Children's Minister Blog
Ideas, thoughts, & activites for those who minister to children-
7WAYS Children’s Leaders Training Guide
Posted on February 3rd, 2010 No commentsMAX7.org has a load of great FREE resources for use in Sunday School, training children’s workers and running children’s programs. I’ve just been reading their latest resource which is a training guide for children’s workers which has some excellent material to work through with your leadership team. The guide is also available in several languages.
Click here to check it out: 7WAYS Training Leader’s Guide
-
Tony loved children
Posted on February 1st, 2010 No commentsTony loved children. Tony was known around the neighbourhood for his tennis coaching and his help with the local scout group. One day Tony was working on his driveway laying some cement when the two young boys from down the street came by with their small bikes. Just as Tony yelled out at the small boys to stay away from his driveway work his neighbour stuck his head over the fence.
“I thought you loved children!” his friend called out.
“Yeah, I do”, said Tony ‘but in the “abstract”, not “in the concrete”!’
-
Luke 14 Accessible Church
Posted on January 28th, 2010 No commentsThe Christian Blind Mission (CBM Australia) has produced some excellent resources to help make our churches more inclusive for people with disablities. Please visit their website and consider how Children’s workers can implement changes and work to improve our support of those who find church access and inclusion difficult.
Visit: http://Luke14.cbm.org.au
-
Children and the Gospel
Posted on January 25th, 2010 No commentsScripture Union have made available a great training resource called “Children and the Gospel” written by Ron Buckland a seasoned Australian children’s worker, pastor, trainer and writer. This article and the references quoted are well worth a read.
-
Human spelling game
Posted on January 19th, 2010 No commentsYou will need 52 players (or adapt according to numbers), two sets of cards with the letters of the alphabet, large enough to be seen in a large room.
Every letter of the alphabet should be included in the list of words. (The word may be random or on a particular topic).
Divide players into two teams, giving each team a set of letters. Each individual player is given a card and the teams are lined up opposite one another.
The leader shouts out a word from the list and the players holding the appropriate letters step forward (or run to marked line) and arrange themselves in the order of the word from right to left.
The first team to spell it’s word properly with the letters above their heads scores one point.
Variation: Use a limited number of letters for each team and fix them (with tape) to the sole of the players shoes, they then have to sit down and arrange their feet (with the letters attached) to spell the given word.
-
Little girl and her neighbour
Posted on January 13th, 2010 No commentsLittle girl and her neighbour
One Sunday afternoon a little girl was happily walking home from Kids Church reading her bible. When she arrived at her driveway, her grumpy neighbour noticed what the little girl was doing and asked roughly, “What are you reading, girl?”
The little girl replied gently, “My bible. The part where a man called Jonah got swallowed by a big fish and God saved him.”
At this, the neighbour snickered and scoffed, “The bible is a made-up book! How could a man survive in the stomach of a fish?”
The girl answered, “Well, when I’m in heaven, I’ll ask Jonah.”
The neighbour laughed more and arrogantly asked, “What if Jonah isn’t in heaven?”
The little girl thought long and hard about this question then replied quietly, “Then you can ask him.”
-
Christmas Leave
Posted on December 24th, 2009 No commentsI’m heading off on holidays for two weeks straight after Christmas. I’m going to be attending my neice’s wedding which is going to held on a beach (this is in Australia and it’s hot at this time of year!) at 5.30 am in the morning as the sun comes up. It should be quite an experience. I hope all this blog’s readers have a happy, blessed and safe Christmas holiday. I’ll be back blogging with more Children’s ministry ideas and resources after this short break.
Don Stott
-
Christmas Thanksgiving
Posted on December 22nd, 2009 No commentsHelen Aberg used to give generous Christmas gifts to her several grandchildren, but the children never sent thank you letters, despite the urgings of their parents. But then, one year, things changed. Grandma sent a hundred dollar Christmas cheque to each grandchild. The very next day, each child came over in person to thank her. She was telling this to a friend of hers, who said, “How wonderful! What do you think caused them to become so polite?
“Oh,”said Helen,”it was easy. This year I didn’t sign the cheques.”
-
Carolling Christmas
Posted on December 14th, 2009 No commentsI have just posted my new short Christmas puppet ( or vent) script. It’s called “Carolling Christmas”. Ricky can’t get to sleep because he has Christmas carols going around in his head. He comes to hear about the Nativity and gets excited that God’s son has come to earth.
-
Easy Christmas Crafts
Posted on December 10th, 2009 No commentsEasy Christmas Crafts at Kids Craft Weekly
1. Clothes Peg Trees
2. Simple Sticker Gift Tags
3 Glitzy Lid Decorations -
The Son – A Story to Share at Christmas
Posted on December 8th, 2009 No commentsI’ve posted a short story titled “The Son” at my Christmas blog . This story could be told as an introduction to a talk or sermon on Christ being the “reason for the season”.
-
Christmas Video
Posted on December 1st, 2009 No comments -
The Nativity Scene
Posted on November 26th, 2009 No commentsAfter hearing the Christmas story, and singing “Silent Night” a Sunday School Class in Sao Paulo was asked to draw what they thought th Nativity Scene might have looked like. One boy did a good likeness of Joseph, Mary and the infant, but off to the side was a plump roly-poly figure.
The teacher, afraid that he had somehow worked Santa Claus into the scene asked who that was. She wasn’t sure whether she was relieved or even more worried when the boy responded, “No that’s Round John Virgin.”
-
Christmas-1st Corinthians 13 Style
Posted on November 19th, 2009 No commentsChristmas-1st Corinthians 13 Style- If I decorate my house perfectly with bows,strands of twinkling lights and shiny baubles, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.
- If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas biscuits, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtimes, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.
- If I decorate the Christmas tree with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
- Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
- Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband or wife.
- Love is kind, though harried and tired.
- Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has co-ordinated Christmas china and table cloths.
- Love doesn’t yell at the children to get out of the way.
- Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
- Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
- Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.
But giving the gift of God’s love will endure.
-
THE BIBLE IN 50 WORDS
Posted on November 18th, 2009 No commentsTHE BIBLE IN 50 WORDS
God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Jacob fooled
Joseph ruled
Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked
Prophets warned
Jesus born
God walked
Love talked
Anger crucified
Hope died
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained.(source internet)
-
The Nativity Story – Animated Christmas Nativity Story
Posted on November 17th, 2009 No comments -
Four Gifts of Christmas
Posted on November 10th, 2009 No commentsFour Gifts of Christmas – An intergenerational worship service for Advent or Christmas
CHRISTMAS and GIFTS seem to go together in everyone’s mind. Here is a planning resource for a service that celebrates four gifts of Christmas joy, hope, love and peace with people of all generations.
Four Gifts of Christmas (508.13 kB)This great all-age worship Christmas resource has been developed by the Uniting Church in South Australia.
-
Like Christ
Posted on November 4th, 2009 No commentsLast Sunday I led an all-age worship service on the theme”Like Christ”. Philippians 2:1-11
Some of the resources I used were-
A puppet play I had written titled – “Working Together in Unity”
A monologue I wrote which introduced the DVD segment. The monologue titled“Shine Like Stars” is written as if an older man is looking back to when he was a boy in Philippi when Paul’s letter was read to a house church.
We used the excellent DVD from Discipleship Explored (Part 3) for the main teaching. This is an excellent series produced in the UK on Philippians.
We learnt a new song from ResoundWorship.com called “High in the Heavens” by Judy Gresham ( Lead sheet, backing track and Mp3 available for download)
Don Stott
-
Family Grace
Posted on October 27th, 2009 No commentsFamily Grace
(sung to the Doxology tune)
Thank you for this food so “yum”.
Soon be eaten in my ‘tum,tum,tum.’ (with appropriate taps to tummy)
My giving God, you’re good to me,
Please bless our meal and family.
(c) Don Stott, 2009
-
Christmas is Coming!
Posted on October 19th, 2009 No commentsA few years ago I wrote a small 12 page PDF booklet called Christmas is Coming! It includes a number of original Christmas puppet scripts, stories and chants. It’s available for download for $10 USD via PayPal. I also have a number of other Christmas scripts and stories available free at Eliab.com
-
Songwriters Showcase
Posted on October 19th, 2009 No commentsSongwriters Showcase- Grassroots Christian Songwriters, has a number of songs for children or all-age worship available as MP3 downloads. It’s a bit of mixed bag with some really good songs and some which I think still need a bit more work. Have a listen to a few and see what you think. There may be something there that’s useful to your ministry.
-
BALLOON TRICK
Posted on October 8th, 2009 No commentsDo you know how tho make balloons fasten to a wall or ceiling? It’s easily done without paste or without leaving a mark. It is fun to do and is quite intriguing. It’s also a great decoration for a party of children’s program.
Inflate the balloons to full capacity. Hold the balloon firmly in both hands and rub one side of the balloon briskly on a wool rug. Touch the rubbed spot quickly to the wall or ceiling and take your hands away. The balloon will stick for several days. The friction acts as paste. As ballons become deflated they drop to the floor.
How could this trick be used for an object talk?
“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” Prov:18:24
ANDREW » Finds Peter, his brother, and brings him to Jesus ( John 1:40-42)
-
Ask Uncle Noah
Posted on October 4th, 2009 No commentsI just discovered a helpful website today where Sunday School teachers can ask questions about where to find particular resources for children’s ministry. The page “Ask Uncle Noah” is certainly worth checking out and perhaps bookmarking for future reference.
-
Spill the beans
Posted on October 1st, 2009 No commentsTwo simple icebreaker games-
1. Pork and Beans
The players ae divided into pairs, and on the word “Go” one of each pair starts asking the other questions. The partner must keep an absolutely straight face, and answer every question “Pork and Beans” (or “Fish & Chips”…). If he smiles or laughs at all he is out of the game. The couple who can keep up the questioning and answering the longest are the winners.2. Spill the beans
You will need 5 beans (or dried peas or matches, pasta…) for each player.Each player is given five beans and told that the object of the game is to talk to someone and try to make them say “Yes” or “No” by asking questions, or by any other means they can think of. If successful, they have to hand over a bean to the one who has said “Yes” or “No”, and move on to someone else. The first person to get rid of all his beans is the winner. (Or you can stop at any time and see how many beans people hold).
This game works well with a family night of all ages present. (Parents can assist the very small children or work together.)
-
Worship resources for school assemblies
Posted on September 24th, 2009 No commentsWorship resources for school assemblies
- cowo.culham.ac.uk/ Collective Worship Resource – from the Culham Institute, in association with the National Society
- www.culham.ac.uk/storykeepers/ These resources are based on the Storykeepers television / video series.
- www.assemblies.org.uk Assemblies Website (SPCK)
- www.blackburn.anglican.org/cw/ Diocese of Blackburn Board of Education – Collective School Worship
- www.ely.anglican.org/education/schools/collective_worship/ Diocese of Ely Education and Training: Schools – RE and Collective Worship Resources
- www.saled.org/worship Diocese of Salisbury Board of Education – Collective Worship
- www.hibbert-assembly.org.uk The Hibbert Assembly – Material provided by the Hibbert Trust.
- www.retoday.org.uk/sfr/ RE Today: Space for Reflection – Assemblies and guidance for collective worship (password required – available to RE today subscribers).
- www.assemblingcitizens.co.uk Assembling Citizens – Secondary school assembly materials on citizenship issues from The Stapleford Centre (subscription required).
- www.angelfire.com/trek/annegordon/ Anne’s Page – Exploring Christian Faith with Children – Includes general advice and some starting points and suggestions for Collective Worship, along with ‘Times and Seasons’, a brief guide to the church’s year, again with suggestions for Collective Worship.
- www.cist.org.uk/ay/ Christians in Schools in the Stockport Area: Collective Acts of Worship – Outlines for Collective Worship suitable for Key Stage 1 children.
- www.schoolassemblies.btinternet.co.uk – School Assemblies for Busy Teachers – Assembly ideas, scripts and other resources contributed by teachers.
- www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/assemblies/ – Teachernet – Assemblies – A bank of over 100 resources written by teachers for teachers.
-
Worship the Rock
Posted on September 16th, 2009 No commentsWorship the Rock-connecting worship leaders and musicians throughout the world.
This great UK website has loads of worship resources and ideas on such things as songwriting, choosing songs, and musician tips.
Of special interest to those involved in children’s ministry is the section called Worship for Kids. There’s a forum where people can ask questions about children and worship and get input from others to help them with their ministry.
-
Clap your hands song
Posted on September 9th, 2009 No commentsCheck out this song for children under five from Scripture Union Tiddlywinks material.
-
Good Samaritan?
Posted on September 8th, 2009 No commentsGood Samaritan
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan, in which a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead. She described the situation in vivid detail so her students would catch the drama. Then, she asked the class, “If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?”
A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, “I think I’d throw up.”
Did Noah fish?
“Do you think Noah did a lot of fishing while on the Ark?”
“No,” repied David. “How could he, with just two worms!”
-
The Game of NIM
Posted on September 2nd, 2009 No commentsHere’s another favourite game which children love and is great to fill in five minutes in your program.
1. Choose two contestants. (or choose two teams -Boys vs. Girls, leader vs. child etc…)
2. On a white board, chalkboard or O.H.P draw the following pattern of crosses ( one less cross per line. You can start with less if you want a shorter game).
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxx
xxxxx
xxxx
xxx
xx
x
3. The contestants take it in turn to remove (cross out, or rub out) the crosses according to the following rule.
4. On your turn you are only allowed to rub out a whole line (horizontally) of crosses OR one cross .
5. Take turns. The winner is the one who makes their opponent rub out the last cross.Encourage loud barracking! Have several rounds throughout your program. A variation is to ask a quiz/revision question before each turn.
-
Coffee Break Prayer
Posted on August 26th, 2009 No comments
This prayer was originally posted on my other website at http://eliab.com. I wrote the prayer after thinking about how hard it is for some people to find time (or take time) to be alone with God. I thought having some kind of pattern to this “quiet time” might help someone get back to praying as often as the sit down for a cup of coffee.
Coffee Break Prayer
Do you find it hard to pray sometimes ? Is it a struggle to regularly find time alone with God ? This prayer is an aid to get you started having a quiet time with God. So pour out a cup of coffee and use the ‘Coffee Break Prayer’ to turn your heart to God and hopefully grow more consistent in your time with Him.
LOOK - Take a look at your cup of coffee and pray.
- “Lord please pour out your Holy Spirit into my life today. Stir up within me a desire to meet with you. Thank you so much for Your sweet love for me.”
Take a moment to praise God for who He is.
- “Lord you’re so kind, so patient , so just …..”
HOLD - Clasp the cup with both hands.
- “Lord I know I need your forgiveness for the wrong things I have done and the things I have put off doing. Filter from me all that doesn’t please you. I ask you especially through the Lord Jesus to forgive me for ….”“Warm my life with Your love and purpose. Thank You that You call me Your child and that I’m still special to You.”
TASTE - Drink and pray
- “Thank you Lord for the reminder to pause, to reflect, to pray and wait on you. Help me to know your presence with me in all I do today . Please be especially with me as I face …..” “Are there things You want to say to me ?”
SMELL- Take a long deep breath
- “May my life today be the ‘aroma of Christ’ to those who don’t know you as Savior and Lord. Give me a willingness and boldness to speak up for You and to share my faith with others as easliy as I would share a cup of coffee with a friend.”” I especially pray for ….”
Coffee in solitude. ..’Warm my soul with Your Spirit.’
Coffee in community...’Help me share Your saving love today.’
Why not pour out a second cup (of coffee, tea, hot water …) and take some time to read the Scriptures ?
Can you commit to God (and a friend ) that you will meet with God like this on a regular basis ? He’s longing to ‘do coffee’ with you…and even more !
(c) Don Stott, http://www.eliab.com, 2004




