sew puppet patterns. Includes a caterpillar to butterfly puppet and a tadpole to frog puppet. Approximately 10" high.
I think enterainment is the wrong word! Would people describe the use of puppets, object lessons and drama as entertainment? We need to make our services interesting and appealing to people who are not used to church and yes it is important to keep up with our culture, particularly to attract and retain younger members. During our family services we do all of the above items and whilst it is entertaining to watch, I would not describe it as entertainment as it also brings a clear message with it. I go into schools and do assemblies and again the same applies, we have to engage the children by making it relevent to them and interesting, but again as it has a clear message I would not consider it entertainment. If people consider it to be entertainment then I don't have a problem with that, as long as they have heard the gospel message and it goes in! Does it matter what they describe it as?
Shirley Watts UK
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6) Entertainment In Church
I do not think entertainment has a place in ministry. IF you are offering a separate venue/night for entertainment, that is one thing. But it should never take the place of a children's/youth service. Our purpose is not to entertain, but to present the gospel. There are far too many other places people can be entertained. Somehow I do not think God is pleased when we only provide entertainment.
TB
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7) Summer Programs
Some churches have a 3 night kids crusade. They found this to be far more effective in reaching/retaining children than VBS.
We offer sewing camp for girls and woodworking camp for guys (1/2 day for 1 week-5 days) Very effective outreach and something different for the children.
TB
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8) Summer Children's Church
>our numbers have grown from 4 to 12 and I am so >afraid that we will lose them if we shut down for the summer.
We do not stop children's church for the summer. We run from about the 2nd or 3rd week of January through the last Sunday of October. I have 5 rotating teachers. We do have several interruptions during that time which gives the teachers a break. We do not have children's church on the first Sunday of every month, because we have communion and feel that the children should be in the full service with their families. Also, we do not have children's church on Easter, Mother's Day, or Father's Day, again thinking they should be with their families on these days. We also have a 2 week break prior to VBS to allow the youth choir director to get a jump start on practicing the VBS songs so the kids will be ready for the VBS finale. So with this kind of schedule the 5 rotating teachers are really only out of our Morning Worship service 5 times each during those 10 months. Then from November 1 through the Sunday before Christmas, the Youth Director takes the kids on Sunday to prepare for the Christmas play using that time to practice. Then we take those few weeks also to get ready to do it all again my mid-January. This has worked great for us for the past 5 years. The best part is the teachers are never worn down and are still able to get their spiritual feeding in the worship servcies, and the best part is they still volunteer to come back and help every year! I hope this helps! Thanks, Vickie
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